Top Stories
Secretary Naig announces 9 Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Grants
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today nine Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Grant recipients to expand small-scale meat processing capacity within Iowa. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship says in a press release that these cost-share grants, totaling $355,000, are being awarded to nine small businesses across the state in need of essential equipment and facility improvements. Projects include the addition of new smokehouses, installation of freezer...
Take advantage of profit opportunities in 2023
Farmers are already looking ahead to the 2023 growing season. Some headwinds could mean challenges in the year ahead. Steven Nicholson is the Global Sector Strategist for Grains and Oilseeds at Rabobank. Despite concerns about the future, Rabobank experts remain...
Getting first-hand accounts of the Mississippi River situation
The Mississippi River is low and even though there has been occasional rises being seen, it is a far cry from what it normally should be seeing for barge traffic. This is putting much of the U.S. interior in a bind, as we use the river network to move goods to the...
Beef advocacy program wants new applicants
The Beef Checkoff-funded Trailblazers program is asking for applications for its next class of beef advocates. Trailblazers, developed by the National Cattlemen?s Beef Association, takes advocacy to the next level by giving participants the tools and training they...
Early growth stage protection critical for maintaining yields
Early season protection for seeds and seedlings is a big factor in maximizing yield potential. Dale Ireland, Technical Product Lead - Seed care Syngenta Crop Protection, says that early growth plant health is vital to maximizing yields.There are several risks for...
Increased ethanol blend rates lower fuel costs for drivers
A new Energy Information Administration report clearly shows higher ethanol blends helped moderate fuel prices after the Ukraine invasion. The report also says the ethanol blend rates hit a record summer average of 10.5 percent. ?Fuel ethanol?s price discount to...
Iowa producer elected as new USMEF chair
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Strategic Planning Conference wrapped up last Friday in Oklahoma City with the election of a new officer team. Dean Meyer, a crop and livestock producer from Rock Rapids, Iowa, is the new USMEF chair. Meyer and his three sons...
Video
More Ag News
Bill introduced to stop bureaucratic limits on animal health options
I have a simple question for all the livestock producers out there. When your animals are sick, who do you call?I assume that the answer you are giving me to that question is your veterinarian. I bet even in certain instances you would be prepared to administer your...
Taylor and USDA promote ethanol during trade mission to Japan
USDA?s trade mission to Japan last week pressed Tokyo for ethanol sales as many countries look for new ways to reduce carbon emissions.USDA Under Secretary for Trade and native Iowan Alexis Taylor says the trade mission?s efforts to promote ethanol in Japan were set...
Talk with your lender to help navigate high input costs
At this year?s World Pork Expo, high input costs were among the top discussion headlines. Input costs are still as high as ever, and that makes it difficult for producers to really get the most out of their operations. Fortunately, ag lenders are working with swine...
USDA releasing over $700 million to improve rural internet access
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering $714 million in grants and loans to connect thousands of rural Americans to affordable, high-speed internet. The funds will benefit projects that connect residents, farmers, and business owners in 19 states to reliable...
Demand stays low as prices remain high
Understanding that we are in a weather-dominated marketplace right now. It?s easy to see why as the rain never seems to fall across much of the state. Some of our eastern neighbors have seen a little, but it?s not always enough to keep them growing. This is going to...
