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Tracking fertilizer costs since the beginning of the conflict in Iran
Fertilizer prices have climbed sharply following the outbreak of conflict involving Iran, raising concerns about higher production costs for U.S. farmers in the years ahead. Analysts say nitrogen fertilizers have seen the largest increases due to disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global fertilizer supplies. According to recent University of Illinois production cost data, anhydrous ammonia prices jumped from an average of $828 per ton before the conflict to...
Market reactions didn’t match February WASDE numbers
Today’s WASDE report was very bearish, particularly in the soybean markets, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at how the market prices closed. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride detailed the numbers from this month’s report. Those numbers would normally...
Football fans cooking 1.4 billion chicken wings for the Super Bowl
One of the largest years for NFL viewership (thanks, Swifties) is culminating in a Super Bowl matchup this Sunday between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. Lots of eyes on the game means lots of mouths to feed, and many consumers turn to a classic...
US leading the effort in ASF vaccine development
Foreign animal disease is an ever-present worry for livestock producers in the United States. Foreign animal disease prevention and mitigation measures have been implemented throughout the livestock industry to give producers a leg up in the fight against potential...
USDA predicts large decline in farm income
USDA’s Economic Research Service forecasts that U.S. net cash farm income will decrease by $42.2 billion, or 25.8 percent, to $121.7 billion in 2024 in inflation-adjusted dollars. This is after net farm cash income decreased in 2023 by a forecast of $50.2 billion to...
Senator Ernst discusses bill on eggs and substitutes
As we see more choices showing up on grocery store shelves, consumers start to ask about what products are what. In many cases, they are taking what they read on the label as a genuine representation of the products they want to purchase. With the increase of products...
Food Bank of Iowa receives unique donation from Utah
Today, the Utah Farm Bureau Federation’s Miracle of Agriculture Foundation, in partnership with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, donated nearly 3,000 food boxes to Iowa’s six Feeding America food banks. Food Bank of Iowa CEO Michelle Book said it’s a...
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More Ag News
Iowa crop progress and condition report
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and...
How are conservation practices handling floods?
When we talk about conservation projects for our fields, we are often sold on what it can do to clean up the water and prevent soil erosion by wind and water. As we have witnessed through the spring and early summer, large amounts of rain have fallen across much of...
Navigating the biological marketplace
Biologicals are among the many new tools farmers can use on their farms. But with any new products, it’s important to make sure you’re getting something of a high quality that will provide the maximum benefit for your farm. Jacob Parnell, head agronomist at Biome...
Real Pork Trust Consortium brings information to consumers
The Real Pork Trust Consortium is a team of academia striving to listen to and answer consumer questions about pork and pork production. Nick Gabler, an animal science professor at Iowa State University, talked about the Real Pork Consortium and what it addresses. The...
Cattle on feed report offers no clear answers on herd contraction
Overall numbers of beef cattle in the United States remain historically low. The USDA published the latest Cattle on Feed report on Friday but the report did not clear up the future of the cattle herd. The latest Cattle on Feed report from USDA shows that placements...
