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Looking for profits amid heightened grain market volatility
The markets are already volatile at this time of year, but when you add a few global news headlines on top of that, you get what we are currently seeing in the ag marketplace: chaos, chaos, and more chaos. Michael Weidner, director of grain origination and producer strategy with Landus Cooperative, said everything is combining to create a perfect storm of market volatility. Weidner said the recent reports from the USDA have created a very interesting situation for the grain markets. Weidner...
Progress made on pork facility registrations for China
Registrations for more than 750 beef and pork facilities allowing them to export to China expired on Sunday, leaving questions about market access for U.S. red meat processors. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom said that the pork...
USDA: U.S. ag trade deficit continues to grow
USDA has published the latest ag trade data for the current fiscal year. USDA economist Bart Kenner details the latest export and import projections from October to January. Kenner explains what that means for the ag trade balance sheet for the 2024-2025 fiscal year...
Iowa’s Best Burger top 10 finalists announced
From quaint hometown diners to upscale urban eateries, the competition was fierce as the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association accepted nominations for the 16th annual Iowa’s Best Burger Contest. This year’s contest saw impressive engagement,...
Crop insurance deadline is today
Today is the last day to sign up for crop insurance. If you haven’t enrolled yet, make sure to get it done to protect your crops from unexpected losses. Reach out to your local agent if you need assistance with the process. Tom Zacharias, president of NCIS, shared...
Adjuvants can help protect endangered species
Adjuvants, which are substances that are added to pesticides, can play an important role in protecting endangered species that are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Helena Agri Enterprises has played a large role in advocating for that on Capitol Hill....
EPA currently accepting feedback on WOTUS regulation
Earlier this week, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a draft guidance for WOTUS involving continuous surface connection. This guidance is great news for cattle producers, and it’s part of the work that the National Cattlemen’s...
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Oil prices facing extreme volatility following U.S. bombings in Iran
On Saturday, President Trump had the U.S. military launch a series of coordinated bombings against three nuclear facilities in Iran. With this major escalation, Iran’s government is now deciding how to respond, and they have already issued a warning of “dangerous...
Pork finds wins and worries in MAHA report (Part 1)
Back in May, I spoke with Dr. Ashley Johnson, Director of Food Policy for the National Pork Producers Council, during a visit to Washington, D.C., about the importance of maintaining science-based dietary guidelines. During that conversation, she acknowledged the...
Blast furnace-like conditions will scorch Iowa this weekend
The entire state of Iowa is in a heat advisory for this weekend- and if you’re in western Iowa, the heat is going to be so extreme that going outside will be ill-advised. Apparently, Mother Nature wanted to kick off summer by turning up the heat lamp all the way to...
U.S. Export Sales Report (6-20-25)
While it was overshadowed last week, this week’s export sales were able to enter the markets with some positive news. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said it was a great week for corn sales. Soybean sales were more interesting, as the new crop side is behind...
Ag Secretary Rollins details five-step plan to battle New World screwworm
On Wednesday U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins launched an $8.5 million sterile New World screwworm (NWS) fly dispersal facility in South Texas and announced a five-pronged plan to enhance USDA’s ability to detect, control, and eliminate the pest. The...
