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Farmers have a positive impact on urban health
The crops grown in rural America are having a positive impact on the largest urban areas of the United States. Heather Buechter, director of communications for Clean Fuels Alliance America, said the fuels made from crops like soybeans are significantly improving the air quality in America’s largest cities. Buechter said crops grown in rural America make a remarkably big impact on the health of America’s urban residents. For more information, visit cleanfuels.org.
Mixed bag in recent USDA Ag Trade Outlook
USDA?s June Ag Trade Outlook showed a significant drop in U.S. exports from the February report. U.S. ag exports are forecast at $181 billion for fiscal year 2023, down $3.5 billion from expectations in the February forecast. Veronica Nigh, senior economist with the...
West Coast labor dispute slows port operations
Contract negotiations between West Coast longshoremen and container terminal operators faced a breakdown Friday as work stoppages effectively closed the Port of Oakland and slowed operations up and down the coast. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said the...
Be prepared for anything in your marketing plan
After Friday?s explosion in grain prices, you might be feeling pretty good about your chances to increase some profit margins with this year?s crop. While we all know that no yield is official until it is in the bin, no price forecast is official until all the...
Reinstatement of grain indemnity fund assessment moved to September 1
DES MOINES, Iowa (June 2, 2023) ? As a result of Governor Reynolds signing House File 666 yesterday, the reinstatement of fees on grain sold to or deposited at Iowa-licensed grain dealers and warehouses as part of the Iowa Grain Depositors and Sellers Indemnity Fund...
U.S. Export Sales Report (6-2-23)
This week?s export sales weren?t as negative as what we?ve been seeing recently. Overall, there are some pretty interesting things happening in the export markets. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride provided an update on the latest export numbers from the...
Protection from the sun is an important part of farm safety
Working in production agriculture means a lot of time in the sun during the growing season. In recent years, more farmers are taking into consideration the harmful effects of failing to protect themselves from the sun. Including the risks of skin cancer.Devon...
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U.S., Brazil competitive balance in soybeans
The U.S. and Brazil are major competitors when it comes to exporting soybeans around the world. USDA’s Economic Research Service did a comparison study to figure out how changes in factors underlying production, marketing costs, and infrastructure might affect export...
A year-end message from Secretary Naig
As we take stock of 2023, there are things to be proud of. There are those moments where we persevered through adversity in weather, trade, markets, and the Federal Government’s lethargy. There are things that the farmers in Iowa can be proud of, like the strides we...
Wrapping up the ag markets at the end of 2023
The final two weeks of the calendar year are always quiet in the ag marketplace, and that was no different this year. Bill Moore, senior account executive with The PRICE Futures Group, said many traders have used the opportunity to even themselves out for the new...
Pork industry facing uncertainty as Prop 12 takes effect in 2024
California’s Prop 12 goes into effect with the new year on January 1. It becomes California state law during a time of already great uncertainty in the pork market. American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Bernt Nelson said that’s on top of some already bearish pork...
Finding the benefits of lower nitrogen usage
One of the obvious benefits of lower synthetic nitrogen usage is, of course, lower input costs, but there are environmental benefits as well. Jim Kelly, Director of Business Development with Pivot Bio, said their N-OVATOR program helps to measure that impact and...
