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Two wars add uncertainty to grain markets
Geopolitical tensions continue to influence grain markets as conflicts in both the Middle East and Eastern Europe create uncertainty for global energy and agricultural trade. Ag economist Frayne Olson says the latest developments in the Middle East could have indirect impacts on farmers through higher energy costs, including fertilizer, diesel fuel, natural gas, and propane. While energy costs are one concern, Olson said geopolitical events can also influence grain prices through financial...
USDA confirms pseudorabies in swine herds in Iowa and Texas
On Thursday April 30th the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed via ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and latex agglutination testing (LAT) a detection of...
Growers fear 2027 prices will put fertilizer out of reach
A recent survey by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) left no doubt that high fertilizer prices will continue to be a big concern for farmers, especially in 2027. NCGA President Jed Bower talked about the ag community is on the verge of having some very big...
Midwest’s premier dairy conference is happening next month
One of the longest-running dairy nutrition conferences in the country will take place again this year from June 3-4 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference- a collaboration between the extension services of Iowa State...
More reaction to house farm bill passage
U.S. agriculture groups continued to react to the House of Representatives’ passing of its 2026 Farm Bill. “Instead of caving to attacks on the livestock industry from groups posing as farmers and ranchers, a bipartisan group advanced a bill that will provide needed...
Farm Bill Clears House as E15 Waits
The U.S. House has now passed its version of the Farm Bill, but just hours before that final vote, lawmakers were still working through the steps needed to bring the legislation to the floor. Speaking Wednesday morning, just minutes before the House began voting on...
Farm Bureau applauds House passage of 2026 farm bill
After several months of work and negotiation, the House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, also known as the farm bill, with a bipartisan vote. Brian Glenn, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau...
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China agrees to $17 billion in ag purchases
China has agreed to purchase at least $17 billion in U.S. agricultural products annually through 2028. That’s according to a White House fact sheet released Sunday following President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing. The agreement came after meetings between Trump and...
USDA watching western drought, Midwest summer outlook
Summer weather patterns remain difficult to predict heading into the heart of the growing season, but USDA Chief Meteorologist Brad Rippey says current forecast models continue pointing toward ongoing drought concerns across much of the western United States. Speaking...
Recapping a volatile week in the grain markets
President Trump’s meeting with China President Xi Jinping is over, and, unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like there was much discussion about agriculture. The ag industry was hoping for some official trade deals, but all we’ve seen so far are verbal agreements between...
Stay prepared for natural disasters in farm country
Here in Iowa, tornadoes and other severe weather storms can decimate an area in no time. The same is true for much of the country- in fact, data shows that 90% of US counties have experienced a flood, hurricane, wildfire, or other calamity serious enough to receive a...
USDA soybean oil export outlook raises concerns about market volatility
New USDA projections for soybean oil exports are increasing concerns about price volatility in agricultural markets as demand tied to renewable fuels continues reshaping the soybean sector. Analysts with the University of said the government’s first 2026-27 soybean...
