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NCBA concerned over abuse of Endangered Species Act
When I was a broadcaster in Minnesota, one of the hot topics that we dealt with was the dispute over the gray wolf. For a long time, the gray wolf had been on a protected list under the Endangered Species Act. Its numbers had dwindled for several reasons. While the animal was on the protected list, ranchers had very few options available to them for protecting their herds of cattle and other livestock from predators. However, there were options available. After years of protection and...
Finding profits in tight profit margins
Profit margins are always tight for farmers, with some years feeling tighter than others. However, there’s almost always a way to look through those margins and find the best profit levels possible. Chad Hart, Iowa State University professor of economics and ISU...
First quarter of 2024 sees phenomenal pork exports
The U.S. Meat Export Federation says March exports of U.S. pork were steady with last year’s volume but were slightly higher in value, according to data released by USDA. Kelli Wicks, manager of market growth for the National Pork Board, said diversification has been...
NCBA official outlines difficult final stretch for farm bill
House Ag Chair GT Thompson has set a May 23rd markup date for his GOP farm bill proposal, but there is still a long road ahead for the proposal. NCBA’s Executive Director of Government Affairs Allison Rivera says she is encouraged that House Ag Chair GT Thompson has...
May WASDE includes an initial U.S. crop assessment
The May World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates report includes USDA’s first assessment of domestic and international supply and demand prospects. The 2024-2025 U.S. corn outlook calls for larger supplies, greater domestic use and exports, and higher ending stocks. The...
Growth Energy CEO Skor gives Ethanol policy update
The news around the ethanol industry has been hopping for the past months. Whether it has been the EPA finally granting eight midwestern states to sell E15 year-round starting in 2025, yet another E15 emergency waiver, or the discussions over Sustainable Aviation Fuel...
New breakthrough in the battle against corn tar spot
This week Bayer Crop Science announced a new breakthrough in the battle against tar spot. Bayer researchers have developed a method to artificially inoculate tar spot in Bayer field test plots. This will give Bayer Crop Science a leg up in better understanding tar...
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Ag loan interest payments are starting to soar
The economy is in a tough spot across the board, no matter how government officials want to try and spin it. Interest rates are climbing higher and that is causing problems for borrowers, especially in the agriculture sector. Agricultural operating loans, land loans,...
Benson Hill incorporating soybean meal into broiler chicken feed
Benson Hill recently conducted a feeding trial with Perdue Farms to showcase the ability of soybean meal to reduce feed costs while maintaining performance when used in the diets of broiler chickens. The soybean meal in this study was derived from Benson Hill’s...
South American Weather and Crop Update (5-14-24)
A mix of moisture is still sitting over South America. Some regions are dry, and some are getting too much rain. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather patterns. CONAB just released its updated crop projections for Brazil and...
Iowa crop progress and condition report
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and...
NK soybeans striving for “versatility and consistency” in 2024
Each year more Midwestern farmers are adopting the practice of early soybean planting. When conditions allow for early planting, farmers are opting to plant soybeans earlier in the hopes of eventual increased yields. However, during a tricky planting season like the...