Top Stories
Meat demand is rising even as prices climb higher
As the summer grilling season kicks off, consumers may find higher prices at the meat counter. However, those prices might not reduce demand. Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said consumers are eating more meat than ever before as pitmasters fire up their grills. Nelson said beef continues to be the centerpiece for many cookouts, but pork and poultry are catching up. Nelson said shoppers heading to the grocery store can still stretch their food dollars when...
Spending deal raises hopes of averting government shutdown
A deal for overall spending in 2024 has improved the outlook of avoiding the first of two government shutdown deadlines, with individual spending for the USDA and other key departments still to be completed. The deal largely gives Democrats the domestic and defense...
Iowa native Taylor leading trade mission to India
USDA’s Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor will lead an agribusiness trade mission to India from April 22-25. USDA is now accepting applications from U.S. exporters who wish to join the trade delegation. “There is no larger untapped...
Some family farms included in Corporate Transparency Act
Many family farms are not structured the same as they used to be. It used to just be enough to say you owned the land, the assets, and the livestock. However, we have come to learn that to relieve the tax burden and also to keep the family farm safe as a separate...
Making the best crop insurance decisions for 2024
Even though the new year just started, it’s already an ideal time for farmers to think about what they need from crop insurance this year. Doug Burns, regional vice president of insurance with Farm Credit Services of America, said most farmers would benefit from...
Another layer of protection for grain already in the bin
High yield numbers are the goal of every farmer who wants to give themselves the best chance to turn a profit and chalk up another successful growing season. However, just because harvest is over, and grain is in the bins doesn’t mean the work of protecting that grain...
Mexico extends duty exemptions for beef, pork, and poultry imports
The Government of Mexico recently issued a decree extending zero-duty treatment of certain food imports – including pork, beef, and poultry – from all eligible suppliers through the end of 2024. Erin Borror, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) vice president of...
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REAP funds available for rural renewable energy projects
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is announcing $145 million in funding for 700 loan and grant awards through the Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP, to help agricultural producers and rural small business owners make energy efficiency improvements and...
Bearish Quarterly Grain Stocks and Acreage Reports stunts grain markets
The Quarterly Grain Stocks Report had a bearish tilt to it today, as most of the numbers came in higher than expected. The Acreage Report had an even greater bear effect to the grains, as both corn and beans came in differently than what was predicted. Allendale...
NCBA pushes back against lab-grown meat in the U.S. military
In one of their most recent Beltway Beef Podcast episodes, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association talked about a new project being introduced by the Department of Defense. The National Defense Authorization Act is used to fund the DoD and projects within it. The...
Cattle producers celebrate supreme court decision
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision that reins in the legal concept of Chevron deference and will reduce overreaching regulations from federal agencies that lack congressional authority. “Elected officials in Congress should...
ISA Experience Class showcases the entire soybean ecosystem
The 2024 Iowa Soybean Association Experience Class will take place July 22nd-24th. The class will meet for three days and will travel across the state of Iowa to tour and learn about the soybean industry. Participants will develop insights on soybean research, new...
