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Farmers for Soil Health reopens enrollment for cover crop adoption
Farmers for Soil Health, the farmer-led initiative launched in 2022 to double cover crop acres on U.S. farmland by 2030, has reopened enrollment for 2026 with increased per-acre payments and a simplified one-year contract designed to remove barriers for growers. Enrollment is open May 1 through Aug. 31. "Cover crops aren't just good for the soil - they're good for the bottom line," said Jim Douglas, farmer advisor for Farmers for Soil Health and a soybean and corn grower from Flat Rock,...
Smart Swaps keeps dairy strong in school meals
School meal programs have been through a lot of change in recent years. From the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act under the Obama Administration to multiple revisions and rollbacks that followed, school nutrition teams have had to constantly adjust to new federal...
ICA responds to President Trump’s comments on the cattle industry
Yesterday, President Trump made a post to his Truth Social account regarding U.S. cattle producers and his plan to increase beef imports from Argentina in an effort to lower beef prices for consumers. The post is causing what the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA)...
FSA offices resume limited service during shutdown
Farm Service Agency offices are reopening on a limited basis despite the government shutdown. The USDA made this move despite the ongoing stalemate in funding the federal government. Brian Glenn, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation,...
Grassley urges shift from temporary waivers to permanent E15 legislation
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa is continuing to seek President Trump’s support of Grassley’s bipartisan year-round E15 legislation. Grassley says that at a time when farmers are set to receive aid because of the trade war and low prices for commodities, year-round E15...
Despite challenges, beef demand at 40-year high
For the past year, the drumbeat across cattle country has been lower herd numbers, market fluctuations and rising input costs. Total beef supply tightened by 3% and beef retail prices climbed to an average of $8 per pound. Yet consumer demand for beef surged to a...
Tariffs pressure sheep industry, but opportunities remain
Over the past week, we have been looking at how tariffs and trade disputes have affected several parts of American agriculture, from soybeans and pork to dairy. But those are not the only producers feeling the impact. The American sheep industry has also been caught...
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Farmers should aim to use a variety of different seed genetics
Every year, farmers deal with a myriad of different crop issues. While we don’t have a crystal ball to predict exactly what issues will come up, there are a few things farmers can try to manage by diversifying their seed. AgriGold agronomist John Brien said the...
USMCA public hearings begin
Public hearings began in Washington, D.C., as part of the mandatory USMCA review process. Over 1,500 public comment-briefs have been submitted to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Briefs were submitted by manufacturing, industrial, and retail sectors...
Global forecast: beef production to fall further in 2025
Beef production in major exporting and consuming regions is projected to decline in 2025, with global output likely to remain under pressure heading into 2026, analysts at Rabobank reported this week. The report indicates the largest volume reductions are expected in...
Pork prices holding above the cost of production
Pork supplies are similar to a year ago, even with hogs being fed to heavier weights before being sent to market. Lee Schulz, chief economist with Ever.Ag, says demand has been steady for several quarters, and prices continue to remain above the cost of production....
Purina: Cattle condition is key to breeding results
Breeding season may still feel a little ways off, but the work that determines next year’s calf crop is already underway. For beef producers, supporting cows through the stretch between calving and cycling is one of the most important management windows of the year....
