Top Stories
China agrees to $17 billion in ag purchases
China has agreed to purchase at least $17 billion in U.S. agricultural products annually through 2028. That’s according to a White House fact sheet released Sunday following President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing. The agreement came after meetings between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping and represents one of the few concrete outcomes from the summit Trump previously described as a “monumental event.” The White House said the new commitments are in addition to an earlier agreement...
South American Weather and Crop Update (12-26-23)
Another spotty forecast will end off the year down in South America. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the upcoming weather forecast in Brazil is pretty hit-or-miss. Meanwhile, the forecast in Argentina looks a bit drier. McBride said that planting progress...
Keeping livestock farms safe from activists in 2024
Animal rights activists have been gearing up for 2024, and the livestock industry needs to be prepared. Abby Kornegay, manager of issues and engagement for the Animal Agriculture Alliance, talks about what tactics to watch out for in the new year. “Direct Action...
A wealth of seed technologies working together for growers
The Crop Science division of Bayer announced a new strategy midway through 2023 bringing together 10 regional seed brands under the umbrella of the new enhanced Channel® seed brand. Chris Smith is an area business manager for the new Channel® seed brand and he says...
November egg production up four percent
U.S. egg production totaled 9.3 billion during November, up four percent from November 2022. Production included just over eight billion table eggs and 1.28 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.19 billion were broiler type and 91.8 million were egg type. The average...
ASA watching issues on the horizon for 2024 (Part 1)
Santa may have parked the sleigh for another year, but there are many wish lists still being worked on in the agriculture industry. As we get ready for the new year of 2024, there are many things we need to prepare for and topics that need to be discussed. Producers...
Philippines extending lower pork tariff rates through 2024
The U.S. pork industry received good news from a major trading partner as the Philippines will extend reduced tariff rates on imported pork for another year. The rate cuts, which were first implemented in 2021, were set to expire Dec. 31, but will now remain in place...
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More Ag News
South American Weather and Crop Update (6-18-24)
Contrary to the ever-changing weather we’ve seen here in Iowa, the weather has remained status quo in South America. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest conditions. Fortunately, that weather hasn’t impacted the safrinha harvest in...
Ethanol on display at Iowa Corn Ethanol 350
Supporting Iowa’s World Class Corn Producers at the Iowa Corn Ethanol 350 this past weekend were our friends at the Iowa Corn Growers Association. Iowa corn farmers are among the most productive in the world and continue to get better, believe it or not, which...
New year farm bill funding boost not a given
Increased funding for the farm bill next year is not guaranteed. There is also no certainty that increased funding can be counted on for political support for a new five-year farm and nutrition bill. A streamlined budget process known as “reconciliation” allows the...
Iowa crop progress and condition report
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and...
USDA continues to learn about H5N1 vs HPAI
It feels like we have had a broken record going around and around during the spring and fall of the past few years. We have talked at length about High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The main difference between the two is that when the virus jumped the species...
