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Previewing President Trump’s visit to China and ag trade topics
United States President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, the President of China, are scheduled to meet this week in Beijing. The meetings will take place on May 14th and 15th with the two sides expected to discuss trade and tariffs, the conflict in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, and energy and supply chains. From an ag perspective all focus will be on the ag trade discussion between the two world leaders. Joe Camp of Commstock Investments tells the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network that United...
Bayer agronomist talks about strategies for 2024 growing season
The weather has been throwing us for a loop in agriculture. Whether you are an advocate of permanent climate change, climate cycles, or just luck of the draw; you know that something is going on. No matter what is causing it, we have to be prepared to navigate it to...
Expiration of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would hurt family farms
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a comprehensive tax cut package enacted in 2017. Dustin Sherer, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau, says it’s important legislation for farmers and ranchers. A new Economic Research Service report shows that if the...
Effects of the Tyson plant closure on the hog industry
It was announced this week that Tyson plans to shut down another food production facility—this time, a pork production plant in Perry, Iowa. That plant has nearly 1,300 employees and kills about 8,000 head a day. Karl Setzer with Consus Ag Consulting said that, while...
What would return of La Niña weather pattern mean for growers?
The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center this week announced that it foresees a transition from El Niño to ENSO-neutral by April-June 2024 (83% chance), with the odds of La Niña developing by June-August 2024 (62% chance). Typically, the La Niña pattern...
Secretary Naig encourages Iowans to celebrate Iowa ag week
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today encouraged all Iowans to celebrate Iowa Ag Week from Sunday, March 17 through Saturday, March 23. The weeklong statewide celebration, which includes National Ag Day on March 19, will highlight the immense importance of...
Some lawmakers believe a Farm Bill is still possible
The Farm Bill question is a hot topic as we have discussed in the past few months. There is a lot of worry and concern that the clock is ticking and both sides of the political spectrum have dug their feet in so hard, that politics is going to affect the biggest piece...
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Pro Farmer Crop Tour saw lower day one results than last year
The results from the first day of Pro-Farmer’s annual Midwest Crop Tour are lower than last year. About a thousand scouts- including our own Andy Petersen- headed out into Midwestern corn and soybean fields on Monday to objectively determine the final projections....
Many fields in southwest Iowa are looking outstanding
With some pretty cooperative weather during pollination, the fields in southwest Iowa are mostly looking great as we approach the end of the crop year. Southwest Iowa Beck’s Agronomist Nate Meyer said that, while some areas could use some rain, he’s very pleased with...
Farm Progress Show ready for the latest and greatest in agriculture
The Farm Progress Show will take place Tuesday August 27th-Thursday August 29th at the Farm Progress Show site in Boone Iowa. FPS media day was held on Wednesday to showcase the newest attractions at the show along with the final preparations being made for the...
Food Bank of Iowa receives 6,000 pounds of food from ISF vendors
Sixteen Iowa State Fair vendors have donated 6,000 pounds of surplus food to Food Bank of Iowa at the close of this year’s fair. (That’s half of last year’s 12,000 pounds, but not surprising given the fair attracted an all-time record number of visitors this year:...
Fertilizer outlook is less than rosy for fall 2024
Input costs are higher than ever, and with a grain market settling back lower, that is not happy news. There have also been issues with supply chains and obtaining what we need to be successful in any crop year. Where this really hurts is when it comes to inputs we...
