IARN — Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s glad the EPA “has finally come around” after it announced its support for a recent appeals court decision supporting biofuels producers. Read more
U.S. Cattle on Feed up 1 percent
IARN — Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States had a one percent increase year-to-year, according to the USDA.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the latest Cattle on Feed Report on Friday, and USDA livestock branch chief Travis Averill provides an overview of what was published in the report.
“Cattle on feed came in at 12.1 million head, up one percent from February 1, 2020,” Averill said. “This is the second highest February 1 inventory since the data series began back in 1996. Also from the report, we had placements at 2.02 million head, up three percent from 2020. The marketings during the month of January totaled 1.82 million head, down six percent. Just a note when you are talking about marketings, there were two less business days in January 2020 versus January 2021.”
Averill takes a look at Iowa-specific cattle on feed data.
“Cattle on feed in the feedlots of a thousand or more capacity, Iowa was at 620,000 head, down seven percent from the 670,000 from last February,” Averill said. “Placements for Iowa during January was 109,000 head, down two percent from the 111,000 head from the previous year. Cattle marketed from Iowa feedlots was 97,000 head, down 10 percent or down from 108,000 from the previous year’s January marketed cattle.”
The full Cattle on Feed Report can be found at nass.usda.gov.
Global AgriTrends releases 2021 pork export outlook
IARN — A recent webinar hosted by the National Pork Board provided an outlook for U.S. pork exports in 2021. Read more
USB works to define goals at February meeting
IARN — The United Soybean Board met virtually on February 17th to define strategies and goals to strengthen soy’s position in the U.S. and global marketplaces. Read more
Biden EPA supports 10th Circuit Court’s decision on SREs
IARN — The Biden Administration handed a major victory to the corn ethanol industry. The EPA says it agrees with last year’s ruling by the Tenth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that rejected the Trump EPA’s retroactive waivers to oil refiners from the Renewable Fuel Standard. The Biden EPA says the Tenth Circuit ruling “better reflects” the law and Congress’s intent in establishing the RFS. Read more
Dordt Releases Annual Field Trial Research
Sioux Center, Iowa — Dordt University conducted its annual field trials in 2020 despite an unusual year of weather, with moisture about 50 percent of normal. The field trials are part of the Field Crop Production and Management course that Dordt agriculture students take. Students are challenged to find solutions to problems commonly associated in grain production. Read more