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Iowa officials confident in screwworm strategy
While New World Screwworm remains confined to parts of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico, animal health officials are focused on making sure it stays that way. Although the insect is still hundreds of miles from Iowa, state and federal officials are relying on a proven strategy that successfully eradicated the New World Screwworm fly from the United States decades ago. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said there is good reason for confidence because the insect is not an unknown threat. The...
World Food Prize laureates receive their honor
World Food Prize week in Iowa culminated last Thursday with the award of what is considered the "Nobel Prize of Agriculture.” The laureate awards were awarded to two advocates of plant genetic diversity and global seed banks. World Food Prize Foundation President...
Farm loans soar as ag economy deteriorates
Farmers are taking out loans at a rate and scale not seen in years as weakened crop prices weigh on the agricultural sector, according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The volume of new operating loans increased at its fastest pace since 2017,...
Rural Mainstreet Index showing lackluster results
The economy has been in a weird place. The DOW is strong, the dollar is strong, job numbers seem better than anticipated, and consumers are still paying for what they want. However, buying power is lower because prices are higher. Look no further than your local...
TN visa program is a key part of the ag labor force
With agricultural labor challenges across the entire sector, some farmers and ranchers are turning to a unique type of visa to alleviate the burden. Samantha Ayoub, an associate economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the TN visa program is meant to...
Champion Seed looking at different ways to cut input costs
Every year, farmers have to consider what they can do to minimize inputs while still maximizing their yields. Brandon Hulme, an agronomist with Champion Seed, said they’ve been looking at biologicals as a solution that will utilize the nutrients in the soil in order...
Making the proper fertilizer decisions this fall
A frequent topic of discussion among farmers is whether or not to cut back on fertilizer usage, especially in the face of increasingly tight margins. However, hasty decision making could cause farmers to face higher fertilizer prices in the spring. Instead of relying...
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Trump tariffs impacting top U.S. red meat export destinations
With the one-month delay on President Trump’s tariffs ending, the trade war has been reignited, and Canada and China already announced their retaliatory tariffs. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said they will announce their retaliation this Sunday. Ag commodity...
The Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade to thrive in 2025
Hear it here first - a big announcement! The Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade not only will recover, but will thrive in 2025. Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network affiliate Program Director Doctor Jeff Stein from KXEL says that's due to new media partners who want to...
Egg layer population is way down, egg prices are way up
Eggs are a helpful barometer of food inflation and with current high egg prices, eggs were a major talking point at the annual USDA Ag Outlook Forum. Consumers and politicians are paying close attention to the situation with bird flu outbreaks consistently causing...
NFU applauds EPA decision on E15
National Farmers Union President Rob Larew reacted after Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin decided to uphold the April 28, 2025, implementation date for year-round ethanol sales in the Midwest. “Administrator Zeldin’s announcement is a welcome...
Roasted high oleic soybeans oil closer to reality in dairy feedstocks
The United Soybean Board, through the Soy Checkoff, is continuously exploring innovative ways to boost domestic demand for U.S.-grown soybeans. One promising opportunity is to incorporate high-oleic soybeans into the diets of dairy cattle, providing a high-quality...
