Top Stories
How El Niño will impact agriculture
The weather pattern shifting to El Niño this year has been a topic of conversation in weather forecasts for some time. Chad Merrill, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, says the El Niño weather pattern arrived earlier this month. Merrill says the forecast for July is calling for dry conditions, even in areas that have already received a lot of moisture this spring and in the early summer. In addition to the dryness, many rural areas of the country will also expect to experience increased...
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...
Year-round E15 legislation is still in trouble
There are more warning signs that year-round E15 legislation is in trouble. Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin told USDA Secretary Rollins at a recent hearing that strong influence from interest groups is stalling year-round E15. According to Slotkin, there is...
Market effects of screwworm remain unclear
The discovery of New World Screwworm cases in Texas has prompted a series of restrictions on cattle movement, creating new questions about potential impacts on livestock markets. While animal health officials remain focused on containing the pest and preventing...
PFI hosts 2nd Annual Midwest Meat Summit
Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) hosted the 2nd Annual Midwest Meat Summit at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa, earlier this week. The two-day event brought together all members of the meat industry, including producers, processors, and distributors. Amos...
South American crops produced a quality growing season
Brazil’s second corn crop of the year is being harvested now. Dr. Michael Cordonnier of Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc. says some areas of the country are experiencing more moisture than normal but widespread damage to corn crops has not been reported. Cordonnier...
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...
Video
More Ag News
Senator Grassley discusses Senate Farm Bill 2.0 discussion draft
Today the office of Senate Ag Chairman John Boozman released the outline for the Senator’s Farm Bill 2.0 discussion draft. United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says that while he prefers the House version of the farm bill, he is excited to move forward with the...
Boozman releases the outline for Farm Bill 2.0 discussion draft
FARM BILL 2.0 BUILT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO FEED AMERICA The Agricultural Act of 2026 is built for the people who feed America. A modernized farm bill means more certainty for America’s farm families, rural communities and food supply. TOPLINE Builds upon the Working...
Iowa farmers tell story of American beef to Japanese consumers
Two Iowa farms will be the centerpiece of a U.S. beef marketing campaign in Japan. Chance and Shayne Wiese and their 1904 fifth-generation Herefords farm were the first one featured. Shayne shared the story of their farm and acknowledged the rare opportunity to...
Bankruptcy filings signal ongoing farm financial stress
Farm bankruptcies across the country remain at levels not seen since the disruptions of the COVID era, and legal experts say that should concern producers and lenders alike. While the pace of filings this year is similar to last year, that does not mean the farm...
Grain markets anticipating two major USDA reports
This week will bring us two of the biggest USDA reports of the year- the June Quarterly Grain Stocks and Acreage reports. This gives us the first glance into what the 2026 crop should actually look like. Micheal Weidner, director of grain origination and producer...
