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Iowa dairy farmers brace for market & labor challenges in 2026
As 2025 winds down, northwest Iowa dairy farms are taking stock of a year that brought both optimism and new pressures. Sioux County dairy producer Christina Zuiderveen says harvest conditions set a positive tone, even though the year still delivered its share of challenges. Zuiderveen says the fall harvest came together smoothly for most dairy operations in her region. Wind damage and rust reduced yields in some fields, but overall, the season moved quickly, helped by a stretch of favorable...
Creating success in the soy industry by driving demand
It’s been a challenging year financially for many farmers, especially on the soybean side of things. Tariffs, trade deals, and swinging market prices have all added a significant amount of stress. The United Soybean Board (USB) says driving demand will be the key to...
Frozen versus fresh turkey from a food safety perspective
Side dishes on the Thanksgiving dinner table receive a lot of plaudits, from mashed potatoes and gravy to green bean casserole and cranberry sauce. However, the Thanksgiving turkey remains the star of the show. And while many Thanksgiving dinner cooks are seasoned...
U.S. soybeans set for first shipment to China since May
Two cargo ships were headed for port terminals near New Orleans, Louisiana, this week to load the first shipments of U.S. soybeans to China since May. That’s according to a shipping schedule seen by Reuters. A third ship was heading to a Texas Gulf Coast terminal to...
Farmers are dealing with severe financial stress
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is bringing attention to the financial plight of the country’s farmers and ranchers. A recent AFBF Market Intel Report shows that financial stress is severe and persistent across farm country. John Newton, AFBF vice president...
Naig says Vietnam is ready to buy more Iowa products
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the state’s recent trade mission to Southeast Asia revealed significant opportunities for Iowa agriculture in Vietnam. The delegation included Iowa commodity groups representing corn, soybeans, pork, and beef, along with...
USDA releases more missing export sales data
More of the missing export data from the government shutdown was released this morning. The most recent report includes data of the week ending October 9th. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn numbers line up well with the expectations from the USDA....
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Cattle supplies in the U.S. remain tight
Cattle supplies blamed for high beef prices remain tight, according to the latest USDA cattle reports. That’s USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell who says that all of the data on cattle shows just how low supplies are right now. He points to several factors that...
South American Weather and Crop Update (11-27-25)
Planting progress in South America continues as the global market situation continues to shake up the U.S. grain marketplace. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest forecasts for both Brazil and Argentina. As pod fill approaches for the...
How will proposed H-2A changes impact farmers and farmworkers?
In late September, the U.S. Department of Labor announced it was lowering the H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate, better known as AEWR. If the interim rule is adopted, it means rates will drop to around $1.80 an hour in Idaho, $2.10 in Oregon, and nearly $2.50 an hour in...
Weekly exports of soybeans and corn decline
Data from the USDA said that inspections of soybeans and corn for offshore delivery declined week to week, while wheat assessments increased during the week ending on November 20. Soybean inspections were reported at almost 800,000 metric tons, down from the 1.21...
Passing the heart of Thanksgiving from one generation to another
Thanksgiving is one of those rare holidays that feels familiar before it even begins. It starts with the smell of the food, the sound of the parade, and the rhythm of a day that never really changes. Growing up on the farm, we did not have to travel far. My...
