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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...
New WOTUS rule finally provides much-needed clarity
The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers recently announced a new Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. After years of asking for more clarity, farmers are finally gaining a clear understanding of the federal government’s jurisdiction. American Farm Bureau President Zippy...
Digital crop acreage reporting goes national
A USDA crop acreage reporting pilot program that operated this summer in 12 Farm Service Agency county offices is now operational nationwide. That is USDA Farm Production Undersecretary Richard Fordyce who says that the 12 county offices that used the pilot program...
Late-season weather adds uncertainty to Midwest corn and soybeans
Weather remains a concern for U.S. corn and soybean producers as harvest begins following a growing season marked by periods of excessive rainfall and extreme heat. Flooding during August damaged crops in portions of the Midwest after some areas received more than 12...
UPL sees growing role for biological crop nutrition
Biological products are becoming a larger part of the crop nutrition conversation as companies look for new ways to help crops access nutrients throughout the growing season. UPL is putting more emphasis on that space as it expands beyond the post-patent crop...
Lofty market prices are worth making a plan for
U.S. grain prices are historically high as we enter harvest season, which provides a very unique marketing opportunity for Iowa producers. However, it can be difficult to chase a market rally and worry about harvest at the same time. Micheal Weidner, director of grain...
Grassley: House-Senate Farm Bill pre-conferencing is likely underway
House and Senate Ag staff are likely trying to iron out farm bill differences ahead of the Senate’s return next week to save time, according to a key senator. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s optimistic about the process. Pre-conferencing could speed the farm...
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China continues buying U.S. soybeans ahead of Xi visit
China's recent buying spree continued Thursday when USDA announced another 272,000 metric tons of U.S. soybean sales to China for the 2026-27 marketing year. USDA also reported 206,500 tons sold to unidentified destinations. Those sales follow China's purchase of...
Autonomous sprayer targets weeds around the clock
Autonomous equipment is becoming increasingly common in agriculture, but Solinftec is taking the concept beyond simply removing an operator from the cab. Its SOLIX robot is designed to remain in the field, continuously scouting for weeds and treating them as they...
September WASDE report falls short of lofty market expectations
After seeing lower yields than expected from the Pro Farmer Crop Tour, the markets anticipated significant yield changes in the September World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. However, the USDA did not end up making as significant of...
New WOTUS rule finally provides much-needed clarity
The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers recently announced a new Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. After years of asking for more clarity, farmers are finally gaining a clear understanding of the federal government’s jurisdiction. American Farm Bureau President Zippy...
Digital crop acreage reporting goes national
A USDA crop acreage reporting pilot program that operated this summer in 12 Farm Service Agency county offices is now operational nationwide. That is USDA Farm Production Undersecretary Richard Fordyce who says that the 12 county offices that used the pilot program...
