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Iowa response limits pseudorabies trade impacts
Iowa's response to a recent pseudorabies case demonstrated how established animal health protocols can protect both livestock and export markets. The virus was detected in a small commercial swine herd after pigs that had previously been housed in Texas were moved into Iowa. Those animals had been exposed to feral swine, which are known carriers of pseudorabies in parts of the southern United States. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said Iowa's response followed long-established disease...
U.S. Export Sales Report (10-24-24)
The pattern of strong export sales has continued, and this week was even stronger than the last. This is a far cry from the way we ended the last marketing year. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest numbers from the USDA. Flash sales...
Ag exports will suffer without a new farm bill
With the September 30 expiration of the current farm bill, many important agriculture programs are on hold, including several trade promotion programs. Betty Resnick, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said Title III programs generate outstanding...
CARB, the RFS, and used cooking oil
U.S. farmers remain hopeful that the push for renewable diesel will open a large market for the vegetable oil pressed from soybeans. However, used cooking oil, particularly from China, is also used as a feedstock in biofuels and has been depressing the need for...
Fall harvest double digits ahead of last year’s pace
Reports show the U.S. corn and soybean harvests are double digits ahead of their five-year averages. Farm Policy News credits the fast pace to dry weather stretched across most of the U.S. through the past week. Corn harvest jumped 18 points nationally to 65 percent...
South American planting is behind schedule
You don’t have to tell farmers how much Mother Nature can change our plans. In Iowa alone, we went from a multi-year drought to a period when we were caught back up in a matter of weeks. And then suddenly, we were back in a drought again. While it probably isn't...
NCBA is making lower taxes a top priority
Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is expiring at the end of next year, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is making a major push on tax policy. In the latest episode of the Beltway Beef Podcast, NCBA President Mark Eisele said the fight for lower taxes is very...
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More Ag News
Landus and Talus Ag announce commercial green ammonia production
Landus and Talus Ag recently announced that they have successfully commenced commercial green ammonia production with the first and only modular systems in North America. In a time when import tariffs are likely to disrupt fertilizer supply chains, having locally...
Stronger cattle placements and marketings in January
The February USDA Cattle on Feed report shows a reduction in cattle and calves in feedlots says USDA livestock analyst Mike McConnell. Despite lower numbers of inventory year over year, McConnell says that there are signals of increased numbers of cattle in feedlots...
Farm bankruptcies up sharply in 2024
Federal courts report that 216 farm bankruptcies were filed in 2024, up 55% from 2023. All but one region had increases in Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings last year. Bankruptcy filings in territories and states outside the contiguous 48 states – designated “Other” by...
Buyers show heightened interest in U.S. beef at Gulfood Trade Show
Gulfood is one of the largest food trade shows in the world, attracting tens of thousands of prospective buyers to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Reporting from a busy USA Pavilion at Gulfood, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom said the...
Farmers worry about future of conservation assistance funds
Farmers across the country are on edge as the Trump Administration’s sudden spending freezes cast doubt on crucial cost-share payments they were promised. These funds, secured through contracts, are not just bureaucratic line items, they are the backbone of farm...
