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BASF pleased with herbicide weed control in 2026
This crop season has been defined by heavy rains across much of Iowa, especially as we get into harvest. Mid-season rains made weed control more difficult, but BASF has heard a lot of good feedback about the performances of their herbicide portfolio. Kurt Maertens of BASF said Surtain corn herbicide performed extremely well amid the rainy season. While spraying big, mature weeds isn’t the goal, Maertens said Liberty Ultra soybean herbicide was able to handle the weeds that were boosted by the...
Weather systems and precipitation slowing early harvest efforts
As farmers are beginning to harvest in Iowa, they are encountering some slowdowns with a widespread weather system delivering rain to the Midwest. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says that a moisture laden weather system is making its way across the country this week....
Pork producers advocating for industry priorities on Capitol Hill
The National Pork Producers Council has brought nearly 100 pig farmers from about 20 states to Capitol Hill for the Legislative Action Conference this week. NPPC Vice President Todd Marotz said they are meeting face-to-face with lawmakers and sharing the story of an...
Secretary Naig announces 125 schools receive Choose Iowa local food for schools grants
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that 125 Iowa public and private schools will receive funding through the Choose Iowa Local Food for Schools Program to purchase Iowa grown and raised food. Each participating school will receive approximately...
Iowa farmers can put soybean quality to test
Soybean harvest is just barely getting started in Iowa, and heavy rains across the state have put much of that early progress on hold. Once combines can get back into the fields, however, soybean growers can learn more about the quality of this year’s crop while...
Rain has defined the 2026 crop year in Iowa
As the Pro Farmer Crop Tour traveled across the Midwest, many reports came in of dry crop conditions and lower yields. That was not the case for the Iowa leg of the tour, though, as yields were actually higher due to significant rains, especially in the eastern and...
Farmers hit hardest by high transportation costs
The impact of higher fuel prices goes beyond just what farmers pay to plant and harvest a crop. These prices are also driving up transportation costs throughout the supply chain. Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, said that...
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U.S. Export Sales Report (9-17-26)
This week’s export sales were good once again, especially for this time of year. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales are slightly behind the USDA’s pace, so this report was very much appreciated. McBride said the soybean sales have continued to...
Growing Iowa’s cattle herd
The Iowa Cattlemen's Association held a press conference on Thursday at the Pastour Family Farm near Mitchellville to announce its Building Iowa’s Cattle Future policy package. The press conference featured ICA’s plans for strengthening Iowa’s cattle industry,...
Fuel prices will likely keep climbing higher
Diesel fuel is at an all-time high of more than six dollars a gallon as farmers start a busy harvest season. Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com, said the price for fuel in the U.S. is hard to swallow. DeHaan said the U.S. and Iran war isn’t...
Ag Committee advances Farm Bill 2.0 to uncertain future in full Senate
The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its 2026 farm bill on a narrow 12-11 party-line vote after Sen. Mitch McConnell’s return enabled action on the measure. The bill includes major agriculture priorities such as year-round E15, mandatory country-of-origin...
Soybean checkoff turns research into new demand
Soybeans are most commonly associated with food, livestock feed, and renewable fuels, but a growing share of soybean research is looking at what the crop can do beyond those traditional markets. From tires and lubricants to firefighting foam, industrial uses are...
