Total U.S. ag exports reached a record $196 billion in fiscal year 2022, but USDA’s Economic Research Service has projected they could dip to $184.5 billion in FY 2023. U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai faced bipartisan pressure during a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing, where she discussed market access and trade enforcement.     Read more

Futures prices of hogs tailed off by more than $10 per hundredweight this week, driving returns down to breakeven levels or below. While demand is playing a part in it, outside markets also threw a wrench into commodity markets. Toni Dunker, market analyst with Advance Trading, discusses the recent downturn in the hog market ahead of USDA’s quarterly hogs and pigs report.     Read more

 While Illinois received 3-6 inches of precipitation in a recent 30-day stretch, heavy snowpacks remain in place from Montana to Wisconsin. Temperatures will be crucial in the weeks ahead for farmers, but if snow melts too quickly, it could produce flooding issues. John Baranick, DTN meteorologist, and Rich Nelson, Allendale director of research, discuss the weather’s impact on spring planting.     Read more

David Meiss of McLean County and his wife, Debbie, raise 1,600 acres of corn, soybeans and seed beans. He’s a past Illinois Farm Bureau director and has served on various boards throughout the community. Get to know Meiss in this interview with Rita Frazer. LISTEN HERE

The pandemic presented an opportunity to find unique solutions implemented on the ground to improve food security. Panelists representing food banks, food companies and farmers spoke to the efforts of finding common ground to advance farm bill priorities. They also announced the launch of a new coalition, Farmers Feed America.   Read more

Five farmers part of the next generation of agricultural leaders recently led a panel discussion about future ag and food policy, weaving through topics including economic, social and environmental sustainability, innovation and barriers facing young farmers during a recent Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit. FarmWeek’s Tammie Sloup shares their farm bill wish list and more.   Read more