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Consumers shrug off high beef prices
When retail prices for any product reach record-high levels, the demand usually plummets quickly. U.S. beef appears to be the exception to the basic rule of economics. Retail grocery store prices for beef skyrocketed and show no signs of descending. But demand hasn’t softened. A new report from CoBank says the allure of beef, even at high prices, is likely the result of several factors currently shaping consumer buying behaviors. The all-fresh retail beef prices surged by nine percent, hitting...
Secretary Naig talks about Iowa?s dry conditions
As I start work on this story, we are waiting for the start of yet another heat advisory. While this week?s forecast has turned out not to be quite as hot as first thought, we will still be roasting. The next couple of days are going to bring a lot of stress to crops,...
Farm lending & interest rates rise in the second quarter
Larger loans continued to boost lending activity in the second quarter of 2022 while farm loan interest rates edged higher. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City says the volume of non-real estate agricultural loans grew steadily alongside an increase in the number...
What does the future of U.S. made semiconductors look like? (Part 2)
Yesterday, we talked with Kip Eideberg of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers about the CHIPS Act which is cutting down on our reliance on foreign-made semiconductor chips. Many of these come from China, and the recent supply chain issues have put a huge dent...
Hinson visits with women in agriculture in Tama county
On Friday, July 22, Iowa 1st District Congresswoman Ashley Hinson visited with members of the Tama County chapter of Women, Land & Legacy (WLL) on a farm near Traer. The event was held as a bit of an outdoor roundtable discussion, which allowed for everyone present to...
Food price have climbed further than expected & still rising
You don?t have to go very far to see prices in the grocery store have gone up. They haven?t necessarily gone up just a little bit either. There were expectations last year that we would see a small increase in costs, and that is usually to be expected. However, the...
Investing in the potential for U.S. Beef in Africa
Of the $5 billion of U.S. beef exported around the world through May of this year, only $8 million has been to Africa. Africa is a very promising destination for beef variety meats and beef is a low-cost protein that helps meet Africa?s nutritional needs. There is...
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New records set for food assistance in Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa -- In January 2023, the most recent month available, Food Bank of Iowa and its partners in 55 counties served a record 168,655 individuals, breaking the previous record of 151,282 served in October 2022. A record number of children ? 72,044 ? also...
Corteva announces game-changing gene editing technology for corn hybrids
At last week?s Commodity Classic in Orlando, Corteva Agriscience announced that an innovative gene editing technology that aims to bring additional protection to elite corn hybrids is advancing through the company?s research and development pipeline. The new technique...
Effects of a slowing economy on rural America
The U.S. economy will progressively slow through the first half of this year, and recession fears are still high and warranted. That assessment comes from CoBank, which also says inflation is starting to loosen its grip on farm country. Rob Fox, director of CoBank?s...
USB wisely investing Checkoff dollars to drive demand Part 2: Animal Ag
The United Soybean Board manages the soy checkoff and has been working hard to invest those checkoff dollars into more research to help generate more demand, both internationally and domestically. We continue our talk with Mack Marshall from the United Soybean Board...
Pick the right lubricant to keep your machinery in the field
As planting season approaches, now is the time to make sure your machinery is running smoothly. Choosing the right lubricant can minimize the wear and tear on your tractors and other equipment, which means you can stay in the field longer and finish planting quicker....
