Author: staff

The National Pork Industry Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research and education in the pork industry, is now accepting applications for the 2026 Neil Dierks Scholarship. This $5,000 scholarship honors Neil Dierks, the longtime CEO of the National Pork Producers Council, and recognizes his remarkable leadership and dedication to the pork industry throughout his career. The scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate student enrolled at a land-grant university and pursuing studies that directly support the pork industry. “Neil’s leadership and vision left a lasting impact on producers and the broader agricultural community,” said John Anderson, pork producer…

ADM and Alltech plan to launch a North American animal feed joint venture to bolster customer advantages. The companies signed a definitive agreement earlier this week, with plans to launch the joint venture in early 2026.  Alltech will contribute its U.S.- and Canada-based businesses, including 33 feed mills. ADM will contribute its 15 U.S.-based feed mills. The joint venture will be governed by a board with equal representation from each company, although Alltech will maintain majority ownership.  “As the animal nutrition industry continues to reshape itself to support a growing global population, Alltech and ADM are bringing together passionate teams,…

GSI is releasing three new grain system products including a chain conveyor, air system, and QuickBolt stairs. VersaLoop GSI VersaLoop. GSI GSI’s VersaLoop chain conveyor system is now offered with 14-inch diameter tubes that can process up to 15,000 bushels per hour. The VersaLoop uses a chain and paddle design to quickly and quietly. The conveyor can run up to 325 feet in length, and inclines up to 60°.  The VersaLoop has a direct-drive configuration for reduced maintenance compared to a traditional belt, and the drive end is located at ground level for easier access.  The VersaLoop is also available…

By Ryan Hanrahan The Wall Street Journal’s Dan Frosch and Patrick Thomas reported that “the team of federal economists and researchers responsible for producing the government survey that measures hunger in America were put on indefinite paid leave Monday, according to the union that represents the workers.” “The move comes two days after The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration abruptly canceled the report, which has been produced by the Agriculture Department every year since the mid-1990s,” Frosch and Thomas reported. “Around a dozen employees, all involved with economic research at the USDA, were put on leave, said…

USDA published the latest Crop Progress report on Monday, Sept. 22. Here’s a closer look at recent weather and the status of Ohio’s most important crops in mid-September. Weather Aaron Wilson, state climatologist of Ohio, wrote in an Ohio State Extension newsletter that August 2025 was the driest August on record since 1895. Conditions through the first three weeks of September have not improved. The entire state has had below normal precipitation during the last 30 days.  All of Ohio is in moderate drought or higher. U.S. Drought Monitor Rain is in the forecast for this week Tuesday through Friday…

Regardless of what type of farmer you are, you can only control what you can control. As a producer, you concentrate on what you need to do to grow the best crops or healthiest livestock. Your efforts and focus are required every step along the production cycle. Marketing, however, is different. Marketing is always looking ahead, although decisions are made based on criteria today. In other words, marketing is attempting to control the future, shifting price risk and/or locking in gains.   For some, marketing means taking on the role of a price taker, which is deciding to do nothing (by…

By Cami Koons Harvest season is underway for many Iowa farmers, as more than 65% of corn acres have reached maturity, according to the latest crop progress and condition report from the USDA.  As farmers log long days in the combines, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig urged farmers to keep physical and mental health “top of mind.”  In a news release recognizing National Farm Safety and Health Week, Naig said farmers should follow safe equipment operation practices, wear proper protective gear, inspect and maintain machinery, and stay safe around grain bins.  Naig also reminded drivers that during harvest season,…

This week, more than 500 farmers from every state, U.S. territory, and several Tribal Nations delivered a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture urging timely delivery of funds for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. While SARE funding is typically made available in March, this year’s request for applications didn’t drop until September 11, leaving SARE host institutions little time to secure funding before the fiscal year closes. The letter asks USDA to ensure SARE dollars are approved on time so farmers can access regionally appropriate, farmer-led research that supports productivity and competitiveness. In a Sept. 23, 2025,…

The Beef Checkoff has been a lightning rod in the cattle industry, and the latest move to send more than $25 million of producer dollars to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has sparked another round of controversy. Critics say the program, originally designed to promote beef and educate consumers, is increasingly tied up in politics that don’t serve the independent producers footing the bill. In a strongly worded release, rancher advocacy group Beef Life USA blasted the decision, calling it a “betrayal” of independent ranchers. The group argues that ranchers are compelled by law to pay into the Beef Checkoff…

By Joana Colussi and Michael Langemeier The U.S. soybean harvest began in September without any orders from the world’s largest buyer: China. American producers are harvesting a crop the USDA estimates at 4.3 billion bushels, and there is no indication of when shipments to China will resume. In a typical year, China buys more than half of all U.S. soybean exports. Meanwhile, Brazil set a record for shipments to China from January through August 2025. In this article, we present U.S. and Brazilian soybean trade flows to China during the last two years, analyze the trade relationship between these countries…