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Adjustments to the soybean balance sheets in USDA April WASDE report
The monthly WASDE reports from USDA provide a snapshot of the current state of U.S. and World Soybean Supply and Demand Estimates. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski notes the changes to the U.S. domestic use numbers in the April WASDE report. The season ending average price for beans was adjusted 10 cents higher than March with the price now at $10.30 per bushel. Jekanowski also provides updates to world soybean production supply and use. Jekanowski details some of the...
Raising healthy and productive dairy heifers
Heifers are one of the most valuable assets for a dairy operation. They are the future of the milking herd and, ultimately, determine the profitability and longevity of your business. Dr. Rebecca Klopp, a calf and heifer specialist with Purina Animal Nutrition, talked...
SNAP error rate alarms Senator Ernst and other lawmakers
SNAP payment error and fraud rates have alarmed U.S. lawmakers and further fueled the food stamp spending fight, central to writing the new farm bill. The total SNAP fiscal year 2022 error rate of 11.5% prompted bipartisan response from the four Ag panel leaders, who...
New ASF variant found in China
Chinese scientists say they?ve identified what appears to be a new strain of the African Swine Fever virus working its way through three counties in the country. A paper published in the journal Nature Communications says the new virus appears to be a hybrid of the...
Prop 12 could be the first step onto a slippery slope
Prop 12 was supposed to go into effect on Saturday, but the state of California has added a six-month extended window for producers to be compliant with the rule. It also gives Congress six more months to try and find a solution.Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig weighed in...
Precision agriculture in dairy herds
Whether it?s applied in a corn field or the nation?s dairy barns, precision technology is reshaping the agriculture industry for the better. From genomic technology to robotic milking systems, electronic identification tags to activity monitors, innovation is...
Important FSA deadlines nearing
It's that time of year where a lot of important deadlines are approaching. Carl Josefy, a county Farm Service Agency Executive Director from Oklahoma, said producers need to be aware of a few upcoming deadlines.?We?ve got a hard deadline coming up on July 17th,?...
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Unverferth completes facility addition at Shell Rock plant
Unverferth Manufacturing has added a 5,000-square-foot facility complete with major renovations and top-of-the-line upgrades at its plant in Shell Rock, Iowa. Communications Manager Jerry Ecklund said this addition will help to streamline the production process. This...
AFBF adopts policy supporting AM radio in vehicles
Delegates of The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) adopted policy to support the continued inclusion of AM radios in vehicles. On Tuesday, the AFBF set the 2024 policy direction for the organization at the conclusion of the 2024 Farm Bureau Annual Convention in...
Iowa Senate bill would support small grocers
A bill introduced last week in the Iowa Senate seeks to provide resources to small grocery store owners fighting to keep their stores open amidst economic and workforce challenges and competition from big box retailers. The legislation would create the Grocer...
Beef on Dairy crossbreeding offers another option in beef production
The demand for beef remains high in the United States. Supplies are tight after drought conditions forced the culling of many herds. As we are working to rebuild the supply, producers are looking at all kinds of options as they come back. Purina is talking about one...
South American Weather and Crop Update (1-23-24)
Parts of Brazil are getting some nice rains finally, but there is still some lingering dryness. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the current weather conditions in South America. McBride said there’s also a chance for rain in the longer term,...
