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Farmers weigh fungicide against tight margins
Even with crops looking good across much of Iowa, many producers are still facing difficult financial decisions. Depressed commodity prices and elevated input costs continue to squeeze profit margins, forcing farmers to carefully evaluate every input they purchase. One of the biggest discussions this summer centers on fungicide applications and whether the investment will provide enough return to protect the bottom line. While every farm has a different break-even point, many producers are...
July started with heavy rain but has since dried out
This month has already been a crazy one when it comes to the weather. July started off with unrelenting rainfall across much of central Iowa, but since then it has transitioned to a warm and dry pattern. Dan Bjorklund, technical agronomist with Landus Cooperative,...
Drought coverage shrinking across most of the U.S
Spring and early summer rainfall has helped to shrink the drought coverage area in the United States. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the U.S. Drought Monitor looks vastly different as of July 7th compared to the drought monitor maps of April 2026. The areas of D3...
Secretary Naig announces urban water quality projects
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced four additional urban water quality projects, continuing the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s (IDALS) multi-phase investment in locally-led conservation efforts across Iowa communities. This...
May meat exports paint a complex picture
Exports of U.S. beef and pork were held back in May by key market access issues, beginning with suspensions of beef plants in China. According to USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom, market access issues in China and Mexico have limited U.S. beef and pork exports....
Latin America offers new export opportunities
Latin America continues to present new opportunities for U.S. ethanol exports, with established markets remaining strong and several countries expanding their use of biofuels. Marri Tejada, regional director for Latin America with the U.S. Grains and BioProducts...
July WASDE report indicates tight grain supplies
The July WASDE report was projected to be a friendly one, and it turned out to be even more friendly than expected. A significant cut to corn supplies and tightened supplies for soybeans and wheat indicate that there isn’t much leeway for weather issues in the back...
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Examining the process of becoming Prop 12 compliant
The future of California Proposition 12 is uncertain. Currently, there is no legislation to address it in the Senate Farm Bill, but several swine industry groups are still hard at work to get something included in the final version. If the farm bill were to move...
Corn and soybean inspections dropped last week
Corn and soybean export inspections declined last week, while wheat inspections improved, according to the latest report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA says 1.54 million metric tons of corn were inspected for export during the week ending July 9, down...
Soybean trends in USDA July balance sheets
The recent USDA WASDE report for July provides the latest update for the world and domestic soybean outlooks. USDA World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski says the balance sheet details gains in U.S. soybean production and that reflects in the world...
High input costs remain a top concern for U.S. producers
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped from May to June. Michael Langemeier, the director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture at Purdue University, discussed the significance of these low numbers. Langemeier expanded on the primary reason...
Two wars add uncertainty to grain markets
Geopolitical tensions continue to influence grain markets as conflicts in both the Middle East and Eastern Europe create uncertainty for global energy and agricultural trade. Ag economist Frayne Olson says the latest developments in the Middle East could have indirect...
