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Former ag leaders warn of farm economy in crisis
A bipartisan group of former leaders of America’s major agricultural commodity organizations and biofuels organizations, farmer leaders, and former USDA officials issued a stark warning to Congress and the Trump administration. In a letter, they outlined the deteriorating state of the farm economy, calling current conditions a potential “widespread collapse of American agriculture.” The letter was signed by Harold Wolle, former NCGA President, Bob Dineen, the past president of the Renewable...
Property rights pressure rises across rural America
It is easy to assume Iowa’s fight over carbon pipelines and new transmission lines is something unique to our state. But the same pressures and frustrations are playing out across rural America. Our neighbors to the south in Missouri are confronting many of the same...
Farmer Bridge Assistance program isn’t a long-term solution for economic issues
Earlier this week, the Trump Administration announced the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, which will offer $12 billion in economic aid to farmers impacted by low commodity prices, high input costs, and challenges to market access. While many farmers are appreciative...
House unanimously passes ePermit Act
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the ePermit Act, which codifies President Trump’s Action Plan to modernize permitting technology across federal agencies. The legislation aims to reduce processing times for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)...
Exports highlight U.S. corn balance sheet
The December WASDE report is typically a quiet report that is moved on from quickly. USDA published the monthly report on Monday and while it did not make big waves due to major changes there are some adjustments to make note of. One of the bigger adjustments was to...
Senators push USDA for faster bird flu vaccine plan
A bipartisan group of 23 senators called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expedite development of a comprehensive bird flu vaccination strategy amid rising infections in livestock flocks. Lawmakers warn that outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or...
Building the calf microbiome begins in the first hours of life
Producers spend a lot of time thinking about cow health, breeding readiness, and nutrition plans, but Purina says the story of long-term productivity starts much earlier. The first hours and weeks of a calf’s life are filled with stress points, and how those animals...
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More Ag News
U.S. Export Sales Report (12-25-25)
The USDA is continuing to get us caught up to the latest export sales figures as a result of the government shutdown earlier this year. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the numbers as of December 11th still look great for corn. While the soybean sales have...
Cattle industry reflects on policy wins from 2025
The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association is wrapping up another busy year in the cattle industry. While there were plenty of struggles to overcome in the past twelve months, there are many victories to celebrate as well. ICA Director of Government Affairs Kelli Wicks said...
Now is the time to finally get E15 year-round
E15 is a part of President Donald Trump’s America First energy plan, and it’s time for Congress to pass legislation to allow for its year-round sale. It’s a common-sense solution that lowers costs and the pump and strengthens America’s energy independence. Growth...
Innovations advancing real Christmas tree popularity
Artificial Christmas trees have risen in popularity over the years but innovations in the real Christmas tree industry in the last decade have provided a surge in popularity for the real deal. Christmas tree grower John Tillman of Washington state says recent...
Naig says farmers use crop protection tools responsibly
As Iowa agriculture looks back on 2025 and ahead to 2026, another major topic that shaped conversation this year was the Make America Healthy Again report, often referred to as MAHA. While the report addressed many issues farmers care about, just like consumers do, it...
