DesMoinesRegister.com - Agriculture

Prices reflect soybean weakness

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:01:00 CDT

A day after a big sell-off of corn, soybeans were hit by a selling wave on the futures board Wednesday and fell about 24 cents per bushel to $12.58 for the new crop November contract.

Pork-based Spam leads Hormel to record profit

Wed, 23 May 2012 14:40:00 CDT

Hormel said it achieved the profits despite narrowed margins for its pork business. The company credited strong performances by its Jenni-O turkey and Spam brands.

Rough night for soybean prices

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:39:00 CDT

Soybeans prices were hurt overnight with reports that China has cancelled some purchases.

Corn prices drop after forecast for rain this week

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:07:00 CDT

Corn traders made uneasy by reports of a good start to a possibly surplus-building corn crop were further nonplussed by forecasts of rain later this week in Iowa. Corn prices fell 24 cents to $5.22 per bushel for the December contract.

Manhood at �steak' when it comes to men and red meat

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:04:00 CDT

We already suspected this, but some scientific research has come up with the conclusion that men associate red meat with masculinity, a viewpoint which makes them reluctant vegetarians.

Early corn ratings are very positive

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:06:00 CDT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's first rating on the 2012 Iowa corn crop shows the newly planted corn 60 percent good condition and 21 percent excellent.

USDA: 81 percent of Iowa corn good to excellent

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:56:00 CDT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's first rating on the 2012 Iowa corn crop shows the newly-planted corn 60 percent good condition and 21 percent excellent.

Chicago trading plans scaled back

Sat, 19 May 2012 15:56:00 CDT

When the owners of the Chicago Board of Trade wanted to expand trading from 17 hours to 22, normally sedate agricultural organizations did imitations of the frenzied cries from the trading pits.

International hunger program relies on private sector

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:10:00 CDT

President Barack Obama vowed Friday to accelerate efforts to relieve hunger and malnutrition in Africa and unveiled as part of his plan a $3billion commitment from multinational companies to make it easier for small farmers to grow their own food.

Economic incentives for seed facility OK'd by state

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:10:00 CDT

A European group received $2.1 million in state tax credits for a proposed $36 million seed-corn production, conditioning and distribution facility on 72 acres near Ogden.

Survey of bankers shows rural economies remain strong

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:58:00 CDT

The economy remains strong in rural areas of 10 states, including Iowa, because of the health of agricultural businesses, according to a new survey of banks.

Chicago trading plans scaled back after protests

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:21:00 CDT

Faced with opposition from agricultural groups, the CME Group, which owns and operates the Chicago Board of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, altered its planned expansion of grain trade hours from 22 hours to 21 hours a day.