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Crop harvest pace on track nationally despite Midwest weather delays
Harvest is off to a slow start in Iowa with many farmers unable to begin due to the wet weather conditions in the early portion of the fall season. Despite the delay in harvesting in parts of the Corn Belt and Midwest, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says that nationally the harvest pace is in line with recent years. Those numbers are current as of September 27th. Many Midwest farmers have been forced to leave combines and tractors idle to begin this week as the remnants of Hurricane Polo have...
Hog inventories up in March
The latest Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report from USDA shows an increase in inventories. USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell says the total number of hogs in the U.S. is up compared to this time a year ago. McConnell says hog inventories remain stable, adding that...
Secretary Naig issues statement on the Trump administration’s RFS volumes
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized strong renewable volume obligations (RVO) within the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2026 and 2027: “Biofuels lower costs at the...
Ernst: 45Z must reflect Iowa farm practices
As federal agencies continue working through the rulemaking process for the 45Z clean fuel production credit, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says the final guidance must reflect the work farmers are already doing on the ground. She says she and Senator Chuck Grassley have...
U.S. Export Sales Report (3-26-26)
It’s been a volatile time in the ag marketplace, and that is no different for the export sales. This week’s numbers were a bit of a mixed bag. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales are still strong overall. McBride said the soybean sales were...
RVO announcement coming very soon
The renewable fuels industry has been long awaiting the Environmental Protection Agency's release of the latest Renewable Volume Obligation blending requirements which are expected to be announced very soon. Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection...
Food and agriculture generate 20 percent of all U.S. economic activity
Every year, the Feeding the Economy report provides a comprehensive look at the full economic footprint of U.S. food and agriculture. Among the report’s biggest takeaways is that food and agriculture support $10.4 trillion in total U.S. economic output, representing...
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House farm bill amendment blocks foreign adversaries from buying U.S. farmland
Foreign adversaries are barred from buying U.S. farmland under an amendment added to the House farm bill which recently passed in the House by voice vote. The bill was introduced by Florida Republican Greg Steube. Much of the land referred to by Steube is located near...
DOJ confirms probe into beef processors
The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an antitrust investigation into the nation’s beef processing industry, raising concerns about market concentration and its impact on cattle producers. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said officials are examining whether...
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...
Inspiring consumers to add more pork to their diets
The National Pork Board’s Retail Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting serves as a direct, industry-focused platform to connect retail leaders with key insights into the organization’s consumer campaigns and third-party consumer research. Neal Hull, NPB’s director of state...
U.S. beef has great new opportunities in the UK marketplace
U.S. beef recently regained duty-free access to the United Kingdom under a 13,000 metric ton quota included in the trade framework reached by the Trump administration last year. The quota provides the first zero-duty access to the UK since its exit from the European...
