Top Stories
China honoring trade agreement and purchasing U.S. grain
The markets have been trending upward during this shortened trading week. After a rough start to the month, some recent headlines have given the corn and soybeans something to work with. Michael Weidner, director of grain origination and producer strategy at Landus Cooperative, said recent flash sales may be indicating that China will hold up its end of the trade agreement. Weidner said these purchases are a great starting point for the deal, which will continue through harvest this fall....
Ag exports will suffer without a new farm bill
With the September 30 expiration of the current farm bill, many important agriculture programs are on hold, including several trade promotion programs. Betty Resnick, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said Title III programs generate outstanding...
CARB, the RFS, and used cooking oil
U.S. farmers remain hopeful that the push for renewable diesel will open a large market for the vegetable oil pressed from soybeans. However, used cooking oil, particularly from China, is also used as a feedstock in biofuels and has been depressing the need for...
Fall harvest double digits ahead of last year’s pace
Reports show the U.S. corn and soybean harvests are double digits ahead of their five-year averages. Farm Policy News credits the fast pace to dry weather stretched across most of the U.S. through the past week. Corn harvest jumped 18 points nationally to 65 percent...
South American planting is behind schedule
You don’t have to tell farmers how much Mother Nature can change our plans. In Iowa alone, we went from a multi-year drought to a period when we were caught back up in a matter of weeks. And then suddenly, we were back in a drought again. While it probably isn't...
NCBA is making lower taxes a top priority
Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is expiring at the end of next year, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is making a major push on tax policy. In the latest episode of the Beltway Beef Podcast, NCBA President Mark Eisele said the fight for lower taxes is very...
Keep pigs and people safe during show season
Biosecurity is an important key to success in the pork industry, especially during show season when pigs from different states mingle. John Heins, manager of producer relations for the National Pork Board, said show pig producers need to have several important factors...
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More Ag News
U.S. Export Sales Report (2-21-25)
For the most part, this week marked another uneventful week of export sales. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest numbers from the USDA. Brazil still holds the discount for both corn and soybeans. However, McBride said U.S. corn sales...
Ag machinery manufacturers worried about tariffs
Many segments of U.S. agriculture are concerned about the possibility of the Trump administration implementing tariffs and the possibility of reciprocal tariffs put in place by trade partners. Curt Blades, senior vice president of the Association of Equipment...
Secretary Rollins releases the first tranche of funding under review
Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that USDA will release the first tranche of funding that was paused due to the review of funding in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In alignment with White House directives, Secretary Rollins will honor...
Innovation to Profit Series from Iowa Soybean Association Underway
The Iowa Soybean Association’s 2025 series of Innovation to Profit meetings are designed to provide accurate, insightful information to Iowa’s soybean farmers to help them increase profitability and productivity. There are four total meetings in the series, one in...
Longshoremen’s vote scheduled to take place next week
Positive developments in agriculture in the shipping sector, as the conflicting parties in the longshoremen’s dispute along the Gulf and East Coasts are making progress toward ratifying a new contract. According to Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy...
