Top Stories
Farm bill talks intensify in Congress
Congressional leaders are preparing for renewed debate over the next Farm Bill. Producer organizations are pressing lawmakers to strengthen the farm safety net as growers face weak crop prices, elevated borrowing costs and uncertainty over export demand. Reuters reports commodity groups have called for updates to reference prices, expanded crop insurance support and disaster assistance. The Farm Bill governs major programs including commodity payments, conservation incentives, rural...
Spring volatility gives way to El Niño watch
Spring weather across Iowa and much of the Midwest has been delivering the kind of rapid temperature swings farmers know all too well. Warm afternoons that hint at an early planting push have quickly been followed by colder air, gusty winds, and even lingering shots...
Quiet April WASDE report still contained important information
The April WASDE report lined up with the market expectations and made virtually no changes this month. However, that’s not to say that the report did not contain valuable information moving forward. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the April WASDE included...
Projecting demand for grilling season as beef prices soar
Every year the meat industry can rely on a spike in demand for meat during the summer grilling season. However, with beef prices at extremely high levels in stores, will demand this grilling season be as high as it typically would be during the spring and summer...
GDM streamlines brands after acquisition
GDM is moving ahead with a seed brand realignment that will take effect in 2027, but company leaders say growers should expect no changes for the 2026 planting season. The move follows GDM’s acquisition of AgReliant last September, a deal that brought together major...
Deere reaches a settlement in right to repair litigation
Deere & Company announced it has reached a settlement in a multidistrict “right to repair” lawsuit filed in 2022, bringing the case to a close without any admission of wrongdoing. The agreement, pending approval from the U.S. District Court for the Northern...
2026 forecast shows another strong El Niño
Many parts of rural America have seen some wild back-and-forth temperature swings combined with on-again, off-again winter weather. John Baranick, an agricultural meteorologist from DTN, said we’re seeing a lot of normal temperature swings during the transition from...
Video
More Ag News
Give crops a head start with a pre-emerge herbicide
As we approach the 2026 planting season, farmers need to make sure that they have their weed management plans in place. With how unpredictable every crop season can be, a flexible herbicide can make the difference between a successful or challenging crop year. Will...
When fertilizer prices climb, efficiency is the key
As fertilizer prices skyrocket, farmers are researching all opportunities to apply fertilizer as efficiently as possible and receive the most bang for their buck. Dan Schulz is a vice president of sales with Ostara and provides some background of the company and...
South American Weather and Crop Update (4-14-26)
The weather is drying out a bit in Brazil, which could cause concerns as the second crop corn hits the last stage of growth. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said this will be something to watch, but this is also close to the time that Brazil experiences its...
Secretary Naig and INREC launch nitrogen soil sampling project
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and the Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council (INREC) today announced a new, three-year Nitrogen Soil Sampling Project that will conduct nitrogen soil testing for farmers in targeted areas upstream from the Des...
NPPC targets Prop 12, trade, labor in D.C.
The National Pork Producers Council is taking its top policy priorities directly to Capitol Hill this week as pork producers gather in Washington, D.C. for the group’s Legislative Action Conference April 15 and 16. Rob Brenneman, president of NPPC and a pork producer...
