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Federal farm safety net payments reach record $13.8 billion
Federal farm safety-net payments are expected to reach a record $13.8 billion for the 2025 crop year, reflecting the growing importance of government assistance to American agricultural producers. USDA says payments through the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs will be the largest since Congress established them in the 2014 farm bill. The programs provide financial protection when commodity prices or farm revenues fall below established thresholds. USDA says the...
SCN management requires more than egg counts
Soybean cyst nematode management often starts with knowing what is present in a field, but BASF's Mike McCarville says growers should not let the process end with a soil sample and an egg count. McCarville says farmers need to take a more active approach to SCN...
Historically wet September caused sprouting in Iowa fields
This September was the wettest month in Iowa in roughly 112 years, and farmers are feeling the impacts of that intense amount of rain. Producers in the southern parts of the state have even observed sprouting in their fields, which can reduce grain quality and ruin...
Markets anticipate yield numbers in October WASDE report
Following last week’s Quarterly Grain Stocks Report, attention now turns to the October WASDE report which will be published by USDA at 11 a.m. central time on Friday. Greg McBride is a commodity broker with Allendale, and he says that we could see back and forth...
USMEF-Mexico celebrates 35 years of market development
As the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) celebrates its 50th anniversary, the organization’s Mexico office is also celebrating 35 years of promoting U.S. beef, pork, and lamb. Gerardo Rodriguez, USMEF’s regional director for Mexico, Central America, and the...
Nearly 130 Choose Iowa members ready to welcome visitors for statewide Fall Crawl
Nearly 130 Choose Iowa members across the state are preparing to welcome visitors on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10, for the second annual Choose Iowa Fall Crawl. The two-day, self-guided event invites Iowans to hit the road, enjoy the fall colors, discover new...
BASF prepares new weapon against soybean cyst nematode
Soybean cyst nematode has been a familiar challenge for Iowa soybean growers for decades, but the pest continues to adapt to some of the tools farmers have relied on to manage it. BASF is preparing to launch Nemisphere in 2028, a new soybean trait designed to provide...
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Historic Iowa rainfall washed nitrogen away from crop roots
It’s been a historic year for rain in Iowa, and while rain is normally a good thing, too much of it can cause crop issues. Outside of physical damage, disease, and soil issues, excessive rains can cause nitrogen runoff, which may have led to the lower yields Iowa...
ARC and PLC payout highest ever
ARC and PLC will pay out record amounts to producers this year as the amounts were raised under last year’s Working Families Tax Cut Act. That is United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) referencing ARC and PLC, he says that the programs have been adjusted and now...
Markets await October USDA supply and demand estimates
USDA’s October Crop Production Report and World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, or WASDE, are scheduled for release at noon Eastern Time on Oct. 9. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski says the October reports will incorporate key data...
NPB launches advisory committees to strengthen producer input
One of the cornerstones of the National Pork Board (NPB) is focusing on producer priorities. Six producer-led advisory committees were established recently to align with NPB’s strategic plan. NPB CEO David Newman said the board is built by farmers, for farmers. Unlike...
Opening the playbook on soybean variety selection
Managing soybean cyst nematode can influence more than how farmers protect yield. The resistance needed to manage the pest can also affect which soybean varieties are available to match the other agronomic needs of an individual field. BASF is developing its...
