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Naig says Congress has wasted enough time
As the government shutdown drags into its twenty-eighth day, frustration across the country is boiling over. From farmers waiting on FSA offices to reopen, to families relying on SNAP benefits, real Americans are paying the price while Congress remains stuck in its own political bubble. The gridlock in Washington has become more than just a nuisance; it is a growing crisis with consequences that deepen by the day. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the patience of rural America has...
Final Grain Stocks report causes bearish reaction in grain prices
Corn and soybean ending stocks for 2025 are both down from the previous year in the most recent Grain Stocks report from the USDA. However, feed and residual numbers were used to increase corn ending stocks from the last USDA report, which lead to a bearish reaction...
World Dairy Expo underway in Wisconsin
World Dairy Expo is underway in Madison, Wisconsin. Lisa Behnke, communications manager for World Dairy Expo, said that while the trade show began on Tuesday, the event actually started over the weekend. Cattle shows began on Sunday and will run for several more days....
USDA and DOJ sign MOU to study rising farm input costs
USDA and the United States Department of Justice have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to study issues connected to rising farm input prices and their impacts on producers. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the initiative on Thursday. Secretary Rollins made...
Rural Mainstreet Index turns negative
The August Rural Mainstreet Index covering a multi-state region shows one-fifth of grain farmers will experience a negative cash flow in 2025. For the seventh time this year, the overall regional economic index sank below growth-neutral, falling to 38.5 in September,...
Iowa farmers face costly lessons from disease year
It was anything but a typical growing season, with shifting weather patterns and disease pressure forcing farmers to make quick, difficult decisions in their fields. For many, the call was not just about agronomy but also economics, as tighter margins made another...
Pork producers can’t forget about the dangers of African Swine Fever
The U.S. pork industry is staying vigilant when it comes to foreign animal diseases. Dr. Meredith Petersen, director of swine health for the National Pork Board, said they’re keeping an eye on multiple diseases, including African Swine Fever. Petersen said African...
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More Ag News
Government shutdown adding more uncertainty to the ag markets
The agriculture industry and ag markets have been dealt a lot of uncertainty in 2025. From the tariffs of the trade war to the new world screwworm shutdown of the border between Mexico and the United States, the markets have dealt with many unknowns. Now amid the...
Low Mississippi River levels again set to disrupt harvest shipping
For the fourth straight year, water levels in the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers will soon be critically low, forcing shippers to light-load grain barges during harvest season. As barge rates get higher, those higher costs are making their way down to the farm level....
Applications are open for 2026 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship
The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is encouraging college students who are pursuing careers in the beef industry to apply for the 2026 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship. Ten students will be selected to receive scholarships worth $1,500 each. NCBA Senior Vice...
Korean pizza chain adding U.S. pork sausage to menu
In South Korea, pizza chain Pizza Alvolo was looking to add something new to its menu. When it turned to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) for assistance, USMEF Senior Marketing Manager for Foodservice in Korea Elly Sung suggested U.S. pork sausage. After...
Strong yields & weak margins: Financial pressures mount on farmers
The 2025 season has been defined by both resilience and strain in the farm economy. Strong yields in many regions helped keep optimism alive, but they were tempered by financial pressures that have made every decision more critical. Interest rates remain historically...
