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Ground pork gaining traction as a great option for daily meals
As the new year gets underway, there’s growing excitement around adding more protein to the plate. Momentum is building with the “Taste What Pork Can Do®” consumer brand campaign. José de Jesús, assistant vice president of consumer marketing with the National Pork Board, says ground pork is gaining traction as a flavorful whole-food option for everyday meals. Ground pork’s value is up 2.1 percent, and volume is up 3.9 percent year to date. De Jesús explained that Gen Z and millennial...
USTR holding public hearing on USMCA
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will hold a public hearing this week on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The hearing is in anticipation of a scheduled review of the trade pact set for next year. A keynote session of the U.S. Meat Export...
Secretary Naig welcomes applications for Choose Iowa value-added grants
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is accepting applications for the next round of Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants. The highly competitive cost-share grant expands access to Iowa-grown,...
Why animal movement matters in screwworm control
Last week, we focused on the on-farm threats posed by New World Screwworm and the small wounds that can serve as entry points for the fly. But the effort to keep the pest out of U.S. herds goes far beyond the pasture. There is an even bigger challenge tied to the...
Making plans to manage multiple crop threats
Every year, farmers have to deal with many different crop issues, whether it’s pests, diseases, or weeds. Some of these crop threats will even start to impact farmers all at the same time. Dave Hoy, agronomy division manager at LG Seeds, said managing multiple threats...
Midwest governors pushing for year-round E15
Several Midwest Governors collectively called on Congress to pass the Nationwide Consumer and Retailer Fuel Choice Act of 2025. It’s a bill that would allow the year-round, nationwide sale of E15. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe said the bill has bipartisan support. The...
Market macroeconomics going into 2026
During a presentation at the recent 2025 NAFB National Convention in Kansas City, Global Commodity Analytics President Mike Zuzolo discussed some of the biggest macroeconomic factors affecting the markets going into 2026. Zuzolo says that oversupply of some key...
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More Ag News
Ag Economy Barometer survey findings on farmer financial assistance intentions
The recent farmer bridge payment announcement from the White House and USDA is a welcome relief for farmers. Although the payments are not a permanent fix to any of the financial problems farmers face, they do help to provide assistance during the trade war with...
CoBank: Forces shaping the 2026 rural economy
A new CoBank Report on the forces shaping the economy in 2026 says ample grain supplies will likely continue burdening the markets in 2026. Global grain and oilseed markets are still oversupplied, but increased biofuels production and improving export conditions are...
Early beans, late rust, and a year full of surprises
You could not plan for the 2025 growing season. Farmers across Iowa saw everything from once-in-a-decade disease pressure to long stretches of uncooperative weather, along with a planting window that turned upside down more than once. Brad Gibson of Channel Seeds...
Farmers still struggling to find enough farm labor
Finding enough labor to get the work done on the farm and navigating the regulations for the workforce have become increasingly troublesome in recent years. Mike Stranz, Vice President of Advocacy for the National Farmers Union, said reform is more important now than...
Iowa Farm Bureau members gather for 107th annual meeting
Iowa Farm Bureau members gathered in Des Moines to connect, learn, and celebrate Iowa agriculture. It’s been an eventful year for the Iowa ag industry, which made for plenty of insightful discussions. Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson said profitability was one...
