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Rain has defined the 2026 crop year in Iowa
As the Pro Farmer Crop Tour traveled across the Midwest, many reports came in of dry crop conditions and lower yields. That was not the case for the Iowa leg of the tour, though, as yields were actually higher due to significant rains, especially in the eastern and central parts of the state. Steve Wilkens of BASF said rain was variable across the Corn Belt. Wilkens said excess rain can promote common diseases like white mold and sudden death syndrome in soybeans. Wilkens said they’ve done a...
American Farm Bureau applauds WOTUS rule
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers released a new rule Monday on the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) law. Courtney Briggs, Senior Director of Government Affairs with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said this rule is a positive...
Farm gate receipts are down, farm lending is up
Third quarter financials continue to demonstrate the tough situation in farm country this year. Joe Mahon, Regional Outreach Director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, says their third quarter survey of agricultural bankers in the Fed’s Ninth District show...
NCBA secures new WOTUS proposed rule that protects family farmers and ranchers
Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for the new proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The revised WOTUS rule comes after decades of advocacy by NCBA and our state...
Goettsch highlights key seed decisions for Iowa farmers in 2026
As Iowa farmers wrap up another harvest season, many are already shifting their attention to what they want from their seed choices in 2026. After a year that produced solid yields but also revealed pockets of disease pressure in several parts of the state, growers...
Governor Reynolds, ISU, and BioMADE break ground on new $40M biomanufacturing facility
Today, BioMADE, the State of Iowa, Iowa State University (ISU), and Iowa State University Research Park celebrated the groundbreaking of a new pilot-scale bioindustrial manufacturing facility near Ames, Iowa. Scheduled to open in 2027, the 15,000 sq. ft. multi-user...
Flash sale data shows that China has not made big U.S. purchases yet
Last Friday was the first WASDE report since the end of the government shutdown. While the markets have already from recovered from that report, there is still plenty of information that was released that the markets will continue to look at. Allendale commodity...
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More Ag News
Strong opinions on proposed railroad merger
A proposed merger between the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Railroads is now before the Surface Transportation Board for possible approval. Mike Steenhoek, the executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, called this a “seismic development” for the...
South American Weather and Crop Update (1-16-26)
Right now is the short timeframe in which the crops in both Brazil and Argentina are in the critical yield determining phase. As a result, the weather is a huge focal point for the global grain markets. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the weather forecast...
Latest outlook on soybean oil
While much of the focus in the USDA WASDE reports centers on row crops such as corn and soybeans, the reports also help provide a snapshot of the situation for various products such as soybean oil. The most recent WASDE report for January helps to detail the current...
Farmland values enter a new phase
The U.S. agricultural land market is shifting after years of steady growth. Although land values are still historically high, current signs indicate a more complex situation driven by local and regional factors rather than nationwide trends. “After years of steady...
Ernst says loan delays hurt Iowa growth
Farmers and rural businesses across Iowa are facing growing challenges when it comes to accessing capital. Tight margins, lower commodity prices, and rising input costs are colliding with loan processes that many lenders say have become increasingly difficult to...
