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2026 forecast shows another strong El Niño
Many parts of rural America have seen some wild back-and-forth temperature swings combined with on-again, off-again winter weather. John Baranick, an agricultural meteorologist from DTN, said we’re seeing a lot of normal temperature swings during the transition from winter to spring. Forecasters are predicting a switch from a La Niña to an El Niño this year. While a term making rounds on social media predicts a “Godzilla El Niño,” Baranick said it will likely be a strong El Niño, no matter how...
U.S. Export Sales Report (2-12-26)
Heading into this week’s export sales report, the markets were expecting to see negative corn sales and positive soybean sales. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the report turned out to be the complete opposite from those estimates. Flash sales were active...
Demand is shifting for U.S. farmland
Farmland values have been resilient and even robust in past several years. However, those prices are entering a new phase as profit margins continue to change. Colton Lacina, the senior vice president of real estate operations for the Farmers National Company, said...
Dietary guidelines implementation updates
Secretaries for the Agriculture and Health and Human Services Departments Wednesday provided an update on implementation progress for the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans. That was USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. The guidelines provide guidance for federal food...
Smaller cattle herd means market volatility
It’s well-known that the U.S. cattle herd continues to shrink. The January U.S. Cattle Inventory report showed the total inventory at 86.2 million head on January 1. That was down 300,000 head from last year. American Farm Bureau analysis showed the combination of...
Naig says Iowa agriculture needs stability in uncertain cycle
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says farmers and agribusinesses across the state are facing growing pressure from multiple directions, including higher operating costs, workforce challenges, and continued uncertainty in the broader farm economy. Speaking this...
Giving crops a strong start is more important than ever
Every year brings its own unique set of challenges for farmers, and last year was no different. As farmers are making their final decisions for the 2026 crop season, their plans should be changing to adapt to the latest issues. Logan Dinkla, agronomic service...
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Congress will have increased oversight over the president’s latest tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled 6–3 that IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) does not authorize the president to impose tariffs. This invalidates all tariffs based solely on IEEPA. Following the ruling the administration pivoted to Section 122...
U.S. farmers turn to specialty crops as profit margins tighten
Some U.S. farmers are turning to specialty crops and alternative enterprises as low commodity prices and high input costs squeeze traditional farm profits. Extension specialists say interest is rising in wine grapes, specialty grains, produce and agritourism ventures....
Signup period for Dairy Margin Coverage Program ends this week
The signup deadline for the Dairy Margin Coverage Program ends on Thursday, February 26. Trey Forsyth, the vice president of government and regulatory affairs for the National Milk Producers Federation, said the DMC has been improved by multiple changes. Forsyth said...
South American Weather and Crop Update (2-24-26)
With all of the uncertainty in the U.S. ag marketplace, South America may be positioned to take some global market share back. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the latest weather forecasts look mostly good for their crops. McBride said harvest progress in...
Naig highlights Iowa results as E15 access grows
As questions continue in Washington about the future of year-round E15, Iowa leaders say the state is already seeing what expanded access can do. From more fuel choices at the pump to stronger demand for corn, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says Iowa’s...
