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R-CALF says imports hinder herd growth
The U.S. cattle herd remains at its lowest level in decades, leaving beef supplies historically tight and raising questions about when producers will begin expanding their herds. While economists often point to cattle prices, forage conditions, and producer profitability as key factors in rebuilding the herd, R-CALF USA says trade policy and imported beef also play a significant role. R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard says the United States has steadily increased its reliance on imported beef over...
Most Iowa crops are entering the middle of the season in excellent condition
There haven't been too many road blocks for the crops in Iowa this year. While some storms have been severe, the plentiful weather events have provided plenty of rain. Landus Cooperative Technical Agronomist Dan Bjorklund said he has seen varying corn heights across...
New World Screwworm influence in the ag markets
The initial reaction in the ag marketplace to the first detection of New World Screwworm in a calf in south Texas in early June was a bit surprising to many market analysts. Generally, a negative headline can send the markets to the downside in a dramatic way, at...
Secretary Naig announces 11 Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grants during dairy month
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that 11 Iowa dairy farms and businesses have been awarded Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grants. The announcement was made during a Dairy Month visit to Gav-n-view Farm near Lansing, one of this year's grant...
Getting the most out of reciprocal trade agreements
Recently, the USDA hosted a trade mission to Argentina and Ecuador. While the two markets are distinct from each other, they also have many similarities. USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg led the mission and said he was...
Soybean demand evolves beyond traditional export markets
Export markets have long been a cornerstone of demand growth for U.S. soybeans. As global populations expand and incomes rise, increasing protein consumption continues to create opportunities for soybean farmers. However, industry leaders say the future of soybean...
Neutral June WASDE report had little impact on grain prices
A few slight offsetting changes in the June World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report left the markets with very little to react to in Thursday’s trading session. That lines up with past years, though, as the June WASDE report is usually fairly...
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More Ag News
Grain markets anticipating two major USDA reports
This week will bring us two of the biggest USDA reports of the year- the June Quarterly Grain Stocks and Acreage reports. This gives us the first glance into what the 2026 crop should actually look like. Micheal Weidner, director of grain origination and producer...
Top takeaways from June Cattle on Feed Report
The June Cattle on Feed Report offers some of the latest trends from the cattle feedlots. USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell provides some details. McConnell explains why there are more cattle in feedlots than a year ago at this time and says a big reason is a...
Costs going higher in 2027
USDA's latest Commodity Cost and Returns report shows production expenses are expected to climb for every major crop in 2026 as global energy and fertilizer market disruptions continue to ripple through agriculture. The report follows months of volatility tied to...
Year-round E15 legislation is still in trouble
There are more warning signs that year-round E15 legislation is in trouble. Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin told USDA Secretary Rollins at a recent hearing that strong influence from interest groups is stalling year-round E15. According to Slotkin, there is...
Market effects of screwworm remain unclear
The discovery of New World Screwworm cases in Texas has prompted a series of restrictions on cattle movement, creating new questions about potential impacts on livestock markets. While animal health officials remain focused on containing the pest and preventing...
