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Findings from April Cattle on Feed Report
The Cattle on Feed Reports from USDA provide a look at the inventory of cattle in feedlots throughout the United States. The April Cattle on Feed Report shows another year over year decrease according to USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell. McConnell points out that total inventory was slightly down compared to last year. He also details some of the trends from the April report. McConnell states that the trend of feeding cattle to heavier finishing weights is continuing. The next USDA...
Did the Hurricane Idalia help the ag situation in the southeast?
When you get the chance to chat with some of your fellow farm broadcasters at one time or another, you always learn a little something that is happening in their neck of the woods. It always helps to put all the pieces together in our outlook for how the year is going...
AFB says WTO needed to rule against China ag tariffs
An American Farm Bureau official says even if it is tough getting China to comply with a WTO ruling against its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports five years ago, it was the right decision. AFBF Trade Advisor Dave Salmonsen says whether or not China complies, it’s...
CoBank: drought, heat threaten soybean crop at a critical stage
Prolonged drought and record heat are threatening soybean yields in several key growing states across the Midwest. With most of the soybean crop still in the critical pod-setting phase that depends on August moisture, persistent dry conditions are lowering yield...
Telling the story of ag and tractor pulling
Understanding the consumer through his or her own eyes, our end users of the products – the consumers of food of course – and their take on what happens out in the countryside without knowledge of production. You’ll generally find Kyle Jackson, dressed in his famous...
West Coast Longshoreman ratify new port labor contract
Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which represents dockworkers at all U.S. West Coast ports, have voted to ratify a tentative contract agreement reached in mid-June. The six-year agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2022, and runs...
U.S. fruit producers losing to China because of “UnPear” trade practices
We don’t get to talk about fruits and vegetables all that much, because it is just not a major component of the agriculture industry in our state. However, all of us eat, and we like to enjoy the fruits and vegetables that are grown by our fellow ag producers in more...
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USDA: Iowa leads all states in hog production
New data confirms Iowa is the top producer of hogs in the United States, with about $10.9 billion in cash receipts in 2022, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service. Cash receipts represent the value of sales of hogs by farmers to processors or final users....
National Ag Day to be celebrated next week
March 19th is National Ag Day. It’s a celebration of the hard work and dedication of American farmers to feed the world. Increasingly we are finding ourselves having to educate our consumers and defend against slanted misinformation. The day is a great way to also...
Nitrogen stabilization key for spring application
A very mild fall and winter allowed for plenty of early nitrogen work to be done, which has set up an interesting planting season. Andrew Luzum, nutrient maximizer specialist with Corteva Agriscience, gave an update on how the soil is faring heading into this spring....
Ag secretary’s CCC spending discretion limited in bill
The USDA spending bill that President Biden just signed for the rest of this fiscal year limits the Ag Secretary’s discretion in spending funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation, which is USDA’s financing institution. The Ag spending bill requires the Secretary to...
AM radio supports quality of life in rural America
AM radio is a critical to rural America, according to National Farmers Union President Rob Larew. Speaking at the NFU annual convention this week, Larew said automakers shouldn’t limit access to information. “In terms of like emergency information and getting the word...
