Top Stories
Diesel prices remain high as harvest gets underway
Diesel prices continue climbing, leaving farmers wondering how long this will continue. Crude oil prices have shown signs of easing, but diesel prices are not following suit, putting even more pressure on the farm economy. Faith Parum, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said crude oil and diesel prices don’t typically follow the same track. Parum said the spike occurring during harvest for much of farm country has squeezed margins even further. Parum said it’s hard to...
EPA backs innovation that works for farmers
As farmers continue to face high input costs, new precision technology could provide opportunities to reduce expenses while also limiting environmental impacts. Doug Jones, agriculture advisor for EPA Region 7, says the agency is watching several new technologies that...
Mexico bans U.S. lamb and sheep offal over scrapie case
In late July, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) surveillance program detected a case of classical scrapie in a single sheep at a slaughter facility in Oregon. It was the first such detection in the U.S. in more than five years. Although APHIS...
New Agronomy Zone introduced at 2026 Farm Progress Show
The Farm Progress Show is in Boone Iowa this year and takes place this week September 1st-3rd. The show has always been a premier spot to see the latest agricultural technology in action, but it has added a new permanent display to showcase the newest crop inputs and...
Farm Rescue encourages referrals for farm families in need of harvest assistance
As harvest begins across the country, Farm Rescue is reminding rural communities that help is available for farm families facing an unexpected crisis. When illness, injury or natural disaster strikes, the work on the farm doesn’t stop. Crops still need to come out of...
New U.S. ammonia plant will increase domestic production
Fertilizer prices and availability have been a major pain point for U.S. producers for several years. A major factor that contributes to that pressure is fact that the U.S. imports about 50 percent of the 20 million tons of the fertilizer farmers across the country...
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...
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Lending a trusted ear to farmer mental health struggles
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and that’s especially important in rural areas, where suicide rates are roughly 1.5 times higher than urban areas. A lack of rural mental health care options and a negative stigma against discussing mental health have...
U.S. Export Sales Report (9-4-26)
Old crop grain sales are wrapping up as we prepare to enter into the new crop year. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the old crop corn sales were strong in the latest export sales report, and that will likely be reflected in next week’s WASDE report....
Preparing for farm safety during harvest
Safety is always a primary concern for farmers during harvest season and making sure that you have the proper safety tools and procedures in place should always be top of mind. After a dry August and hot and dry start to September Dan Neenan of the National Education...
Iowa CSP, EQIP application deadline set for Sept. 25
Iowa farmers interested in signing up for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) have until Sept. 25 to apply to be considered for 2027 funding. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural...
Harvest opens key SCN testing window in Iowa
As soybean harvest approaches across Iowa, farmers have an opportunity to check their fields for a pest that can quietly reduce yields without producing obvious symptoms. Soybean cyst nematode, or SCN, remains one of the most damaging soybean pests, and once it...
