Top Stories
SNAP funding debate slows farm bill markup process
The House Ag farm bill markup has entered its second day, but the key stumbling block to a bipartisan bill has now come into sharp focus. The fight over SNAP versus farm programs has kept a new farm bill off the books for at least three years. Republicans got around that and made cuts to SNAP, using those funds to boost crop support levels in the president’s tax and spending bill last July. Now, Democrats are hammering Ag Committee Republicans over that bill’s work requirements, which cut $187...
Concerns over Mississippi River levels as harvest approaches
There's continued evidence that we may once again experience some low water conditions on the lower Mississippi River this fall. The prospects for restricted barge transportation this fall may come as a surprise for many given the healthy amounts of rainfall...
Rural veterinarian shortages draw federal attention
Rural America is built on small towns where life often looks a little different from what it does in big cities. We know the trade-offs, and for the most part, we accept them. Having fewer shopping options is a small inconvenience, while limited broadband has long...
CLAAS breaks ground on new Midwest facility
Today, CLAAS broke ground on a new 44,800 square foot Research and Development Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The facility will add new jobs and support the local economy in an area that is already very familiar with CLAAS, as the new building is being constructed on the...
PQA Plus program helps build trust with consumers
The Pork Quality Assurance® Plus, or PQA Plus®, program helps pig farmers and their employees continually improve animal care practices. Illinois pork producer Paul Ayers says the industry reevaluates the PQA program every three years to ensure it stays relevant,...
USDA announces efforts to increase rural veterinarians
There is a shortage of rural veterinarians in the United States and the low numbers are creating issues for animal health in rural areas. On Thursday Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new plan designed to increase the number of veterinarians in rural America....
Fresh pork expected to be more price-competitive with beef and chicken
A National Pork Board report expects pork to be even more price-competitive with beef and chicken during the fall. The pork supply continues to fall short of expectations. In the last month, slaughter is down 3.3 percent, and when combined with the decline in weights,...
Video
More Ag News
South American Weather and Crop Update (10-7-25)
With the current government shutdown, the markets are looking for any headlines to react to. There’s definitely a watchful eye on the crop conditions in Brazil and Argentina, but some political meetings may cause more of a shakeup. Allendale commodity broker Greg...
Crop farmers still facing a rough ag economy
As the broader ag economy continues to struggle, row crop farmers face a particularly difficult time. Now, many farmers and ranchers are studying their balance sheets. Faith Parum, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the difficult ag economy is...
Senator says time is running out for US growers, help needed now
United States Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) told the Senate that U.S. growers can’t wait much longer for help from Washington. Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer says that the combination of high input costs and uncertainty in trade has brought farm finances dangerously close...
Secretary Naig announces grants to bolster access to E15, biodiesel in Iowa
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) Board recently approved an additional 48 grants, totaling more than $1.86 million, to support new and expanded biofuel infrastructure projects. These...
Scout from the combine seat as weed escapes show
The combines are running full throttle across Iowa, and while farmers are focusing on bringing in the crop, another reality is emerging along the field edges and in bare spots: weeds that slipped through this year’s control programs. Those escapes may look harmless...
