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North American Bee Strategy aims to improve honeybee health
Honeybee colonies in the U.S. experienced significant losses in 2024, with an estimated 55% of managed colonies reported as lost from April 2024 to April 2025. That is the highest loss rate since tracking began in 2010. In response, the Honey Bee Health Coalition crafted the North American Bee Strategy, which aims to improve pollinator health. Matt Mullica, head of the coalition, said they brought the leading beekeeper organizations in the U.S. and Canada together for this strategy. Mullica...
Building the calf microbiome begins in the first hours of life
Producers spend a lot of time thinking about cow health, breeding readiness, and nutrition plans, but Purina says the story of long-term productivity starts much earlier. The first hours and weeks of a calf’s life are filled with stress points, and how those animals...
Major takeaways from the 2025 crop season
This was a very eventful crop year for Iowa’s corn and soybean farmers. While the variety of issues felt lower than most years, the problems that did pop up threw many farmers for a loop. John Brien, agronomy division manager with AgriGold, said crop health proved to...
U.S. Export Sales Report (12-11-25)
The weekly export sales are continuing to catch up to where we are currently in the calendar year. This week’s sales covered data through the week of November 13th. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the data showed a good week for both corn and soybeans....
Ag Economy Barometer survey findings on farmer financial assistance intentions
The recent farmer bridge payment announcement from the White House and USDA is a welcome relief for farmers. Although the payments are not a permanent fix to any of the financial problems farmers face, they do help to provide assistance during the trade war with...
CoBank: Forces shaping the 2026 rural economy
A new CoBank Report on the forces shaping the economy in 2026 says ample grain supplies will likely continue burdening the markets in 2026. Global grain and oilseed markets are still oversupplied, but increased biofuels production and improving export conditions are...
Early beans, late rust, and a year full of surprises
You could not plan for the 2025 growing season. Farmers across Iowa saw everything from once-in-a-decade disease pressure to long stretches of uncooperative weather, along with a planting window that turned upside down more than once. Brad Gibson of Channel Seeds...
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Specialty crop growers feeling left out
In a time of financial stress for many farmers across the country, the $12 billion bridge assistance payments that were recently announced are welcome relief for many. However, $11 billion dollars of the relief payments are being distributed to row crop farmers,...
USDA launches final phase of 2025 ag resource management study
Beginning later this month, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will spend several months gathering information about farm economics from farmers and ranchers throughout the U.S. The agency will be conducting its third and final phase of the 2025...
Impacts of Argentina’s export tax cut
It was recently announced that Argentina cut its export tax by 2%, which creates even more of a price gap with U.S. soybean prices. However, the global demand situation is too complex to trade just on prices alone. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the...
Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act nearing finish line
A key piece of legislation aimed at growing healthier kids in American classrooms took a big step toward becoming law. Both legislative chambers have now passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, meaning the bill is nearly across the finish line. Danny Munch, an...
Fertility management takes priority as margins tighten
Farmers heading into the next growing season are facing a familiar challenge. Input costs remain elevated, margins are tight, and uncertainty in the broader economy continues to weigh on nearly every decision made on the farm. In an environment like this, agronomists...
