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Consumers looking at pork as beef prices remain high
2025 offered some great profit opportunities to swine producers as they enjoyed strong demand and lower input costs. Fortunately, some of those profit opportunities have carried into 2026. Holly Cook, economist with the National Pork Producers Council, said there are many demand conversations happening this summer. With the high prices consumers are paying for beef at the meat counter, some consumers turn their attention to pork cuts instead. Cook said there are a few factors that come into...
South American Weather and Crop Update (4-15-25)
The skies are still rainy down in Brazil, and dry conditions are persisting in Argentina. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest conditions in South America. McBride said harvest in Brazil has continued to move along nicely. The dry...
Governors ask EPA for more renewable fuels
Four state governors sent a letter to Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, asking him to set higher Renewable Volume Obligation levels. “Over the past several years, the biofuels industry made significant investments to expand domestic...
Fighting tar spot with early action and solutions
Farmers must stay vigilant to protect their crops from a variety of diseases that threaten yield and quality. One persistent challenge is tar spot, a fungal disease that has become a recurring concern in many corn-growing regions. As it continues to spread,...
Iowa State University hosts 97th annual Iowa FFA Convention
Iowa FFA members from across the state have taken over Ames for the 97th annual Iowa FFA Convention. As the longtime host for the event, the staff at Iowa State University never pass up the opportunity to network with these future ag industry leaders and show them...
USMEF seminar connects U.S. red meat exporters with African businesses
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) hosted a two-day trade seminar in Accra, Ghana, bringing together some 30 U.S. red meat exporters with 76 buyers from 12 African nations. Importers and exporters held direct meetings and heard presentations from USMEF and USDA...
Can modern fungicides combat uncertain outcomes?
Attempting to predict the unpredictable with weather, disease, and even market volatility can leave farmers frustrated. However, controlling what you can control and selecting the right inputs to provide consistent return on investment can provide some peace of mind...
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More Ag News
Disease pressure looms despite Iowa’s strong start to growing season
When driving through the countryside this season you have probably been doing a lot scouting from the highway and noticed that the crops in Iowa have looked excellent. That has been reflected in the crop condition ratings with this year’s crop appearing to be poised...
Ernst supports mental health care for Iowa farmers
U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced the bipartisan Farmers First Act to support access to critical mental health resources for Iowa farmers. Farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. The...
Iowa producers urged to stay engaged
The pork industry is facing a complex web of challenges — from animal disease and global trade pressures to regulatory scrutiny and shifting consumer expectations. At times, it can feel like there are too many irons in the fire and not enough hands to manage them....
Iowa farmers can take a close look at strip till practices
Even though it’s been around for over 50 years, strip tillage is still a fairly new conservation practice that farmers can use. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is hosting a field day at the end of this month to show off how strip tillage works and what...
Grassley says Prop 12 should be addressed in the farm bill
United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says that the 2025 farm bill should include provisions that override state-level animal welfare laws like California’s Prop 12. The law requires that pork products sold in the state meet specific housing conditions for...
