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Farm bill talks gain momentum amid pressure from farm groups
Congressional leaders are signaling renewed momentum on a long-delayed farm bill as pressure builds from agricultural groups ahead of the 2026 planting season. Lawmakers from both parties said negotiations have accelerated, though disagreements remain overspending levels, conservation programs and nutrition policy. Congress continues to operate under an extension of the previous law, leaving farmers uncertain about long-term support. According to Reuters, lawmakers are working through budget...
Iowa regulators highlight changes to pesticide guidance
New federal pesticide decisions and evolving endangered species requirements are expected to bring more field-specific guidance for Iowa applicators heading into the growing season. Conversations following the Agribusiness Association of Iowa Showcase highlighted how...
U.S. Export Sales Report (2-12-26)
Heading into this week’s export sales report, the markets were expecting to see negative corn sales and positive soybean sales. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the report turned out to be the complete opposite from those estimates. Flash sales were active...
Demand is shifting for U.S. farmland
Farmland values have been resilient and even robust in past several years. However, those prices are entering a new phase as profit margins continue to change. Colton Lacina, the senior vice president of real estate operations for the Farmers National Company, said...
Dietary guidelines implementation updates
Secretaries for the Agriculture and Health and Human Services Departments Wednesday provided an update on implementation progress for the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans. That was USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. The guidelines provide guidance for federal food...
Smaller cattle herd means market volatility
It’s well-known that the U.S. cattle herd continues to shrink. The January U.S. Cattle Inventory report showed the total inventory at 86.2 million head on January 1. That was down 300,000 head from last year. American Farm Bureau analysis showed the combination of...
Naig says Iowa agriculture needs stability in uncertain cycle
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says farmers and agribusinesses across the state are facing growing pressure from multiple directions, including higher operating costs, workforce challenges, and continued uncertainty in the broader farm economy. Speaking this...
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More Ag News
Valent’s Rapidicil getting closer to commercialization
At last year’s Commodity Classic show in Denver, Valent U.S.A. unveiled its newest active herbicide ingredient, Rapidicil. Since then, research has shown that Rapidicil can help control a variety of weeds when paired with tank mix partners. Pat Clay, product...
Reaching the limits of feeding cattle to heavier finishing weights
The total number of beef cattle in the United States is at the lowest level since the 1950s. To make up for the lack of beef cattle while still producing the necessary amount of beef for consumer demand, the cattle industry is feeding cattle to heavier weights. Eric...
The proof of pork demand is in consumer data
The National Pork Board has a comprehensive business intelligence team analyzing data throughout the supply chain, including consumer preference, volume, value, and purchase trends. Kiersten Hafer, NPB vice president of business intelligence and innovation, said they...
Beef, most fertilizers exempt from new tariffs
A new ten percent U.S. tariff on goods from around the world took effect on Tuesday. Meatingplace said a list of tariff exemptions included beef, some fertilizers, and metals like steel and aluminum that are already under Section 232 national security tariffs. The ten...
Mental health pressure builds for Iowa farmers but help exists
As agriculture heads toward another challenging season, rural health professionals say the mental strain on farmers continues to grow. Market uncertainty, weather concerns, and long hours can weigh heavily on producers. While conversations around mental health have...
