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July started with heavy rain but has since dried out
This month has already been a crazy one when it comes to the weather. July started off with unrelenting rainfall across much of central Iowa, but since then it has transitioned to a warm and dry pattern. Dan Bjorklund, technical agronomist with Landus Cooperative, said he saw plenty of flooded corn and soybean fields in central Iowa. However, Bjorklund there are still parts of the state that hardly got any rain. The areas with the heaviest rainfall saw significant flood damage, but Bjorklund...
Concerns rising as U.S. oil reserves decline
While still elevated, oil prices have dipped slightly, well off the high-water mark we saw back in April. Patrick DeHaan, the senior petroleum analyst with Gasbuddy.com, says there are several things helping oil prices. Oil prices are also being helped by China,...
Congressman calls for quicker ARC, PLC Payments
House Ag Committee Republican Rick Crawford asked for support from USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins at a recent hearing to help speed up ARC and PLC payments. Arkansas Representative Rick Crawford says that payments can sometimes be delayed by up to a year. Crawford told...
Work underway on a year-round E15 bill in the Senate
Efforts to secure year-round nationwide sales of E15 ethanol fuel remain active in the U.S. Senate, offering renewed hope for corn growers seeking expanded demand for their crop. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said that lawmakers are working on new...
June forecast brings rain, warmth to Midwest
A warm and active weather pattern is expected to continue across much of the United States through the middle of June, bringing beneficial moisture and above-normal temperatures to many key crop-producing regions. According to USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey, the...
South American Weather and Crop Update (6-9-26)
While drier conditions still remain in South America, recent rainfall has caused a notable improvement. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest forecasts for Brazil and Argentina. Currently, farmers in Brazil just wrapped up first crop...
Cattle producers aren’t surprised that NWS made it across the border
New World Screwworm (NWS) finally made its way into the U.S. last week, but the cattle industry isn’t surprised it happened. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Colin Woodall said they have been expecting this to happen for a while. Woodall said it’s been...
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Secretary Naig Confirms Iowa’s completion of USDA pseudorabies response protocol
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig confirmed today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has successfully completed the Pseudorabies (PRV) response protocol outlined in the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant...
New report showcases positive impacts of biofuels on ag productivity
U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action's recent report from S&P Global Energy shows biofuels' potential for boosting farm profitability and rural economies. For Chip Bowling, vice chair of U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action, expanding the market for biofuels is...
Scouting now helps manage future rootworms
Corn rootworm larvae are already active in many Iowa fields, but much of the damage they cause remains hidden below the soil surface. Agronomists say that makes scouting and monitoring especially important, even when crops appear healthy above ground. Dan Etter, a...
Swine industry is combatting misinformation about California Prop 12
True animal welfare starts with supporting hog producers, not creating legislation to impede their ability to raise their livestock. As swine industry leaders push to get legislation to nullify California Proposition 12 on the Senate version of the farm bill, another...
Grassley discusses the USMCA ahead of July 1st review
Last week President Trump said that he does not plan to renew USMCA (U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement) ahead of its mandatory July 1 review. On Tuesday United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was asked about the president’s comments and whether Grassley and other...
