Author: staff

Farmers are being forced to adapt to the effects of climate disruptions on their crops’ valuable water resources. The recent millennia of climate stability are rapidly eroding, and farmers who rely on the hydrological cycle to nourish their crops are poised to feel a disproportionate impact from increasing climate disruptions. For decades, the gap between agricultural water use and the annual supply of water resources has been widening, with Food and Agriculture Organization data showing that about 70 percent of freshwater consumption around the world happens in the agricultural sector. Experts are recognizing that this shift is causing less reliable…

By Ryan Hanrahan Reuters’ Diego Oré reported that “Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday she does not believe the United States will impose tariffs on Saturday as President Donald Trump has pledged, but said her administration has its own response plan in place if needed.” “‘We don’t think it’s going to happen,’ Sheinbaum said at her regular morning press conference. ‘And if it does happen, we also have our plan,’” Oré reported. “In what Mexico sees as the unlikely event that the U.S. does implement tariffs against its largest trading partner on Feb. 1, Mexico is prepared to impose…

Attorney and politician Lee Zeldin was confirmed as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Trump’s second term in a 56-42 vote on Wednesday. Agricultural industry groups, including several biofuels advocates, released statements reacting to the news and expressing their priorities for the newest cabinet member. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is the largest association of cattle producers and “works to create new markets and increase demand for beef.” Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane congratulated Zeldin saying the organization looks “forward to working with him to protect the clean water and healthy soil…

After the recent Arctic blast, the Midwest will see above-average temperatures and chances for precipitation going into the start of February. Multiple rounds of rainfall are expected in the Southwest United States and move through the Midwest followed by more seasonal, cold temperatures and a chance for a Midwest snowstorm.  David Tolleris, meteorologist and owner of WxRisk.com, said a shift in the weather pattern is coming. Recently, the East Coast and Deep South has seen unprecedented amounts of snow and cold temperatures. According to a report by AccuWeather, New Orleans and Pensacola have seen more snow this winter than cities…

During one of the country’s biggest pork conferences, a number of new products were revealed, from new production equipment to a new alert system for pork farmers, at the Iowa Pork Congress Jan. 22-23 in Des Moines. These are a few products that you’ll want to consider for your operation. Agri-Alert Alarm System Grain and protein technologies company Automated Production (AP) unveiled an update to its Agri-Alert Alarm Systems.  The new system has the capability of using a cellular network or already-existing farm wifi network to monitor up to eight locations in a barn — all that can be monitored…

by Cami Koons Poultry producers who have previously had flocks infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza would have to pass a biosecurity audit to be eligible for future indemnity payments under a new rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service amended the conditions to ensure commercial poultry producers are making necessary biosecurity changes to minimize reinfection.  According to the rule, the current outbreak, starting in 2022, has cost $1.25 billion in indemnity and compensation payments to producers. A total of $227 million of those payments have gone to facilities that have had multiple…

On Jan. 24, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a verdict that AGCO did not infringe on John Deere U.S. patents 8,813,663 and 9,699,955, both for high-speed planting systems.  Deere alleged that Precision Planting’s SpeedTube and vSet2 products were similar to their ExactEmerge technology and therefore in violation of patent infringement. Precision Planting is a subsidiary of AGCO and part of PTx, AGCO’s precision technology company. However, the district court jury upheld an earlier ruling stating that no infringement was present.  “This means farmers will have an option when it comes to high speed planters,” said…

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N9 has been identified in U.S. poultry for the first time, following an outbreak at a commercial duck farm in Merced County, California, in November 2024. The World Organization for Animal Health confirmed the detection, stating, “Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N9, Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade 2.3.4.4b and HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b were confirmed in a commercial duck premises in Merced County, CA. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI H5N9 in poultry in the United States.” Tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the presence of both H5N9…

Insect droppings, commonly known as insect frass, may seem useless and downright disgusting, but scientists found that this waste can improve soil health when added as a fertilizer in farming. Insect frass is a mixture of excreta, feed, and molted skins. These droppings are a by-product of farming insects like yellow mealworms, banded crickets, and black soldier flies. Farmers raise and breed insects, also known as “mini-livestock,” to be an alternative protein source for animals and be a more sustainable practice in agriculture.  Insect frass may also be used as fertilizer. Previous studies by this team led by the United…

According to data compiled by the Successful Farming team, more than 4,800 acres of Iowa farmland are set to be auctioned in Feb. 2025. Listings range from single tracts of less than 40 acres to a multi-parcel auction that includes 1,350 acres. Here’s a closer look at the farmland expected to change hands across 18 Iowa counties. Hardin County Eight Hardin County tracts totaling 1,350 acres will be sold at public auction on Feb. 19, 2025. Online bidding will be available. All the tracts will be sold via buyers choice method. This means the winning bidder will have the option…