Agriculture

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency has extended the deadline for the Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program until April 15, 2022.  The program, which is part of the USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, assists hog producers who sold hogs through the spot market from April 16, 2020, through September 1, 2020.  USDA says that is the period where producers faced the greatest reduction in market prices due to the pandemic.  […]

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the USDA continues to monitor skyrocketing fertilizer prices. “Making sure that farmers are not being taken advantage of.” During a news conference during at the USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum, the Secretary said he was encouraged by an announcement from the Iowa Attorney General’s office that a market study has been commissioned to better understand the factors behind rising fertilizer prices. “I sincerely hope that no […]

Iowa’s attorney general is looking into the huge increase in fertilizer prices. During a call with reporters Thursday, Tom Miller said increases would be expected with the rising cost of natural gas as well as other factors. “But the question is, do those factors justify the increases?” Miller pointed out anhydrous ammonia prices are up more than 300 percent compared to last year, urea and potash are up about 215 […]

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle closed lower, pressured by the drop in the broader market.  April live cattle closed $2.45 lower at $142.30 and June live cattle closed $2.52 lower at $138.60.  March feeder cattle closed $3.67 lower at $159.10 and April feeder cattle closed $4.47 lower at $163.80.  A light direct cash cattle trade took place on Thursday.  Deals in the South were at $142 […]

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has proclaimed FFA week in the state and says it’s a good opportunity to promote how programs connect students to ag-related careers.  “FFA is a great way to do that to learn those skills to get exposed to the industry and develop leadership skills along the way.” Seward FFA member Remy Christensen says she didn’t have any experience with agriculture before joining the chapter. “I have […]

An eastern Iowa farmer calls his first trip to the State of Mato Grosso (motto gross-oh) in west-central Brazil “eye opening.” Robb Ewoldt is a corn and soybean grower who also raises hogs and cattle near Davenport. “The size and scale is just beyond comprehension. You could drive for 200 miles and see nothing but soybean fields when we were down there.” The Iowa Soybean Association president tells Brownfield Brazil […]

Nine Ohio agricultural groups have released recommendations to modernize the Ohio Expo Center and State Fair. The groups are sharing recommendations to be considered as the Ohio Expo 2050 Task Force develops its long-term vision for the Ohio Expo Center, the home of the state fair.   Ty Higgins is the senior director of communications and media relations with Ohio Farm Bureau. “Since the economic impact of our agirulcutre industry […]