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USDA turns to AI to help validate crop report data
USDA is using an artificial intelligence tool to check data in today’s monthly crop production report, following errors that raised questions about government crop estimates. Undersecretary Scott Hutchins says the tool would have caught a problem in September’s corn data. A computer file incorrectly combined irrigated and non-irrigated acreage information, although USDA says the original survey data were accurate. The AI system will serve as an additional validation step, not replace existing...
Iowa grain producers navigate challenging market conditions
Iowa farmers continue to face challenging grain market conditions as harvest supplies, disappointing soybean demand figures, and uncertainty surrounding international trade weigh on commodity prices. While soybean demand has strengthened in recent years, the latest...
Potential strike at Southern California ports could majorly impact U.S. red meat exports
Security workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are threatening to go on strike if a contract agreement is not reached this week. While the union represents only a small portion of the overall port workforce, other unionized employees such as longshoremen...
Anti-animal ag groups spending millions ahead of midterms
Anti-animal groups have been spending big ahead of the midterm elections. Hunter Ihrman, executive director of strategic engagement at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), said those groups have spent millions in an effort to influence the election...
Farmers are becoming more invested in weed resistance management strategies
Weed resistance management is becoming more of a central focus for growers when developing their management plan for the growing season. As farmers are learning more about weed resistance, they are making changes to their management plans to ensure that they have the...
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...
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Renewable fuels group backs EPA plan to restore RFS volumes
The Renewable Fuels Association is supporting an EPA proposal to restore renewable fuel volumes lost through small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard. At a hearing Wednesday, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said the agency should reallocate all...
There’s still a chance for an updated farm bill
Both the Senate and Congress now have Democrat majorities, which changes what we might see in the next farm bill, assuming we get one soon. Duane Simpson, president of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, said he believes some work will get done to finish the...
Strong soybean yields meet steep quality discounts
Soybean producers across the country, including here in Iowa, are dealing with quality discounts that are cutting into the value of their crops despite strong yields in many areas. While discolored soybeans have received much of the attention, concerns over test...
As profit margins tighten, debt management is critical
As tighter margins pressure farm finances, lenders are seeing producers rely more heavily on borrowed capital to cover operating expenses. At the same time, higher interest rates are increasing the cost of carrying that debt. Chad Gent, senior vice president of retail...
South American Weather and Crop Update (11-3-26)
Even though the South American crop season is still in its early stages, there are already projections that this will be a massive crop. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the weather has not been an issue for farmers in Brazil and Argentina. McBride said...
