Top Stories
How Southern Rust changed Iowa corn plans
Just ahead of the 2025 growing season, many in the crop protection industry expected tar spot to be the primary disease concern in corn. Instead, southern rust emerged as the dominant threat across much of Iowa, forcing growers to quickly evaluate their management plans as the season unfolded. Todd Cogdill with FMC says even those watching the disease closely were surprised by how quickly southern rust took over. Instead of tar spot, southern rust became the disease that separated growers who...
Farmers see big returns with John Deere See & Spray
John Deere’s See and Spray technology continued its rapid climb in 2025 as farmers looked for ways to stretch input dollars, protect yields, and improve application efficiency. What started as a promising tool only a few seasons ago has now grown into one of the most...
South American Weather and Crop Update (12-30-25)
As the crops in Brazil enter the critical yield-determining phase, timely rains are finally reentering the forecast. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather forecasts for South America. While the crops are virtually all planted in...
Pork is more than just the flavor of the holidays
Family, food, and flavor are coming together as a winning recipe this holiday season with quality U.S. pork products. By showcasing pork’s versatility, flavor, and cultural relevance, the National Pork Board’s campaign is opening the door to new traditions and fresh...
How to maximize crop nutrition
A consistent theme for row crop farmers in 2025 was dealing with tight margins. As farmers are earning lower dollar amounts for their commodities but fertilizer prices remain high, maximizing crop nutrition is important for all growers. Ross Bender of The Mosaic...
Rural Mainstreet Index climbed above growth neutral
For only the second time in 2025, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index climbed above a growth-neutral reading of 50.0. That’s according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in a rural ten-state region dependent on agriculture and energy. The December reading hit 50.1, its...
Rural families struggle with slower postal deliveries
Reliable mail service is not a luxury in rural America. It is a necessity for receiving checks, handling daily business, and getting critical medicine and supplies that many families cannot easily pick up in town. But delays are becoming more common, and the...
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More Ag News
Resetting the ag marketplace as 2026 begins
The final two trading weeks of 2025 were a little quiet. With traders squaring positions and days off from trading for holidays in the middle of each week, volume was light. Normal trading volume will resume next week with a full week of trading ahead of some...
China’s soybean strategy raises questions for U.S. farmers
Efforts by China to reduce its reliance on imported soybeans are raising questions about the long-term outlook for U.S. soybean exports, analysts say. China, the world’s largest soybean buyer, has been encouraging lower soybean meal use in livestock feed and expanding...
Agoro Carbon looks back on successes in 2025
The new year is finally upon us, and the carbon market industry is riding a big wave of momentum out of 2025. Clay Craighton, regional sales manager with Agoro Carbon, said the carbon market industry is starting to get taken more seriously by some of the top companies...
Transportation uncertainty will continue in 2026
Heading into 2026, U.S. agriculture faces questions about transportation challenges. Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, said no one likes uncertainty. Steenhoek said one of the biggest challenges has been the consistently low water...
Rethinking feed additives as cattle management tool
Feed additives have long been part of livestock production, but the way they are being evaluated is changing. As margins tighten and performance pressures increase, producers are taking a closer look at how additives fit into overall herd management, particularly...
