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Farmers get less than six cents of every dollar spent on food
Data from the U.S. Economic Research Service’s Food Dollar Series provides a clear picture of how consumer food spending is distributed across the U.S. food supply chain. The latest estimates show that crop producers capture about 2.5 cents of every food dollar, down from 2.9 cents in 2023. Livestock producers receive about 3.3 cents, up from three cents a year earlier. Combined, U.S. farmers and ranchers account for about 5.8 cents of the total value added in the food system, down from 5.9...
Get your Census of Ag filled out and returned
You have certainly seen the USDA?s Census of Agriculture waiting for you to fill out and return. You have likely heard ag media, ourselves included, reminding you to get this information filled out and sent back. The deadline is now less than a week away. Your...
South American Weather and Crop Update (1-31-23)
Argentina dried out a bit over the weekend, causing some strength in the U.S. grain markets. Later forecasts, however, show rain returning to the area. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride provided an update on the latest weather patterns for Brazil and...
Increasing livestock profitability through optimized feed plans
Producers are always searching for ways to raise livestock more efficiently and profitably.Dr. Jim Smith a senior technical swine nutritionist with Kent Feeds, recently spoke at the Iowa Pork Congress revealing the results of a recent study with an optimized feed plan...
NCGA prioritizing crop insurance funds in next Farm Bill
As lawmakers in Washington focus on the debt ceiling and federal spending, there are concerns about the direction and funding for this year?s new federal farm bill, as the current farm bill is set expire in late September. Bradley Schad, CEO of Missouri Corn ? which...
Reynolds joins 24 governors in joint letter opposing revised WOTUS definition
Yesterday, Gov. Reynolds and 24 other governors sent a joint letter to President Joe Biden voicing their opposition to a new rule regarding the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the revised definition of Water of the United States (WOTUS).?The WOTUS definition has been under...
Midwest Dairy has a new focus in the new year
As we are now one month down in 2023, we are gearing up for another great growing season. However, livestock knows no season, and organizations and producers use the flip of the yearly calendar to renew their commitments to the various industries for which our animals...
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More Ag News
Extension can’t be ruled out for farm bill
In August at the Iowa State Fair, United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) told the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network that he was optimistic that a new farm bill would be completed in time. However, during his weekly ag conference call with reporters on Tuesday...
USDA data shows crop improvement R&D spending expanding
Total research and development spending on crop improvement by the seven largest seed companies increased from less than $2 billion in 1990 to more than $6.5 billion by 2021. USDA’s Economic Research Service reports the spending closely tracks with increases in...
Iowa soybean production mythbusting
Busting myths as they relate to Iowa Agricultural production potentially this growing season. With the extremely dry weather, soybean yields will be key. Certainly things are changing in production row crop agriculture in Iowa. The old norm of course was plant the...
Lawmakers ask FDA to enforce their own rules AGAIN
We have been talking at length for years about what constitutes a dairy product. First, it was products made from nuts such as almonds and cashews. Then, it was other products such as oats and rice. Many of us still wonder where it is you actually milk these products,...
RFA says EPA’s science advisory board missed the mark with ethanol comments
In late August the Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board released a report which downplayed the climate benefits of corn ethanol. The ethanol industry immediately responded with vocal disagreement to the report. Geoff Cooper is president & CEO...
