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RMA changes offer farmers added financial flexibility
Farmers will have some additional flexibility in the federal crop insurance program following two recent changes announced by USDA’s Risk Management Agency. RMA Administrator Pat Swanson, who is also an Iowa farmer, says one of those changes is the return of the Prevent Plant 5 buy-up option. The option will allow farmers to purchase an additional five percent of prevented planting coverage beginning with the 2027 crop year. Swanson says prevented planting coverage is already part of the...
Pushing innovation in agricultural education
Farmers face new issues every year, so the ag industry has to be able to keep improving to keep up with changing demands. On top of that, we need to make sure the next generation of agriculturists is ready to tackle these problems. Brad Hammes, product specialist at...
Detailing recent improvements to the farm safety net
The long wait continues for an updated and modernized farm bill, but the farm safety net has seen recent improvements via the One Big Beautiful Bill Act says a senior USDA official. Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce says that the...
Secretary Naig announces 33 renewable fuels infrastructure grants to expand E15 access across Iowa
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) Board approved 33 ethanol infrastructure grants during its quarterly meeting on March 11, supporting new and expanded biofuel infrastructure projects at...
Federal Reserve is concerned about the Iran war’s impact on commodity markets
The war with Iran is causing upheaval in the commodity markets. The early volatility has seen an increase in the price of corn and soybeans, but it has also included sharp setbacks. Even more concerning is the risk presented to U.S. farmers and consumers as the...
Ernst helps lead recognition of women across agriculture
As National Ag Week continues and we look ahead to National Ag Day, there is a growing effort to recognize a group that has always been central to agriculture’s success, even if they have not always been front and center. Women in agriculture. A bipartisan resolution...
U.S. Export Sales Report (3-19-26)
This week’s export sales were disappointing all around, but there has been so much major news recently that this is not weighing heavily on the markets. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales broke their trend of performing above average. On the...
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New export markets boost Iowa agriculture
As the U.S. works to expand agricultural trade, USDA officials say diversifying export markets is becoming more important for long-term stability. USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg says relying too heavily on one major buyer...
Food rescue plays a big role in fighting food insecurity
On top of distributing food to people who need it, food banks across the country play a vital role in reducing food waste. The USDA estimates that up to 40% of the nation’s food supply goes to waste every year. Food rescue serves two main purposes- it keeps some of...
Fuel price volatility continues as war negotiations resume
For the duration of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, oil prices have been on a rollercoaster ride, And that volatility continues as negotiations resume in Pakistan. Patrick DeHaan, the senior petroleum analyst with Gasbuddy.com, said oil prices decreased last week,...
Slow moving weather systems expected to provide more precipitation
USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says a mix of temperatures and above normal precipitation is expected for much of country for the period of April 28th-May 4th. Rippey provides the details of the 8 to 14 day weather forecast. Rippey says parts of the Plains should...
Farm bill talks gain momentum amid pressure from farm groups
Congressional leaders are signaling renewed momentum on a long-delayed farm bill as pressure builds from agricultural groups ahead of the 2026 planting season. Lawmakers from both parties said negotiations have accelerated, though disagreements remain overspending...
