A set of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposals on pesticide use and labeling would create “considerable costs and inefficiencies for, and large gaps in, rodent control efforts,” according to Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr. IFB was one of more than 10,000 contributors to formally weigh-in on the proposals. Read more

Egg prices fell below year-ago levels in recent months, but grocery stores aren’t expected to return to levels experienced before the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) any time soon. “I think egg prices, the flock losses and recovery are a good representation of how long it can take to see the supply and demand side of agriculture play out,” said Shayle Shagam, USDA livestock economist. Read more

The clouds parted and Mother Nature said, “Let’s go!” Farmers across the state raced to the fields this week in some of the best planting conditions Champaign County Dirk Rice has seen in awhile. “We’re making decent progress,” he said. Find out what other farmers had to say about fieldwork activity and the extended forecast in this update by Daniel Grant. Read more

From global disease pressure to national and international economic uncertainty, the theme of pork markets in 2022 was volatility. Hog markets have started out much quieter in 2023 but there is no shortage of issues impacting producers. This American Farm Bureau Federation Market Intel will provide analysis of USDA’s quarterly hogs & pigs report and what it means for the rest of the 2023 pork marketing year.   Read more

Jennifer Tirey, Illinois Pork Producer Association’s executive director, discussed a recent D.C. fly-in, the young leader program, new spotlight award and more with RFD’s Rita Frazer. LISTEN HERE

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed stricter vehicle emission limits that would mandate up to two-thirds of new U.S. models to be electric by 2032. Half of heavy-duty vehicles sold would need to be “zero emission.”   Read more