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Significant drought coverage in ag production areas
Although planting season is just a few weeks away, the latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows significant drought coverage in ag production regions of the United States. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey details the situation for the major corn and soybean growing regions of the U.S. Rippey says that the good news is that rain in the Midwest this week should lower the dryness in the region. Rippey says the latest U.S. Drought Monitor reflects a peak in coverage not seen for several months when...
Iowa State Fair economic and community impact study results
The internationally acclaimed Iowa State Fair is the state's largest event and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. A 2025 study conducted by Johnson Consulting found that the economic impact from the Iowa State Fair...
Naig Highlights Iowas Role in Americas 250th
Iowa is already looking ahead to 2026 and the celebration of America's 250th birthday. While most people are not thinking that far down the road, state leaders are, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has been asked to help guide how our state will take part...
South American Weather and Crop Update (11-18-25)
As global trade issues continue to develop, planting progress in South America is quietly rolling along. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather forecasts for Brazil and Argentina. McBride said farmers have continued to make good...
American Farm Bureau applauds WOTUS rule
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers released a new rule Monday on the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) law. Courtney Briggs, Senior Director of Government Affairs with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said this rule is a positive...
Farm gate receipts are down, farm lending is up
Third quarter financials continue to demonstrate the tough situation in farm country this year. Joe Mahon, Regional Outreach Director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, says their third quarter survey of agricultural bankers in the Fed’s Ninth District show...
NCBA secures new WOTUS proposed rule that protects family farmers and ranchers
Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for the new proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The revised WOTUS rule comes after decades of advocacy by NCBA and our state...
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More Ag News
Farmers still struggling to find enough farm labor
Finding enough labor to get the work done on the farm and navigating the regulations for the workforce have become increasingly troublesome in recent years. Mike Stranz, Vice President of Advocacy for the National Farmers Union, said reform is more important now than...
Iowa Farm Bureau members gather for 107th annual meeting
Iowa Farm Bureau members gathered in Des Moines to connect, learn, and celebrate Iowa agriculture. It’s been an eventful year for the Iowa ag industry, which made for plenty of insightful discussions. Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson said profitability was one...
Trump discusses year-round E15, addresses farm input costs
President Trump this week discussed the importance of year-round E15 for America’s farmers and the potential for more domestic production of fertilizer. During the President’s farm aid announcement at the White House, the topic of year-round E15 was brought up....
How will food prices affect holiday meals in 2025?
The holidays bring large increases in food spending for both food at home and food away from home. Consumers’ decisions during this season can have important implications for farmers and ranchers. Farmdoc, at the University of Illinois, said persistent inflation has...
Farmers see stronger results from Deere autonomous tillage
Autonomous technology has been one of the most talked about advancements in production agriculture over the past few years, but 2025 was the first season when many farmers were able to see it working at scale. Labor was tight, weather windows were narrow, and every...
