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U.S. pork exports to Japan show strong rebound
Exports of U.S. pork to Japan have shown an impressive rebound in 2026. The market has faced challenges such as high energy costs and a weak yen against the U.S. dollar, but some value sectors have increasingly relied on U.S. pork loin and pork butt. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said those value sectors include ramen noodle chains and bento box companies. Halstrom says that Japan’s refusal to recognize Spain’s African swine fever regionalization has kept Spanish pork out of the...
New study details positive interactions between cattle and sage grouse
A new study from the University of Idaho highlighted the interactions between cattle and sage grouse populations. The 10-year study confirmed that cattle grazing does not negatively impact greater sage grouse- in fact, it actually benefits the species through building...
Grassley says proposed RVOs from EPA “Very good news for Iowa farmers”
Last Friday the Environmental Protection Agency released the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2026 and 2027. The increased RVOs for biomass-based diesel compared to recent years delivered immediate support into the ag markets for soybeans and soybean oil....
250+ food & ag groups call for greater transparency and public input in MAHA Commission
258 food and agriculture groups representing millions of American farmers, ranchers, producers, and manufacturers sent a letter calling on the Make America Healthy Again Commission to create greater transparency and public input in the commission’s activities. The...
Global markets hold the key to the pork industry’s future
Around the world, pork is more than just chops and bacon, it's a matter of taste and tradition. While many Americans might shy away from pig stomach or intestines, in South America and parts of Asia, those same cuts are culinary staples. As global demand shifts, every...
ISU combining solar farms with production agriculture
There’s a unique form of agriculture being studied at Iowa State University: “agrivoltaics,” which is the crossroads between solar power production and farming practices. At the Alliant Energy Solar Farm south of Ames, they’re trying to figure out which ag practices...
Increased RFS volumes from EPA give support to soy complex
Last week the Environmental Protection Agency released the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2026 and 2027. The increased volume of biomass-based diesel compared to recent years sent the price of soybean oil limit-up with a $3.00 increase on Friday followed...
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More Ag News
Some Iowa farmers are starting harvest already
Believe it or not, there are some combines running in the fields in Iowa already. With the heavy moisture we saw at the beginning of planting season, there’s going to be a lot of variance in harvest dates across the state. Jamie Horton, DEKALB/Asgrow technical...
Secretary Naig announces $200,000 investment in the Choose Iowa Farms to Food Banks Program
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is investing an additional $200,000 for the second full year of the Choose Iowa Farms to Food Banks Program. Under the Department's Choose Iowa...
Farm income forecast is a tale of two farm economies
New data from the Department of Agriculture predicts farm income to increase in 2025. The latest Net Farm Income Forecast from USDA’s Economic Research Service predicts farm income to increase in 2025. However, Bernt Nelson, an economist for the American Farm Bureau...
California E15 approval estimated to absorb 200 million bushels of corn
The California general assembly’s approval of E15 sales last week is expected to boost corn demand at a time growers are preparing to harvest a record crop. The law is expected to be signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and will be a big breakthrough for the ethanol...
Soybean producers face uncertainty in ongoing trade fight
U.S. soybean producers are once again caught in the middle of a trade war. China has been slow to make purchases, leaving farmers worried about where demand will come from. This marks the second Trump administration and the second time American agriculture has been...
