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Farmer sentiment bounces back
October provided a surprising pre-election bounce in farmer sentiment as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbed to 115, 27 points above the September index. The biggest driver of the sentiment improvement was an increase in producers’ confidence in the future. The Future Expectations Index jumped 30 points to 124. The Current Conditions Index also rose in October but by a smaller amount. With a reading of 95, the Current Conditions Index confirmed that farmers think...
Secretary Naig reflects on the Farm Progress Show
Not only do we enjoy the Farm Progress Show for the innovation that is showcased, but we also get a chance to hear from ag policymakers and talk about the issues that face the industry. There was no shortage of those conversations at the Boone site this year. U.S. Ag...
Landus announces unprecedented healthcare for farmers
The Farm Progress Show is all about innovation, and there aren’t many companies that prioritize innovation as much as Landus does. We’ve talked with them many times about innovation in agriculture, whether it’s from their Innovation Connector itself or from the new...
U.S. Export Sales Report (8-29-24)
Export sales have turned around now, as we saw great new crop sales again this week. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said these numbers are exactly what we want to see right now. McBride said that increased demand has really been showing through in the flash...
U.S. ag exports expected to decline in FY2025
U.S. agriculture exports are expected to face headwinds in Fiscal Year 2025 that will drive an estimated $4 billion drop in exports. Lower commodity prices are one big factor but USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer says that a confluence of issues could challenge United...
USDA launches online debt consolidation tool
The USDA launched a new Debt Consolidation Tool that allows U.S. agricultural producers to enter their farm operating debt and evaluate the potential savings that might come from debt consolidation. That consolidation could come from either a local lender or the Farm...
Propane supply chain looking good for 2024 harvest & beyond
The harvest will be here before we know it and it is time to think about getting everything ready for that upcoming season. One of the unsung heroes of our harvest is our grain drying systems. More systems are switching to propane fuels as they get upgraded. Of...
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September WASDE makes changes to corn ending stocks and yields
This month’s WASDE report comes to us as many farmers are preparing to enter the fields very soon- in fact, some have even been able to start already. As a result, not many changes have been made to the crop numbers since the USDA seems to have gotten a pretty good...
What will it take to pass a farm bill?
With the current partisan stalemate in Congress in Washington D.C. it is going to be difficult to get a new farm bill passed. That’s according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. On Monday Ag Secretary Vilsack told a group of visiting farmers union members that...
Beef industry still pursuing market access overseas
U.S. agricultural groups are looking for more trade agreements that mean market access overseas. Kent Bacus, executive director of government affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, said trade was a bigger priority in past years. Bacus said the...
2024 Iowa watershed award winners
Congrats to the 2024 Iowa Watershed Award winners An outstanding southwest Iowa watershed coordinator, a career schoolteacher (and part-time farmer), and a statewide team of oxbow restorers - all featured among this year's Iowa Watershed Award honorees. The Iowa...
Make sure your combine is properly prepped for fall
We have seen the first combines entering fields in Iowa for some early planted soybeans. That means it won’t be long before we start harvesting in earnest. There is still time to prepare your combine for the harvest season. The last thing you want is to break down in...