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Ag trade deficit hit another record high in July
The U.S. agricultural trade deficit widened further in July, highlighting the challenge facing President Donald Trump as he vows to reverse the trend. Agricultural exports lagged imports by $4.97 billion in July, a gap 9% wider than a year earlier and the largest on record for the month. That pushed the sector’s deficit to an unprecedented $33.6 billion for the first seven months of the year, according to data released Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The widening farm trade gap...
Grilling up fun at the Iowa Pork Producers Tent
Mother Nature tried to put a damper on the Iowa State Fair yesterday, spending much of the morning tossing thunderstorms our way. Nothing severe, but enough to keep the early crowds in check. By the time I arrived for my 11 a.m. “celebrity chef” shift at the Iowa Pork...
The Iowa State Fair is one big ag education opportunity
In true Iowa fashion, the weather was unpredictable for the first day of the Iowa State Fair. Thunderstorms rolled across the Des Moines metro, and many state fair attendees decided to wait out the storms before making their visit to the fair. But once the storms...
Farmer sentiment weakened in July
Farmer sentiment continues to weaken. The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer declined again in July, falling to 135, an 11-point month-over-month decline from June. The July Current Conditions Index dropped 17 points to 127, while the Future Expectations...
First annual Heart of the County Fair Award recipients
The Heart of the County Fair Award honors exceptional Iowans who have made significant contributions to their local fairs and communities. The families will be honored at the Iowa State Fair with a plaque and special recognition, made possible by Beck’s Hybrids in...
Field level yield predictions and AI agronomic advice from FBN
As every farmer knows, scouting a corn field from the end rows can tell a much different story from what is happening in the middle of your field. Farmers Business Network is attempting to help farmers with their scouting by providing field level yield data to Iowa’s...
Iowa farmers face tough old crop decisions
As summer winds down, many farmers are working to finish moving the last of their 2024 old crop grain out of storage. But with market pressure mounting and prices slipping, it’s becoming more difficult to find strong opportunities. The clock is ticking, and making the...
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More Ag News
August WASDE threw a curveball at the corn markets
With trade uncertainty on the minds of many farmers, the USDA threw the corn market a curveball. The August WASDE report gave farmers and ranchers across the country an interesting look into how production might look this fall. Faith Parum, an economist with the...
449 Century and Heritage Farm families honored at the 2025 Iowa State Fair
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Brent Johnson honored 449 Iowa farm families with Century or Heritage Farm designations at the 2025 Iowa State Fair. The program celebrates farms that have been owned by the same...
Crops are promising, but yields need to be protected
The recent WASDE report from the USDA confirmed that this year’s crops have great potential. Now, it’s important for farmers to keep a close eye on their crops and do whatever they can to realize those potential yields. Kurt Maertens, BASF technical service...
Corn yield estimate will affect local basis levels
On Tuesday, USDA published the August WASDE report with a corn yield estimate of 188.8 bu. That number was well above the trade guesses going into the report and signifies the potential for a massive crop. That is Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing who says that the...
Iowa producers urge action on farm bill & trade
In yesterday’s coverage, we noted the wide range of policy issues weighing on Iowa farmers. Today’s focus narrows to two of the most immediate priorities: passing a comprehensive farm bill and addressing ongoing trade challenges. While the Reconciliation Bill approved...
