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Buying soybeans from a trusted source, designed for local conditions
When choosing which soybeans to plant, growers want to make sure that they are buying seed from a trusted source that is just as committed to soybeans as growers are. Monty Malone, a soybean variety development lead with Xitavo says that the Xitavo soybean seed-exclusive varieties team is 100% dedicated to soybeans. Malone says that every bag of Xitavo soybean seed-exclusive varieties is backed by innovation and local testing with Xitavo breeding sites in Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota. He adds...
Eight candidates pursue title of 71st Iowa Dairy Princess
Eight young women involved within Iowa’s dairy community will compete to win the title of 71st Iowa Dairy Princess. The coronation ceremony will be held Wednesday, August 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Multi-Media Center of the Cattle Barn at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des...
Little flies can cause big problems
Efficient production is the key to the success of any livestock operation. It goes well beyond just the meat and dairy products that we are producing; it also is a huge factor in our herd health. As they say, “One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.” Or is it...
Farmers tracking pollination and disease pressure in mid-July
At this time of year, our crops are pollinating, and we need the weather to cooperate in order to make sure our yields can be as high as possible. Since we have plenty of moisture in the soil, it’s mostly up to the temperatures to cooperate. Nate Meyer, southwest Iowa...
Edge-of-field conservation practices are simple and effective
Edge-of-field conservation practices aren’t complicated, but they are highly effective at improving water quality. These can be as simple as a grass waterway or a buffer strip beside a small creek, or they can be much more intensive, like a bioreactor at the end of a...
Vilsack discusses expected record farm trade deficit
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says this year’s expected record farm trade deficit is due to a strong U.S. economy and U.S. criticism of a major trading partner, China. Vilsack says the U.S. economy’s strength, with its stronger dollar, is largely to blame for USDA’s...
U.S. soybean supply to rebound in 2024-2025 marketing year
The U.S. soybean supply for marketing year 2024-2025 is forecast at 4.8 billion bushels, eight percent higher than the previous marketing year but down 20 million bushels from last month’s forecast. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service Acreage...
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Benson Hill unveils updated website made with farmers in mind
In the effort to tell the company’s new brand story, Benson Hill has updated and enhanced its website. The changes now showcase how Benson Hill’s seed innovations are driving a more sustainable future for feed, food, and fuel markets. Rich LaBonte, vice president of...
Marketing pork to the confident meat eater
The National Pork Board completed a sophisticated segmentation study of U.S. consumers to learn their priorities to connect with them emotionally. David Newman, vice president of market growth for NPB, said the Confident Meat Eaters, one of the seven consumer...
Iowa Ag Secretary Naig discusses Pure Prairie Poultry situation
Earlier in the month we learned of the situation surrounding the Pure Prairie Poultry company and the financial woes leading to producers not having feed for the birds and lacking the payments they were supposed to receive. The Iowa Department of Agriculture &...
October cattle report shows strong demand for cattle and beef
Last Friday’s Cattle on Feed report confirms a strong demand for cattle and beef says USDA economist, Michael McConnell. September placements into feedlots of 2.16 million head is down 2% from a year ago. Marketings out of feedlots were up 2% leaving feedlots October...
Forty percent of farmers work off the farm
The 2022 Census of Agriculture showed about 40 percent of American farmers worked 200 or more days off the farm in 2022. The majority, 93 percent, of the 3,078 U.S. counties for which data was reported had at least 30 percent of producers working 200 or more days off...
