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Keys to optimizing a pig’s first litter
A gilt’s first litter is notoriously difficult. From low birth weight to high mortality, poor performance has become so ordinary for these litters that producers often come to expect it. Dr. Brad Lawrence of NOVUS tells the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network that it is well known that a gilt’s first litter comes with numerous challenges. He says the health and heartiness of a gilt’s first litter traces back to the start of the gilt’s own life. Lawrence says that the development of the gilt...
A drop in soybean condition ratings
USDA is reporting a drop in condition ratings for soybeans and a possible frost in parts of the Upper Midwest. That is USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. There was no change to the corn condition rating this week with the number remaining at 65% good to excellent....
Koch completes $3.6 billion purchase of Iowa Fertilizer Co.
Koch Ag & Energy Solutions successfully purchased OCI Global’s fertilizer plant in Wever, Iowa, for $3.6 billion. After announcing the pending sale last year, the finished transaction gives Koch access to a state-of-the-art facility and its related businesses. The...
Keeping new dairy calves healthy from respiratory diseases
While we have talked at length about what H5N1 or bird flu looks like for dairy herds, we have to remember that this isn’t the only health concern we face. There are still the old standards we have to guard against, and at this time of year, we see more calves moving...
Congress returning with work to do for agriculture
Congress has a lot on its plate with few work weeks remaining this year, including keeping the government fully funded. Ryan Yates, managing director of government affairs with the American Farm Bureau, talks about a couple of the big projects Congress needs to deal...
South American Weather and Crop Update (9-3-24)
Heat and dryness have stuck around in Brazil, and those temperatures in particular are raising concerns for the next crop. Ben Breisch of Allendale gave an update on the latest weather patterns in South America. Since the soil in South America is much different than...
Grassley speaks about the headwinds facing the ag economy
The United States agriculture economy is facing numerous headwinds as the final quarter of the year approaches. Commodity prices are on the decline year over year, USDA is forecasting a record ag trade deficit, ag equipment manufacturers are laying off workers, and...
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Long-term contract reached for East and Gulf Coast ports
On Wednesday night, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) announced that they reached a tentative agreement on all items for a new six-year master labor contract covering ports on the East and Gulf Coasts. The...
Farmers may shift grain acreage in 2025
Early indications are that U.S. farmers will increase planted grain acres this year despite continuing low prices. That’s according to a survey done by Farm Futures magazine. In the survey conducted in December, farmers in major corn-producing states seem swayed by an...
America’s farms and ranches at a glance
USDA’s “America’s Farms and Ranches at a Glance” report studies many categories of the American farm. One of those categories is farm income. One of the report’s authors, Katherine Lim, discusses some of the 2023 farm income trends. She expands on the negative farm...
USDA FAS leads successful trade mission to Morocco
The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service led a trade mission to Morocco on the African continent in early December. FAS Administrator Daniel Whitely says the mission was a big success. Morocco has a large livestock industry, so they need a lot of feed for their...
National Pork Board marketing to a new brand of customer (Pt2)
Yesterday, we discussed the work being done by the National Pork Board (NPB) to change its marketing approach as we work to inform a new generation of consumers. The goal is to work closely with dieticians and medical professionals to highlight how pork is part of a...
