Top Stories
China signals openness to buying more U.S. ag products
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials held what were called “remarkably stable” talks in Paris during the weekend on several topics. Reuters said the discussions centered on potential areas of agreement in agriculture, critical minerals, and managed trade for U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to consider in Beijing. Two sources familiar with the talks told Reuters that the Chinese side showed additional willingness toward buying more U.S. agricultural goods,...
Passing the heart of Thanksgiving from one generation to another
Thanksgiving is one of those rare holidays that feels familiar before it even begins. It starts with the smell of the food, the sound of the parade, and the rhythm of a day that never really changes. Growing up on the farm, we did not have to travel far. My...
Creating success in the soy industry by driving demand
It’s been a challenging year financially for many farmers, especially on the soybean side of things. Tariffs, trade deals, and swinging market prices have all added a significant amount of stress. The United Soybean Board (USB) says driving demand will be the key to...
Frozen versus fresh turkey from a food safety perspective
Side dishes on the Thanksgiving dinner table receive a lot of plaudits, from mashed potatoes and gravy to green bean casserole and cranberry sauce. However, the Thanksgiving turkey remains the star of the show. And while many Thanksgiving dinner cooks are seasoned...
U.S. soybeans set for first shipment to China since May
Two cargo ships were headed for port terminals near New Orleans, Louisiana, this week to load the first shipments of U.S. soybeans to China since May. That’s according to a shipping schedule seen by Reuters. A third ship was heading to a Texas Gulf Coast terminal to...
Farmers are dealing with severe financial stress
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is bringing attention to the financial plight of the country’s farmers and ranchers. A recent AFBF Market Intel Report shows that financial stress is severe and persistent across farm country. John Newton, AFBF vice president...
Naig says Vietnam is ready to buy more Iowa products
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the state’s recent trade mission to Southeast Asia revealed significant opportunities for Iowa agriculture in Vietnam. The delegation included Iowa commodity groups representing corn, soybeans, pork, and beef, along with...
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More Ag News
Looking back on ag industry challenges and successes in 2025
The past year included many challenges for U.S. agriculture and the organizations that work to influence positive policy for farmers and ranchers. Joby Young, the executive vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said despite the challenges, there were...
U.S. Export Sales Report (12-18-25)
The most recent export sales report contained data for the week of November 27th. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales were some of the best we’ve ever seen for that week. McBride said the soybean numbers were about average, but they might trend...
December adjustments to USDA beef production and steer price forecasts
USDA made slight adjustments to the beef production forecast for 2025 and 2026 in the December beef outlook. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski explains the alterations. USDA also adjusted month over month steer prices lower for both 2025 and 2026....
Secretary Naig announces 108 renewable fuels infrastructure projects to expand access to E15, biodiesel in Iowa
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) Board approved 108 projects during their quarterly meeting on Dec. 17 to support new and expanded biofuel infrastructure projects across the state. The...
Learning from 2025 to build a stronger 2026 crop plan
As growers look back on the challenges of 2025, many are already asking what they can do to be better prepared for 2026. Weather shifts, late-season disease surprises, and rapid swings in crop conditions proved once again that no two years behave the same. Brad Gibson...
