Top Stories
Farm bankruptcies continued climbing in 2025
A new American Farm Bureau Market Intel Report said Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies increased for the second year in a row, reaching 315 filings in 2025, a 46 percent increase from 2024. The Midwest and Southeast filed 121 and 105 Chapter 12 cases, respectively, far outpacing any other regions. Deep crop losses across commodities common in those two regions have compounded after years of declining receipts and rising expenses. Filing for Chapter 12 bankruptcy is a last resort for farmers who have...
Fertility management takes priority as margins tighten
Farmers heading into the next growing season are facing a familiar challenge. Input costs remain elevated, margins are tight, and uncertainty in the broader economy continues to weigh on nearly every decision made on the farm. In an environment like this, agronomists...
Syngenta’s PLINAZOLIN technology receives EPA registration
Syngenta recently announced that PLINAZOLIN technology- the latest insect control tool- received official registration from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The technology is now available for use, subject to state approvals. PLINAZOLIN technology powers...
South American Weather and Crop Update (12-16-25)
As the markets start to focus more on the weather in South America, farmers are just finishing planting the next crops. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said there is a good amount of dryness in the forecast for Brazil. McBride said the conditions are similar...
Grassley discusses hurdles to farm labor reform efforts
Farm labor reform remains one of the big topics in the agricultural sector but that doesn’t mean that changes to the system will come easily. United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was asked on Tuesday if he will be involved in any efforts to reform the H-2A...
2025 Iowa Beef Quality Assurance awards
The Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) celebrated four outstanding Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) award recipients during the 2025 Iowa Cattle Industry Convention, held Tuesday, December 16, at the Prairie Meadows Convention Center. The awards ceremony recognized cattle...
AMVAC expands options for managing corn rootworm
As growers begin looking ahead to the next season, many of the same questions remain front and center. How do you manage risk, protect yield, and stay ahead of pests that seem to adapt year after year. At the same time, there is no shortage of new tools and...
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More Ag News
Health care costs strain families in the countryside
Health care has become one of the most unpredictable and financially draining parts of rural life. Premiums continue to climb, choices remain limited, and many families in agriculture are being forced to make decisions that simply do not feel sustainable. Missouri...
PFI names 2026 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award recipient
A Linn County farmer was recently recognized for their contribution to promoting sustainable agriculture in Iowa. Laura Krause, owner of Abbe Hills Farm in Mount Vernon, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award from Practical...
AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference is “Rooted in Resilience”
The 2026 American Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference is coming up quickly. “Rooted in Resilience” is the theme for the 2026 YF&R Conference, set for March 13–16 in Portland, Oregon. Ryan MacKay, this year’s YF&R Chair, talked about...
Callahan is the new chief agricultural negotiator
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative welcomed Julie Callahan as its new Chief Agricultural Negotiator. The U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council applauded the news, saying, “She’s a seasoned professional with years of experience in sensitive trade negotiations...
USDA efforts to ensure pigs don’t fly this holiday season
USDA is working hard to ensure that pigs don’t fly this holiday season, by encouraging international travelers not to bring pork products back with them to the U.S. Fernando Lugo of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service explains. USDA is working to...
