Top Stories
Costs going higher in 2027
USDA's latest Commodity Cost and Returns report shows production expenses are expected to climb for every major crop in 2026 as global energy and fertilizer market disruptions continue to ripple through agriculture. The report follows months of volatility tied to conflict involving Iran and concerns about shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Higher fertilizer costs are adding pressure to already tight farm margins. The findings mirror a recent American Farm Bureau Federation survey in which...
Last of Iowa’s Ag drainage wells finally closed off
Drainage and water runoff have been an age-old problem in agriculture. We have taken many steps to try and find quicker and more efficient ways to create drainage solutions. While many of us are more used to the tile systems we see today, that wasn’t always the case....
Administration won’t finalize 45Z guidance
Biden administration officials won’t finalize guidelines on new clean fuel production tax credits intended for the airline and biofuel industries before the officials leave office in January. Three sources told Reuters that casts significant doubt on the future of a...
CLAAS continuing to support farmers as dealer network shifts
This year saw a shift in the dealer network for CLAAS, as both Ziegler and Butler Ag Equipment decided to focus their efforts and no longer carry the CLAAS line. Daryl Theis, head of sales and marketing at CLAAS, said they appreciate the long partnership they had with...
December farm income forecast shows lower 2024 numbers
The USDA’s December Farm Income Report showed only a slight change from September’s numbers. Revised estimates in the 2024 Farm Income Forecast still show agriculture taking a big financial hit this year. Danny Munch, an economist at the American Farm Bureau...
Income prospects differ for livestock vs. crop producers
The farm income bottom line is vastly different this year for livestock producers compared to row crop farmers. Spiro Stefanou, Administrator of USDA's Economic Research Service, says that USDA’s farm income forecast for this year shows crop receipts down almost...
Farm sector profits forecast to fall in 2024
Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is forecast at $149.7 billion in calendar year 2024, down by $6 billion, or 4.1 percent, relative to 2023. Inflation-adjusted farm income is forecast to drop by $9.5 billion, or 6.3 percent. Despite the predicted decline,...
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More Ag News
U.S. Export Sales Report (3-27-25)
With everything going on in the ag economy right now, the export sales have taken a back seat. The greater focus is more on the Quarterly Grain Stocks and Prospective Plantings reports. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said it was a decent week for export...
Morton Buildings helping farmers design new buildings
A lot of planning and decisions go into the construction of a new farm shop or storage building. Lisa Bocklage, marketing director at Morton Buildings, said the company is making it easier for farmers to start the planning process with its 3D Studio. Bocklage said one...
Farmers for Free Trade voice concerns about another trade war
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins recently announced that USDA will be disbursing up to $10 billion directly to ag producers via the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program for the 2024 crop year. The payments will provide a lift for producers dealing with high...
IDALS receives notice of bankruptcy for Benson Hill Holdings, Inc.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has been notified that Benson Hill Holdings, Inc., of St. Louis, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy effective March 20, 2025. Benson Hill Holdings, Inc. holds a grain dealer license in Iowa. Anyone with unpaid...
GHX Durastak™ ready to battle Corn Root Worm
Corn rootworm, often called the "billion-dollar pest," is one of the most destructive threats to Iowa's cornfields. These insects, particularly the larvae, feed on corn roots, causing significant yield losses and increasing susceptibility to drought and lodging. With...
