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Rural Mainstreet Index climbed above growth neutral
For only the second time in 2025, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index climbed above a growth-neutral reading of 50.0. That’s according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in a rural ten-state region dependent on agriculture and energy. The December reading hit 50.1, its highest level since July 2025, and was up from November’s 44.0. The index ranges from 0 to 100, with 50.0 representing growth neutral. “Weak agriculture commodity prices and high input costs for grain producers continue to...
Farmervoicesmatter.org brings real producers into the spotlight
Farmers across the United States are finding themselves pulled deeper into a national conversation about how food is grown and what tools are used to protect the crops that feed America. That spotlight has only grown brighter in 2025 as questions surrounding crop...
Lessons learned from this growing season to be applied next year
Every growing season is like a year spent in the agronomy classroom for growers. Every time a farmer thinks they have seen it all, mother nature finds a way to throw a curveball. This year disease pressure was prevalent throughout the Corn Belt and southern rust was...
Covering both genotypes of PCV2 with one vaccine
One of the most influential diseases in the swine industry is porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). What makes it tricky to handle is the fact that there are two strains to worry about: PCV2a and PCV2d, with the latter having taken over as the predominant genotype in U.S....
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza detected in a commercial turkey flock in Hamilton County
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in...
AFBF emphasizes need for economic assistance
There are still many challenges facing farm country. During a recent phone call with Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall took the opportunity to discuss two important issues facing agriculture. Duvall said he had a great...
Iowa dairy farmers brace for market & labor challenges in 2026
As 2025 winds down, northwest Iowa dairy farms are taking stock of a year that brought both optimism and new pressures. Sioux County dairy producer Christina Zuiderveen says harvest conditions set a positive tone, even though the year still delivered its share of...
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AFBF advocates for continued China trade discussions
The trade relationship between the U.S. and China remains critically important for American agriculture. Dave Salmonsen, senior director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said there has been some progress between the two nations recently....
December WASDE didn’t bring much for the grain markets
As expected, the December WASDE report did not bring much news for the corn and soybean markets to react to. The most significant change came to the corn carryout numbers, which caused the prices to move up slightly. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave a...
Adjuvant technology can get the most out of herbicide applications
At a time when margins are tight for growers, efficiency is the name of the game when applying herbicide. Farmers want to get the most out of their herbicide applications without losing any efficacy of the product. One of the ways in which a grower can enhance their...
Statements on farmer bridge assistance program announcement
ICGA Statement on Farmer Bridge Assistance Program Announcement JOHNSTON, Iowa – December 8, 2025 – Earlier today, the Trump Administration announced the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, offering $12 billion in economic assistance to farmers impacted by low commodity...
RCIS improves claims speed with modern tools
When disaster strikes and a grower needs to file a claim, every day counts. RCIS says that is why they have invested heavily in tools that make the entire process faster, clearer, and easier for farmers. From aerial technology to real-time communication, the goal is...
