Statewide Iowa — An Iowa State University report finds it will cost less to plant some crops this spring. Report author Alejandro Plastina says that includes the state’s two major crops. Read more
Cattlemen/Women Optimistic, Despite Challenging 2019
(IARN) — United States cattle producers met this week in San Antonio for the Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show. Read more
New Options For Producers Enrolling In ARC/PLC
(IARN) — Agricultural producers soon need to finalize crop insurance plans.
United States farmers have until March 15 to enroll in the Agriculture Risk Loss (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. Read more
President Trump Intends To Negotiate Trade Agreement With Kenya
(IARN) — President Donald J. Trump today announced the United States intends to initiate trade agreement negotiations with the Republic of Kenya following a meeting at the White House with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. Read more
E15 Sales Reach Record In 2019
(IARN) — A new Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) analysis found approximately 500 million gallons of E15 were sold nationwide in 2019, setting a new record. RFA says the record proves that the Trump administration’s elimination last summer of an obsolete regulatory barrier is working. However, sales would have been even stronger if not for the RFS compliance exemptions granted by EPA to dozens of refineries. Read more
Market Analyst: “This Phase One Trade Deal Is A Big Deal”
(IARN) — Ag Market, the Farm Division of John Stewart and Associates, this week hosted its first Farm Profitability Conference, called “It’s Profit…Not Price.” Ag Market analysts offered a more in-depth look at grain markets.
Grain traders have fixed their attention on crop acreage, value of the dollar, and trade with China. Jim McCormick, branch manager of Ag Market, believes China could “dramatically change the dynamic of our markets.”
“The Phase One trade deal is a big deal, if China can fulfill (it). (The) Coronavirus has put a hiccup in it, but the fact of the matter is we’re dealing with a product people need. As China comes in and starts buying a lot of grain, they can change the dynamics of our markets dramatically because right now, we’re not pricing China into the market,” McCormick said.
McCormick does not anticipate big sales on February 14, when Phase One goes into effect. He says China needs to first address the Coronavirus outbreak.
“Once they get it contained, I would expect them to come in,” McCormick said. “(But) they’ve made it apparent that they’re not going to by beans from the U.S. just to buy beans. They’re going to look at it economically. With Brazilian harvest coming online, we’re not going to be competitively priced in the near-term.”
McCormick suspects China will ramp up its purchases of U.S. agricultural products in the fall.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
Photo from KIWA Archives