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US hog inventory edges lower; productivity ticks up
The U.S. hog and pig inventory totaled 73.7 million head as of June 1, down slightly from a year earlier and from March, USDA said Thursday in its quarterly report. Market hogs accounted for 67.8 million head, while 5.88 million were kept for breeding, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Despite the smaller herd, production indicators improved. Producers weaned 33.5 million pigs from March through May, slightly above last year, with an average of 11.87 pigs per...
CARB, the RFS, and used cooking oil
U.S. farmers remain hopeful that the push for renewable diesel will open a large market for the vegetable oil pressed from soybeans. However, used cooking oil, particularly from China, is also used as a feedstock in biofuels and has been depressing the need for...
Fall harvest double digits ahead of last year’s pace
Reports show the U.S. corn and soybean harvests are double digits ahead of their five-year averages. Farm Policy News credits the fast pace to dry weather stretched across most of the U.S. through the past week. Corn harvest jumped 18 points nationally to 65 percent...
South American planting is behind schedule
You don’t have to tell farmers how much Mother Nature can change our plans. In Iowa alone, we went from a multi-year drought to a period when we were caught back up in a matter of weeks. And then suddenly, we were back in a drought again. While it probably isn't...
NCBA is making lower taxes a top priority
Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is expiring at the end of next year, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is making a major push on tax policy. In the latest episode of the Beltway Beef Podcast, NCBA President Mark Eisele said the fight for lower taxes is very...
Keep pigs and people safe during show season
Biosecurity is an important key to success in the pork industry, especially during show season when pigs from different states mingle. John Heins, manager of producer relations for the National Pork Board, said show pig producers need to have several important factors...
Grassley dismisses farm bill as rider on disaster aid measure
As Congress works on disaster aid for the hurricane-ravaged Southeast, some are proposing attaching a farm bill to the relief package. Longtime Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says he won’t go for it. For months Iowa’s Chuck Grassley has stated that he expects another...
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More Ag News
Landus and Talus Ag announce commercial green ammonia production
Landus and Talus Ag recently announced that they have successfully commenced commercial green ammonia production with the first and only modular systems in North America. In a time when import tariffs are likely to disrupt fertilizer supply chains, having locally...
Stronger cattle placements and marketings in January
The February USDA Cattle on Feed report shows a reduction in cattle and calves in feedlots says USDA livestock analyst Mike McConnell. Despite lower numbers of inventory year over year, McConnell says that there are signals of increased numbers of cattle in feedlots...
Farm bankruptcies up sharply in 2024
Federal courts report that 216 farm bankruptcies were filed in 2024, up 55% from 2023. All but one region had increases in Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings last year. Bankruptcy filings in territories and states outside the contiguous 48 states – designated “Other” by...
Buyers show heightened interest in U.S. beef at Gulfood Trade Show
Gulfood is one of the largest food trade shows in the world, attracting tens of thousands of prospective buyers to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Reporting from a busy USA Pavilion at Gulfood, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom said the...
Farmers worry about future of conservation assistance funds
Farmers across the country are on edge as the Trump Administration’s sudden spending freezes cast doubt on crucial cost-share payments they were promised. These funds, secured through contracts, are not just bureaucratic line items, they are the backbone of farm...
