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AFBF says farmers need additional protections in federal permitting
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is supporting an attempt to modernize the federal permitting process. The 417-page bill sitting before Congress contains the most comprehensive permitting package that has been considered in years. Autumn Lankford Higgins, AFBF director of government affairs, said the new legislation would do a few things. Higgins said there are several parts of the legislation that would be beneficial for both farmers and ranchers. However, Higgins noted that some...
Fertilizer prices continue rising as farmers prepare for 2027 growing season
Fertilizer prices continued climbing in October, adding pressure to American farmers already struggling with tight profit margins and elevated production expenses. According to DTN's latest retail fertilizer survey, seven of eight major fertilizers increased in price...
Sac County bird flu case renews biosecurity concerns
With much of Iowa agriculture focused on finishing harvest, poultry producers are being reminded that another seasonal threat demands their attention. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, remains a concern as wild birds migrate through the state. The Iowa...
Trade policy affecting farmer voting decisions nationwide
Midterm elections are less than a week away, and the farm community has been a hot topic among many of the candidates running for office. There are many ag issues to consider, but one of the most impactful issues from the federal government has been the Trump...
Gut health key for the youngest in the herd
Dairy calves are an investment in the long-term success of an operation. That’s why the dairy industry is so invested in researching genetics and nutrition. Olivia Genther-Schroeder, a dairy feed research scientist with Purina Animal Nutrition, says gut health is an...
Stay prepared for emergencies when pumping manure
Marguerite Tan, director of environmental programs with the National Pork Board, emphasized that every farm should have an emergency action plan in place before an emergency occurs, with all employees properly trained. Pit foam is a thick layer of methane gas that can...
HPAI detected in a commercial turkey flock in Sac County
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 (H5N1 HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in Sac...
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Winter soybean strategy may help pig farmers beat the summer heat
New research funded by the Soy Checkoff suggests winter feeding decisions could help pork producers minimize the seasonal drop in carcass weights during the summer months. Researchers found that increasing soybean meal levels in grow-finish diets helped pigs maintain...
Iowa harvest advances despite weather interruptions
Harvest continues across Iowa, with farmers reporting strong yields despite weather interruptions that have slowed fieldwork in some areas. As producers bring in the remaining crops, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says favorable yields and changing weather...
Channel Seed helps update barns at Louisa County fairgrounds
Our state’s county fairs are at the heart of our local communities, and many of those fairs have been around for a long time. As such, those buildings also need updates as time takes its toll. When Louisa County’s old livestock barns became unsafe, several local...
Tough week of trade in the cattle markets
Across the industry most analysts pointed to the October Cattle on Feed Report as mostly friendly, however the markets this week were anything but positive for the cattle trade. Both the live and feeder cattle markets experienced sizable losses for the week. Matt...
NASS taking steps to provide more accurate crop numbers
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently had to correct the numbers from the September Crop Production Estimates report. However, a lot of the damage has already been done by this point, as the inaccurate numbers caused some of the largest...
