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Interior seeks flexibility on predator management
When I visited Washington, D.C. recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Karen Budd-Falen, Associate Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Interior, about several wildlife management issues affecting western ranchers. Among the topics discussed were wolves and grizzly bears, both of which continue to generate debate between livestock producers, wildlife advocates, and government regulators. Budd-Falen said wolf management remains particularly complex because different populations are...
EPA’s Regan Defends WOTUS Implementation
Regulatory overreach was a topic of debate in Washington D.C. this week regarding EPA and the implementation of the new WOTUS rule. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan told a House panel that the EPA is working in tandem with the Army Corps of...
Iowa Egg Council donates thousands of nutrient-dense eggs
As part of the Sack Hunger campaign, the Iowa Egg Council donated 14,100 dozen eggs to the Food Bank of Iowa today. The timing of the donation is also important, as May 1st marks the beginning of Egg Month. Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig said it’s a great example of the...
Extreme drought calls for extra soil management
As planting season starts to fully get rolling here soon in Iowa, farmers are thinking about how to handle extreme drought conditions that can hinder crop development. While farmers have been dealing with drought conditions for almost 4 years straight now, there’s...
Secretary Naig comments on updated GREET model for Sustainable Aviation Fuel credit
Following yesterday’s release of guidance by the U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service on the 40B Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit, which incorporates an updated version of the GREET (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, Energy use in...
Treasury department announces GREET model guidelines for 23-24
We have been watching and waiting for the GREET model to be released. It is necessary to have an updated version of it to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and the credits that will be assessed to different practices to help lower carbon scoring on the fuel’s...
South American Weather and Crop Update (4-30-24)
Drier conditions have finally made their way to South America, allowing farmers in Brazil and Argentina to catch up on harvest. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather conditions. McBride said harvest in Brazil is moving steadily...
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South American Weather and Crop Update (10-1-24)
Monsoon season will be starting soon in Brazil, which means they will finally get some much-needed rains. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the upcoming forecast in South America. The longer-term forecast is much the same. McBride added that...
Farmers are already feeling the impact of the expired farm bill
With no new farm bill in place after the 2018 farm bill deadline passed, there are already impacts on U.S. farmers and ranchers. Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, outlined some of the programs that went away. Keiffer...
How has U.S. ag trade evolved in the last 100 years?
A lot has changed in the United States ag trade over the last century. USDA senior economist Sharon Sydow at this year’s ag outlook forum explains where the U.S. ag economy was 100 years ago. Price volatility, foreclosures, and high land values were all thorns in the...
U.S. hog inventory up slightly
The U.S. inventory of hogs and pigs on September 1, 2024, totaled 76.5 million head, up slightly from September 1, 2023, and two percent higher than June 1, 2024. Breeding inventory, at 6.04 million head, was down two percent from last year, but up one percent from...
Rural North Carolina reeling after Hurricane Helene
We are no stranger to storm damage in the Midwest. Hail, tornados, and derechos can wreak havoc on our acres. But for everything we deal with, except for the 2020 derecho, it is nothing compared to the strength of a hurricane. The Southeastern part of the country is...
