This month’s WASDE report was mostly neutral, which is what we usually expect from the USDA at this time of year. More will be revealed about the status of this year’s crop at the end of the month. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the old crop corn ending...
5 Ag Stories
Farm transitions are becoming increasingly challenging
The ag industry must do something about the average age of America’s farmers as it keeps rising. The next generation of ag leaders is entering the work force, but we’re not seeing enough of them return to the farm. Chad Hart, agricultural economist at Iowa State...
Another successful Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade concludes in Mount Pleasant
The 26th Annual Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade wrapped up on Wednesday with a day three route northeast of Mount Pleasant and a return to Mount Pleasant for lunch and a closing ceremony. Each year a different host city is homebase for the Tractorcade with the Old...
John Deere must face right-to-repair lawsuit
A court ruling determined that agricultural equipment manufacturer John Deere must face a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission, which accuses the company of forcing farmers to use its authorized dealer network. A judge ruled that drove up farmers’ costs for repairs...
Governor’s Veto Highlights Ag Policy Divide
The battle over House File 639 continues to intensify after Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds vetoed the bill on Wednesday. The legislation aims at the use of eminent domain in Iowa, a topic that’s become increasingly contentious amid proposals for carbon capture pipelines...
NPPC President-elect preparing to lead organization next year
The World Pork Expo, held every year at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, is an excellent opportunity for pork industry leaders to gather and discuss the top issues they are facing. National Pork Producers Council President-Elect Rob Brenneman is...
Farmers expressing more concerns about Trump’s tariffs
Farmers and other businesspeople are watching the Trump administration's trade strategy very carefully as tariffs, which could directly affect their bottom line, go up and down and back again. Brian Kuehl is Executive Director of Farmers for Free Trade and is holding...
Trade mission to Peru is underway
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitely arrived in Lima, Peru, this week to begin an agribusiness trade mission to expand market access. The goal is to boost U.S. agricultural exports to address the $3.66 billion trade deficit with Peru....
Brazil’s corn crop surges, exports dip
Brazil continues to pose strong competition in global agricultural trade, and 2025 will be no different. With favorable weather and solid market positioning, the conditions are aligning for another strong year for Brazilian crop production and exports. This growing...
Rural America helping to power AI innovation
Rural America is becoming the home of more data centers to power artificial intelligence. Jeff Johnston, Lead Economist for Infrastructure with CoBank, says the rural areas of the United States are helping to lead the charge forward for AI technology. Johnston says...
