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China soybean demand offers support for U.S. exports
Fresh soybean purchases by China are providing some encouragement for U.S. growers. The Wall Street Journal reports Chinese buyers have begun placing new orders for U.S. soybeans currently being planted. USDA officials say they remain optimistic China will meet previously announced purchasing commitments during the 2026 marketing year. The renewed demand comes as U.S. farmers face increased competition from record South American production. Analysts say Chinese purchases could help support...
Thanksgiving table is made possible by America’s farmers
As Americans gather around the Thanksgiving holiday table, it’s important to remember that many of the items we enjoy are grown right here in the U.S. Betty Resnick, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said specialty crops play a key role in the...
Menke discusses trade trip to Japan
Last week, Iowa Deputy Agriculture Secretary Grant Menke led a trade mission with the Iowa Economic Development Council to Japan and Taiwan. Today, we will focus on the Japan portion of the trip. Japan has long been a strong trading partner with Iowa, and their...
Conduit offering holiday promotion through e-commerce website
The purchasing habits of today’s farmers have changed along with the evolution of the agriculture industry. To kick off the inaugural sales season, Conduit is offering a farmer-first holiday promotion on its official crop input e-commerce website, Conduit.Ag, which...
Grassley discusses Secretary of Agriculture nominee Brooke Rollins
President-elect Donald Trump has announced Brooke Rollins as his pick for ag secretary when the new administration takes office in January. Rollins is a former White House aide that served with President Trump during his first term in office. Rollins is the current...
Secretary Naig announces investments in Iowa’s food supply chains
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is investing more than $5.2 million in 24 Iowa projects and other supply chain improvement initiatives through the United States Department of...
November Farm Labor Survey shows wages rising in 2025
The November Farm Labor Survey shows farmworker wages are heading up in 2025. The cost of farm labor is yet another rising supply cost for farmers and ranchers, particularly for farmworkers hired through the H-2A visa program. Samantha Ayoub, an economist for the...
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More Ag News
U.S. Export Sales Report (3-20-25)
This week’s export sales contained some good and some bad, which has the markets moving in several different directions. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn export sales almost set a weekly record. On the other hand, the soybean export totals for...
Over $1.6 million raised for FFA
The National FFA Organization is proud to announce that its more than one million members, alumni, and supporters raised more than $1.6 million during the tenth annual Give FFA Day. The money raised will directly support FFA and agricultural education for local FFA...
Farmers and ranchers need Tax Cuts and Jobs Act extended
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is set to expire this year if Congress doesn’t take action. Dustin Sherer, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said that letting the TCJA expire would have significant impacts to agriculture and...
Support announced for HPAI prevention research
USDA is continuing to roll out its plan to combat Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in poultry flocks. On Thursday United States Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced funding for research to assist prevention. The emergency funding is available through a...
Weed control savings versus future costs
Last fall, we had the chance to talk with FMC’s Gail Stratman. We discussed the challenge facing farmers in 2025. We knew that cutting input costs would be an option that farmers would consider going into this growing season, but we mentioned a few places where...
