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Ag trade deficit hit another record high in July
The U.S. agricultural trade deficit widened further in July, highlighting the challenge facing President Donald Trump as he vows to reverse the trend. Agricultural exports lagged imports by $4.97 billion in July, a gap 9% wider than a year earlier and the largest on record for the month. That pushed the sector’s deficit to an unprecedented $33.6 billion for the first seven months of the year, according to data released Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The widening farm trade gap...
ARC/PLC elections are open
Agricultural producers can now change election and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2023 crop year, two key safety net programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Signup began Monday, and...
Gary Slater reflects on his time as Iowa State Fair CEO
Recently, Iowa State Fair CEO Gary Slater announced that he is retiring after 21 years with the country?s greatest state fair. With the consistent success the fair sees every year, he felt that now was a good time to finally pass the torch and enjoy his summers with...
Exploring new opportunities for soybean growers through collaboration and innovation
Soybean farmers and industry experts recently met in Indianapolis for the Soybean Research Forum and Think Tank to work together on future opportunities for soybeans. It is an event supported by the soy checkoff and state soybean boards.That is Katherine Drake Stowe,...
Avoid common ventilation mistakes in swine barns this winter
Over the past few days, we?ve been dealing with some exceptionally cold weather for this time of year. Fortunately, it looks like the temperatures will warm up again soon, but the cold weather should serve as a reminder that winter isn?t too far off. That means now is...
Avian flu poultry deaths near U.S. record
Avian influenza losses are nearing a record in the United States this year, as the virus has infected more wild birds that transmit the disease. A new report from Reuters shows more than 47 million birds have died from infections and culling. The outbreak sparked...
USDA uses Inflation Reduction funds to keep farmers on their land
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Tuesday announced that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans have already received nearly $800 million in assistance, as part of the $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided through...
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Case IH offers autonomy pathway for farmers
Whether we see driverless tractors or not, autonomy is going to be a very important part of agriculture in the future. It can be daunting at first to think about how to use it on your farm, but Case IH is providing a way for farmers to ease into the new technology and...
Biden administration announces $11 billion clean energy investment
The Biden Administration on Tuesday announced the availability of nearly $11 billion in grants and loan opportunities to help rural energy and utility providers. The funding will help bring affordable, reliable, clean energy to communities across the country.The...
Economists shedding light on pork industry market conditions
Pork producers are experiencing major headwinds with the cost of production not necessarily balancing market prices. National Pork Board staff and producer leaders are listening and empathizing with producers, while doing their best to help economists shed light ? and...
Rural communities need the support of the Farm Bill too
We have been really focused on the 2023 Farm Bill for the past few months. There are concerns about getting it passed, especially with the debt ceiling debates currently going on. We focus a lot on safety nets and nutrition, which are two of the most important titles...
Ernst, Baldwin work to support mental health of agriculture communities
WASHINGTON ? During Mental Health Awareness Month, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, are building off of their bipartisan efforts to provide our nation?s agricultural community with critical...
