Top Stories
Fertilizer prices climbing higher once again
Fertilizer prices appear to be on the rise again. While they have not hit the record high they reached in 2022, Faith Parum, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said some products, like phosphates, are climbing higher. Parum said there are two main factors driving up the cost of fertilizer for farmers and ranchers. Parum said the best way to prepare for increased input costs is to keep an eye on the market and be ready to pivot with changing conditions. For more information,...
Concerns over Mississippi River levels as harvest approaches
There's continued evidence that we may once again experience some low water conditions on the lower Mississippi River this fall. The prospects for restricted barge transportation this fall may come as a surprise for many given the healthy amounts of rainfall...
Rural veterinarian shortages draw federal attention
Rural America is built on small towns where life often looks a little different from what it does in big cities. We know the trade-offs, and for the most part, we accept them. Having fewer shopping options is a small inconvenience, while limited broadband has long...
CLAAS breaks ground on new Midwest facility
Today, CLAAS broke ground on a new 44,800 square foot Research and Development Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The facility will add new jobs and support the local economy in an area that is already very familiar with CLAAS, as the new building is being constructed on the...
PQA Plus program helps build trust with consumers
The Pork Quality Assurance® Plus, or PQA Plus®, program helps pig farmers and their employees continually improve animal care practices. Illinois pork producer Paul Ayers says the industry reevaluates the PQA program every three years to ensure it stays relevant,...
USDA announces efforts to increase rural veterinarians
There is a shortage of rural veterinarians in the United States and the low numbers are creating issues for animal health in rural areas. On Thursday Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new plan designed to increase the number of veterinarians in rural America....
Fresh pork expected to be more price-competitive with beef and chicken
A National Pork Board report expects pork to be even more price-competitive with beef and chicken during the fall. The pork supply continues to fall short of expectations. In the last month, slaughter is down 3.3 percent, and when combined with the decline in weights,...
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Secretary Naig announces inaugural statewide Choose Iowa farm open house
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that Choose Iowa will host its inaugural statewide Choose Iowa Farm Open House on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13-14. This two-day event coincides with the Iowa Barn Foundation's (IBF) Fall All-State Barn Tour....
Butter prices plunge despite strong export demand
After a brief stretch of optimism, the dairy sector is once again under pressure, with butter prices sliding to their lowest levels since 2021. Just last year, strong demand and high prices gave producers hope that a rebound was underway, but the momentum has quickly...
Southern Rust has exploded in many Iowa fields
Southern Rust has exploded in many Iowa corn fields this year, and farmers who did not treat their fields beforehand are feeling the pain. Kurt Maertens, BASF technical service representative in Eastern Iowa, said that, while no fungicide is able to perfectly handle...
Beef-on-dairy sector growing in popularity
Many industry experts say the beef-on-dairy sector is booming, as are efforts to make these cows as profitable as possible for producers. Laurence Williams, Dairy-Beef Cross Development Lead at Purina, said genetics are an important component when it comes to the best...
Making tough decisions on fall fertilizer
As the harvest season approaches farmers are preparing to make tough decisions on fertilizer. With phosphorus and potassium prices high, some growers might be tempted to pull back on fertilizer but that can be a rash decision that can lead to problems in the future....
