Vilsack: Partnering with communities to alleviate poverty
At the U.S. Department of Agriculture we’re working hard to strengthen the economy across rural America – and in recent years, we have seen positive signs of growth.
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Economists predict better margins for pork producers
The National Pork Board hosted a teleconference Thursday afternoon with economists, following release of USDA’s first-quarter Hogs and Pigs report. Continued losses are predicted for now, but margins will likely improve going forward into the second, third and fourth quarters of 2013.
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Corn Belt drought: Good news for some, bad news for others
Shifting drought conditions highlight improvement in some states in the western Corn Belt, but in the southern Plains the drought continues to spread.
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Commentary: Winning the future on maternity pens
Is asking pork producers to stand tall against HSUS controversial? Apparently it is, judging from the stir around my previous column. If you missed it, I encouraged producers to not flinch in the game of "chicken" with animal rights activists who have conned some retailers into making weak mealy-mouthed pledges against maternity pens (gestation stalls).
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Most Americans say ‘yes’ to Keystone pipeline
Despite the controversy surrounding the Keystone XL oil pipeline, most Americans support it.
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Project focuses on improving food pantries in rural food deserts
Ohio State University Extension is taking part in a five-year, $4 million grant to help isolated communities increase availability of nutritious foods.
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EU may lift animal by-product ban for pig, poultry feed in 2014
The European Union hopes to ease the cost of protein used to make pig and poultry feed by lifting a ban on by-products imposed during the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) outbreak over a decade ago.
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D.C. Watch: Congress bickers over long-term budget solutions
Last week Congress passed a bill that will fund the government through the rest of this fiscal year, averting a government shutdown.
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In time, higher volume after CME cuts grain futures hours
CME Group's plan to scale back its trading day for grain contracts will likely provide a boost to volume and liquidity, but traders said it will take time for investors to return to the market.
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Senate budget plan to include Keystone XL approval
A Republican lawmaker said he expects a symbolic measure to approve the Keystone XL pipeline will be attached to the Senate's budget plan Friday, and that it will build support for a similar bill likely to be voted on later in the year.
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Safeguard people first in farm disaster planning
With the arrival of spring comes greater chances of floods and tornadoes that farmers and other agricultural business owners should plan for while avoiding any temptation to "risk it all to save the barn" during a disaster, a Purdue Extension disaster education specialist says.
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- Corn and soybean prices continue to retrace 2012 drought rally
- Swine virus confirmed in Iowa, Indiana hog herds
- Premium Standard Farms Founder Dies Unexpectedly
- USDA says has detected virus in Iowa hog population
- Commentary: GMOs: How do I hate thee?
- Weather report: Rain spreads across the Corn Belt
