Top Stories
Fertilizer price probe opens as farm margins tighten
The Federal Trade Commission has opened an industrywide investigation into fertilizer prices after sharp increases during spring planting. Reuters reported that FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said the agency is using civil investigative demands to gather documents and testimony. The probe comes as growers face higher fertilizer and fuel costs, drought in parts of the Plains and another year of narrow margins. Reuters said urea prices have climbed 55% since shipping through the Strait of Hormuz...
Officers elected to lead Iowa Farm Bureau’s young farmer program
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer Advisory Committee elected officer positions for 2024-25: Chair: Zac Preston, Warren County Vice Chair: Megan McAllister, Dubuque County Secretary: Mitchell Sievers, Buena Vista County Public Relations Co-Chairs: Alyssa...
Secretary Vilsack announces DFAP program
Yesterday, the Biden administration announced it has issued payments to eligible applicants under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP), which aims to provide financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners...
Floods leading to enhanced weed and disease pressure
This year will be remembered for the staggering amounts of rain that we received over the course of the growing season. While the weather itself caused plenty of damage, there are going to be more issues in the future from the flooding that occurred from the rain....
Farm Progress Show field demonstrations will showcase the newest ag innovations
The Farm Progress Show returns to Boone Iowa August 27th-29th and this year’s show will once again feature live field demonstrations. The show rotates host sites between Boone and Decatur Illinois and in 2022 poor weather did not allow for field demonstrations at the...
U.S. pork industry fueling jobs and economic growth
The U.S. Pork Industry has a significant impact on America’s agricultural and overall economy. The National Pork Producers Council released a new economic contribution report detailing the impact. Holly Cook, an economist for the NPPC, talked about the main takeaways....
Secretary Naig announces new Choose Iowa food purchasing pilot program
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the launch of the Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Program – Food Bank Pilot. The pilot program, which was authorized during the 2024 legislative session and is an initiative of the state’s Choose Iowa Program, aims...
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ICA CEO had an exciting first year in new position
Just as the cattle industry as a whole is always changing, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association has also seen plenty of change this year. This includes the CEO position, where Bryan Whaley has stepped in and led the organization over the past year. Speaking at the annual...
Using data to provide more accurate crop insurance coverage
Crop insurance is a valuable tool for farms across the country, but imprecise data collection and record keeping can limit what a producer gets from their coverage. Nick Lewitt is a precision ag specialist with RCIS and he says that accurate data can allow a farmer to...
U.S. Export Sales Report (12-12-24)
We’ve been seeing high-performing export sales for several weeks now, but this week’s report brought some weaker numbers. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said both corn and soybeans were a little disappointing. While the number of flash sales has dropped off,...
Secretary Naig announces the expansion of cattle and conservation working lands project
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is expanding its popular Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Project into Adams County, the eighth county to join the project. The southwest Iowa...
Purina committed to raising resilient calves
Getting our livestock off to the best start possible is the goal of every livestock producer. The better the start they have, the better the chance to have to produce their best. This is especially true when it comes to the cattle markets. Prices are at historic...
