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China’s soybean purchases seen as symbolic, not transformative
It’s been months of uncertainty between the United States and China since President Trump placed new tariffs on Chinese goods, sparking another round of back-and-forth tension in the ag sector. Now, an agreement reached last week has China pledging to resume purchases of U.S. soybeans. The announced totals don’t make much of a dent in what’s been missing from the marketplace, but many say it’s still a step forward in rebuilding one of America’s most critical export relationships. A recent...
Government shutdown adding more uncertainty to the ag markets
The agriculture industry and ag markets have been dealt a lot of uncertainty in 2025. From the tariffs of the trade war to the new world screwworm shutdown of the border between Mexico and the United States, the markets have dealt with many unknowns. Now amid the...
Low Mississippi River levels again set to disrupt harvest shipping
For the fourth straight year, water levels in the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers will soon be critically low, forcing shippers to light-load grain barges during harvest season. As barge rates get higher, those higher costs are making their way down to the farm level....
Applications are open for 2026 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship
The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is encouraging college students who are pursuing careers in the beef industry to apply for the 2026 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship. Ten students will be selected to receive scholarships worth $1,500 each. NCBA Senior Vice...
Korean pizza chain adding U.S. pork sausage to menu
In South Korea, pizza chain Pizza Alvolo was looking to add something new to its menu. When it turned to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) for assistance, USMEF Senior Marketing Manager for Foodservice in Korea Elly Sung suggested U.S. pork sausage. After...
Strong yields & weak margins: Financial pressures mount on farmers
The 2025 season has been defined by both resilience and strain in the farm economy. Strong yields in many regions helped keep optimism alive, but they were tempered by financial pressures that have made every decision more critical. Interest rates remain historically...
Dry Iowa weather can make harvest more complicated
Combines are rolling across much of the state, and the dry weather has allowed harvest to continue mostly uninterrupted. However, that dryness can bring with it a whole different slate of issues. Southwest Iowa Beck’s Agronomist Nate Meyer said corn yields might seem...
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Markets are looking for news as government shutdown persists
There’s no clear end in sight yet for this government shutdown, and the markets are desperately looking for news headlines to trade. While there are a few things worth looking at, there’s not much solid news to trade on even outside of government reports. Allendale...
AFBF asks Congress and White House for farm aid
Farmers and ranchers are facing extreme economic pressures. The overall U.S. farm economy is in very bad shape, and the long-term viability of the sector is in danger. Brian Glenn, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said costs have...
AI in agriculture is here and assisting farmers each day
AI, or artificial intelligence, is beginning to be applied to agriculture in tangible ways that can assist farmers with day-to-day tasks. Heather Hampton Knodle, president of Knodle Farms in Illinois, recently spoke about AI at the Rural Economic Outlook Conference at...
Bayer partners with Cornfed Farms to create first ForwardFarm in Midwest
Bayer is proud to announce that Cornfed Farms, a fourth-generation farm operated by the Mohr family, has been designated as the first Bayer ForwardFarm site in the Midwest and the only ForwardFarm in the United States. This recognition places Cornfed Farms as one of...
The rock that feeds the world: Inside a Canadian Potash mine
Most farmers are familiar with potash as a key source of potassium on a fertilizer tag, which helps crops grow stronger, healthier, and more productive. But fewer have stopped to think about where it actually comes from. Before it ever reaches a field, potash begins...
