Cultural food fusion trends opportunity to increase demand

A U.S. Meat Export Federation market representative says the organization is leaning into culinary flavors to help grow demand for U.S. beef and pork. Gerardo Rodriguez says cultural food fusion trends have been a huge success. “The Asian gastronomy, they eat ramen, for example,” he says.  “Then, in Mexico, we use the pork jowl in…… Continue Reading

Winners, losers, and the rest of us

Commentary. I pen this column before the results of Tuesday’s election are announced. My phone has been buzzing constantly for months with text messages from politicians in distant states, asking for money first and my vote second. Even after deleting and reporting these texts as “junk,” they keep flooding in. Political ads on television and…… Continue Reading

Export sales are up, but why?

U.S. corn and soybeans have been competitively priced on the global market and a grains analyst says that’s one reason there’s been an uptick in sales. Bryan Doherty is with Total Farm Marketing. “Importing countries in late winter or spring and even in summer were buying only as needed because the price trend was down,”…… Continue Reading

Ethanol production, stocks rise

Ethanol production, stocks rise

U.S. ethanol production and stocks moved higher last week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says production averaged 1.105 million barrels per day, an increase of 23,000 on the week and 63,000 on the year. Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development says the estimated operating margins for the average Iowa plant did tighten,…… Continue Reading

Farm labor questions remain with new administration

A farm labor specialist says there are a lot of unknowns about how the new administration will impact the farm labor shortage. Michigan State Univeristy ag labor economist Zach Rutledge tells Brownfield specialty crop producers have become more reliant on H-2A visas to secure their workforce.  But he says wages are becoming cost-prohibitive. “Our region is…… Continue Reading

Farmers scrutinizing plans for 2025

With the harvest season winding down, many farmers are turning their attention to next year. Central Illinois farmer Ken Franklin, who grows corn and soybeans in Christian County, says current crop budgets likely mean some cutbacks. “Well, I mean, I think we’re going back to the basics.”  He says, “I don’t know what else to…… Continue Reading

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