Author: staff

Protests, demonstrations, and incidents of animal-rights organizations breaking into farms are on the rise. And while “undercover” videos are still a significant tactic, the strategies employed by activist groups are far more sophisticated than they were even a decade ago. This week, the Animal Agriculture Alliance has updated two of its reports to best reflect the current state of the vegan and animal activist movement in the U.S. The Major Animal Activist Groups Web highlights the strategic, interconnected nature of the animal activist movement. Meanwhile, the Radical Vegan Activism report highlights trends in activism and illuminates the true intentions of…

October feeder cattle ended the day down $5.18 at $349.13 per hundredweight (cwt). December live cattle closed down $2.48 at $232.68 per cwt. December lean hogs were down 58¢ at $87.65 per cwt. “Cattle futures again led the livestock complex lower today as additional weakness was noted in cash trade,” said Karl Setzer, partner at Consus Ag Consulting. “… Packer margins are deteriorating, and retail demand is becoming less certain, and neither side wants to see negative margins. This weighed heavily on boxed beef today, and this is what has been supporting cattle futures. Cattle inventory remains light, but as…

If your tractor breaks down, you either fix it or call a mechanic. The same is true if our cattle are sick — we consult a veterinarian and treat the ailment. But what happens when the young people around us are hurting? Too often we stay silent; talking about depression and suicide with teenagers is not likely on your list of favorite chores. We need to change that silence. The Anxious Generation, a book exploring the “collapse of youth mental health,” shows the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s after a more than a decade of stability.…

If you are considering a new rental agreement or looking to renegotiate an existing lease, there are several factors to take into account when it comes to negotiating the rental rate.  How Is Rent Being Calculated?  A fixed cash rent agreement is the simplest rental arrangement there is. But it is not as simple as it first seems. “Determining a fair rate is not easy,” said William Edwards, Iowa State University (ISU) retired Extension economist. “Cash rents are likely to be too low during periods of rising prices and high yields, and too high during periods of declining prices and…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture have confirmed the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a Nebraska dairy herd. The confirmation came after routine testing of milk samples required under the USDA’s April 2024 Federal Order. This makes Nebraska the 17th state to see cases of HPAI in cattle since the outbreak began in March 2024, though only a handful of states have reported cases this year. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is now working with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture on additional testing and on-farm investigations to understand the…

1. Soybean Futures Lower Overnight on Harvest Pressure Soybean futures were lower in overnight trading as the U.S. harvest rolls on amid favorable weather in much of the Corn Belt.  Five percent of U.S. beans wee in the bin at the start of the week, up from the prior five-year average of 3%, the Department of Agriculture said in a report. About 41% of the crop was dropping leaves, just ahead of the average of 40% for this time of year.  Sixty-three percent of soybeans were in good or excellent shape, down a percentage point from the week prior.  Dry…

By Cassandra Stephenson As Tennessee soybean farmers harvest their crop after a difficult growing season, they are facing a farm economy that resembles “death by a thousand cuts,” Tennessee Soybean Promotion Council Executive Director Stefan Maupin said. Persistent inflation since the pandemic has made it more expensive for farmers to produce crops, and weather extremes over the last year mean they will see a significant loss in yield, he said.  On top of that, bushels will soon hit a market where prices are low and Tennessee’s largest soybean export partner, China, is entirely absent amid trade negotiations with the Trump…

By Aaron Sanderford LINCOLN — Bovine bird flu is now a thing in Nebraska, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA).  The NDA and USDA in recent days identified a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a dairy cattle herd in central Nebraska. The Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, working with the National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed a similar strain of the virus to what infected a herd in California. Cattle are at little risk of death with proper care, and the herd has been quarantined, officials said.  Nebraska State Veterinarian Dr. Roger Dudley asked the state’s cattle…

The National 4-H Council recently announced the winners of the 2025 4-H Youth in Action Awards, honoring four outstanding young leaders who have demonstrated remarkable achievements and positive impacts on their communities. Each winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship to support their future educational endeavors and will serve as 4-H spokespeople throughout the year, showcasing their contributions to 4-H and beyond. “These four remarkable 4‑H’ers are leading with purpose, passion, and impact. Each of these young leaders has demonstrated outstanding commitment to their communities, tackling challenges, and inspiring peers across the country to make a difference,” wrote the National 4-H…

By Cami Koons Summit Carbon Solutions has filed a petition to amend its pipeline permit with the Iowa Utilities Commission. The petition, filed on Monday, requests route and pipe-size modifications to add an ethanol plant to the route and to “amend the conditions regarding North Dakota and South Dakota.” In the IUC’s approval of the CO2 pipeline permit through Iowa, it noted Summit could not begin construction until it had received route and storage permission from North Dakota — where the pipeline is slated to deposit the sequestered carbon in an underground rock formation — and route permission from South Dakota. South Dakota enacted a…