Top Stories
USMEF bolstering Mexico’s in-home consumption of U.S. pork
Mexico’s demand for U.S. pork has soared in recent years, and 2025 was no exception. Pork exports to Mexico were record-large for the fifth consecutive year at 1.24 million metric tons, valued at $2.85 billion. But the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) continues to identify opportunities for further growth, and a good example is the relatively low percentage of pork dishes that are prepared at home, rather than in restaurants and other foodservice outlets. Gerardo Rodriguez, USMEF regional...
Innovations advancing real Christmas tree popularity
Artificial Christmas trees have risen in popularity over the years but innovations in the real Christmas tree industry in the last decade have provided a surge in popularity for the real deal. Christmas tree grower John Tillman of Washington state says recent...
Naig says farmers use crop protection tools responsibly
As Iowa agriculture looks back on 2025 and ahead to 2026, another major topic that shaped conversation this year was the Make America Healthy Again report, often referred to as MAHA. While the report addressed many issues farmers care about, just like consumers do, it...
Lawmakers divided on whether Farm Bill can be passed in 2026
Congressional Republicans plan to revive stalled farm bill negotiations in January after failing to pass a new measure by year’s end, extending uncertainty for farmers facing high costs, inflation and trade disruptions. House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T....
South American Weather and Crop Update (12-23-25)
As the calendar year wraps up, the markets are paying a lot of attention to the weather down in South America. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the next two weeks will be critical for the crops in Brazil and Argentina. McBride said planting progress is...
USMCA renegotiation is a big opportunity for U.S. agriculture
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is up for review in 2026, and updating the agreement has the potential to benefit U.S. farmers. Dave Salmonsen, senior director of government relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said preparations are already underway....
Breaking down the USDA December Cattle on Feed Report
While the overall number of cattle in the United States remains at extremely low levels, the trend of lower cattle inventories in feedlots is continuing. That is reflected in the December USDA Cattle on Feed Report says USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell....
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More Ag News
How Southern Rust changed Iowa corn plans
Just ahead of the 2025 growing season, many in the crop protection industry expected tar spot to be the primary disease concern in corn. Instead, southern rust emerged as the dominant threat across much of Iowa, forcing growers to quickly evaluate their management...
Uncertainty grows over future of U.S. farm bill legislation
Agriculture policy analysts say 2026 could mark the end of the traditional five-year U.S. farm bill era, as lawmakers struggle to produce comprehensive legislation. The most recent farm bill provisions expired in 2023 and Congress has extended them annually since,...
PFI accepting applications for another year of the Cover Crop Business Accelerator
Enrollment is open now for the Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Cover Crop Business Accelerator program, with applications being accepted on a rolling basis. The program, which started in 2020, offers tailored business coaching, technical guidance, and financial...
New dietary guidelines unveiled by HHS and USDA
Trump administration cabinet members this week introduced the newest edition of federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans covering the years 2025 through 2030. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins summed up the guidelines succinctly with the phrase, “eat real food.”...
Economists predict the farm economy will stabilize in 2026
Agricultural economists are predicting that the slide in the U.S. farm economy will stop in the new year. However, an AgWeb report said that doesn’t mean the ag economy will be whole again. The December Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor showed monthly sentiment is...
