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Iowa cattle producers can turn calf health into sale-day value
Calves in today’s market are bringing strong prices, but what you put into them only pays off if buyers recognize it. With calves representing a high-value investment, new auction data shows buyers are willing to pay more when calves have a clear health history. Chris Thomsen, beef technical services veterinarian with Merck Animal Health, talked about what management programs and health protocols drive added value and how producers can better position their calves to capture it. Thomsen said a...
Butter prices plunge despite strong export demand
After a brief stretch of optimism, the dairy sector is once again under pressure, with butter prices sliding to their lowest levels since 2021. Just last year, strong demand and high prices gave producers hope that a rebound was underway, but the momentum has quickly...
Southern Rust has exploded in many Iowa fields
Southern Rust has exploded in many Iowa corn fields this year, and farmers who did not treat their fields beforehand are feeling the pain. Kurt Maertens, BASF technical service representative in Eastern Iowa, said that, while no fungicide is able to perfectly handle...
Beef-on-dairy sector growing in popularity
Many industry experts say the beef-on-dairy sector is booming, as are efforts to make these cows as profitable as possible for producers. Laurence Williams, Dairy-Beef Cross Development Lead at Purina, said genetics are an important component when it comes to the best...
Making tough decisions on fall fertilizer
As the harvest season approaches farmers are preparing to make tough decisions on fertilizer. With phosphorus and potassium prices high, some growers might be tempted to pull back on fertilizer but that can be a rash decision that can lead to problems in the future....
Is the U.S. corn and soybean crop getting smaller?
From disease to drought, the 2025 crop has been thrown a curveball late in the season. It’s also pushing the crop to maturity quicker. And with USDA currently projecting a record yield and crop, many analysts say the U.S. crop is likely going backwards in terms of...
Secure borders and legal workforce can coexist
When it comes to immigration and labor, agriculture keeps circling back to the same problem: something must give. Farmers and businesses cannot sit idly by while Washington debates; they need guidance and answers now. Last week, we wrote about the broader frustration...
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RFID technology protects swine industry with traceability
No matter how prepared we think the swine industry is, it’s always important to stay vigilant against foreign animal diseases. If an outbreak were to occur, efficient and accurate swine traceability may help reduce the number of animals impacted and the response time....
“Cantina Vibes” promotes U.S. variety meats in Mexico
Variety meat exports provide critical returns for U.S. pork and beef producers, and Mexico is a leading destination for these products. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is promoting pork and beef variety meat items to bars and casual restaurants in Mexico as an...
A new tool for Iowa growers to battle white mold in soybeans
White mold is a major robber of soybean yields, and it has become a big enough issue for growers that BASF has developed a new tool designed to battle the threat. Zorina™ Fungicide has received EPA registration approval and will be available for growers next season...
Secretary Naig requests nominations for renewable fuels marketing awards
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today invited Iowans to nominate fuel marketers and gas stations in their communities for the Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards. The Secretary’s annual awards recognize retailers that go above and beyond in their efforts to...
Grain bags find second life through recycling
It’s that time of year when harvest is winding down and farmyards across the Midwest are filling up with leftover grain bags. They’ve served their purpose, but now comes the question of what to do with them. Most grain bags are designed for single use, and that means...
