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Lower disease pressure in Iowa this year
At this point of the growing season the picture starts to become clearer about what farmers are dealing with in their fields this year. Grant Harms is a technical field agronomist with Corteva Agriscience and he says that southern rust is not as widespread in Iowa this year as it was last year and farmers might be making spraying decisions based on less disease pressure. Harms also discusses some of the insects that are causing problems for producers this growing season. Much like disease...
USDA finalizes specialty crop assistance program details
The USDA announced it has finalized the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program, announced late last year. Danny Munch, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the funds are part of the USDA’s broader Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. The...
Taste What Pork Can Do is celebrating global flavors
The Taste What Pork Can Do® campaign from the National Pork Board launched in May 2025 with the aim of getting younger generations of consumers interested in buying more pork. Jose De Jesus is vice president of market growth with the National Pork Board and he says...
Farmers trim input costs as profit margins remain tight
Farmers across the Corn Belt are reducing spending on fertilizer, seed and crop protection products as they prepare for another year of narrow profit margins. Agricultural economists and industry analysts report that many producers are carefully managing expenses...
Interior seeks flexibility on predator management
When I visited Washington, D.C. recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Karen Budd-Falen, Associate Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Interior, about several wildlife management issues affecting western ranchers. Among the topics discussed were wolves...
Rollins confirms NWS detection 25 miles from U.S.-Mexico border
Today, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins held a press conference with the media to provide a full update on the New World Screwworm (NWS) situation and clear up some misleading headlines that have been circulating. There was a lot of concern building over an alleged...
Top considerations when planning a calving barn
As attention to livestock production intensifies, producers continue to evaluate the benefits of calving barns for enhancing both livestock management and operational efficiency, according to Dennis Lee, farm product line manager for Morton Buildings. Lee cites...
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George Washington’s cherries reveal agricultural legacy
The story of George Washington and a cherry tree has long been part of American folklore. While historians have dismissed that tale as fiction, a recent discovery at Mount Vernon has revealed a very real connection between the nation's first president and the fruit he...
Swine producers taking advantage of strong economic factors
The swine industry has seen some rough times in recent years, but now things are finally feeling much better. When hog prices are good, it’s smart to look at ways to improve your operation while also keeping those profits intact. Chris Ford, vice president of swine...
June soybean outlook from USDA features small changes
The June WASDE report is typically moved on from quickly because of the importance of the reports at the end of the month. On June 30th the USDA will release the Planted Acreage and Quarterly Grain Stocks reports which will have the potential to move the markets...
EPA biofuel proposal boosts soybean oil demand outlook
A proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency to increase renewable fuel blending requirements through 2027 is drawing strong reactions across the agricultural sector and boosting expectations for soybean oil demand. The proposal would raise Renewable Fuel...
Boozman renews commitment to more farm aid
Senate Ag Chair John Boozman renewed his commitment to more farm aid during a committee hearing this week. Despite acknowledging USDA’s earlier $12 billion in farm aid as a big push for the industry, Boozman pointed out the need for more to be done to stop the...
