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NCGA recognizes Rep. Feenstra with President’s Award
The National Corn Growers Association recognizes Rep. Randy Feenstra with its highest honor, the President’s Award. Feenstra, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, has been a long-standing champion for corn grower priorities, especially for expanding ethanol access. In May, the congressman was instrumental in passing legislation in the U.S. House authorizing the sale of year-round E15, a top priority of corn farmers, says NCGA. “The passage of year-round E15 in the House would not...
Bankruptcy filings signal ongoing farm financial stress
Farm bankruptcies across the country remain at levels not seen since the disruptions of the COVID era, and legal experts say that should concern producers and lenders alike. While the pace of filings this year is similar to last year, that does not mean the farm...
Grain markets anticipating two major USDA reports
This week will bring us two of the biggest USDA reports of the year- the June Quarterly Grain Stocks and Acreage reports. This gives us the first glance into what the 2026 crop should actually look like. Micheal Weidner, director of grain origination and producer...
Top takeaways from June Cattle on Feed Report
The June Cattle on Feed Report offers some of the latest trends from the cattle feedlots. USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell provides some details. McConnell explains why there are more cattle in feedlots than a year ago at this time and says a big reason is a...
Costs going higher in 2027
USDA's latest Commodity Cost and Returns report shows production expenses are expected to climb for every major crop in 2026 as global energy and fertilizer market disruptions continue to ripple through agriculture. The report follows months of volatility tied to...
Year-round E15 legislation is still in trouble
There are more warning signs that year-round E15 legislation is in trouble. Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin told USDA Secretary Rollins at a recent hearing that strong influence from interest groups is stalling year-round E15. According to Slotkin, there is...
Market effects of screwworm remain unclear
The discovery of New World Screwworm cases in Texas has prompted a series of restrictions on cattle movement, creating new questions about potential impacts on livestock markets. While animal health officials remain focused on containing the pest and preventing...
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What to expect from the USDA acreage and grain stocks reports
On Tuesday June 30th USDA will publish the planted acreage and quarterly grain stocks reports. These reports typically have been known to move the ag marketplace one way or the other based on the updated numbers for planted acreage and the grain on hand in the stocks...
US hog inventory edges lower; productivity ticks up
The U.S. hog and pig inventory totaled 73.7 million head as of June 1, down slightly from a year earlier and from March, USDA said Thursday in its quarterly report. Market hogs accounted for 67.8 million head, while 5.88 million were kept for breeding, according to...
Next week’s heat dome could stress Iowa crops
We’re roughly halfway through the growing season here in Iowa, and there are varying crop conditions across the state. Much of the crop looks very strong currently, but there are some areas struggling with disease, pest, and weather issues. Dan Bjorklund, technical...
Uncertainty around Brazil’s production forecast for 2027
Brazil’s corn and soybean crops could have a major impact on global grain markets. Joanna Colussi, a research assistant professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, identified fertilizer as the root of the problem. Colussi discussed how the stagnant...
Screwworm far from Iowa, but worth watching
New World Screwworm remains hundreds of miles from Iowa, with confirmed cases confined to parts of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. While there is no indication the pest is moving into Iowa anytime soon, state officials say it's important for livestock producers to...
