Top Stories
Iowa farmers juggle two crop year decisions
Iowa farmers will soon find themselves making ARC and PLC decisions for two different crop years at nearly the same time. As we reported Tuesday, USDA has opened an unusual enrollment period for the 2026 crop that runs through December 11. That signup was delayed as USDA worked to allocate 30 million additional base acres made eligible for the programs. Before that window closes, USDA will open enrollment for the 2027 crop, putting the two signup periods on top of one another for more than a...
Iowa soybean farmers could see another great crop in 2026
Everybody remembers the diseases issues that plagued the Iowa corn crop last year, but soybeans were able to quietly have a successful year for yields. Chris Pritchett of Pioneer said Z-Series soybeans have gained a strong presence here in Iowa. Every year, the top...
AFBF concerned about proposed UP-NS rail merger
The $85 billion merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroads would create the first coast-to-coast railroad across 43 states. Danny Munch, economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the big concern is the loss of competitive pressure across...
Offering growers options and simplicity with new soybean trait stack
At this year’s Commodity Classic in San Antonio Texas, Syngenta announced its new soybean trait stack, Enlist E3® Expance™ soybeans. Jared Benson, head of portfolio strategy for soybeans with Syngenta provides some of the details of the next generation trait stack....
Ag retailers outline 2026 policy priorities
The Agricultural Retailers Association outlined its 2026 Public Policy Priorities, announcing a comprehensive agenda designed to support America’s ag retailers and strengthen the nation’s food and supply chains. The priorities also support science-based, practical...
Equipment market finding stability after volatile swings
After several years of dramatic highs and lows, the farm equipment market may finally be starting to stabilize. Corey Nordhausen with AgDirect says it doesn’t take much of a look back to see just how quickly conditions changed. That surge in demand created tight...
Managing weeds during unpredictable spring weather
As we have seen over the past couple weeks, the weather in Iowa can change on a dime. According to NOAA, that variability will continue throughout the 2026 spring season. This can make weed management even more difficult- drier areas will have to be mindful of...
Video
More Ag News
Rollins says bird flu vaccine still not ready
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins says that a bird flu vaccine is still not ready for a full rollout although efforts to produce an effective vaccine are still underway. Bird flu has not been as prevalent in headlines recently, but Rollins says that USDA is still very...
Improving the return on fresh cow protocols
While advancements in managing clinical milk fever have reduced cases, its invisible counterpart, subclinical hypocalcemia, remains a significant challenge for fresh cows. Dr. Curt Vlietstra, a professional services veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim, said...
U.S. beef regains duty-free access to UK market
When the United Kingdom departed from the European Union in 2020, U.S. beef no longer had duty-free access to the UK. This increased costs for British importers and the entire U.S. beef supply chain, making the UK market more difficult to serve. Now, duty-free...
USDA reorganizes FSIS and establishes Food Safety Center in Iowa
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a major reorganization of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), aiming to modernize operations and better align the agency with today’s agricultural landscape. Central to the plan is the creation of a National...
Pilot program targets nitrogen efficiency
As Iowa farmers prepare to get planters rolling this spring, a new soil testing effort is aiming to help producers better manage fertilizer costs while also improving environmental outcomes. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says the pilot program focuses on...
