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New U.S. ammonia plant will increase domestic production
Fertilizer prices and availability have been a major pain point for U.S. producers for several years. A major factor that contributes to that pressure is fact that the U.S. imports about 50 percent of the 20 million tons of the fertilizer farmers across the country use every year. The recent groundbreaking of the $3.7 billion Blue Point 1 project in Louisiana signals an eventual turning point in the overreliance on fertilizer imports. Stephen Vaden, USDA Deputy Secretary, said the time to act...
Satellite technology gives farmers another perspective
Weather has always been one of agriculture's biggest wild cards, but today's farmers have more information than ever before to help them understand what is happening in their fields and around the world. Beyond the forecast on your phone or the rain gauge outside the...
Barn owls take the night shift to protect farms from rodents
Today, more farmers are taking advantage of barn owls for rodent control on their farms. Jennifer Ackerman, an ornithologist and author, discussed what makes barn owls so effective for pest management. She said that barn owls are excellent rodent hunters and a better...
South American Weather and Crop Update (7-21-26)
Not much has changed in the weather patterns for Brazil and Argentina, as the conditions are still defined by a lack of rain. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest forecasts for Brazil and Argentina. While the dry weather normally allows...
Nominations open for the 2026 Iowa Agribusiness Impact Award
The Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Iowa Agribusiness Impact Award, which recognizes individuals, businesses, or initiatives making a meaningful and lasting impact on Iowa’s agricultural economy, rural communities, or...
Grassley discusses prospect of farmer aid payments to offset Iran war price hikes
Farmers have been vocal in their opposition to farm assistance payments from the federal government, preferring to sell their goods in the marketplace. That is the opinion of United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) who was asked on Tuesday about the House...
Tariff uncertainty continues to cloud trade outlook
Trade policy remains a major focus for businesses and commodity markets as uncertainty continues surrounding U.S. tariffs. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump exceeded his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act...
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Map the Meal Gap study highlights growing presence of food insecurity
The latest Map the Meal Gap study from Feeding America shows the harrowing impact of food insecurity in Iowa and across the country. In this year’s study, data shows that 1 in 8 Iowans and 1 in 6 Iowa children face food insecurity. Additionally, the annual meal gap in...
GLP-1 trend fuels demand for U.S. dairy
Consumer demand is reshaping the dairy industry, introducing new market opportunities for versatile dairy producers. The biggest growth isn't coming from traditional products like cheese and butter. Instead, processors are investing heavily in high-protein milk,...
USDA reminds farmers of important deadlines
USDA is reminding farmers and ranchers that deadlines are approaching for several programs designed to help offset higher input costs, recover from disasters, and strengthen financial protection. The Farm Service Agency says applications for the Assistance for...
Extreme heat impacts the Midwest
Extreme heat has been impacting the western two-thirds of the United States in recent days as crops are in critical stages of growth. One example of the intense heat occurred recently in the badlands of South Dakota says USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. Although...
Farmers continue embracing conservation practices
Iowa farmers continue adopting conservation practices at a record pace, and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says new state investments will help keep that momentum going. During a recent interview, Naig said conservation remains one of the department's top...
