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Weather will affect how much disease pressure we see in 2026
Due to the beautiful weather we have seen in Iowa recently, which has included some cool and wet nights, tar spot has already been detected in some fields across the state. However, this week’s much hotter temperatures should suppress any additional pressure from tar spot for the time being. Dan Bjorklund, technical agronomist at Landus Cooperative, said the weather in July will play a huge role in determining what disease pressure we will see this crop season. Southern rust, which became a...
Adding value with regenerative ag
As more farmers adopt regenerative and conservation ag practices, the operation’s bottom line will receive a higher return on investment. Ag companies are working with farmers to be even better stewards of the land. They are supporting and sometimes incentivizing...
Continuing resolution contains important ag legislation
While it is disappointing that the ag industry will not be getting a new farm bill this year, it’s great to see that some important ag legislation is being included in the continuing resolution. It also means that there’s more time to write up a long-term farm bill in...
Pork is an ideal holiday meal
The holiday season is upon us and it’s time to feed family and friends during the celebrations. Charlie Torgerson, contractor for the National Pork Board, says pork is a great protein to serve a crowd during those upcoming holiday get-togethers. Torgerson said several...
U.S. “high value” exports on the rise
Bulk ag commodity exports such as soybeans and wheat were running 8% behind a year ago after 10 months of 2024 but the story is much different for “high value” ag export products. That is USDA economist Bart Kenner who says that sales of U.S. fruit and fruit products...
Secretary Naig announces water quality partnership project
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has formed a public-private partnership with the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to...
Looking back at some of the year’s market performance
As we are halfway through the last normal trading week of the year, we looked back at some of the trends in different areas of the markets, especially the ones that seemed to make the biggest splashes. On the grain side, it hasn’t been the rosiest picture by any...
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Sticking with financial plans during economic volatility
It’s no secret that the economy is extremely volatile right now. Things were looking pretty grim after President Trump announced his plan for widespread tariffs, and now the markets have shot back up following his announcement today that the retaliatory tariffs will...
There’s nothing micro about the importance of micronutrients
Micronutrients play a huge role in the success of our crops, especially here in the Corn Belt. Tim Laatsch, North America director of agronomy with Koch Agronomic Services, said a deficiency in micronutrients impacts the overall health and potential yield of both corn...
Optimizing the planting season for a strong start
Planting season has already started for some of the warmer portions of the United States and it won’t be long before farmers in Iowa cross the start line and begin planting crops. Paul Sauer is a product manager for Helena Ag and covers the northern portion of Iowa....
NPPC Praises Sens. Ernst and Grassley’s efforts to avert pork industry crisis
National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Duane Stateler, a pork producer from McComb, Ohio, released the following statement after U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced the Food Security and Farm...
Dairy’s quiet comeback: Signs of strength and hope ahead
After enduring years of challenges marked by fluctuating prices and shifting consumer trends, the dairy industry has recently shown signs of renewed strength. Improved demand, stabilizing input costs, and a growing global appetite for dairy products have all...
