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Midwest’s premier dairy conference is happening next month
One of the longest-running dairy nutrition conferences in the country will take place again this year from June 3-4 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference- a collaboration between the extension services of Iowa State University, the University of Illinois, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Wisconsin- aims to challenge current industry standards and provide insight into herd health and efficiency. Fred Hall, Northwest Iowa extension...
Increased borrowing for land purchases expected in 2024
It is often said that farmers are “asset-rich and cash poor.” Nowhere is this more obvious than when it comes to land. It is the most important asset that a farmer has. Without land, nothing else can be accomplished, whether it is grain or livestock production. It is...
Like humans, cattle perform best with low stress
Cattle are very similar to humans in some regards- they prefer having a set routine, and they are much less productive when they are stressed. And especially when it comes to cattle production, several simultaneous stressors can have an exponentially worse effect on...
South American Weather and Crop Update (12-12-23)
Last week’s WASDE saw cuts to Brazil’s production and no changes to Argentina, and the nearby forecasts back up those decisions. Argentina is getting plenty of rain, but key areas of Brazil are still thirsty for moisture. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave...
Ag exports, imports down in 2023 as values declined
Last year inflation and higher values led to increases in both export and import numbers. USDA Economist Bart Kenner tells USDA Radio that 2023 has seen a different trend through the first ten months of the year. Kenner says ag imports are down by 2%, while exports...
Senator Grassley calls for reforms in a new Farm Bill
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) called on Senate and House leadership to address several important topics in writing a new farm bill. They’re asking leaders to address the impacts of inflation, waste in farm and nutrition programs, and...
Turning watermelons and their waste into plastic
Agriculture is known for its innovation. It is about finding new uses for the things we produce and finding ways to use more of our biproducts and cast-offs, so we can cut down on product waste. It is in that spirit that we are hearing about a breakthrough in which...
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Midwest Dairy seeking candidates for the 71st Iowa Dairy Princess
During this Dairy Month, Midwest Dairy’s Iowa Division is looking for candidates to serve as the 71st annual Iowa Dairy Princess. Heidi Lantzky, Iowa Dairy Princess Program Coordinator, said the Iowa Dairy Princess serves as the official goodwill ambassador for the...
South American Weather and Crop Update (6-4-24)
Much of South America is dry again this week. This is good news for farmers who are looking to wrap up harvest and receive some flood relief. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather patterns. First crop corn harvest is pretty well...
New USDA digital cattle market data tool available soon
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says USDA is preparing to launch a new market data tool for cattle producers called the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) Live Cattle Data Dashboard. The new digital tool for cattle producers will give users the ability to access...
USDA proposes next steps to fairer markets and transparency
The USDA announced the next steps it’s proposing to address the many complex competition issues in agricultural markets and create a fairer playing field for poultry growers and farmers. USDA is proposing the rule “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital...
NASDA addressing some of Ag’s top concerns
We know that there are a lot of things that are being juggled around in the ag industry. There are a lot of policies that are being made or stalling in Washington, that farmers need to have certainty about. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture...
