News Archives
Director Costello highlights Farm Family Resource Initiative
Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Director Jerry Costello II highlighted the availability of mental health resources through the Farm Family Resource Initiative (FFRI) on Tuesday.
Say Cheese: June 4 is a day to celebrate popular dairy product
For some, cheese day is every day, but since 1914, June 4 is officially known as cheese day in the United States.
Cost of carry adds pressure to basis
The cost of grain storage at elevators is expected to hit records this year, and that could translate into lower cash grain bids and wider basis levels, according to a recent report from CoBank's Knowledge Exchange.
House passes bill to increase debt limit, modify SNAP rules
The GOP-controlled House overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation Wednesday evening to avert a first-ever government default, impose caps on federal spending and make the first major changes to SNAP work requirements in decades.
Russia, Ukraine disagreements put Black Sea agreement back in uncharted waters
Disagreements between Russia and Ukraine over agriculture exports have put the future of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in jeopardy once again.
How much nitrogen does corn get from fertilizer? Less than farmers think
Corn growers seeking to increase the amount of nitrogen taken up by their crop can adjust many aspects of fertilizer application, but recent studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign show those tweaks don’t do much to improve uptake efficiency from fertilizer.
Nebraska passes law requiring gas stations sell E15
A Midwestern state legislature has passed a law requiring that gas stations must offer 15 percent blended ethanol fuel.
Ag largely not affected in debt limit deal, but food aid requirements change for some
Farm programs would come out of the debt-ceiling debate largely unscathed as lawmakers gnash their teeth over a compromise spending and debt-limit bill that needs to clear both chambers by June 5.
Awaiting U.S. action, pesticide and biotech industries talk trade issues in Mexico
Representatives of major pesticide and biotech seed companies gathered earlier this month in Mexico City to meet with Mexican ag groups and U.S. and Canadian government officials to flesh out concerns about the potential impacts of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s campaign against genetically modified corn and glyphosate, according to sources with knowledge of the meetings in Mexico.
Dry weather likely to stay for awhile
Meteorologist Greg Soulje says the dry spell isn’t over yet for most of the corn belt, but he’s seeing some relief later in June.
USDA Under Secretary Taylor to lead agri-trade mission to Japan
U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor will lead the upcoming agricultural trade mission to Japan, June 5-8.
92% of U.S. corn, 83% of soybeans planted
The USDA says warm, dry weather in most of the Midwest allowed farmers to make good corn and soybean planting progress last week.
Debt limit deal offers wins for both parties on SNAP work rules
House Republicans who have been struggling unsuccessfully for years to tighten work rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program scored a win in the debt limit negotiations that would expand the requirements to people in their early 50s, but President Joe Biden also won key new exemptions for veterans and people who are homeless.
USMEF Conference details farm bill challenges, examines importance of U.S.-Mexico trade relations
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference concluded Friday in Minneapolis with insights from former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson on how to make international trade a higher priority in the next Farm Bill.
Window of opportunity for '23 dicamba applications closing in Illinois
An agronomist says this coming week could be the last opportunity for Illinois soybean farmers to apply dicamba this season.
Some states enact two-person crew law for trains but still lack federal regulation
While the Bipartisan Rail Safety Act has yet to be made into law, some states are enacting their own safety laws, one of them being the two-person crew requirement that unions fought for, but did not get, in the recent 2023 negotiations.
Pasture fly resistance
Regardless of your choice of livestock fly control product and application method, plan for resistance.
Supreme Court sides with Sacketts in Clean Water Act case
The Supreme Court sided with two Idaho property owners in their ongoing wetlands dispute with EPA on Thursday, ruling EPA's use of the significant nexus test when making Clean Water Act determinations is too broad.
Governors push EPA to increase biodiesel, renewable diesel in RFS
A trio of Midwestern governors is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to substantially increase blending requirements for biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Seed and soybean groups blast EPA rule on plant-incorporated protectants
An EPA rule regulating plant-incorporated protectants received swift criticism Thursday from groups representing the seed industry and soybean growers, who said it would hamper innovation.
USDA invests $8 million in four partnerships to expand measurement and monitoring of soil carbon
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $8 million in four partnerships to support and expand measurement and monitoring of carbon in soil on working agricultural lands and to assess how climate-smart practices are affecting carbon sequestration.
Updated Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy dashboards indicate measurable water quality progress
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the three principals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, jointly announced that the online dashboards that report the results of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy have been updated to reflect the latest reporting period.
An expensive time to borrow
Rising interest rates and the increased cost of capital means farmers may have to take a different approach to 2024 production expenses.
USDA, DHS cut ribbon on National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials celebrated the dedication and ribbon-cutting of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF).
Iowa cash rents set records
The average cash rental rate for Iowa farmland climbed 9% in 2023 to $279 per acre, according to an annual survey conducted by Iowa State University Extension.
$13.6 million grants boost technical assistance for farmers adopting cover crops
Farmers adopting cover crops through Farmers for Soil Health can look forward to enhanced technical assistance.
Meatpacking sector bracing for market challenges
Shifts in cattle, pork and poultry markets may result in tough times ahead for processors, with meat giant Tyson Foods already reporting losses.
Stabenow says work requirements already in place as debt debate continues
Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow says it would be a disaster for the ag industry if the U.S. were to default on its debt.
