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Naig says Iowa agriculture needs stability in uncertain cycle
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says farmers and agribusinesses across the state are facing growing pressure from multiple directions, including higher operating costs, workforce challenges, and continued uncertainty in the broader farm economy. Speaking this week in Des Moines, Naig said many operations are feeling squeezed as expenses remain high and margins tighten, a situation he described as feeling like death by a thousand cuts. He said those pressures extend beyond the farm gate...
Wyffels talks planting dates and yields
With planting off to a slow start across much of the Midwest, many Iowa farmers are starting to worry about losing yields when harvest comes around. The Wyffels Agronomy Team has been getting calls and messages about planting dates how it will correlate to overall...
South American markets present opportunities for U.S. pork
The National Pork Board?s strategy of diversifying their international marketing portfolio shows that South America is a lucrative opportunity with a consumer base that prefers pork. Courtney Knupp is the Vice President of International Market Development, and she...
USDA accepts 2 million acres in offers through CRP general signup
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting more than 2 million acres in offers from agricultural producers and landowners through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup, which included more than...
Pork Checkoff helps students by funding hands on research
The better we can understand hogs, the better we will be able to unlock their potential and take better care of them. To do that we have to have veterinary students who are willing to learn all they can about the livestock we raise. They need to have the tools that...
Governor Reynolds soon to sign Biofuels Access Bill
After two years of meetings, negotiations, and legislating, the Biofuels Access Bill is ready to be signed by Governor Kim Reynolds. This legislation is offering more access to E15 to consumers. Now the bill was not without its opposition, but Iowa Renewable Fuels...
South American Weather and Crop Update (5-3-22)
Dry weather has continued to harass the crops in South America, especially since some of them are still in crucial growing periods. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said we will likely see lower production estimates in the next CONAB report as a result.McBride...
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Warmer winter temps will define this February
The soils are still completely frozen, so not much has changed when it comes to drought conditions. Since we started this winter with such heavy drought conditions, we?re counting on building and maintaining a snowpack that can give us a head start on our moisture...
Rising water levels on the Mississippi but supply chain issues persist
The water levels of the Mississippi River reached historic lows in the fall of 2022, causing barge traffic to slow and back up without deep enough water to navigate the river. Since then we have seen water levels rise but by how much?The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers...
There may be some headwinds in the cattle market yet
When you look at the cattle prices, you have to feel pretty good overall. Markets seem to be favoring producers. They are able to hold out until the packers are paying what they want. While inputs and feed costs are higher as well, you should still be able to make...
USTR establishes second trade dispute panel on dairy access to Canada
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai this week established the second U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement dispute panel regarding access to Canada?s dairy market. Dave Salmonsen, American Farm Bureau Federation Senior Government Affairs Director, said the case stems from...
NPPC reacts to first senate ag farm bill hearing
The National Pork Producers Council applauded the first farm bill hearing in the 118th Congress. The organization is pleased the Senate Ag Committee is taking up issues important to the pork industry. In 2021, the U.S. exported 8.1 billion dollars worth of pork to...
