Farm Futures logo

Rep. Collin Peterson sees tough times ahead, record high hog inventory and autonomous soil sampler among news of the week

Janet Kubat Willette, E-Content Editor

July 5, 2019

3 Min Read
NolanBerg11/flySnow/SteveOehlenschlager/ThinkstockPhotos

Need a quick catch-up on the news of the week? Here are seven agricultural news stories you might have missed.

1. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s latest marketbasket survey is out and its volunteer shoppers from across the nation found you can feed 10 people a summer cookout meal for less than $6 per person. The cost of the meal is up 11 cents from last year. The menu includes hot dogs and buns, cheeseburgers and buns, pork spare ribs, deli potato salad, baked beans, corn chips, lemonade, ketchup, mustard and watermelon. – The Farmer

2. JBS USA won more than 26% of the $300 million USDA has allocated to pork so far as part of the Trump administration’s Trade Mitigation Program. JBS facilities in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and California have won trade mitigation contracts with USDA. – Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

3. The U.S. hog inventory as of June 1 was the highest since estimates began in 1964. This is 4% higher than a year earlier and up 1% from March 1, 2019. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 11 for the March-May period, according to USDA. – National Hog Farmer

4. Congressman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., House Agriculture Committee chairman, expects land prices to fall, stagnant crop prices and farm bankruptcies in 2020. “I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think I am.” – West Central Tribune

5. More than 99% of Holstein males can be traced to two bulls, both born in the 1960s. There are just two Y chromosomes among all male Holsteins in the country. Females haven’t fared much better, according to a Pennsylvania State University researcher. - Scientific American

6. Where does your congressional district rank? Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District has the most farms, the most farmers and the most economic value from agriculture. Rounding out the top 5 in number of producers and number of farms is Iowa’s 4th District, South Dakota at large, Minnesota’s 7th District and Oklahoma’s 2nd District. – USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska TV

7. Two entrepreneurs are marketing SmartCore, an autonomous soil sampler. The entrepreneurs, Troy Fiechter and Drew Schumacher, say SmartCore can take soil samples better than people. – Indiana Prairie Farmer

And your bonus.

“The welfare of the farmer is vital to that of the whole country,” a president said. To find out which one and see other presidential quotes related to farmers, check out the slideshow compiled by Lon Tonneson in honor of the Fourth of July. – Dakota Farmer

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like