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Old Farmer’s Almanac predicting a stormy first half of winter
Fall has officially started, and already a lot of focus is on what the weather might look like this winter. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the first half of this coming winter might be similar to the winter of 1997-1998, which was one of the warmest and wettest winters in U.S. history. Carol Connare, editor-in-chief of the Old Farmer’s Almanac said the comparison is focused on precipitation, temperatures, and timing. Connare said they make these long-term predictions by looking at...
U.S. Export Sales Report (7-30-26)
Both corn and soybean sales were strong this week, but those strong export sales were overshadowed by market pressure from the wars overseas as well as the weather here in the U.S. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave a breakdown of the corn export data....
Iowa State Fair just two weeks away
With just two weeks until the Iowa State Fair opens, excitement is building for one of Iowa's signature summer traditions. As county fair season begins to wind down, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says those local fairs continue to connect Iowans with...
Map the Meal Gap study highlights growing presence of food insecurity
The latest Map the Meal Gap study from Feeding America shows the harrowing impact of food insecurity in Iowa and across the country. In this year’s study, data shows that 1 in 8 Iowans and 1 in 6 Iowa children face food insecurity. Additionally, the annual meal gap in...
GLP-1 trend fuels demand for U.S. dairy
Consumer demand is reshaping the dairy industry, introducing new market opportunities for versatile dairy producers. The biggest growth isn't coming from traditional products like cheese and butter. Instead, processors are investing heavily in high-protein milk,...
USDA reminds farmers of important deadlines
USDA is reminding farmers and ranchers that deadlines are approaching for several programs designed to help offset higher input costs, recover from disasters, and strengthen financial protection. The Farm Service Agency says applications for the Assistance for...
Extreme heat impacts the Midwest
Extreme heat has been impacting the western two-thirds of the United States in recent days as crops are in critical stages of growth. One example of the intense heat occurred recently in the badlands of South Dakota says USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. Although...
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Fertilizer, diesel costs remain elevated heading into fall
Fertilizer and diesel prices remain well above recent-year levels, adding pressure to farmers making fall input decisions for the 2027 crop. USDA data analyzed by the University of Illinois shows anhydrous ammonia averaged $915.50 per ton on August 7, up 16 percent...
Risk Management Agency giving farmers more time to pay
USDA is giving farmers more time to pay their crop insurance bills. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) is authorizing Approved Insurance Providers to give producers up to 60 additional days to pay crop insurance premiums, administrative fees, and other amounts with...
USGBC chairman sees opportunities for export growth
Strong export demand has provided an important outlet for U.S. farmers, but the new chairman of the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council says maintaining that momentum will require protecting established customers while continuing to develop new markets. Nebraska...
Research highlights where agrivoltaics works best
As more farmland is considered for solar energy development, researchers are exploring whether crops and clean energy can successfully share the same acres. The USDA-funded SCAPES project – short for Sustainably Colocating Agricultural and Photovoltaic Electricity...
Iowa farmers need to keep scouting crops amid disease pressure
While it’s not as bad as last year, Southern Rust is spreading across Iowa, and it can take over fields quickly. On top of that, this is also the point in the crop season where tar spot tends to impact corn fields as well. This makes effective crop scouting more...
