Top Stories
Heavier cattle weights bring bonuses and challenges at marketing time
As everyone knows by now, the total number of cattle in the U.S. herd is historically low. One of the ways that the low supply is being compensated for to meet the high demand for beef is by keeping cattle on feed longer and feeding them to heavier finishing weights. Dr. Derrell Peel, the extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, says those heavier weights are having an impact. There are also downsides to feeding cattle to heavier weights, including additional...
Farm to School month educates students on agriculture
October is National Farm to School month, when schools and farmers alike can celebrate the fresh foods grown by local farmers and served to local students. Jenny Lester Moffitt, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, said a recent grant...
Animal disease traceability rule coming in November
The U.S. cattle industry will have a new level of disease protection next month when USDA’s enhanced animal disease traceability rule takes effect. Rapid response to an animal disease outbreak is the aim of the new USDA traceability rule, with its visual checks and...
Secretary Naig announces the establishment of the farm deer advisory council
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the establishment of the Farm Deer Advisory Council within the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and appointed seven Iowa farmers to serve on it. A similar Iowa Farm Deer Council previously...
Hurricane Milton will directly affect fertilizer production in the U.S.
Yesterday we talked about the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. While there was a lot of damage to agriculture and farms in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia, there wasn't a lot of effect on the industry nationwide. It looks like this time around, that will change....
Dry weather can cause complications for soybean harvest
The dry weather is allowing harvest in Iowa to progress at a quick pace, and that’s especially true for soybeans in northeast Iowa. While the ease of harvest is great, the dry weather also has some inherent risks. Beck’s agronomist Lee Koenigsfeld said they’ve gotten...
AFBF supporting farmers suffering from hurricane damage
Hurricane Helene was the deadliest storm in America since 2017, with over 225 lives lost and many others still missing. Danny Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, says agriculture is an important part of the Southeast and has a long road to...
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Secretary Naig recognizes conservation leaders at Iowa Agribusiness Showcase
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented the Secretary’s Ag Leader Award for Conservation to two individuals who have demonstrated significant leadership and made noteworthy contributions toward improving water quality throughout Iowa. Evan Brehm, a...
South American Weather and Crop Update (2-12-25)
The one surprise- if you can even call it that- from the February WASDE report was the cut to some of the production numbers for Brazil and Argentina. At this point, some of the major growing areas have received too much rain. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride...
USTR pick Greer says US must diversify trade markets
President Trump’s United States Trade Representative pick, Jamieson Greer, says the US must become less reliant on China for its farm and other exports. China remains among the top three export markets for US farm goods, but its tariff and non-tariff barriers and...
Keeping an eye on Mississippi River water levels
Grain shippers and farmers are keeping an eye on the water levels in the Mississippi River. Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, said water levels have been a consistent challenge to shipping grains for the last few years. The...
USDA data confirms agritourism is saving some family farms
The latest Census of Agriculture from the USDA, conducted in 2022, is beginning to reveal hard data on the benefits of agritourism for family farms. The numbers confirm what many farmers have experienced firsthand diversifying into agritourism is helping sustain their...
