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As profit margins tighten, debt management is critical
As tighter margins pressure farm finances, lenders are seeing producers rely more heavily on borrowed capital to cover operating expenses. At the same time, higher interest rates are increasing the cost of carrying that debt. Chad Gent, senior vice president of retail credit with Farm Credit Services of America, said that is making cash flow management increasingly important. Gent said the impact of higher interest rates varies widely among operations, depending on their financial position and...
South American Weather and Crop Update (9-29-26)
As the Americas prepare to face what is being called a “super El Niño,” farmers in Brazil and Argentina are moving along with planting season for the next crop. While there is a significant chance for excessive, damaging rains, Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride...
Beef prices and herd retention decisions
With turbulent cattle markets due to beef imports and the southern border with Mexico reopening for cattle imports cattle producers have a lot to think about when making decisions for the future of the herd. Will cattle ranchers and farmers make plans for starting the...
Fordyce explains unusual ARC and PLC signup
Persistent rain has kept combines parked across much of Iowa, leaving farmers waiting for fields to dry out and harvest to get moving. While they wait, there is another decision to make involving the 2026 crop. USDA has opened enrollment for the Agriculture Risk...
Secretary Naig welcomes applications for urban water quality project grants
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is accepting pre-applications for cost-share grants to support urban conservation and water quality projects. The locally led projects,...
China trade talks provide optimism for U.S. red meat
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer over the weekend offered new details on the progress made in last week’s U.S.-China trade talks, which were held in conjunction with the summit meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In a...
President Trump announces $15 billion steel mill in Lee County
Governor Kim Reynolds and Mesabi Metallics Chairman Rewant Ruia joined President Donald Trump today at the White House for an announcement about a $15 billion economic development project in Iowa. Mesabi Metallics plans to make Iowa the home for its new fully...
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Secretary Rollins announces funding for new Seed Sovereignty Initiative
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins was in Prairie City, Iowa, today to announce a $180 million investment into a new Seed Sovereignty Initiative, which aims to protect valuable plant genetics resources and enable breakthroughs in U.S. agriculture innovation. Rollins said...
Grassley discusses approval of off-road diesel in agricultural and trucking equipment
Today, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced actions temporarily allowing farmers to use non-taxed, off-road diesel in agricultural and trucking equipment that support on-road harvest activities. The action will provide some federal and state fuel tax relief for...
Propane supplies ready to handle heavy demand
Iowa farmers have finally been able to get in the field after several rain delays. Now that harvest is underway across most of the Corn Belt, propane suppliers are keeping a close eye on crop conditions and weather forecasts. Since this fall has been so wet, there may...
Diesel tax relief for Iowa farmers during busy harvest season
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today issued the following statement in response to President Trump and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ actions temporarily allowing farmers to use non-taxed, off-road diesel in agricultural and trucking equipment that support on-road...
SCN management requires more than egg counts
Soybean cyst nematode management often starts with knowing what is present in a field, but BASF's Mike McCarville says growers should not let the process end with a soil sample and an egg count. McCarville says farmers need to take a more active approach to SCN...
