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July was strong for pork exports, weak for beef
July exports of U.S. pork were slightly below last year but accounted for a larger share of production, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Market access obstacles continued to weigh heavily on exports of U.S. beef, with the vast majority of plants still ineligible to ship to China. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said pork exports totaled 238,922 metric tons (mt), down just 1% from a year ago, while value fell 4% to $680.9 million,...
South American Weather and Crop Update (7-30-25)
The weather in South America has still not changed much, with farmers in Brazil and Argentina seeing mostly clear and dry conditions. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said there are scattered rain showers, but otherwise the weather remains status quo. The dry...
Basis matters now, say Midwest ag economists
Tight corn supplies might normally trigger a rally in the market, but so far, that hasn’t been the case. Despite strong demand and dwindling stocks, futures prices have stayed relatively steady. That’s because—while the numbers show a squeeze—markets may be confident...
Argentina makes permanent tax cuts to ag exports
Recently, Argentina President Javier Milei announced permanent export tax cuts for a wide variety of agricultural commodities. The biggest impact globally will be seen in the soybean marketplace, as Argentina is the world’s largest exporter of soybean meal. Allendale...
Bullish news hard to find in current ag marketplace
A current snapshot of the ag marketplace shows front month corn below $4 and soybeans below the $10 mark. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of bullish news for the markets to react to right now to generate positive price movement. John Heinberg is a Market Advisor with...
Trade agreements will benefit Iowa grain and livestock producers
A flurry of recent trade agreements and frameworks have been announced by the Trump administration ahead of the looming August 1 reciprocal tariff implementation deadline. Faith Parum, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said several of the deals...
Governor Reynolds issues disaster proclamation for four counties in response to severe weather
Today, Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Hancock, O’Brien, Osceola and Sioux Counties in response to severe weather that occurred on July 28, 2025. Gov. Reynolds’ proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from...
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More Ag News
Iowa farmers face tough old crop decisions
As summer winds down, many farmers are working to finish moving the last of their 2024 old crop grain out of storage. But with market pressure mounting and prices slipping, it’s becoming more difficult to find strong opportunities. The clock is ticking, and making the...
Iowa State Fair continuing to modernize livestock buildings
The Iowa State Fair is finally back and kicking off tomorrow, August 7th. It’s still the same great event that it’s always been, but fairgoers will notice some thoughtful improvements this year. Areas like the kid’s playgrounds have been made more accessible, and...
H-2A program still needs updating, AFBF says
Farmers and ranchers need a more efficient program for supplying labor. Difficulty finding adequate labor is a common challenge for farmers across the U.S. Phillip Hunter, chair of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Ag Labor Issue Advisory Committee, said...
Better corn rootworm control and tank mix compatibility with Opello™
When it comes to battling corn rootworms, new tools designed to control the yield robbing pest are always welcome. Opello™ insecticide from Syngenta is the latest product to help growers take on below ground pests and could be available as soon as Spring 2026. Kevin...
Choose Iowa kitchen demonstrations highlight local foods and culinary professionals at the 2025 ISF
Choose Iowa will present free cooking demonstrations and food presentations daily at 1 p.m. in The Kitchen inside the Maytag Family Theatre Building throughout the 2025 Iowa State Fair. The Kitchen is located on the Grand Concourse between the Iowa Department of...
