Jennifer Carrico grew up on a Century farm near Redfield, Iowa, and is now raising her children there. She has been with the Journal since 2006, and can be reached by phone at 515-833-2120 or by email at jcarrico@hpj.com.

PRRS: A continual problem for pork producers

“We’ve found that vaccinating for PRRS with a modified live vaccine will significantly reduce the aerosol shedding of the virus. Non-vaccinated pigs will shed the virus a lot longer than vaccinated pigs will. Pigs can also shed the PRRS virus through their feces for seven days.

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Iowa State University Extension climatologist Elwynn Taylor said the western part of the Corn Belt hasn’t seen enough moisture to pull them completely out of drought conditions. “The eastern Corn Belt has had enough moisture to replenish their soil and is no longer considered to be under drought conditions. Kansas State University meteorologist Mary Knapp said the moisture seen in the High Plains recently has certainly helped the drought conditions and some improvements have been seen in ... [Read More]

joint agreement between the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service and DuPont will set voluntary standards for the sustainable harvesting of agricultural restudies for renewable fuel, and support rural job creation, additional income for farmers, bio-based energy development, and the safeguarding of natural resources and land productivity. He said USDA and DuPont share a common interest in good management of soil, water and energy resources, as well as helping farmers adapt new market ... [Read More]

McKean said the two legal uses of livestock medications are labeled use, where the producer follows label instructions, and extra-label use, where a veterinarian prescribes the medication along with specific instructions as to how to use the medicine and by setting a withdrawal time. McKean said the exceptions are outlined as causing public health concerns, in which time the Food and Drug Administration would define recommendations for the specific use in food animal production. In 2008 the ... [Read More]

Kimberley said global demand for soybeans has also helped push the need for more soybeans and helped keep the prices up. Kimberley said it is important to continue to have good relations with the export customers internationally as amount in soybeans and soybean products exported continues to grow. Iowa Soybean Association CEO Kirk Leeds said in a release that global demand for soybeans continues to be off the charts, while domestic demand continues to remain better than expected as well. [Read More]

"This particular journey started two years ago when the Beef Promotion Operating Committee decided to fund the sustainability project. NCBA Director of Sustainability Kim Stackhouse-Lawson said this assessment will provide a roadmap for the journey toward a more sustainable beef industry. She said it was important to conduct a comprehensive sustainability assessment of the entire beef industry. [Read More]

Boggs said 35 percent of the students in their agriculture college are transfer students. Iowa State animal science first-year graduate student Sara Morine said the demographics of the students in the animal science department have changed considerably in the four years she has been a student there. "Sixty percent of the animal science students here at Iowa State don't have a farm background. [Read More]

Kinze Manufacturing, Inc. held the grand opening of the Kinze Innovation Center on Jan. 25 in Williamsburg, Iowa. "Completed in December 2012, the Kinze Innovation Center showcases the history of our company and our products," said Susanne Kinzenbaw Veatch, vice president and chief marketing officer, Kinze Manufacturing. The center houses all of the major agricultural inventions by Kinze founder and president Jon Kinzenbaw, as well as those made by Kinze engineers. [Read More]

These were the same ads that four major Iowa television stations (KCAU-ABC in Sioux City, KCCI-CBS in Des Moines, WHO-TV-NBC in Des Moines and WOI-ABC in Des Moines) pulled off the air due to its misleading and false allegations. 1 advocate for the family farmer and rancher in our nation as our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Editorial note: This is a copy of a letter Field Editor Jennifer Carrico sent to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. [Read More]

Education about agriculture is the most important way to help consumers understand agriculture in order to support the livelihood of farmers and ranchers in the future. "The AgChat Foundation is designed to help empower farmers and ranchers--those who produce food, fuel, fiber and feed--to tell agriculture's story from their point of view. Grimm said he hopes his involvement in the AgChat Foundation will help preserve the future of agriculture and help reconnect people to where their food, ... [Read More]