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IDALS awards 30 value-added Choose Iowa grants
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has awarded 30 Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants to Iowa farmers, small businesses, and organizations located across the state. Grant recipients were eligible to receive up to $25,000 in cost-share funding per project to increase the availability of Iowa grown, made, and raised food, beverages, and ag products. The announcement was made as part of Iowa Ag Week at the future Main...
Lawmakers eyeing war funding package for more farm aid
President Donald Trump will seek a funding package for the war unfolding in Iran, and Republican lawmakers are debating whether to attach wildfire aid and $15 billion in tariff relief for farmers to the package. Four sources told E&E News that senior GOP...
Early weed control key for Iowa Crop yields
As farmers prepare for the 2026 growing season, tight margins and lower commodity prices are forcing growers to carefully evaluate every input decision. Weed control remains one of the most important investments early in the season, particularly during the first...
Minor changes to South America production in March WASDE
In the March WASDE report, the USDA made some adjustments to the South American crop estimates. The changes were mostly offsetting, so overall production has not seen much of a change. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said they are waiting for the CONAB...
AFBF President offers solutions to Senate Ag Committee
As farmers and ranchers continue to grapple with a difficult farm economy, the Senate Agriculture Committee recently held a hearing to discuss solutions. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall was one of the experts to present testimony before the...
Cattle industry hopeful for expanding trade opportunities overseas
With the current administration in Washington D.C. attempting to rework more favorable trade with international partners, producers have had to show patience. In some cases, they have had to endure short term pain in hopes of long-term gain. Kent Bacus, the executive...
Specialty crop payment rates due in April
The USDA has already allocated over $6 billion in payments under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Programs. Payment rates for specialty crops under the program are due in early April. “I believe we’ll have those payment rates in place by early next month,” Deputy Ag...
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News headlines bring negativity to soybean marketplace
Front month soybeans began Monday with a price of $12.14 cents before seeing losses of 70 cents to close at $11.55 and ¼ cents. In addition to continuing conflict in the Middle East and shipping issues in the Strait of Hormuz, comments from President Donald Trump...
Red meat exports mixed to start 2026
U.S. red meat exports were mixed in January, with pork exports trending higher year-over-year and beef trending lower according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork exports were led by another outstanding performance...
Fertilizer supplies and prices are major concerns in 2026
As planting season quickly approaches, now is not the time for there to be questions about the fertilizer supply. The current problems in the Middle East could have a major impact on fertilizer supplies and prices for 2026 and possibly even 2027. Louisiana State...
U.S. ethanol exports slip to start the year
U.S. ethanol exports declined slightly at the start of 2026, reflecting shifting global fuel demand and changing trade flows in the biofuels market. Exports totaled roughly 212 million gallons in January, down about 4% from the previous month, according to industry...
Diversified markets supporting U.S. soybean demand
U.S. soybean exports wrapped up 2025 stronger than many expected, even as trade tensions created challenges in some key markets. According to Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council, the year finished with the third-highest total soy complex exports ever...
