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July started with heavy rain but has since dried out
This month has already been a crazy one when it comes to the weather. July started off with unrelenting rainfall across much of central Iowa, but since then it has transitioned to a warm and dry pattern. Dan Bjorklund, technical agronomist with Landus Cooperative, said he saw plenty of flooded corn and soybean fields in central Iowa. However, Bjorklund there are still parts of the state that hardly got any rain. The areas with the heaviest rainfall saw significant flood damage, but Bjorklund...
USMEF producer team explores Mexico market
A team of livestock and grain producers recently traveled with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) to Monterrey, Mexico, to participate in the Expo Carnes trade show and for a firsthand look at market conditions. Held every other year in Monterrey, Expo Carnes is...
Cattle inventory breakdown from March Cattle on Feed report
The March Cattle on Feed report from USDA shows another year-over-year decrease in cattle inventory in feedlots in the United States. USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell says that the number of placements for the month of February was 18% lower than last year....
USDA updates public on avian flu strategy
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins hosted a stakeholder update to provide a progress report on USDA’s five-pronged strategy to combat Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and lower egg prices. Less than a month after the plan’s rollout, USDA reports significant advancements...
So where CAN we find savings on inputs?
Last week, we talked with Gail Stratman from FMC about the importance of not cutting corners on weed control—because skimping there can cost you more in the long run. But while weed management needs to stay a top priority, there are other areas in the field where...
Ag markets look ahead to end-of-March reports
It was a fairly quiet week in the ag marketplace, and that’s largely because of the fact that the grains are waiting for the Prospective Plantings and Quarterly Grain Stocks reports. As we get closer to the end of the month, many analysts are predicting what we might...
John Deere joins Growth Energy’s membership network
America’s largest biofuel trade association just got a little bigger. Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, talks about their newest member. Cory Reed, president of John Deere’s Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division, said that the company, which is best known for...
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More Ag News
Extreme heat creating concerns for Iowa’s livestock and crops
The extreme heat in recent days has felt more like late July or August and is causing stress for livestock and crops in Iowa. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the more immediate concern is for livestock. High humidity and overnight temperatures in the upper 70s and...
U.S. Export Sales Report (6-26-25)
Export sales are looking good ahead of the Quarterly Grain Stocks report that will be released next Monday. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales were especially great in the latest data. Soybeans also looked good this week, which is a far cry...
Tar spot has already been observed in East Central Iowa
Pollination is quickly approaching for corn and soybeans, and it’s important to make sure that crops are performing at a high level in order to maximize yields down the road. Diseases can enter and impact a field very quickly, so prevention is key to disease...
Landus, Iowa’s largest farmer-owned cooperative, launches nationwide CEO search
Landus is launching a nationwide search for its next Chief Executive Officer. Since April, the Board of Directors and interim CEO Sam Caton have met with farmer-owners and employees to gather feedback. Their input has been crucial in identifying the qualities needed...
Naig reports encouraging crop conditions in much of Iowa
Before planters even rolled into Iowa fields this spring, there were early warnings that a hot and dry summer could pose serious challenges for the 2025 growing season. While summer is still in its first week, crop conditions across much of the state are holding up...
