Top Stories
Feeding the Economy report shows agriculture’s impact
Each year, the Feeding the Economy Report measures the downstream, off-the-farm economic impact of U.S. agriculture. Danny Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the report tracks three layers of impact. Munch said when you combine those layers, ag supports about $10.4 trillion in economic output, or about one-fifth of the entire U.S. economy. With the overall farm economy struggling, Munch said it’s vital to highlight the broad economic importance of agriculture in...
Senator Grassley optimistic about 2023 farm bill deadline
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa holds a weekly conference call with ag broadcasters and reporters. This week Senator Grassley was asked if he thinks a farm bill can be completed and agreed upon by September of 2023 or whether the deadline will have to be...
Ag Innovation Challenge seeking top entrepreneurs
The American Farm Bureau Federation?s (AFBF) Ag Innovation Challenge is looking for entrepreneurs and innovators for the 2024 edition of the contest, which is a business-based competition designed to showcase startups in the U.S. Chase Hieneman, director of industry...
Farmers moving forward after Ohio train disaster
By now you have heard about the derailment of a train in eastern Ohio last month. The twisted metal and fire not only sent shockwaves through the area it happened in, but those shockwaves created ripples throughout the world. All eyes have been on our government and...
South American Weather and Crop Update (2-28-23)
While the rains here in Iowa have been helpful, the rains in Brazil have done more harm than good. Harvest has been delayed- which means planting is delayed too- and farmers are worried about missing the optimal planting conditions. Allendale commodity broker Greg...
Senator Grassley voices CRP concerns
The Senate Committee On Agriculture will hold a farm bill hearing Wednesday regarding conservation programs including the conservation reserve program or CRP.Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley says that President Biden?s executive order, which is commonly referred to as...
Drought monitor finally sees significant improvement
Heading into this winter, there were a lot of questions about the drought conditions. We didn?t get nearly enough precipitation before the ground froze, so it looked like those heavy moisture deficits were going to stick around until spring. However, we?ve had a very...
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More Ag News
The return of avian influenza in commercial poultry
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in a commercial flock in South Dakota, the first this fall and of course as consumers we think about possible egg shortages. For producers, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig encouraging “everyone to...
August pork exports powered by Mexico’s record import pace
August pork exports totaled 226,519 metric tons. Led by Mexico and its record pace of imports. Kelli Wicks, manager of international market development with the National Pork Board, compared the five-year and three-year averages for value of U.S. pork. Wicks says that...
Secretary Naig announces Wright County water quality project
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has formed a partnership with Wright County and the Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District to launch the first phase of the Boone River...
Dairy Checkoff’s Pizza Partnerships moving “extra cheese”
When you think about a piping hot pizza, what is one of the first things you notice? If you said the melted cheese, we can be friends. If you didn’t, then please read on and I will explain to you why you were wrong. Nothing beats that warm piece of pizza and the...
IFBF launches cash bid comparison tool for members
Recently, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation launched their online Cash Bid Search tool, which allows farmers to see cash bids for corn and soybeans within a 60-mile radius on a 10-minute delay. Zach Brummer, IFBF’s farmer education program manager, said the tool has...
