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Corn farmers looking out for tar spot and southern rust in 2026
Iowa farmers are always on the lookout for disease issues, but there are two diseases from 2025 that have farmers the most alert: tar spot and southern rust. Last year, these two diseases popped up in unexpected areas around the country, causing some of the highest damaging disease pressure on record. Unfortunately, many farmers were caught off guard by how quickly conditions favored infection and spread for tar spot and southern rust. Kim Tutor, technical marketing manager for corn and wheat...
First quarter of 2024 sees phenomenal pork exports
The U.S. Meat Export Federation says March exports of U.S. pork were steady with last year’s volume but were slightly higher in value, according to data released by USDA. Kelli Wicks, manager of market growth for the National Pork Board, said diversification has been...
NCBA official outlines difficult final stretch for farm bill
House Ag Chair GT Thompson has set a May 23rd markup date for his GOP farm bill proposal, but there is still a long road ahead for the proposal. NCBA’s Executive Director of Government Affairs Allison Rivera says she is encouraged that House Ag Chair GT Thompson has...
May WASDE includes an initial U.S. crop assessment
The May World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates report includes USDA’s first assessment of domestic and international supply and demand prospects. The 2024-2025 U.S. corn outlook calls for larger supplies, greater domestic use and exports, and higher ending stocks. The...
Growth Energy CEO Skor gives Ethanol policy update
The news around the ethanol industry has been hopping for the past months. Whether it has been the EPA finally granting eight midwestern states to sell E15 year-round starting in 2025, yet another E15 emergency waiver, or the discussions over Sustainable Aviation Fuel...
New breakthrough in the battle against corn tar spot
This week Bayer Crop Science announced a new breakthrough in the battle against tar spot. Bayer researchers have developed a method to artificially inoculate tar spot in Bayer field test plots. This will give Bayer Crop Science a leg up in better understanding tar...
Governor signs bill to increase critical renewable fuel infrastructure funds
The Iowa Biodiesel Board and the Iowa Soybean Association commended Governor Kim Reynolds and the state legislature for their decisive action in boosting funding for renewable fuels infrastructure. Reynolds signed legislation today that marks another significant step...
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More Ag News
Dry weather can cause complications for soybean harvest
The dry weather is allowing harvest in Iowa to progress at a quick pace, and that’s especially true for soybeans in northeast Iowa. While the ease of harvest is great, the dry weather also has some inherent risks. Beck’s agronomist Lee Koenigsfeld said they’ve gotten...
AFBF supporting farmers suffering from hurricane damage
Hurricane Helene was the deadliest storm in America since 2017, with over 225 lives lost and many others still missing. Danny Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, says agriculture is an important part of the Southeast and has a long road to...
Make management decisions before planting to battle corn rootworm
Corn rootworm can cause significant yield loss but the best way to deal with the pest is to develop your plan for the yield robbers before planting. That’s according to Kevin Langdon a technical product lead for insecticides with Syngenta. Langdon says that corn on...
Secretary Naig announces record investments to expand E15, biodiesel availability statewide
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) Board recently approved 126 project applications from Iowa gas stations for new and expanded E15, E85, and biodiesel infrastructure projects. Totaling...
Heartbreaking AG stories continue after Hurricane Helene
It has been well over a week since Hurricane Helene unleashed her fury on North Carolina and Tennessee. Even as we await today’s landfall of Hurricane Milton, once called the second strongest hurricane ever recorded, people are still trying to put their lives together...
