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BASF pleased with herbicide weed control in 2026
This crop season has been defined by heavy rains across much of Iowa, especially as we get into harvest. Mid-season rains made weed control more difficult, but BASF has heard a lot of good feedback about the performances of their herbicide portfolio. Kurt Maertens of BASF said Surtain corn herbicide performed extremely well amid the rainy season. While spraying big, mature weeds isn’t the goal, Maertens said Liberty Ultra soybean herbicide was able to handle the weeds that were boosted by the...
Rain has been good for crops, but too much rain can cause issues
Storms from last night dumped a considerable amount of rain across central and eastern Iowa, which feeds into the trends we’ve seen for the crops this year. While western Iowa has been drier than the rest of the state, Kurt Maertens of BASF says there’s not too much...
Credit trends can say a lot about the farm economy
USDA estimates that farmers will spend more money on interest payments in 2026, after adjusting for inflation, than at any other time on record. Credit is an essential part of agriculture, helping farmers manage costs and invest in their operations. As borrowing costs...
ASA welcomes 45Z updates supporting U.S. soybean farmers, biofuels
The American Soybean Association welcomed actions this week from the U.S. Department of Energy and Internal Revenue Service that provide greater clarity and usability for the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, an important tool for supporting domestic biofuel...
UPL takes aim at resistant waterhemp
Herbicide resistance continues to complicate weed control decisions for growers, particularly when it comes to waterhemp and other amaranth species. At the 2026 Farm Progress Show, UPL highlighted several herbicide options the company says can provide additional...
Trump orders changes to support ranchers, increase beef market competition
President Donald Trump signed two executive orders Friday aimed at strengthening the U.S. cattle industry, increasing competition and expanding opportunities for ranchers and smaller meat processors. USDA said one order directs stronger enforcement of the Packers and...
Rural roadway safety concerns during harvest season
Harvest season is underway in many parts of the country including the Midwest as warm temperatures have started the dry down process early and farmers have fired up their combines. Every year as harvest season begins it is important to remind both farmers and the...
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More Ag News
September WASDE report falls short of lofty market expectations
After seeing lower yields than expected from the Pro Farmer Crop Tour, the markets anticipated significant yield changes in the September World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. However, the USDA did not end up making as significant of...
New WOTUS rule finally provides much-needed clarity
The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers recently announced a new Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. After years of asking for more clarity, farmers are finally gaining a clear understanding of the federal government’s jurisdiction. American Farm Bureau President Zippy...
Digital crop acreage reporting goes national
A USDA crop acreage reporting pilot program that operated this summer in 12 Farm Service Agency county offices is now operational nationwide. That is USDA Farm Production Undersecretary Richard Fordyce who says that the 12 county offices that used the pilot program...
Late-season weather adds uncertainty to Midwest corn and soybeans
Weather remains a concern for U.S. corn and soybean producers as harvest begins following a growing season marked by periods of excessive rainfall and extreme heat. Flooding during August damaged crops in portions of the Midwest after some areas received more than 12...
UPL sees growing role for biological crop nutrition
Biological products are becoming a larger part of the crop nutrition conversation as companies look for new ways to help crops access nutrients throughout the growing season. UPL is putting more emphasis on that space as it expands beyond the post-patent crop...
