Top Stories
Governor Reynolds signs pair of ag bills, including Iowa Farm Act
On Monday Governor Kim Reynolds signed Iowa House File 2771, featuring the Farm to Faucet Water Quality package, and Senate File 2465, also known as the Iowa Farm Act, at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. House File 2771 is primarily the state’s fiscal year 2027 agriculture and natural resources appropriations bill but also includes the “Farm to Faucet” water quality package. Governor Kim Reynolds says the water quality aspect of the bill was a priority. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike...
ISU studying benefits of grass-to-gas energy production for farmers
We’re proud of our ability to produce corn and soybeans at a high level in the state of Iowa, but one of the unintended consequences of growing those dominant row crops is the effect they have on the soil. Erosion, fertilizer runoff, and greenhouse gas emissions are...
Majority of beef cattle farms have small herds
The United States has numerous beef cow-calf farms that raise beef calves at least through weaning. However, USDA data says while there are a large number of farms, most are relatively small. Data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture indicated that 55 percent of...
Iowa State Fair a showcase of education and advocation for Iowa Agriculture
Less than a week from now, Iowans will descend on Des Moines for the Iowa State Fair. It is a chance for our citizens to celebrate everything about Iowa. Among those things we celebrate is the agriculture industry. Whether it is the animals we show to the food we eat,...
Paris Olympics dealing with shortages of quality protein
In the most recent installment of their Beltway Beef Podcast, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association discussed some of the issues raised at the 2024 Paris Olympics. NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Backus talked about how the Olympic organizers...
U.S. Export Sales Report (8-1-24)
As we get closer to the end of the marketing year, we saw another neutral export sales report this week. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest numbers. This week also saw a flash sale to China, but flash sales are still far behind where...
USDA says food inflation easing, while farm input costs remain high
The USDA says food inflation is easing, but farm input costs remain high. USDA economist Megan Sweitzer says that consumers may be getting a bit of a break from grocery price inflation which topped 11 percent in 2022. USDA’s grocery price forecast for next year looks...
Video
More Ag News
Iowa Cattlemen continuing to push for better farm bill
At this point, it is very likely that the 2018 farm bill will get extended for another year. This is not what the ag industry was hoping for, but that doesn't mean that the battle is over. Iowa Cattlemen’s Association CEO Bryan Whaley said the ag industry needs to...
Informing the influencers of pork consumers
Pork producers are great at telling their stories to each other, but the focus needs to be on the consumer. The National Pork Board recently invited a social media influencer and avid cook from Los Angeles to a farm to see how pigs are raised. Morgan Wonderly, NPB...
Soybean oil exports remain strong
The USDA published the December World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates this week and made just one change to the domestic soybean balance sheet. A 60-cent month over month decrease in the season ending average price with the price now at $10.20 per bushel....
Judge blocks rule strengthening protections for temporary farmworkers nationwide
The regulation, which grants organizing and safety protections to H-2A visa holders, had already been overturned in a number of states. A federal court blocked a rule strengthening legal protections for temporary farmworkers from going into effect nationwide. The U.S....
Hemmes reflects on time on United Soybean Board (Part 1)
The best promotion we can ask for is the word of those in the fields and feedlots across our country, advocating for the producers. Telling the first-hand story of the American farmer resonates with our customers domestically and internationally. As the second largest...
