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Farmers report grim economic outlook
An overwhelming majority of corn growers from across the United States say that the nation’s farm economy is possibly already in a crisis or on the brink of one, according to a new survey released by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). “Farmers are in a lot of economic pain right now” said Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. We need members of Congress to act fast to remove barriers to markets. Passing legislation for the year-round, nationwide sale of higher...
Sound Ag helping farmers maximize nutrient efficiency
Sustainability continues to be a focus on farms for many reasons. Obviously, farmers do their best to take care of the environment, but with high input costs, they?re also looking to offset those costs by retaining nutrients in the soil. Sound Agriculture works to...
U.S. beef exports see another billion-dollar month
U.S. beef exports again topped $1 billion in July and posted the fifth-largest volume on record, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Exports totaled 126,567 metric tons (mt), up 3% year-over-year, and export...
September WASDE friendlier than expected
Soybeans rocketed higher and corn saw decent gains in the wake of the September WASDE report. Cuts to soybean yields and harvest acres were bigger than expected, which provided plenty of support. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride provided a breakdown of this...
Gas prices causing drivers to opt for ethanol at the pump
2022 has been a year of high prices at the fuel pump. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says that has led to drivers taking note of what ethanol fuel blends have to offer in the way of savings.Cooper says high fuel prices have led to a large...
What is the state of the Ag economy? (Part 4: Finale)
We have discussed the challenges, the black swan events, and the geopolitical challenges facing today's markets. The Ag economy is under pressure like it hasn?t been since the 80s. However, we have one thing they didn?t have four decades ago. We have the lessons...
Domestic demand and partnerships create strong pork exports
Excitement for exports continue to grow as Mexico once again is the top market for U.S. pork. Courtney Knupp, vice president of international market development with the National Pork Board, says numbers remain well above last year?s record pace.?They have just been a...
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More Ag News
U.S. Export Sales Report (4-20-23)
Today?s export sales weren?t exactly friendly. We?ve already been struggling with export sales this year, so a bearish report is not what we wanted to see. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride provided a breakdown of this week?s U.S. Export Sales Report.The U.S....
April Rural Mainstreet Index rises above growth neutral
The April Rural Mainstreet Index moved higher during the month. The index rose above growth neutral after dropping below the mark in March. The index scale is from 0 to 100, with 50 being growth neutral. Dr. Ernie Goss of Creighton University said the index rose to...
Decreasing risks and increasing yields with short stature smart corn
The Preceon? Smart Corn System from Bayer provides benefits in three key areas says Scott Stein, North American corn product lead at Bayer Crop Science. The first benefit is the added strength and durability of the corn plant.The Preceon? Smart Corn System also allows...
WOTUS veto override fails in congress
The House of Representatives was unsuccessful in getting enough votes to override President Biden?s veto of legislation undoing a rule defining the Clean Water Act?s jurisdiction. The vote failed 227-196 and didn?t meet the two-thirds requirement for overriding a...
Need is outpacing funding in transportation upgrades
Farmers around rural Iowa know that we depend on good roads, rails, and more to get our commodities safely to our farms, elevators, and ports of export. The need for repairs and upgrade to these infrastructure pieces is great and has sadly been neglected for years....
