Top Stories
Bacon Buddies- a heartwarming Iowa State Fair tradition
In what is now a heartwarming annual tradition, this year’s Bacon Buddies show saw great success again on August 9th. This year’s judges were Jared and Sherri Baker, who took over judging duties from Matt and Heidi Rohrig. Although instead of “judging,” the judges serve as facilitators of the event who highlight the hard work that the Special Olympics athletes and their buddies have done. Jared said the program now has a reach at county fairs across the state. Sherri said the continued...
Helping your hogs weather the summer
Last week, Mother Nature gave Iowa a sneak preview of what summer could look like. This was a perfect reminder that we have to be ready for whatever she throws at us this year. While we focus a lot on plant health, we have to focus even more so on animal health. Hogs...
Rail companies are working to reduce delays
When we talk about our supply chain issues and how it pertains to railroads, I sometimes feel like I am watching an episode of Thomas the Tank Engine and listening to Sir Topham Hatt complaining about the horrors of confusion and delay. That old boy would be at his...
Biden nominates Iowa native for USDA Undersecretary of Trade of Foreign Agricultural Affairs
Today President Biden nominated Iowa native Alexis Taylor for the role of Under Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at USDA. Currently the director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Taylor previously worked on trade issues at USDA and on...
Wheat in the driver?s seat in grain trade
Many times, all it takes is one commodity to have an influence, that causes them to fly in one direction or another and take everybody along for the ride. Even though it is a sleeper commodity in Iowa, wheat is the one that is doing it today. We have gotten news that...
U.S. Export Sales Report (5-12-22)
This week?s report was very bearish. The value of the U.S. dollar is still climbing, so analysts were hoping to see some better sales. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said there were marketing year lows for wheat, corn, beans, and cotton.McBride added that...
NPB helps state associations fund local projects
The National Pork Board uses checkoff investments to help fund state associations fund local projects. This is all intended to help local farmers with any needs they have. This can take on a variety of shapes and forms.Cheryl Day is the Executive Vice President of the...
Video
More Ag News
South American conditions look to hold for the near future
Last week, we looked at how the American weather models were shaping up as we head into the winter. Our concerns are mostly with replenishing water in our soils. We aren?t only paying attention to the weather in the United States. In South American production areas,...
Ethanol production hits lowest level since 2020
The Energy Information Administration says ethanol output dropped to the lowest level in more than two years, while inventories were down slightly during the last week of 2022. Production dropped to an average of 844,000 barrels per day. That?s down from 963,000...
Opening Market Podcast – Greg McBride Allendale 1-9-23
U.S. Export Sales Report (1-6-23)
There wasn?t anything extravagant in the first export sales report of 2023. Corn was slightly bearish to neutral, while soybeans had a somewhat favorable report. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride provided an analysis of the latest U.S. Export Sales...
New WOTUS rule could push input costs even higher
Reaction from agriculture groups across the country to the Environmental Protection Agency?s new Waters of the U.S. rule has largely been negative.Critics say that the new rule still leaves a lot of uncertainty and unanswered questions. In addition, the new rule could...
