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Historic grain price rallies have defined this August
Contrary to what we would normally expect, there has been a lot of market action this month. As we approach harvest season, there’s a legitimate chance that farmers might see price rallies that warrant some serious grain selling conversations. Michael Weidner, director of grain origination and producer strategy at Landus Cooperative, said the August price rally started way back with the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. Weidner said these market prices are...
US hog inventory edges lower; productivity ticks up
The U.S. hog and pig inventory totaled 73.7 million head as of June 1, down slightly from a year earlier and from March, USDA said Thursday in its quarterly report. Market hogs accounted for 67.8 million head, while 5.88 million were kept for breeding, according to...
Next week’s heat dome could stress Iowa crops
We’re roughly halfway through the growing season here in Iowa, and there are varying crop conditions across the state. Much of the crop looks very strong currently, but there are some areas struggling with disease, pest, and weather issues. Dan Bjorklund, technical...
Uncertainty around Brazil’s production forecast for 2027
Brazil’s corn and soybean crops could have a major impact on global grain markets. Joanna Colussi, a research assistant professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, identified fertilizer as the root of the problem. Colussi discussed how the stagnant...
Screwworm far from Iowa, but worth watching
New World Screwworm remains hundreds of miles from Iowa, with confirmed cases confined to parts of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. While there is no indication the pest is moving into Iowa anytime soon, state officials say it's important for livestock producers to...
Heavier cattle weights bring bonuses and challenges at marketing time
As everyone knows by now, the total number of cattle in the U.S. herd is historically low. One of the ways that the low supply is being compensated for to meet the high demand for beef is by keeping cattle on feed longer and feeding them to heavier finishing weights....
Soybean growers applaud Supreme Court decision on glyphosate
The American Soybean Association is praising a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that federal pesticide labeling requirements take precedence over state failure-to-warn claims. The decision in Durnell v. Monsanto found that pesticide labels approved under federal law cannot...
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More Ag News
U.S. Export Sales Report (7-9-26)
This week’s export sales were mostly within the range of estimates. Both corn and soybeans continue to see a lot of good news in the weekly reports. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn numbers were slightly low, but that doesn’t change the positive...
Hot and dry weather expected in the Corn Belt
A heat dome is moving northward from Southern California to the Dakotas and the Corn Belt, bringing temperatures more than 10 degrees above average for several days. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill describes the weather across the Corn Belt as hot and...
Adjuvants are vital to drone spraying effectiveness
When spraying with a traditional ground rig, adjuvants can help to improve the efficacy of the application by improving droplet spread, increasing the amount of product that contacts the target, and reducing drift. Those same benefits can also be found when adding...
Study: U.S. producers pay more for inputs than Brazil producers
The National Corn Growers Association says a new study confirms what many farmers have suspected for years: U.S. producers are paying far more for crop inputs than their biggest global competitor, Brazil. The report found American corn farmers paid an average of 68...
Iowa Farmers Union sees growing farm stress
Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman says continued financial pressure is changing the way many farmers operate, forcing producers to delay investments that could have lasting effects on their farms and rural communities. Lehman made the remarks while serving as...
