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PFI hosts 2nd Annual Midwest Meat Summit
Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) hosted the 2nd Annual Midwest Meat Summit at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa, earlier this week. The two-day event brought together all members of the meat industry, including producers, processors, and distributors. Amos Johnson, livestock education coordinator with PFI, said the event started off with a small tour across central Iowa. After the COVID-19 pandemic, people started to notice certain weaknesses of the meat supply chain. Johnson said the...
June soybean outlook from USDA features small changes
The June WASDE report is typically moved on from quickly because of the importance of the reports at the end of the month. On June 30th the USDA will release the Planted Acreage and Quarterly Grain Stocks reports which will have the potential to move the markets...
EPA biofuel proposal boosts soybean oil demand outlook
A proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency to increase renewable fuel blending requirements through 2027 is drawing strong reactions across the agricultural sector and boosting expectations for soybean oil demand. The proposal would raise Renewable Fuel...
Boozman renews commitment to more farm aid
Senate Ag Chair John Boozman renewed his commitment to more farm aid during a committee hearing this week. Despite acknowledging USDA’s earlier $12 billion in farm aid as a big push for the industry, Boozman pointed out the need for more to be done to stop the...
New markets emerge across Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is becoming one of the most promising growth regions for U.S. grain exports. Rising populations, expanding economies, and a growing middle class are creating new demand for livestock feed, food ingredients, and transportation fuels across the region....
Most Iowa crops are entering the middle of the season in excellent condition
There haven't been too many road blocks for the crops in Iowa this year. While some storms have been severe, the plentiful weather events have provided plenty of rain. Landus Cooperative Technical Agronomist Dan Bjorklund said he has seen varying corn heights across...
New World Screwworm influence in the ag markets
The initial reaction in the ag marketplace to the first detection of New World Screwworm in a calf in south Texas in early June was a bit surprising to many market analysts. Generally, a negative headline can send the markets to the downside in a dramatic way, at...
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Grassley discusses the USMCA ahead of July 1st review
Last week President Trump said that he does not plan to renew USMCA (U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement) ahead of its mandatory July 1 review. On Tuesday United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was asked about the president’s comments and whether Grassley and other...
U.S. Senators call for more action against NWS
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is urging the USDA to take additional steps to contain the growing New World Screwworm outbreak in the U.S. The lawmakers, led by Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, sent a letter to USDA expressing concern about the threat the...
USDA reports mixed red meat exports for April
USDA data release compiled by the U.S Meat Export Federation (USMEF) seemed encouraging for U.S. pork exports as a strong momentum was maintained throughout April. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom reports an 8% increase in pork exports consequent to the growth in...
George Washington’s cherries reveal agricultural legacy
The story of George Washington and a cherry tree has long been part of American folklore. While historians have dismissed that tale as fiction, a recent discovery at Mount Vernon has revealed a very real connection between the nation's first president and the fruit he...
Swine producers taking advantage of strong economic factors
The swine industry has seen some rough times in recent years, but now things are finally feeling much better. When hog prices are good, it’s smart to look at ways to improve your operation while also keeping those profits intact. Chris Ford, vice president of swine...
