Top Stories
Small refinery exemptions offer a mixed bag for U.S. farmers
The Environmental Protection Agency granted 29 Small Refinery Exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard this week. Brian Glenn, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the exemptions create a shortfall for biofuels demand by allowing small oil refineries to blend less biofuel into the U.S. fuel supply. While these exemptions would generally result in less demand for American-grown biofuels, EPA pledged to make up the difference in upcoming years. The...
Adjustments to the soybean balance sheets in USDA April WASDE report
The monthly WASDE reports from USDA provide a snapshot of the current state of U.S. and World Soybean Supply and Demand Estimates. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski notes the changes to the U.S. domestic use numbers in the April WASDE report. The...
Advisors urge farmers to use tax data for broader financial planning
Farm financial records can offer more than a snapshot of past performance: they can serve as a roadmap for future decisions, according to agricultural finance experts. As producers prepare tax returns for filing this week, advisors say the process provides an...
Nutrien programs offer revenue paths for Iowa growers
Iowa farmers looking for ways to improve profitability may have another opportunity through sustainability programs that reward management decisions already happening in many corn and soybean systems. Sally Fliss with Nutrien says the company’s FarmSmart programs are...
Rural America needs more ag tax professionals
Tax season can be a stressful time of year, and that is especially true for farm country. As the number of tax preparers who are familiar with the unique complexities of agricultural income declines, a new program from Iowa State University is being developed to offer...
Rising farmer sentiment in March surprised some industry experts
Despite rapidly rising input prices for farmers the March Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer registered a rise in producer sentiment. Michael Langemeier, the director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture at Purdue University, says the rising March...
AFBF continues to push for new farm bill
The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging Congress to continue work on a new farm bill. More than one month ago, the House Agriculture Committee passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act on a bipartisan basis. Brian Glenn, director of government affairs for...
Video
More Ag News
TQA certification promotes efficient and safe animal handling
Transport Quality Assurance®, or TQA, focuses on practical, real-world skills that help handlers and drivers move pigs humanely and efficiently. Stephanie Wetter with the National Pork Board says the program is updated every three years to ensure continuous...
Grassley sows doubt on farm bill’s Senate prospects
The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the farm bill on April 30th by a 224–200 vote. With passage through the House, this is the furthest a farm bill has advanced since 2018. However, despite passage in the House, the farm bill still has a long way...
U.S. red meat exports were strong in March
March exports of U.S. pork were among the largest on record, concluding a very strong first quarter, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said increased year-over-year to...
Secretary Naig announces first round of 2026 urban water quality projects
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the first-round of 2026 urban water quality projects, marking the start of a multi-phase investment that will bring new conservation practices to communities of all sizes across the state. These locally led...
E15 heads to House vote under cloud of distrust
A standalone bill allowing nationwide year-round sales of E15 is still expected to receive a vote in the U.S. House this week, but the path to that vote has created growing frustration among many agriculture state lawmakers. The tension began when Speaker Mike Johnson...
