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Grassley discusses path for farm bill passage before end of the year
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told the media in recent weeks that he intends to pass the GOP farm bill before the end of the year, even if it must be attached to other legislation. During his weekly ag conference call on Tuesday, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was asked which legislative package is the most likely vehicle for advancing the farm bill. Senator Grassley says that passage of the GOP bill is essential for farmers because of the work done to include year-round E15 legislation in...
Corn harvest begins as U.S. crop condition continues to decline
The U.S. corn harvest is underway as farmers enter the final stages of a growing season marked by uneven weather and declining crop conditions. USDA's latest Crop Progress report showed 5% of the nation's corn had been harvested as of Sept. 6, compared with the...
John Deere turns years of farm data into answers
Artificial intelligence is becoming another tool available to farmers, and John Deere is developing an AI assistant designed to help producers make better use of years of data they have already collected. John Deere unveiled JD, its new AI assistant embedded in...
Adjuvants can help to maximize every spray application
When applying herbicide, fungicide, or insecticide it makes sense that farmers want those products to work as effectively as possible. One of the ways in which those products are better applied and reach their full potential is by using adjuvants. Austin Anderson is a...
Rain has been good for crops, but too much rain can cause issues
Storms from last night dumped a considerable amount of rain across central and eastern Iowa, which feeds into the trends we’ve seen for the crops this year. While western Iowa has been drier than the rest of the state, Kurt Maertens of BASF says there’s not too much...
Credit trends can say a lot about the farm economy
USDA estimates that farmers will spend more money on interest payments in 2026, after adjusting for inflation, than at any other time on record. Credit is an essential part of agriculture, helping farmers manage costs and invest in their operations. As borrowing costs...
ASA welcomes 45Z updates supporting U.S. soybean farmers, biofuels
The American Soybean Association welcomed actions this week from the U.S. Department of Energy and Internal Revenue Service that provide greater clarity and usability for the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, an important tool for supporting domestic biofuel...
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Local farmers help steer Iowa State research
Agriculture may be a statewide industry in Iowa, but the conditions farmers face can vary considerably depending on where they operate. Differences in soil, terrain, weather, and other local factors mean the questions facing producers in northeast Iowa may not be the...
U.S. Export Sales Report (9-17-26)
This week’s export sales were good once again, especially for this time of year. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales are slightly behind the USDA’s pace, so this report was very much appreciated. McBride said the soybean sales have continued to...
Growing Iowa’s cattle herd
The Iowa Cattlemen's Association held a press conference on Thursday at the Pastour Family Farm near Mitchellville to announce its Building Iowa’s Cattle Future policy package. The press conference featured ICA’s plans for strengthening Iowa’s cattle industry,...
Fuel prices will likely keep climbing higher
Diesel fuel is at an all-time high of more than six dollars a gallon as farmers start a busy harvest season. Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com, said the price for fuel in the U.S. is hard to swallow. DeHaan said the U.S. and Iran war isn’t...
Ag Committee advances Farm Bill 2.0 to uncertain future in full Senate
The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its 2026 farm bill on a narrow 12-11 party-line vote after Sen. Mitch McConnell’s return enabled action on the measure. The bill includes major agriculture priorities such as year-round E15, mandatory country-of-origin...
