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South American Weather and Crop Update (3-3-26)
As harvest wraps up in Brazil for the soybean crop, the safrinha corn crop is being planted right behind it. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the weather forecast looks good for both processes to continue smoothly. While progress is behind the usual pace, McBride said there are still no major concerns with the amount of harvest progress that has been made so far. Some groups are lowering their estimates for Brazil’s 2026 harvest total, but McBride said it’s still going to be...
Secretary Naig announces streamside buffer pilot project targeting priority watersheds
Today, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced a new state-funded conservation cost-share pilot project supporting farmers and landowners in the watersheds upstream from the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids metropolitan areas. The Streamside Buffer...
Tariffs test farmers while Canada defies predictions
Tariffs have become a nagging concern for farmers who depend on reliable markets to move their crops and livestock. While the promise was that these measures would force trading partners into fairer agreements, producers are still left dealing with uncertainty and...
Innovation Symposium shows Latin American buyers new uses for U.S. red meat
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) brought 27 importers and users of U.S. red meat from across Latin America and the Caribbean to Colorado State University for a Global Innovation Symposium, made possible through support from the National Corn Growers...
Year-round E15 would be beneficial for everyone
Congress has an opportunity to help farmers and bring down the cost of gas. In this week’s commentary, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said year-round E15 sales would fuel the economy. Duvall said biofuels are also great for the atmosphere....
2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year has roots in agriculture
One of Iowa’s top leaders in ag education was recognized as the 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year. Melanie Bloom, who has been teaching agriculture at Sioux Central Community School District in Sioux Rapids for 16 years, was announced as the recipient of the award last...
NPB strengthening connection between consumers and pork
The National Pork Board’s strategic brand campaign is all about taste and flavor. Patrick Fleming, vice president of demand development, says the new tagline, “Taste What Pork Can Do™,” aims to strengthen consumers' connection with pork by highlighting its flavor and...
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More Ag News
Ag marketplace is navigating blind without USDA reports
With the government shutdown in full effect, there won't be any export sales reports until Congress can pass a budget resolution. However, we can still look at the estimates this week for a rough idea of what the sales might look like. Allendale commodity broker Greg...
Government shuts down as Congress fails to pass budget resolution
The Congressional budget year runs through September 30, and the clock has recently run out. Emily Buckman, director of government relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said Congress was unable to reach an agreement to keep the federal government open....
Favorable fall weather conditions assisting Iowa’s farmers
Mother Nature is lending a helping hand to farmers this week as conditions are excellent for many aspects of agriculture. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the Central U.S. is experiencing nearly ideal conditions for both harvest and planting cover crops. Rippey...
California Governor signs landmark E15 legislation
In a historic move, California Governor Gavin Newsom today signed Assembly Bill 30 into law, authorizing the sale of gasoline blends containing up to 15% ethanol (E15) at retail fuel stations across the state. With this action, E15 is authorized for sale by all 50...
Stronger soils mean smarter decisions in 2026
Harvest is running full throttle across Iowa, and while combines are rolling, many farmers are already thinking ahead to what comes next. Rising input costs and shrinking profit margins mean every decision matters more than ever. As planning for 2026 begins to take...
