The pork industry remains focused on growing domestic demand and the executive director for Illinois Pork says the nation’s third-largest city is a perfect place to do that. Jennifer Tirey says the association is working to reach Chicago’s urban consumers… “Promotional activities that we are doing with checkoff dollars from our producers in this state.” …… Continue Reading
The U.S. ethanol supply is the largest in nearly a year. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says domestic stocks are the biggest in the last 50 weeks at 26.051 million barrels, an increase of 29,000 on the week and 731,000 on the year. The Renewable Fuels Association says demand indicators were friendly, with net inputs…… Continue Reading
The immediate past president of the National Pork Board says she’s optimistic about the upcoming year despite a tumultuous 2023. This past year will go down as pork producers’ worst year on record. But, Heather Hill of Indiana says unlike in 1998 pork producers were able to better weather the economic storm. “A big difference,…… Continue Reading
A global strategist for grain and oilseeds with Rabobank says he’s getting mixed signals on what U.S. farmers intend to plant this spring. Stephen Nicholson says soybean margins look better than corn margins. However “talking with seed companies, there continues to be really good corn sales. Their farmer surveys show farmers want to plant more…… Continue Reading
The U.S. cattle industry remains concerned about the USDA’s recent decision to allow beef imports from Paraguay. Kent Bacus with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association tells Brownfield the objection has nothing to do with competition and everything to do with animal health. “Yeah, they could put the health of our herd at risk, and that’s…… Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is finalizing a new rule to set clearer standards on discrimination and retaliation in livestock contracts under the Packers and Stockyards Act. The inclusive competition rule doesn’t allow hostile treatment of livestock and poultry growers based on race, color, sex, age or disability. It also doesn’t allow discrimination against a…… Continue Reading
The upper Mississippi River will be open to shipping in less than two weeks. Patrick Moes with the St. Paul District of the Army Corps of Engineers tells Brownfield there were four winter maintenance projects. He says Lock and Dam #2 in Hastings, Minnesota, and Lock and Dam #4 in Alma, Wisconsin reopened Wednesday. “And…… Continue Reading
A southeast Iowa farmer is excited about the market potential of sustainable aviation fuel. “It’s probably, maybe, could be, the next ‘ah ha’ moment for ethanol and corn demand.” Dan Keitzer of Mediapolis says the government wants the airline industry to use three billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel annually by 2030. “Obviously ethanol can…… Continue Reading
A southwest Iowa farmer says he’s less than a month away from planting. “The 5th of April time frame is when I’ll probably get started,” Duane Aistrope said. Aistrope says farmers in his area are dealing with extremely dry conditions. “In the past years, we’ve had timely rains and lived off subsoil moisture and had…… Continue Reading
A weather expert says areas of the Corn Belt could receive some precipitation the rest of the week. Justin Glisan, state climatologist with the Iowa Department of Agriculture, says a more active storm track is expected. “We’ve seen more rainfall, more precipitation events south of Iowa,” he said, “basically Eastern Corn Belt into Missouri. We’re…… Continue Reading
