Top Stories
U.S. pork exports to Japan show strong rebound
Exports of U.S. pork to Japan have shown an impressive rebound in 2026. The market has faced challenges such as high energy costs and a weak yen against the U.S. dollar, but some value sectors have increasingly relied on U.S. pork loin and pork butt. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said those value sectors include ramen noodle chains and bento box companies. Halstrom says that Japan’s refusal to recognize Spain’s African swine fever regionalization has kept Spanish pork out of the...
H-2A program still needs updating, AFBF says
Farmers and ranchers need a more efficient program for supplying labor. Difficulty finding adequate labor is a common challenge for farmers across the U.S. Phillip Hunter, chair of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Ag Labor Issue Advisory Committee, said...
Better corn rootworm control and tank mix compatibility with Opello™
When it comes to battling corn rootworms, new tools designed to control the yield robbing pest are always welcome. Opello™ insecticide from Syngenta is the latest product to help growers take on below ground pests and could be available as soon as Spring 2026. Kevin...
Choose Iowa kitchen demonstrations highlight local foods and culinary professionals at the 2025 ISF
Choose Iowa will present free cooking demonstrations and food presentations daily at 1 p.m. in The Kitchen inside the Maytag Family Theatre Building throughout the 2025 Iowa State Fair. The Kitchen is located on the Grand Concourse between the Iowa Department of...
25th annual All-State Barn Tour set for this fall
This September, Iowans will have the unique opportunity to step back in time as the 25th Annual All-State Barn Tour takes place across the state. Hosted by the Iowa Barn Foundation, the self-guided tour will run September 13 and 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will...
Protecting yield by reducing crop stress with biologicals
The biologicals market has expanded rapidly in recent years and given farmers more tools to fend off crop stressors and preserve yield. Ryan Schnoes is the District Leader, Biologicals with Corteva Agriscience and says that as crops deal with stress in the growing...
Renewable fuels industry awaiting SRE decision
Several small refinery exemptions wait for a ruling from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. renewable fuels industry is watching to see what the agency will do. Jacqui Fatka, lead economist for farm supply and biofuels at CoBank, said there are a...
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More Ag News
U.S. Export Sales Estimates (10-16-25)
As the government shutdown persists, we still don’t have any official export numbers to look at. We can, however, look again at the weekly estimates. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn numbers are still projected to be well above the average. On the...
Falling oil prices should indicate cheaper fuel
For the past several weeks and even several months, oil prices have held fairly steady, remaining in the mid-$60 per barrel range. But, thanks to OPEC’s increased production, that trend is no more. Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com, said banks...
Secretary Naig announces eight additional abandoned mine land reclamation projects
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is beginning construction on eight additional abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation projects in southeast Iowa. The eight projects, which represent...
From the mine below to the fields beyond
In our previous story on Nutrien’s Allan Facility, we heard how Environmental Engineer Curtis Ferguson and his team work to protect the land, air, and water surrounding one of Saskatchewan’s largest potash operations. Today, we delve beyond the surface to explore how...
Looking ahead at financing options for 2026
It’s never too early to start thinking about the next crop season already. Vince Restucci, market segment manager with Valent, said farmers can start making next year’s plans as they sit in their combine cabs during harvest. Restucci said many financing programs for...
