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Iowa officials confident in screwworm strategy
While New World Screwworm remains confined to parts of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico, animal health officials are focused on making sure it stays that way. Although the insect is still hundreds of miles from Iowa, state and federal officials are relying on a proven strategy that successfully eradicated the New World Screwworm fly from the United States decades ago. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said there is good reason for confidence because the insect is not an unknown threat. The...
Supporting veterans who are in need of food
On this Veterans Day, take a moment to think of the veterans who may be living in less fortunate conditions. Nearly 1.5 million veterans in the U.S. are living below the federal poverty level, and veterans living in poverty are at higher risk than nonveterans for food...
Nebraska rancher Steve Hanson elected as USMEF chair
Steve Hanson, a rancher and cattle feeder from Elsie, Nebraska, was elected chair of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) at the organization’s Strategic Planning Conference in Tucson, Arizona on Friday. Hanson said one of his priorities will be to highlight the...
A November soybean surprise
In most years the USDA November WASDE report does not make significant changes to the yield and production forecast for soybeans. That’s USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer. He says that last Friday’s WASDE report provided a November surprise by cutting the previous...
Updated estimates of renewable diesel through 2026
University of Illinois analysts looked into the future of renewable diesel production in the U.S. and saw some headwinds. Renewable diesel production capacity has exploded in recent years, increasing by more than three billion gallons. This substantially impacted fats...
AI’s presence continues to grow in agriculture
It seems like every time that we blink, artificial intelligence, or AI, has found a new way of helping us do our tasks a little bit better. Sometimes, it can also be a little scary. We harken back to some classic movies where AI has become too smart and has put...
November WASDE looks mostly friendly for corn and beans
This busy news week is wrapping up with the November World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. While concerns over tariffs still remain, the ag marketplace has not adjusted sharply in either direction. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said...
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Strong U.S. red meat export totals for January
Exports of U.S. beef trended higher than a year ago in January, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork exports were slightly below last January’s large totals, despite another outstanding performance in Mexico...
AFBF President comments on tariff consequences
As the Trump administration continues with plans to implement tariffs on our top trade partners, farmers across the country are preparing to deal with the consequences. In a recent ag policy commentary provided to farm broadcasters by the American Farm Bureau...
Meat production, trade, and price projections for 2025
USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum helps to provide projections for meat production, trade, and price for the year ahead. At the recent 2025 Ag Outlook Forum USDA livestock economist Michael McConnell predicted an overall meat production increase. McConnell also...
Secretary Naig launches Choose Iowa food purchasing pilot program for schools
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the launch of the Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Program for Schools. The pilot program aims to connect Iowa schools with Choose Iowa members to encourage school food service programs to buy more ingredients and...
EPA backlog puts U.S. agricultural innovation at risk, says Syngenta
The agricultural community has grown increasingly frustrated with the Biden Administration’s EPA, as a backlog of critical rulings has left essential technologies and tools in limbo. Farmers and producers have been waiting for decisive action to address regulatory...
