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Understanding soil variability can improve crop management
Understanding what is happening below the soil surface can help farmers make more precise agronomic decisions and better target their input investments. New tools are allowing growers and agronomists to collect more detailed soil data that can reveal variability across a field and highlight issues that may limit yield potential. EarthOptics is one company working to provide that kind of insight. Gunnar Bodvarrsson with EarthOptics says the company focuses on gathering detailed soil...
Previewing the first WASDE report since the government shutdown
After not getting a WASDE report in October due to the government shutdown, the USDA announced that there will be a WASDE report this month regardless of whether or not the shutdown has ended. This has the commodity markets very excited, as there has not been much...
Women in Ag Study highlights contributions of women in rural America
The United Nations is recognizing 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, with hopes of spotlighting the contributions of women in agriculture and agribusiness. Lisa Wherry, a Pennsylvania farmer and member of the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership...
Chaos in the cattle complex
After a sustained run of lofty prices, we have seen a substantial selloff in the cattle complex in recent weeks. Commodity broker Eric Relph of Commstock Investments says that we have seen multiple limit down moves in recent trading days. Relph says traders are now...
Secretary Naig invites Iowa-based livestock vaccine developers to apply for research grant
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the availability of the Livestock Protection Innovation Grant to support an Iowa-based company working to develop vaccines that help protect livestock from foreign animal diseases. The Iowa Department of...
Ag group rolls into Washington with a message
The Farmers for Free Trade motorcade made its way across the country, carrying the voices of producers worried about how ongoing trade tensions are squeezing their operations. Earlier this year, agricultural leaders cautioned the Trump administration that while they...
Food Bank of Iowa receives another crucial donation
Today, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints brought in a second truckload of food to complete a 72,000-pound donation to the Food Bank of Iowa. This is the organization’s second donation to the Food Bank of Iowa, with the first being in February 2024. Food...
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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...
Iowa Pork and Fareway serve up warm meals for Giving Tuesday
Today, Fareway Stores and the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) teamed up with Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS) for the ninth annual Giving Tuesday breakfast. Hundreds of warm meals were prepared and served to individuals experiencing homelessness...
South American Weather and Crop Update (12-2-25)
As planting season continues in South America, the dry weather is starting to raise some eyebrows. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather forecasts for Brazil and Argentina. McBride said planting progress is still close to the...
Fertilizer supply and price outlook for 2026
As farmers stare at the market screen and continue to see depressed prices for their commodities, it doesn’t help that fertilizer prices remain high. But what is the outlook for supplies and prices of fertilizers in 2026? Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer at...
Secretary Naig opens sign-up window for Iowa’s crop insurance discount program
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the sign-up is now open for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s (IDALS) annual Crop Insurance Discount Program. The innovative program offers farmers a $5 per acre premium reduction for...
