Author: staff

By Cami Koons Three bills sponsored by state Rep. Charley Thomson, who has been a vocal opponent of carbon sequestration pipelines in Iowa, advanced from House subcommittee hearings Thursday.  The bills dealt with eminent domain, permit length for a pipeline carrying liquefied carbon dioxide and the office of the consumer advocate. Each bill received unanimous approval.  The legislation was part of a slew of bills introduced last week aimed at the Iowa Utilities Commission, eminent domain and the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project. Restoring Office of the Consumer Advocate Thomson said House File 239 is an attempt to “fix” some of the problems caused…

1. Grain Futures Surge in Overnight Trading Grain futures jumped overnight after a favorable export sales report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Exporters sold 1.65 million metric tons of corn in the seven days that ended on Feb. 6, the agency said in a weekly report. That’s up 12% from the week prior and 20% from the previous four-week average.  Japan was the big buyer at 459,400 tons, followed by South Korea at 325,400 tons, and Mexico at 262,600 tons. Wheat sales also surged, rising 30% week over week to 569,600 metric tons, which was also a 45% increase…

By Cami Koons The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced Thursday it had detected the highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial turkey flock in Buena Vista County. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for the county, through March 15 to help state and local officials contain the spread of the H5N1 virus and dispose of the depopulated birds.  This is the third detection of the virus in Iowa flocks this year; the last detection occurred Feb. 2 at a commercial egg laying facility in O’Brien County. O’Brien County has been under an extended disaster proclamation from the governor since…

By Leah Douglas and Tom Polansek Feb 14 (Reuters) – The Trump administration has disrupted the U.S. response to bird flu as the outbreak worsens, leading to confusion and concern among federal staff, state officials, veterinarians, and health experts, 11 sources told Reuters. Since U.S. President Donald Trump took office on January 20, two federal agencies responsible for monitoring and responding to the epidemic have withheld bird flu reports and canceled congressional briefings and meetings with state health officials, the sources said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention withheld two weekly reports, one on bird flu transmission and another on surveillance, and canceled several meetings on bird flu with state officials. The CDC and U.S.…

By Marcela Ayres and Andre Romani BRASILIA/SAO PAULO, Feb 13 (Reuters) – Brazil’s Energy and Mining Minister Alexandre Silveira said on Thursday that a potential U.S. tariff on Brazilian ethanol would be unreasonable, emphasizing that the two countries have historically negotiated ethanol and sugar trade together. His remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump moved to scrap decades-old low tariff rates, raising them to match those of other countries. A White House fact sheet on the plan pointed to Brazil’s ethanol tariffs as an example of unfair trade practices. “The U.S. tariff on ethanol is a mere 2.5%, yet Brazil charges U.S. ethanol exports…

May corn ended the day up 2¾¢ at $5.08¾ per bushel. Week-over-week, the contract closed higher by 8¼¢. May soybeans ended the day up 5¾¢ at $10.52¾ per bushel. For the week, the contract was down 12¾¢. May wheat contracts ended the day higher and closed higher week-over-week. For the day, CBOT wheat closed up 21½¢ at $6.13½ per bushel. KC wheat was up 23¼¢ at $6.32¾ per bushel. Minneapolis wheat was up 17¾¢ at $6.49¼ per bushel. April live cattle ended the day down $2.28 at $194.25 per hundredweight (cwt). March feeder cattle closed down $1.63 at $266.35 per…

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo has long been known as one of the most prestigious livestock shows in the country, drawing exhibitors from across the nation. However, recent events may be casting a shadow over its reputation, with many questioning its handling of exhibitor concerns and competition fairness. Amanda Nuncio, a longtime supporter of the show, recently shared her son’s experience, which has sparked widespread debate. The boy, Payton, exhibited his lightweight steer, Cracker, on February 6, securing first place in his class. As he entered the division drive, where the judge had indicated Payton’s steer could have…

What Happened Wheat prices, unlike the corn and soybean prices, were trending lower into mid-January. This is the opposite direction of what might be expected when corn and soybean prices are rallying. Typically, we see corn, soybeans, and wheat move somewhat in tandem. However, expectations for sluggish wheat export activity for the U.S. and a lack of speculative buying kept wheat prices defensive early in the new year.   Since mid-January, the price trend has changed. Wheat futures have gained nearly 60¢, with the market focusing attention elsewhere in the world — mainly Russia. Approximately 35% of Russia’s crop is considered…

Life in the country just hits differently. The chores, the unexpected encounters, and the small-town quirks all come together in ways our urban and suburban counterparts might never experience. Take, for example, a seemingly mundane task: a trip to the dump. For some, it’s a chore. For others, it’s practically a mental health excursion — a moment of solitude, a break from the daily grind, or even an unspoken test of self-sufficiency. But as with most things in rural life, nothing is ever quite that simple. Picture this: A woman (not naming names or looking in the mirror as I…

After a lack of rain in January and last week’s heatwave brought temperatures as high as 104°F, parts of Brazil and Argentina are expected to receive rain in the coming week, according to David Tolleris, meteorologist and owner of WxRisk.  The rain is especially welcome in Argentina, ahead of the corn and first-crop soybean harvests.  “If these rains show up in the next week in Argentina, that’s going to help,” Tolleris said. “But I think the damage has already been done.”  South American Production Outlook Cuts The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reduced its outlook for Argentina’s corn and soybean…