Top Stories
White mold – the invisible soybean killer
Planting season will be over before we know it, and, unfortunately, that means plant diseases need to be a top priority for farmers to keep track of. In 2024 alone, white mold cost soybean farmers an estimated $281.1 million in yield losses, and the management window for this disease is shorter than many farmers realize. Ken Deibert, technical services representative with BASF, said white mold starts at flowering. Since the disease starts off invisibly, Deibert said farmers can’t wait until...
Farmers encouraged to attend Iowa Farm Bureau’s conference
Beginning farmers know the substantial initial investment it takes to farm, and those who currently farm are facing a projected 25% cut in their net farm income compared to last year. These situations have prompted interest in niche opportunities that require less...
Net farm income forecasted to see a record-setting decrease in 2024
The Economic Research Service forecasts that farm income will decrease by 25 percent in 2024. Danny Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said it’s the largest year-to-year dollar decrease in net farm income on record. Munch said there are two...
Be mindful of mycotoxin risks in feed grains
After the weather challenges we saw during the 2023 growing season, we need to be vigilant about the quality of the grain we feed our livestock. Different weather patterns bring different risks. The folks at Alltech have completed their analysis of the 2023 harvest...
Market reactions didn’t match February WASDE numbers
Today’s WASDE report was very bearish, particularly in the soybean markets, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at how the market prices closed. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride detailed the numbers from this month’s report. Those numbers would normally...
Football fans cooking 1.4 billion chicken wings for the Super Bowl
One of the largest years for NFL viewership (thanks, Swifties) is culminating in a Super Bowl matchup this Sunday between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. Lots of eyes on the game means lots of mouths to feed, and many consumers turn to a classic...
US leading the effort in ASF vaccine development
Foreign animal disease is an ever-present worry for livestock producers in the United States. Foreign animal disease prevention and mitigation measures have been implemented throughout the livestock industry to give producers a leg up in the fight against potential...
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More Ag News
Weather has generally been friendly to corn and soybeans
As we enter the late July growing period the weather nationally is for the most part cooperating during a key part of the growing season. Right now, there are not any major weather concerns for the stretch run of July says USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. Nationally...
Over 500 organizations unite for new farm bill
The American Farm Bureau Federation, along with 529 other organizations, urged lawmakers to prioritize programs that benefit all American families, emphasizing that they are too important to delay any further. Joe Gilson, the director of congressional relations for...
U.S. Export Sales Report (7-25-24)
As we approach the end of the marketing year, the export sales have picked up a little bit. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an analysis of the latest numbers from the USDA. While it’s good to see sales like this, especially for soybeans, McBride said it...
Defense Department backs off lab-grown meat
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association confirmed that the effort to prevent ultra-processed, lab-grown protein in the diet of the American armed forces was successful. The announcement came following news that the U.S. Department of Defense is not pursuing...
HPAI/H5N1 update from Secretary Naig
Whether you call it “bird flu”, “High-Path Avian Influenza”, or “H5N1” we have been watching this disease move about the country in birds and dairy cattle. Iowa has not been spared, but we haven’t gotten the brunt of it either. We get a full update from Iowa Ag...
