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Specialty crop payment rates due in April
The USDA has already allocated over $6 billion in payments under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Programs. Payment rates for specialty crops under the program are due in early April. “I believe we’ll have those payment rates in place by early next month,” Deputy Ag Secretary Stephen Vaden told Politico. “We’ll publish those payment rates as soon as we have them, and then quickly get going on the payment part of it.” He added that sugar beets, cotton, and rice are the commodities in the most...
Tariffs pressure sheep industry, but opportunities remain
Over the past week, we have been looking at how tariffs and trade disputes have affected several parts of American agriculture, from soybeans and pork to dairy. But those are not the only producers feeling the impact. The American sheep industry has also been caught...
Much is still unknown about President Trump’s beef import plan
In his latest attempt to lower the price of beef in grocery stores, President Trump says he plans to increase the volume of beef the U.S. imports from Argentina. According to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, this effort would risk harming the livelihoods of...
Pork products can offer new ideas for harvest meals
Farmers are deep into this year’s harvest, and ideas for field meals may start to dwindle. Pork products can help with those harvest meal ideas. Ashley Martinez- a chef, dietitian, and member of the National Pork Board’s Pork and Partners community of health and...
Lessons learned in Northwest Iowa this growing season
At the end of harvest season, it is time to collect the data from the growing season and harvest and determine which management practices made a positive impact. Northwest Iowa Beck’s Hybrids agronomist Eric Bartels says that the timing and number of applications of...
Farmers risk losing billions without reallocation
The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing supplemental SRE reallocation volumes to the 2026 and 2027 Renewable Fuel Standard Volumes. Clean Fuels America shared the potential impact on U.S. soybean farmers and processors with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. EPA...
R-CALF urges Trump to fix beef market fairly
If you have felt a little sticker shock at the meat counter lately, you are not alone. Beef prices continue to push higher, setting new records seemingly by the week. In many stores, 80/20 ground beef is knocking on the door of seven dollars a pound, and when it does...
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Lenders want clear plans as farmers seek 2026 credit
Farmers are already looking ahead to the next growing season, and that means it is time to start preparing for an operating line of credit for 2026. Lenders want to see more than a basic snapshot of your plans. They want a clear picture of how you intend to manage the...
A growing season of variability in Iowa
Each growing season is different and the growing season in Iowa this year has been defined by a wide range of outcomes. Yields across the state have varied based on several conditions but primarily rainfall timing and disease pressure. The growing season got off to...
Used cooking oil still negatively affecting soybean oil prices
The Trump administration continues to delay the release of the final rules for the 45z tax credit, which is allowing used cooking oil to remain as a thorn in the side of the soybean oil industry. Kenan Layden, hedging strategist with AgMarket.Net, said the delay is...
AFBF Thanksgiving Survey shows slightly lower costs in 2025
Every year, volunteer shoppers from the American Farm Bureau Federation help determine the average cost of feeding ten people for a Thanksgiving meal. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Thanksgiving Cost Survey results show a slight dip in costs this year....
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...
