Top Stories
South American Weather and Crop Update (6-23-26)
Once again, the weather forecasts in South America are leaning more towards drier weather. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said both Brazil and Argentina should see a lack of rain. McBride said that, once the El Nino weather pattern kicks in more, South America could see even more dry weather. Right now, however, the dry weather won’t impact much directly, as both Brazil and Argentina are going through harvest. McBride said harvest in Brazil is still in the very early stages. McBride...
Top considerations when planning a calving barn
As attention to livestock production intensifies, producers continue to evaluate the benefits of calving barns for enhancing both livestock management and operational efficiency, according to Dennis Lee, farm product line manager for Morton Buildings. Lee cites...
Examining demand concerns heading into the summer grilling season
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to the summer grilling season and with the grills firing up around the country questions about meat demand are lingering. With meat prices at the store at lofty levels and beef prices reaching record highs, will consumers have...
Trump cuts tariffs on ag equipment to 15 percent
President Donald Trump has announced tariff reductions on certain agricultural and industrial equipment, a move that could help ease some cost pressures facing farmers and machinery dealers. Under a new proclamation, tariffs on products like harvesters, bulldozers,...
Interior touts grazing’s conservation benefits
When I visited Washington, D.C. recently, I had the opportunity to hear from Karen Budd-Falen, Associate Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Interior, about several issues affecting western ranchers and public lands. One topic that generated considerable...
Corn farmers looking out for tar spot and southern rust in 2026
Iowa farmers are always on the lookout for disease issues, but there are two diseases from 2025 that have farmers the most alert: tar spot and southern rust. Last year, these two diseases popped up in unexpected areas around the country, causing some of the highest...
Governor Reynolds signs pair of ag bills, including Iowa Farm Act
On Monday Governor Kim Reynolds signed Iowa House File 2771, featuring the Farm to Faucet Water Quality package, and Senate File 2465, also known as the Iowa Farm Act, at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. House File 2771 is primarily the state’s fiscal year 2027...
Video
More Ag News
Swine industry remains cautious about NWS
Earlier this week, the USDA announced that there was an official detection of New World Screwworm (NWS) in the U.S. The pest was found in a three-week-old calf in South Texas. Since NWS is an indiscriminate parasite, all warm-blooded mammals are at risk of infestation...
Ag economy barometer drops in May
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped in May. Michael Langemeier, director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture, talked about the decline. Farmers appeared to be deeply concerned about current conditions. Langemeier said...
Recapping a disappointing week in the grain market trade
It has been a difficult week of trade in the grains and oilseeds markets to say the least. Corn and soybeans grinded lower to begin the week and then saw significant losses on Thursday and Friday. Matt Bennett is the CEO and co-founder of AgMarket.Net and he tells the...
Livestock groups react to NWS confirmation
U.S. livestock groups reacted to the USDA’s confirmation of the New World Screwworm in South Texas. “The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and our state partner organizations have been working for more than a year to combat the incursion of the New World...
NASDA prioritizes animal disease preparedness
When I visited Washington, D.C. recently, I had the opportunity to speak with RJ Kearney of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture about the issues state agriculture leaders are watching most closely. While topics like trade and the Farm Bill...
