Author: staff

Maybe you can’t tell the difference between 15 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit after spending a few minutes outside, but your cattle can. “Slight changes in temperature can have a considerable impact on energy and cow nutritional requirements,” said Elizabeth Belew, Ph.D., cattle nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition. Cold stress occurs when cattle require more energy to sustain basic bodily functions at a specific temperature, called the lower critical temperature. The LCT helps us understand when cows start experiencing cold stress. “As temperatures decrease, cow nutritional requirements increase. Add in precipitation or wind, and requirements increase even more,” said Belew. If…

Living to Serve isn’t just an unused, trite motto uttered as part of FFA marketing — it’s a living, breathing mentality that FFA chapters are quick to embody, especially as the holiday season rapidly approaches.  These community service endeavors not only benefit the recipients but also instill a sense of empathy and responsibility in the FFA members. Here are some of the ways that chapters around the country are lending a helping hand to their communities and other members in need during the holiday season.  Adopt-a-Senior For seven years, Detroit FFA members in Detroit, Texas, have been hosting an annual…

Top Third Ag Marketing helps farmers become better agricultural marketers with the goal of marketing crops and livestock in the top third of prices. Mark Gold and his team provide AGDAILY.com with the latest information and a look ahead in their audio commentary. Listen here! https://www.agdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/top-third-agdaily-12-04-2023.mp3 The post Markets in Minutes: Top Third looks ahead for week of Dec. 4, 2023 appeared first on AGDAILY.

More than two-thirds of the nations in the world, representing 5.7 billion people and 70% of global food production, signed a declaration at the UN climate summit assigning agriculture and food systems a role in combatting global warming. It was the first such linkage of food and climate action and while it was applauded, the praise was salted with “show me” skepticism. “A major milestone … [b]ut the real work begins now,” said the leader of a coalition of Asian farm groups. A World Resources Institute official said, “Governments must immediately include food and agriculture into [their] national climate plans…

By Jared Strong A hearing to discuss whether utility regulators in North Dakota should overrule county ordinances that limit the placement of a carbon dioxide pipeline is set for Dec. 21. The North Dakota Public Service Commission is in the process of reconsidering an application by Summit Carbon Solutions, which seeks to build a five-state pipeline system to transport the captured greenhouse gas from ethanol plants to North Dakota for underground storage. The newly scheduled hearing concerns ordinances in Burleigh and Emmons counties that restrict how close the pipelines can be located to cities, houses, livestock facilities and other sites.…

Weather woes continued for Brazil in November, slowing planting of soybeans. In the Central-West region, including the important soybean-growing state of Mato Grosso, hot and dry conditions on the whole kept soil moisture too dry for planting. According to data from WeatherTrends360, November 2023 was the hottest and driest November in 30-plus years. Meanwhile, too much rain slowed planting progress in southern Brazil, and this was the 2nd-wettest November in 30-plus years for Rio Grande do Sul. The excessive rain caused flooding in parts of southern Brazil during the month. As the calendar flips to December, this general weather theme…

Decisions around sow barn remodeling, reducing sow herd inventory, and adjusting gilt flow are some of the challenges U.S. pork producers face as they explore and consider options to make farms compliant with California’s Proposition 12 requirements. A new resource from the Iowa Pork Industry Center offers information for producers planning to transition their production. Matt Romoser, swine specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, is one of the authors. He said the goal of the publication, “Sow Management Considerations with California Proposition 12,” was to provide some considerations for producers on how to manage the breeding herd under…

Showpig and the National Pork Board are partnering to enhance and support the show pig industry. This collaboration focuses on delivering practical resources, educational programs, and advocacy support to producers and exhibitors. Showpig and the NPB are partnering to provide valuable resources and education to the show pig community. This alliance is a commitment to the growth and prosperity of the show pig sector. By pooling assets and expertise, Showpig and the NPB aim to create needed education for the pork industry specifically tailored to the show pig sector.  “This partnership marks a significant milestone for both Showpig and the…

U.S. net farm income will be a stronger-than-expected $151 billion this year, the second-highest total on record, estimated the Agriculture Department on Thursday. That’s roughly $10 billion higher than the August forecast and due chiefly to cost cutting by producers, aided by lower fertilizer, fuel, and feed prices. Although net farm income, a broad gauge of profitability, would be down sharply from the record $182.8 billion of 2022, it would be far above the 10-year average of $101.5 billion. “One of the best years on record for the overall farm sector,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Although production expenses this year…

U.S. farm exports will be the smallest in four years due to lower prices for wheat, corn, and cotton, said the Agriculture Department on Thursday. China would remain the No. 1 customer for food and ag products, with Mexico a close second. In a quarterly forecast, the USDA estimated food and ag exports at $169.5 billion this fiscal year, down 5 percent from fiscal 2023, which ended on Sept. 30. Imports were pegged at $200 billion, “largely driven by the strong U.S. dollar and resilient domestic demand.” The agricultural trade deficit of $30.5 billion, the largest ever, would be nearly…