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Farm bill uncertainty persists as lawmakers debate key ag policies
Uncertainty surrounding the next farm bill continues as lawmakers remain divided on several key agricultural and nutrition policy issues. Members of Congress from both parties agree on the need to update farm programs, but disagreements over funding levels, nutrition assistance and regulatory provisions have slowed progress. Reuters reports key sticking points include the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, disaster aid funding and proposals to expand year-round sales of...
Iowa Agribusiness Association Showcase highlights industry policy conversations
Agribusiness leaders from across the state gathered in Des Moines these past two days for the Agribusiness Association of Iowa Showcase, an annual event that brings together agronomists, retailers, and industry partners to discuss the challenges shaping Iowa...
February WASDE report was as uneventful as expected
After experiencing a very surprising January WASDE report, this month’s report was as quiet as expected. Overall, there really wasn’t much for the markets to react to. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an analysis of this month’s report. The report was so...
Increasing farm bankruptcies highlight economic challenges
New data from U.S. court filings indicate farm bankruptcy has risen again. This is yet another indicator that we are experiencing a struggling farm economy. Samantha Ayoub, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the data paints a stark picture of...
Adoption of precision dairy technologies
Most row crop farmers are very aware of and knowledgeable about precision agriculture technology. However, animal agriculture is quickly adopting more precision agriculture technology and that extends into the dairy industry. USDA research economist Johnathan McFadden...
Farm bankruptcies continued climbing in 2025
A new American Farm Bureau Market Intel Report said Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies increased for the second year in a row, reaching 315 filings in 2025, a 46 percent increase from 2024. The Midwest and Southeast filed 121 and 105 Chapter 12 cases, respectively, far...
Why discipline matters more than market moves
Risk management is always part of agriculture, but in today’s volatile markets, the fundamentals matter as much as ever, regardless of operation size. Understanding costs, knowing who you are selling to, and being honest about what a balance sheet can withstand are...
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Iowa ag professionals encouraged to broaden their industry knowledge
A new statewide program is available for mid-career Iowa ag professionals to increase their industry knowledge and professional development in 2026. America’s Cultivation Corridor is hosting the Cultivate 360 program in order to deepen the understanding of Iowa’s food...
CoBank projects increased soybean acres in 2026
A new report from CoBank said farmers may be planting more soybeans in 2026. Tanner Ehmke, the lead economist for grains and oilseeds, talked about the numbers. Ehmke said most of the basis price problems appear to be limited to the Dakotas. On the other hand,...
Iowa Century Farms celebration will tie legacy to America250
As Iowa prepares to mark the nation’s 250th birthday, state agriculture leaders are encouraging farm families to take part in a long-standing tradition that honors generations of stewardship on the land. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is now...
NCBA starts at the grassroots
Buck Wehrbein is the outgoing president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Wehrbein tells the Iowa Ag Radio Network that his year as president in 2025 went by in a flash. He says profitability for producers is in a great spot and is hopeful that the current...
Biofuel leaders want accelerated action on year-round E15
The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, and the National Corn Growers Association released a statement regarding the lack of progress toward a legislative solution offering consumers permanent year-round E15 access. After reaching an impasse in January, House...
