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Western drought intensifies despite Midwest rainfall
Recent rainfall across Iowa and much of the eastern Midwest has helped improve soil moisture conditions heading into the growing season, but USDA Chief Meteorologist Brad Rippey says many areas farther west continue battling intensifying drought conditions. Speaking during a discussion in Washington, D.C., Rippey said drought still covers nearly two-thirds of the United States, with some of the worst conditions stretching across the Plains, the South, and parts of the western U.S. Rippey, who...
South American Weather and Crop Update (2-27-24)
A bit of dryness in the upcoming forecast, but that will actually help harvest progress to continue to move along. Allendale commodity broker Ben Breisch gave an update on the latest weather conditions. Breisch said that harvest and planting progress in Brazil is...
NCBA cites priorities for elusive farm bill
The cattle industry is the latest farm sector to weigh in on its priorities for the ever-elusive farm bill. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Policy Division Chair Kim Brackett says NCBA’s top policy priority is the farm bill. Brackett’s comments are similar to...
United States cattle on feed up slightly
USDA ended last week with the monthly Cattle on Feed Report showing slightly higher inventories on February 1. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.8 million. The inventory...
Congressman Nunn leads Iowa delegation letter to EPA to speed up E15
It only took the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) five or six hundred days passed their deadline to rule on an application of bipartisan Midwest governors, led by Iowa’s Kim Reynolds to let them use a provision under the Clean Air Act to allow these states to use...
AFBF: Congress needs to pass a new farm bill this year
Members of the American Farm Bureau Federation are asking Congress to pass the farm bill this year. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says it’s critical that Congress finishes a farm bill in 2024. Duvall said Farm Bureau members are sending a...
USMEF pursuing opportunities for U.S. beef in Angola
The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is leading a trade mission to Angola this week, and with the support of the Beef Checkoff Program, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Africa Representative Matt Copeland is participating. Copeland said that there are...
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More Ag News
Small businesses seeing excellent growth across the country
Small businesses are the backbone of agriculture and local rural economies, as they create jobs and keep money local while adapting to the needs of consumers. Over the past several years, there’s been an even greater shift towards supporting small businesses over...
Ag chemical price transparency report helps farmers find savings
Farmers Business Network is celebrating its tenth year in 2024 and as a network of farmers it is always striving to help farmers work together. One of the ways in which FBN helps farmers each year is with its ag chemical price transparency report that allows farmers...
Rural America can be tough for allergy sufferers
Approximately 81 million Americans are diagnosed with seasonal allergies or hay fever, which affects 26 percent of adults and 19 percent of children. In many rural areas across America, there are three waves of pollen allergy triggers throughout the growing season....
Liver flukes becoming a bigger problem in cattle
Previously an issue only cattle producers in the wet regions of the Gulf and Pacific Coasts had to deal with, liver flukes have become a worsening problem for beef herds across the country. Dr. Jody Wade, professional services veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim,...
Farm land values up five percent
USDA says the value of all farm real estate increased five percent compared to last year. The average price is $4,170 per acre, and that includes buildings and other facilities. Cropland values increased to $5,570 per acre from last year. That’s a jump of $350 per...
