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Cooler weather in store for the end of August
After bouts of extremely hot weather in July and early August, a week of cooler temperatures is welcome across Iowa. The cooler temperatures could even help with soil and crop conditions as we approach the final stretch of the growing season. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says that the end of August will be much more comfortable for farmers and crops alike. Rippey says that low lying areas of the lower Midwest continue to experience flooding, while areas of the upper Midwest are still...
Examining ways to lower fertilizer and fuel costs
The United States war in Iran is contributing to higher input costs for farmers. Fertilizer and fuel costs are rising due to the slowdown of shipping and inability to transport goods safely through Middle East shipping lanes. This is adding to the costs of nitrogen...
Farmers get less than six cents of every dollar spent on food
Data from the U.S. Economic Research Service’s Food Dollar Series provides a clear picture of how consumer food spending is distributed across the U.S. food supply chain. The latest estimates show that crop producers capture about 2.5 cents of every food dollar, down...
Iowa Ag Week focuses on value and communication
Today marks National Ag Day, falling during Iowa Agriculture Week, a time dedicated to recognizing the farmers and agricultural professionals who help feed, fuel, and clothe the world. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the week is not only about...
Iowa FFA will be well represented at National Ag Day
Iowa FFA President Chloe Zittergruen will be one of four National FFA members who will be representing agricultural youth across the country in Washington, D.C., for National Ag Day on Tuesday, March 24th. This year’s event theme, “Together We Grow,” honors 250 years...
USMEF bolstering Mexico’s in-home consumption of U.S. pork
Mexico’s demand for U.S. pork has soared in recent years, and 2025 was no exception. Pork exports to Mexico were record-large for the fifth consecutive year at 1.24 million metric tons, valued at $2.85 billion. But the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) continues to...
Details from the USDA March Cattle on Feed Report
USDA published the March Cattle on Feed Report on Friday March 20th and with the cattle industry in a pattern of low supply and continued high demand, the report can offer clues on the industry’s direction. USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell provides the numbers...
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More Ag News
U.S. Export Sales Report (4-23-26)
This week’s export sales were better than what we’ve seen recently, but it was otherwise a muted report. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales were strong once again. While the soybeans sales weren’t outstanding, McBride said they were above the...
Input costs aren’t dropping alongside inflation
General inflation has cooled off from the high points in recent years, but input costs are not following suit. Dr. Michael Langemeier is the director of Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture, and he said farm input prices don’t always follow inflation up or down....
Funding now available through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative
Funding is now available for research and development in specialty crop agriculture through a USDA support program. National Institute of Food and Agriculture Associate Director Rachel Melnick says there is more funding available compared to last year. Melnick...
ICGA applauds year-round E15 amendment inclusion in House farm bill
The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) has advocated for year-round, nationwide E15 for more than 15 years—a goal that remains a top priority as farm families face tightening margins and market volatility. With the recent introduction of an amendment to the House...
New export markets boost Iowa agriculture
As the U.S. works to expand agricultural trade, USDA officials say diversifying export markets is becoming more important for long-term stability. USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg says relying too heavily on one major buyer...
