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Ernst sees opportunity for Farm Bill agreement
Iowa and national lawmakers have been offering a cautiously optimistic outlook for the Farm Bill as Congress prepares to return from its August recess. Earlier this week, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley and House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson discussed the path ahead for the Farm Bill, including the work still needed to move the Senate version and eventually bring the House and Senate together. Now Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is offering another perspective on why she believes lawmakers...
Farmers still struggling to find enough farm labor
Finding enough labor to get the work done on the farm and navigating the regulations for the workforce have become increasingly troublesome in recent years. Mike Stranz, Vice President of Advocacy for the National Farmers Union, said reform is more important now than...
Iowa Farm Bureau members gather for 107th annual meeting
Iowa Farm Bureau members gathered in Des Moines to connect, learn, and celebrate Iowa agriculture. It’s been an eventful year for the Iowa ag industry, which made for plenty of insightful discussions. Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson said profitability was one...
Trump discusses year-round E15, addresses farm input costs
President Trump this week discussed the importance of year-round E15 for America’s farmers and the potential for more domestic production of fertilizer. During the President’s farm aid announcement at the White House, the topic of year-round E15 was brought up....
How will food prices affect holiday meals in 2025?
The holidays bring large increases in food spending for both food at home and food away from home. Consumers’ decisions during this season can have important implications for farmers and ranchers. Farmdoc, at the University of Illinois, said persistent inflation has...
Farmers see stronger results from Deere autonomous tillage
Autonomous technology has been one of the most talked about advancements in production agriculture over the past few years, but 2025 was the first season when many farmers were able to see it working at scale. Labor was tight, weather windows were narrow, and every...
AFBF advocates for continued China trade discussions
The trade relationship between the U.S. and China remains critically important for American agriculture. Dave Salmonsen, senior director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said there has been some progress between the two nations recently....
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Cash flow pressures reshape equipment decisions on Iowa farms
Tight margins continue to shape decision-making on farms across Iowa. While disease pressure still plays a role, commodity prices and cash flow have become the dominant concerns for many producers, especially when it comes to equipment purchases. Those pressures are...
U.S. Export Sales Report (1-29-26)
This week’s export sales report brings us to an interesting situation- now that the numbers are aligned with the USDA’s export goals, there isn’t much news to react to. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said this was another great week for corn sales. McBride...
Young farmers and ranchers have a unique leadership opportunity
Young farmers and ranchers should mark their calendars for March 13–16 for the upcoming Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference. Bev Flatt, a Tennessee farmer and member of the American Farm Bureau’s YF&R Committee, said attendees will have a lot to look...
Trump defends tariffs in Iowa speech
President Trump was in Iowa on Tuesday to deliver a speech, campaigning to hold onto the House and Senate in the midterm elections. President Trump pushed back against critics of his tariff policies in front of an Iowa audience including many farmers. Trump says his...
Groups applaud president’s call for year-round E15
The Renewable Fuels Association applauded President Trump for strongly reaffirming his support for America’s ethanol industry. During a stop in Des Moines, Iowa, he called on Congress to send a bill approving year-round E15 to his desk “very quickly.” Trump said he...
