Top Stories
Northern heat wave shouldn’t last long enough to negatively affect crops
A stretch of the Northern U.S. is the path of a ridge of high pressure producing high temperatures hovering around 100 degrees through the week. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the northern portions of the great plains are still experiencing high temperatures that began last week. Despite the extremely hot weather in the northern great plains, the rest of the Midwest including Iowa is experiencing more normal temperatures for this time of year. Rippey says that even in the areas with the...
Rain has been falling across Iowa in some large bursts
The weather has brought plenty of rain for most parts of the state recently, and it has done so in large bursts. In fact, some parts of central Iowa saw over 4.5 inches of rain in a single day. This is great for the soil moisture profiles, but it was almost too much...
U.S.-China trade a top focus at USMEF Spring Conference
The U.S.-China trade relationship was a major focus of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference, which wrapped up Friday, May 23rd, in Fort Worth, Texas. Guest speaker John Newton, the executive head of Terrain, said he expects the current tariff...
Cattle industry prepares for USMCA review
Since returning to office in January, President Trump has once again brought trade policy to the forefront of national discussion. His previous use of tariffs is now facing scrutiny from the U.S. Court of International Trade, reigniting debate over their impact. But...
Iowa is still slightly dry, but rains have been helpful
The beginning of May was quite dry compared to years past, but the last third of the month brought enough rain to make it wetter than average overall. The timing couldn’t have been much better either, as many farmers were able to get their crops in the ground before...
U.S. Export Sales Report (5-30-25)
The USDA released its weekly U.S. Export Sales Report on Thursday. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales were decent this week, but that’s still high for what we expect at this time of year. On the other hand, soybean exports were slightly lower...
Quantifying genetics can lead to premium profits
Beef demand remains strong, but it’s important to always be thinking about the future and ways to improve production practices and maximize return on investment. Kara Lee, director of producer engagement for Certified Angus Beef, says that a focus on quality genetics...
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More Ag News
Heat and moisture create ideal conditions for disease pressure
As indicated by the results of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour, the crops in Iowa are looking good as we head into the end of the growing season. However, that doesn’t mean that there still aren’t some issues to look out for. Travis Ralfs, Eastern Iowa territory account...
Incoming ICPB President eyes opportunities for Iowa corn farmers
Strong crop prospects are welcome news, but Iowa farmers know that good yields don’t always guarantee strong prices. Building demand at home and abroad remains a top priority, and that’s where the work of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board comes in. As the organization...
U.S. Export Sales Report (8-21-25)
After last week’s market news chaos, this week was much calmer. Export sales were great for corn and decent for soybeans. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said corn sales set another weekly record. Soybeans still have some issues to work out, but this week’s...
U.S. and EU issue a joint statement on trade framework
The U.S. and the European Union announced that they’ve agreed on a Framework of an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade. Among the key terms, the EU intends to eliminate tariffs on all U.S. industrial goods and provide preferential market access for a...
Lower beef production, higher steer prices
Beef supplies continue to tighten, yet consumer demand remains strong. That has led to a one-way street for beef prices with the price continuing to climb for consumers. USDA’s August forecasts for beef production and steer prices also demonstrate the effect of...
