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Feenstra says year-round E15 has strong bipartisan support
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives was able to pass legislation that would allow E15 to permanently be sold year-round. By unleashing ethanol production, demand for corn can increase, fuel prices can go down, and America can become more energy independent. Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra, who earlier this year was appointed to serve as co-chair of the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council, said this legislation has been in the works for a long time. While the bill passed narrowly on a...
Midwest Dairy promoting milk sales at Dollar General stores
Midwest Dairy and Dollar General have joined together for a new promotional effort to increase demand for dairy products and build trust with consumers. Martha Kemper, vice president of dairy experience with Midwest Dairy, said the partnership is a unique and exciting...
Increased borrowing for land purchases expected in 2024
It is often said that farmers are “asset-rich and cash poor.” Nowhere is this more obvious than when it comes to land. It is the most important asset that a farmer has. Without land, nothing else can be accomplished, whether it is grain or livestock production. It is...
Like humans, cattle perform best with low stress
Cattle are very similar to humans in some regards- they prefer having a set routine, and they are much less productive when they are stressed. And especially when it comes to cattle production, several simultaneous stressors can have an exponentially worse effect on...
South American Weather and Crop Update (12-12-23)
Last week’s WASDE saw cuts to Brazil’s production and no changes to Argentina, and the nearby forecasts back up those decisions. Argentina is getting plenty of rain, but key areas of Brazil are still thirsty for moisture. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave...
Ag exports, imports down in 2023 as values declined
Last year inflation and higher values led to increases in both export and import numbers. USDA Economist Bart Kenner tells USDA Radio that 2023 has seen a different trend through the first ten months of the year. Kenner says ag imports are down by 2%, while exports...
Senator Grassley calls for reforms in a new Farm Bill
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) called on Senate and House leadership to address several important topics in writing a new farm bill. They’re asking leaders to address the impacts of inflation, waste in farm and nutrition programs, and...
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NPPC says House version of the farm bill meets producer needs
The lines have been drawn in Washington D.C. with Republicans asking for more “farm in the farm bill” and Democrats unwilling to budge on shifting funding to farm from food and conservation programs. In late May the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on...
Opportunities increasing for U.S. pork worldwide
One bright spot in the swine industry lately has been the growth and opportunity in the overseas markets. It’s proof that our global pork advocacy efforts are paying off. John Hinners, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations with the U.S. Meat Export Federation,...
U.S. Export Sales Report (6-6-24)
This week’s export sales were status quo once again. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn market has now seen seven straight weeks of strong sales. Status quo isn’t great for the soybeans, though, as they continue to struggle with sales. Soybeans...
HPAI detected in an O’Brien county dairy herd
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in O’Brien County, Iowa. Final...
NPPC gives update on African Swine Fever
The World Pork Expo brings topics of pork production to the forefront of producer’s minds. Obviously, while we haven’t heard as much about African Swine Fever, it is still a threat and is an integral part of making sure that the industry and its producers have all the...
