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China steps up U.S. soybean purchases ahead of Trump-Xi meeting
China has increased purchases of U.S. soybeans following a May summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, providing a boost for American soybean exporters. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported China purchased 238,000 metric tons of U.S. soybeans last week. Bloomberg said that puts purchases roughly one-quarter of the way toward a U.S. commitment for China to buy at least 25 million tons annually through 2028. The Trump administration has also said China...
USDA faces borrowing caps for farm programs
The Commodity Credit Corporation may soon fall short of funds, hindering farm safety net programs. While increases in the farm safety net through the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act were welcome, there are concerns that USDA will receive enough funding for the safety net...
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...
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New Renewable Fuel Standard volumes spurring industry growth
The Environmental Protection Agency's new Renewable Fuel Standard volumes are giving the biodiesel industry a significant boost. The agency raised biomass-based diesel obligations to levels the industry says more accurately reflect production capacity. Paul Winters,...
End of July defined by intense market volatility
Just when we thought the markets couldn’t be any more volatile, the grains proved us wrong by dropping 20 cents in the corn and nearly 40 cents in the soybeans. Pressure from the warm and dry weather here in the U.S. and war headlines overseas will keep the markets...
Dairy industry needs USMCA improvements
The USMCA has been in the spotlight this summer with the review process in July a major focus. Dr. Megan Roberts is an economist with Compeer Financial and says that United States dairy producers have been closely watching the process unfold. On the Dairy Stream...
EPA seeks changes to WOTUS and DEF rules
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a rule that would eliminate derate requirements for diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) on certain diesel-powered equipment. The proposal comes after months of feedback from farmers, ranchers, and truckers, who identified...
Corn condition drops amid heatwaves
The damage from triple-digit heat across the Midwest and Plains is showing up in the numbers, reports AgWeb. USDA’s weekly crop progress report shows the steepest week-over-week decline in corn good to excellent condition ratings for this point in the growing season...
