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Egg prices ease as poultry producers prepare for spring wildfowl migration
A report from the American Farm Bureau has good news for egg buyers. Egg prices have dropped sharply as production recovers from volatility caused by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza infections. While detections in January and February rose sharply, with over 15 million birds infected, it’s still 56 percent fewer birds infected than at the same time last year. Detections slowed in March, reflecting producer progress in managing the outbreak. USDA is urging farmers to be vigilant with...
35th World Pork Expo offers great opportunities for producers
It is only a few weeks away. Thousands of people from all over the globe will descend on the Iowa State Fairgrounds for the 35th World Pork Expo. The event runs from June 7-9 and offers educational forums, the latest in pork production technology, and always great...
Balanced crop nutrition key to a quality growing season
As much as 60 percent of a crop?s yield depends on soil fertility. Curt Woolfolk is the senior manager of crop nutrition technologies for The Mosaic Company and he says balanced crop nutrition is a key to grower success every year.Woolfolk says that performance...
Lack of West Coast port labor contract creates uncertainty for U.S. red meat
West Coast Longshoremen and terminal operators started negotiations on a new labor contract on May 10, 2022. The talks have continued for more than a year without resolution, and port workers have been without a contract for 10 months. While the situation is not...
Rural caregivers face mental health challenges too
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Rural Minds and the National Grange Society held a webinar discussing the challenges facing caregivers in rural America. Those mental health challenges often get overlooked. Brittnee Henry is a communications and marketing...
State report shows biodiesel blends gain ground in Iowa
The availability of biodiesel blends at the pump continues to expand in Iowa, making up 70 percent of reported on-road diesel sales in the state in 2022. That?s according to the latest Retailers Fuel Gallons Report from the Iowa Department of Revenue, which keeps...
Senate Ag Chair Stabenow talks Farm Bill
Last week, we heard from House Ag Committee Chair G.T. Thompson about where he saw the progress of the Farm Bill that is being renewed this year. He seemed to be in a positive frame of mind that they can get it done. Today, we will continue to get that outlook from...
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More Ag News
Proper range and pasture management makes a difference
It is easy to see how range and pasture management could get put on the back burner of a cattle operation. After all, as long as Mother Nature is not in a bad mood, your pasture ground is going to fill out with grasses for forage on its own. However, that only tells a...
Applications open for $2,500 renewable Iowa Farm Bureau scholarship
High school students who plan to pursue an agricultural major or minor after their 2024 graduation are encouraged to apply for Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s $2,500 scholarship. Awarded to 27 students, this scholarship is renewable for four years, up to $10,000. “The...
Midwest Dairy promoting milk sales at Dollar General stores
Midwest Dairy and Dollar General have joined together for a new promotional effort to increase demand for dairy products and build trust with consumers. Martha Kemper, vice president of dairy experience with Midwest Dairy, said the partnership is a unique and exciting...
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...
