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Ernst critical of Biden Administration’s ag trade message
Many of you who have children or are kids at heart have probably seen the original Lego Movie®. It was a neat little story about overcoming adversity and learning the value of teamwork. The movie produced a well-known song that entered the pop culture lexicon for a time. It was called, “Everything is Awesome.”* The song painted a picture that nothing is wrong. Everything is great as long as you and your team believe it is. During the NAFB Washington Watch event last week in the nation’s...
ISU Extension providing farmers with valuable climate data
All sectors of the Iowa ag industry have been reeling from drought issues for 200 weeks now, and while we are trending in the right direction, the drought won’t be ending overnight. With such intense rainfall deficits in many parts of the state, farmers need guidance...
NPB and Ducks Unlimited advancing sustainability in ag
Sustainability in the pork industry is central to pork producers. It’s key to ensuring producers can freely operate their farms and businesses now and in the future. Sam Morine, National Pork Board Director of Grant Administration, says the Advancing U.S. Pork...
Using data to drive change in fertilizer use
Pivot Bio’s N-OVATOR™ program rewards farmers for replacing synthetic fertilizer via Pivot Bio’s microbial nitrogen, delivering an environmental benefit to all. Lori Reese is the director of commercial sustainability programs with Pivot Bio and says that by using data...
Free counseling available for Iowa farmers
Affordability and accessibility are the top barriers for farmers seeking mental health services, per an American Farm Bureau Federation survey. During May Mental Health Awareness Month, the Iowa Farm Bureau wants to remind farmers support is readily available—and at...
Secretary Vilsack comments on USDA response to H5N1
During my trip to Washington this week, it was driven home that the bird flu is no longer the bird flu. It isn’t even Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or HPAI, anymore. The Federal government and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are now calling it...
Silver linings to rainy weather planting delays
As we finish up the 200th consecutive week of drought in Iowa, there’s actually some hope to be found, as the drought conditions are very much trending in the right direction. The recent storms have dumped off plentiful amounts of rainfall for the soils across the...
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Rain delays causing potentially premature market reactions
Rain continues to delay planting across the Corn Belt, but since rain makes grain, it’s pretty worth it at this point. However, we are getting closer and closer to that planting deadline, and the markets were feeling the heat today and shot upwards. Robin Schmahl of...
U.S. agriculture not immune to cyberthreats
Cyberattacks are on the increase and are being used to target industrial systems that are utilized by U.S. agriculture, that’s according to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. Haines tells the Senate Armed Services Committee the U.S. intelligence community...
Ag groups respond to farm bill overviews
U.S. ag groups are reacting to the House and Senate Ag Committee leaders who released their farm bill overviews. “We are very pleased with the Farm Bill framework from House Ag Chair GT Thompson,” says Ethan Lane, VP of government affairs with the NCBA. “We are...
U.S. red meat export value continues to climb
January-March beef exports totaled 311,865 mt, down 4% from the first quarter of 2023, but export value increased 6% to $2.48 billion, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said...
Will our drought recovery be short-lived?
As the rain continues to fall around the state this spring, we have both excitement and apprehension. We want to get the seeds in the ground and know the clock is ticking. However, every farmer in Iowa is also very aware of the fact that we need to get a lot of...