Top Stories
‘Product of USA’ meat labeling rule takes effect Jan. 1
A new USDA labeling rule takes effect Jan. 1, tightening standards for when meat, poultry and egg products may be identified as a product of the United States. Under the regulation, finalized in March 2024, companies may use labels such as “Product of USA” or “Made in USA” only if the animals were born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States. Meat from animals imported live for feeding or processing no longer qualifies. Products that are minimally processed may use qualified...
Connecting with soybean growers in Iowa and across the nation
Iowa Soybean Association board members are elected to three-year terms and are eligible to serve three consecutive terms. Pat Swanson is wrapping up her ninth year on the Iowa Soybean Association board and says that her third term is set to wrap up soon. Swanson says...
Officials want fix for foreign-owned farmland disclosure process
Senate Ag Committee members Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) are asking the USDA to improve its process for foreign-owned farmland disclosures. The letter follows alleged inaccuracies posted online by the Farm Service Agency under...
Ukrainian Ambassador Markarova visits Iowa and State Fair
The Russian invasion of Ukraine started over 900 days ago, and the fighting continues. In the last weeks, the Ukrainian forces have liberated over 50% of the land that the Russian military took control of as the invasion started. Ukraine has been looking for help...
60th annual Cookout Contest highlights Farm Bureau Day at the fair
Today, August 13th, is Farm Bureau Day at the Iowa State Fair, and it’s a beautiful day to stop by Farm Bureau Park. It wasn’t hard to find the park today either, because the Iowa Farm Bureau hosted its 60th annual Cookout Contest, and the smells were carried on the...
U.S. pork preferred by Mexican consumers
Mexico is a leading market for U.S. pork exports. According to Courtney Knupp, Vice President of International Market Development for the National Pork Board, the cultural connection to pork in Mexico is deeply rooted in family gatherings, which often revolve around...
A Teddy Bear of a Super Bull
Teddy Bear is the big bull of the 2024 Iowa State Fair, weighing in at 3,064 pounds and earning the win in the Super Bull Contest. The purebred Simmental bull was the heaviest of the three bulls competing and is now on display at the entrance to the Cattle Barn for...
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More Ag News
Cold air blasts across the state
After some warmer temperatures, a blast of cold wind hit the state. It seems that the switch to winter may be upon us already, as those cold temperatures are projected to stick around for a while. Fortunately, it looks like the precipitation will stick around as well....
U.S. Export Sales Report (11-21-24)
While global demand looks like it might start to shift soon, the USDA released another positive export sales report this week. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest numbers. Flash sales were predicted to potentially fall off, but McBride...
Ag experts agree new farm bill not likely until new Congress
Ag experts agree that a new farm bill is now unlikely until next year when the new Congress is in session. Leadership elections have been held in Congress, but lawmakers have a lot of non-farm bill related work left to complete including the annual defense bill. John...
AFBF Thanksgiving survey shows dinner cost declined from 2023
Cooking a Thanksgiving dinner this year for friends and family will cost less than last year but is still more expensive than before COVID-19. The 39th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey shows the cost of this year’s classic holiday feast for ten people is $58.08 or...
Talking with the EPA Part 2
Yesterday, we started a conversation with Venus Welch-White, Acting Director of the EPA Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OARA). We talked about the Endangered Species Act, the power of the courts with the EPA, and more. Today we will continue that conversation...
