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Looking back on 2025 and preparing for 2026 in the swine industry
It’s important for pig farmers to take a close look at the balance sheet because it helps set the fundamental outlook moving forward into the coming year. Lee Schulz, chief economist with Ever.Ag, says one of the key highlights has been production, which was projected to be down about 1.2 percent. That decline has tracked closely with year-to-date numbers, and the same can be said for U.S. pork exports, which have also remained largely in line with expectations. Looking ahead, Schulz notes...
Beef exports climb even higher while pork sits below last year’s pace
The value of U.S. beef exports topped $900 million in May, the highest since June 2023, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said exports trended higher year-over-year to...
Vilsack says clock is ticking on passage of new farm bill
United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says that everyone is on the same page with the goal of getting a new five-year farm bill done. However, he also says that time is getting tight for the completion of a new farm bill and is calling for all sides to...
Thirty million farm acres abandoned since 1986
In 2022, a University of Wisconsin study claimed that U.S. farmers had converted several million acres of pristine grassland and other “semi-natural areas” to cropland. Researcher Tyler Lark said that was in response to the Renewable Fuel Standard and ethanol...
High-tech equipment increasing demand for larger farm sheds
We talk at length about the changes we see in technology and the larger equipment we are seeing in the fields. While we focus so much on how the technology is changing the face of farming and how it makes us more efficient with our resources and inputs, we tend to...
Abnormally wet weather creates difficult nitrogen decisions
The excessive rainfall in the Midwest, which is on top of an already mild winter, is increasing the risk of nitrogen and other nutrients leaching through the soil before the crops- specifically corn- can use them. As such, farmers must decide if they need to stick...
Public Lands Council accepting rolling submissions for research funding
The Public Lands Council (PLC) this week announced a rolling notice of funding availability that accompanies the existing grant funding process for Fiscal Year 2025. This two-track process allows individuals and organizations to submit proposals at any point during...
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More Ag News
South American Weather and Crop Update (10-22-24)
It’s still the rainy season down in South America, which is exactly what the farmers down there want to see. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the weather in Brazil and Argentina. McBride said planting progress is still behind the average pace,...
FFA encouraging members to “Engage” at national convention
Over 70,000 students in blue corduroy jackets are at the 97th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis this week. This year’s event starts on Wednesday, Oct. 23 and wraps up with the final session on Saturday, Oct. 26. Amara Jackson, who is serving out her...
Farm bill challenges not going away in 2025
Farm bill challenges will not go away in 2025 if Congress has to punt again on the top farming legislation. That is according to American Farm Bureau Director of Government Affairs Joe Gilson who says that hurdles will remain. A lot will also depend on what the budget...
Biofuel groups welcome Supreme Court decision on SREs
The Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy were pleased with a Supreme Court decision on Small Refinery Exemptions. They issued a joint statement saying the Fifth Circuit Court wasn’t the right venue to hear challenges on small refinery exemptions. “Because the...
John Deere updates its Ag training facility
When you work with sophisticated equipment, you need sophisticated training. As the precision agriculture industry has grown, the technology and tools need to be sold and serviced by people who are well-trained in the operation of these machines and can recommend the...
