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Ernst builds on USDA food safety center announcement
Following up on last week’s announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture about establishing a National Food Safety Center in Iowa, more details are emerging about what that move means for the state and the broader ag industry. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is planning to locate the new center in Urbandale, creating a hub for administrative, technical, and support functions as part of a broader effort to modernize the agency and better align it with production...
Grassley commends Iowa growers for sustainable farming practices
In September the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, working with Iowa’s 100 Soil and Water Conservation Districts and other partners announced record breaking conservation and water quality practice numbers. In Iowa there was $21.86 million in total...
Fertilizer prices mostly higher in September
The Agricultural Marketing Information System’s October “Market Monitor” report says that fertilizer prices were mostly higher in September, as were the prices for the main fertilizer inputs. Farm Policy News from the University of Illinois says price movements for...
Fall weather may have changed, but drought concerns remain
Causing concern for the 2024 growing season to continued dryness here in Iowa and across the upper Midwest. It finally does feel like fall around here after a couple of cooler mornings. Not quite frost worthy so the growing season continues with lower daytime...
America’s rivers find themselves in uncharted waters
So, let’s recap what we know so far. We know it has been a dry couple of years. We know that this year has been the worst we have seen in a while, but not supposed to be as bad as 1988 or even 2012. If that is the case, why are we seeing more concerns over the low...
Midwest Row Crop Collaborative bringing a variety of groups to the same table
In 2016, about 100 Midwest farmers teamed up with leading environmental groups and some of the nation’s largest food and ag companies to promote a more sustainable agricultural system that focuses on soil health, erosion, and biodiversity. Since then, that group-...
New balers packed with innovative technology
The new 1 series round balers from John Deere were on display at this fall’s farm progress show in Decatur Illinois, reminding producers that technology is helping all farm equipment to become more efficient. Chase Milem, go to market manager with John Deere, says...
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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...
