Top Stories
Naig says Congress has wasted enough time
As the government shutdown drags into its twenty-eighth day, frustration across the country is boiling over. From farmers waiting on FSA offices to reopen, to families relying on SNAP benefits, real Americans are paying the price while Congress remains stuck in its own political bubble. The gridlock in Washington has become more than just a nuisance; it is a growing crisis with consequences that deepen by the day. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the patience of rural America has...
Statewide crop conditions update
Looking statewide at the Iowa crop conditions, there’s definitely been a lack of moisture lately. Hopefully, the recent weather patterns are providing an indication of wetter weather to come this month. But as for the current crop conditions, Kevin Sullivan of the...
National FFA membership reaches all-time high
The National FFA Organization Monday announced a record-high student membership of 945,988, an increase of 11 percent from last year. In addition, the number of FFA chapters continues to grow — increasing by 168 this year, resulting in 9,163 chapters in the U.S.,...
EATS Act is seeing pushback. Where do we go from here? (Part 2)
We talked last week with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst about where the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act stands in the Senate. We also talked about the concerns that some are having with the fine print.One of those groups that is concerned is the Organization...
New tool in the fight against the “billion dollar pest”
Throughout the Midwest and the Corn Belt corn root worms are known as “the billion dollar pest.” Here in the state of Iowa corn root worms live up to that moniker by robbing yields through damaging corn roots each growing season. And it doesn’t help that Iowa has the...
Celebrity chef tours South Dakota to promote U.S. beef in Japan
Japanese celebrity chef and social media influencer Rika Yukimasa recently spent a week traveling South Dakota with the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the South Dakota Beef Council, visiting ranches, restaurants, and butcher shops. The trip was the latest effort of...
Advanced crop touring in NE Iowa
There’s still plenty of time for the crop to be made this season, but that doesn't mean it’s a bad time to get out in your fields and do some scouting. Out in northeast Iowa, Eric Oberbroeckling of Oberbroeckling Enterprises said their fields look pretty good- and...
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More Ag News
El Nino and its effect on global weather patterns
If you’ve been keeping up with the weather reports lately, then you’ve probably heard a lot about El Nino and its impact on the current weather. Shane Hubbard, research scientist at the Space Science and Engineering Center at University of Wisconsin-Madison, said that...
NCBA policy chair lays out farm bill priorities
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Policy Division Chair Gene Copenhaver recently met with House Speaker Mike Johnson to discuss the farm bill. Copenhaver says Johnson was hopeful on the prospects for a new farm bill after the old bill expired last September...
Pork producers concerned about FDA antibiotics proposal
The National Pork Producers Council submitted comments critical of the Food and Drug Administration’s draft guidance on the duration of use of certain antibiotics in food animals. NPPC says the proposal would “deny the ability for a veterinarian to prescribe...
John Deere has new balers ready for 2024
We spend a lot of time talking about the planting, maintenance, and harvesting of crops. However, we don’t always think about the work that needs to be done to secure forage for our livestock. Balers are a huge part of the operation when you have cattle, horses, or...
South American Weather and Crop Update (1-16-24)
We’re looking at a drier forecast this time in South America, particularly in Brazil. However, that’s what Brazilian farmers want, as they are trying to fully kick off harvest season. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather...
