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Previewing USDA’s Prospective Plantings Report
The 2026 USDA Prospective Plantings Report is scheduled for release on Tuesday March 31st. The report surveys farmer planting intentions for major crops, including corn, soybeans, wheat, and more. This report gives us the first real snapshot of what planted acreage could look like for the upcoming growing season. Jim McCormick, co-founder of AgMarket.net, provides the numbers from AgMarket.net’s projections of the report. McCormick says that fertilizer prices will shift some acres from corn to...
Secretary Naig calls on Congress for year-round E15 access
Today, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig urged the U.S. House of Representatives’ Rural Domestic Energy Council to find agreement to make year-round E15 available to drivers around the country. Secretary Naig, a longtime biofuels advocate, reinforced the...
Iowa farmers face demand gap as production grows
Iowa farmers continue to push productivity higher, but new demand has not kept pace with that growth. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw told members that agriculture is once again facing a familiar challenge: more grain than existing...
Markets continue to look at South America as harvest continues
There were some recent concerns about dry weather in South America, but the current forecast is now showing ideal conditions for their crops. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest conditions in Brazil and Argentina. McBride said soybean...
Senate Finance Committee looks closely at USMCA trade deal
With the review process of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement set to begin later this year, the Senate Finance Committee took a closer look at the deal this week. Dave Salmonsen, senior director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the...
Strong U.S. corn exports continue
Another month-over-month increase is forecasted for our nation's corn exports, according to USDA's latest outlook. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski discusses the export numbers for the nation’s record corn crop. Jekanowski says one impact from...
Dairy producers in Iowa reminded to obtain 2026 dairy margin coverage by February 26
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging dairy producers to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), an important safety net program that helps offset milk and feed price differences. This year’s DMC signup began Jan. 12 and the deadline to enroll is...
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More Ag News
Feenstra visits central Iowa FFA students during National FFA Week
Supporting the next generation of ag professionals starts at the school level, where students can participate in FFA to learn more about what the ag industry has to offer. This week is National FFA Week, and Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra visited students in Gilbert,...
USDA releases December 2025 red meat export data
U.S. pork exports posted the second highest value and third largest volume on record in 2025, according to year-end data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said this follows a record-setting...
Farmer bridge assistance enrollment period begins
During the keynote speech at USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum last Friday, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the applications for the farmer bridge assistance program would open ahead of schedule. The application process is now open as of Monday February 23rd, says...
Farm Bill 2.0 provides additional certainty
House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson recently released the text of Farm Bill 2.0, or the “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026.” Groups like the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association welcomed the provisions that strengthen the agriculture measures included in...
Naig voices frustration over stalled federal E15 progress
Federal movement on year-round E15 access remains uncertain as February winds down, leaving biofuels supporters waiting for clearer direction from Congress. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says frustration is growing among ethanol advocates who believed...
