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Secretary Naig Confirms Iowa’s completion of USDA pseudorabies response protocol
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig confirmed today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has successfully completed the Pseudorabies (PRV) response protocol outlined in the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (USDA APHIS) program standards. The second round of testing did not reveal any additional cases, confirming the Pseudorabies virus did not spread. “Thanks to a strong, coordinated effort, this situation...
Ethanol production reaches record high
Ethanol output rose to a record high in the seven days that ended on Nov. 8, according to data from the Energy Information Administration. Production jumped to an average of 1.113 million barrels a day, the agency said. That’s up from 1.105 million barrels a week...
When to make that land purchase
In these uncertain economic times, farmers and ranchers are weighing what their balance sheets can handle. Whether it is inputs, equipment, or expansion, there are many factors to consider before you shell out hard-earned money. This is especially true when it comes...
Preparing the next generation of advocates for the pork industry
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) introduced a new initiative in 2024 called the “Young Pork Advocates” for students aged 18-22. The program is intended to help young advocates for the pork industry learn more about the industry and in turn pass that...
Keeping cattle healthy by minimizing stress
Many producers are rightfully worried about managing cattle diseases from infecting their herds, but there is another part of disease management that sometimes gets overlooked- stress management. When cattle are stressed, they have a tougher time fighting off those...
Corn and soybean harvests nearly complete
As of November 10, 95% of the 2024 corn crop in the top 18 corn-growing states was harvested. This was up from 91% a week prior and ahead of the five-year average of 84%. USDA said 96% of the soybean crop in the top 18 growing states was in the bins. This was up from...
Turkeys and egg layers see greatest impact from H5N1
Since 2022, the U.S. poultry industry has been battling a particularly persistent strain of H5N1, or avian influenza, and more than 100 million birds have been affected over the last two and a half years. Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau, said...
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South American Weather and Crop Update (3-12-25)
The weather in South America has once again flipped to a drier cycle, but this will actually be helpful since some areas in Brazil actually received excessive amounts of rain. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather patterns....
Government shutdown would have massive impacts on agriculture
Friday is the deadline to get a government funding bill passed through Congress and to President Trump’s desk to avoid a government shutdown. Emily Buckman, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the duration of a possible...
USDA forecasts for milk production and price projections in 2025
USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum helps to provide milk production and price projections, by product and category, for the year ahead. At the recent 2025 Ag Outlook Forum, USDA dairy analyst Peyton Ferrier predicted an overall milk production increase. He says...
Secretary Naig announces 15 Choose Iowa dairy innovation grants
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that 15 Iowa dairy projects have been awarded Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grants. The cost-share grants will help expand on-farm dairy processing and incorporate labor saving technology, both of which will help...
Agriculture in limbo: Farmers grapple with tariff uncertainty
The Trump Administration's back-and-forth actions on tariffs with Canada and Mexico have left the agriculture industry grappling with uncertainty and anxiety. Combined with ongoing tariffs on China and subsequent retaliatory measures, farmers are feeling the squeeze...
