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Interior touts grazing’s conservation benefits
When I visited Washington, D.C. recently, I had the opportunity to hear from Karen Budd-Falen, Associate Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Interior, about several issues affecting western ranchers and public lands. One topic that generated considerable discussion was the role livestock grazing can play in maintaining healthy rangelands and supporting wildlife habitat. Budd-Falen said recent research has helped change the conversation around grazing and conservation. She pointed to...
Consumer education increasing pork demand in Central America
U.S. pork exports to Central America were outstanding last year and the momentum has continued in 2024. Lucia Ruano, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) representative in the region, said that consumer education workshops, funded through support from USDA and the...
Senators continue pushing for summertime E15 waiver
Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Thune (R-SD), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) are calling on the administration to permit nationwide E15 sales this summer. They sent a letter underscoring the geopolitical importance of uninterrupted biofuel access and noted that the...
Carbon pipeline agreement reached in Nebraska
Carbon pipelines have been a hot topic across the Midwest these past years. Companies that want to produce lower-carbon ethanol for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) need a way to get rid of the carbon that is produced. The pipelines are planned to go across the Midwest...
Expanded soybean processing capacity bringing added value to growers
The number of soybeans that can be processed to feed the growing biofuels market is ever increasing thanks to expanded infrastructure that is in place or being built in the next few years. That is Grant Kimberley, the senior director of market development with the...
U.S. Export Sales Report (4-12-24)
On top of the disappointing WASDE report, export sales were not great this week. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride started off his analysis with the corn numbers. While this is the first disappointment we’ve seen in the corn exports in a while, McBride said this...
How El Niño and La Niña patterns will affect the growing season
Farmers Business Network recently released a report detailing how El Niño will impact U.S. farmers this year. This growing season farmers are set to face a unique combination of El Niño in the spring and early summer and then a transition to La Niña conditions in the...
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John Deere’s See and Spray hits milestone
It was only a few years ago when we got to see John Deere’s See and Spray Technology on display at the facility near Bondurant. The technology has changed the game in how farmers can attack weeds and cuts down on the input costs for the products needed to protect our...
South American Weather and Crop Update (9-17-24)
Much like what we are seeing here in Iowa, the weather in South America is still quite dry. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the current forecasts for Brazil and Argentina. While it is early to be getting too worried about the weather’s impact...
Budget battle limiting legislative work for farmers
With elections looming, the Congressional calendar is tight. Right now, Congress is locked in a funding battle. Emily Buckman, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the deadline is quickly approaching. Buckman says a continuing...
Navigating tough weather conditions with a more stable form of nitrogen
One of the biggest memories of the 2024 growing season in Iowa will be the extremely wet start to the season. With plentiful rainfall that quickly replenished Iowa’s soil, eventually some areas in the state became oversaturated with water. When there is too much rain...
Mississippi River levels falling again
For the third consecutive year, Mississippi River water levels are falling again, making shipping goods difficult. Farm Policy News says the low levels are forcing barge companies to put limits on how much cargo they can carry and cutting into farm profits. It was...
