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Harvest opens key SCN testing window in Iowa
As soybean harvest approaches across Iowa, farmers have an opportunity to check their fields for a pest that can quietly reduce yields without producing obvious symptoms. Soybean cyst nematode, or SCN, remains one of the most damaging soybean pests, and once it becomes established in a field, it does not go away. Dylan Mangel with the University of Nebraska and the SCN Coalition says farmers can test for the pest throughout the growing season, but the period immediately following soybean...
Farm credit conditions weaken across Upper Midwest
Financial pressure is building in farm country. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reports that agricultural credit conditions across the Upper Midwest weakened in the second quarter compared with a year ago. Bankers highlight commodity price volatility, high...
Attorney General Todd Blanche addresses Iowa farmers’ fertilizer price concerns
On Thursday United States Attorney General Todd Blanche and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward visited the Iowa Ag Radio Network at the Iowa State Fair to discuss some of the most prominent agriculture issues relevant to the Department of Justice’s...
Pro Farmer Crop Tour concludes, projects lower corn, higher soybean yields vs. 2025
Pro Farmer is projecting a smaller U.S. corn crop in 2026 after its annual Crop Tour found lower yield potential across much of the Corn Belt. The organization estimates the national corn yield at 173.2 bushels per acre, with production totaling 15.344 billion...
Rural healthcare among top issues in Iowa Senate race
It’s no secret that the farm economy has been tough on our rural communities in recent years. On top of losing local restaurants and grocery stores, many small towns are now in healthcare deserts as rural clinics and other facilities continue to close. As we approach...
Beef supporters turned crisis into lasting impact
What started as an effort to recognize young livestock exhibitors during a canceled Iowa State Fair has grown into an organization that has raised $1.3 million in just a few years. The Iowa State Fair Beef Champions Supporters formed in 2020 after the COVID pandemic...
Senator Grassley discusses negotiations with Canada and USMCA review
United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says that tough negotiating with Canada seems to be making progress with longstanding issues over dairy trade. Grassley says that some of the biggest hurdles in the way of renewing the USMCA have centered around dairy....
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Pro Farmer Crop Tour sparks new questions over corn yield
The final Pro Farmer Crop Tour numbers surprised many traders, particularly on the corn side. However, commodity analyst Mike Zuzolo says his own survey of farmers painted a different picture- one that was actually closer to USDA's August estimates. Zuzolo says the...
South American Weather and Crop Update (6-23-26)
It’s the dry season in South America, and the forecasts definitely reflect that. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said this isn’t a huge problem yet, but they are monitoring the weather. McBride said harvest progress is behind in Brazil, but it is approaching...
Senator Grassley responds to beef import plan
Last Friday President Trump announced the administration's plan to allow an additional 300,000 metric tons of tariff-free beef imports over the next 90 days. In a social media post, President Trump said the beef would sell at roughly 25% below market prices to help...
Secretary Naig and INREC expand nitrogen soil sampling project
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and the Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council (INREC) today announced the expansion of the Nitrogen Soil Sampling Project that delivers free nitrogen soil testing for farmers in counties upstream from the Des Moines and...
Fertilizer concentration concerns Iowa Corn leadership
A concentrated fertilizer industry and stubbornly high prices are drawing increased scrutiny from farmers and federal investigators. The United States Department of Justice is reportedly investigating several leading fertilizer producers to determine whether pricing...
