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Rain is slowly returning to relieve dry soils
As harvest continues across the state, there’s been very little relief from the excessively dry weather. In fact, the drought monitor has only continued to expand in more areas. Justin Glisan, state climatologist for Iowa, said that, while the weather has been good for harvest progress, the consequences of the lack of moisture are becoming a bigger problem. Glisan said the dry air has also led to large temperature swings from day to night. Fortunately, Glisan said there is some hope for...
U.S. Export Sales Report (9-6-24)
As the U.S. continues to have discounted grain in the global market, the export sales need to be following along as countries take advantage of the opportunity for cheaper corn and soybeans. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest report...
USDA lowers forecast for farm production expenses
In most years a farmer can expect to pay more than they did the year before for production expenses. However, in USDA’s new farm income forecast for this year, the report calls for lower production expenses. That is Spiro Stafanou, administrator of USDA's Economic...
What’s keeping farmland prices high?
The farmland market across the Midwest is resilient. While the markets have been pushing lower for almost a year and reaching below breakeven levels, Doug Hensley, President of Hertz Farm Management, says we’ve not seen land prices retreat in a similar fashion. While...
Solinftec’s new docking station takes autonomy to new level
We have talked in the past about Solinftec’s autonomous sprayers that can go around your field, under solar power, and take care of your spraying needs 24/7. However, there have been questions about how often the unit needs attending. Just like with any piece of...
Biden announces $7.3 million investment in rural electrification
President Biden traveled to Wisconsin today to announce an investment of $7.3 billion in affordable and reliable electricity for rural America through the Inflation Reduction Act. Sixteen rural electric cooperatives across 23 states- including Iowa- will be selected...
USDA net farm income report highlights need for new farm bill
The latest Net Farm Income Report shows a 23 percent drop in net farm income compared to 2022. Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, says farms losing a quarter of their income isn’t economically sustainable. Duvall says there are a number of...
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South American Weather and Crop Update (9-17-24)
Much like what we are seeing here in Iowa, the weather in South America is still quite dry. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the current forecasts for Brazil and Argentina. While it is early to be getting too worried about the weather’s impact...
Budget battle limiting legislative work for farmers
With elections looming, the Congressional calendar is tight. Right now, Congress is locked in a funding battle. Emily Buckman, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the deadline is quickly approaching. Buckman says a continuing...
Navigating tough weather conditions with a more stable form of nitrogen
One of the biggest memories of the 2024 growing season in Iowa will be the extremely wet start to the season. With plentiful rainfall that quickly replenished Iowa’s soil, eventually some areas in the state became oversaturated with water. When there is too much rain...
Mississippi River levels falling again
For the third consecutive year, Mississippi River water levels are falling again, making shipping goods difficult. Farm Policy News says the low levels are forcing barge companies to put limits on how much cargo they can carry and cutting into farm profits. It was...
NK excited about new BT traits that will be ready for 2026
Keeping ahead of pests in our fields is a never-ending job. Having new tools to fight against the toughest pests requires constant innovation. This is especially true when you are fighting against the billion-dollar pest, corn rootworm. NK Seeds has announced a new...