Top Stories
USDA sets new research priorities for 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday announced a new slate of research priorities for 2026, focusing on farm profitability, climate resilience and food system innovation. USDA officials said upcoming competitive grants will emphasize soil health, water efficiency, pest and disease control, and technologies that help producers adapt to extreme weather. The priorities also include improving nutrition, food safety and rural economic development. Agriculture officials said the updated...
Connecting with consumers to put more pork on the plate
Among younger generations in the United States, fresh pork consumption is on the decline. What does that mean for the pork industry and how can the industry adapt to make pork the protein of choice for younger consumers? That is Bill Even, CEO of the National Pork...
Despite tighter margins, there are still opportunities for profits
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago recently released its May agricultural market newsletter, and it included data on agricultural conditions in Iowa. Nationwide Senior Economist Ben Ayers said the report highlighted some persisting struggles that Iowa farmers are...
Grassley comments on House version of farm bill
Last week House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson released the House version of the farm bill for discussion ahead of the markup session on May 23rd. United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says that he is still working through the text of the bill but is pleased...
South American Weather and Crop Update (5-21-24)
Completely opposite to what we’re experiencing right now, there’s some dryness across much of Brazil right now. This is starting to raise some concerns for the safrinha crop. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather patterns. The...
Iowa crop progress and condition report
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and...
NCBA concerned over abuse of Endangered Species Act
When I was a broadcaster in Minnesota, one of the hot topics that we dealt with was the dispute over the gray wolf. For a long time, the gray wolf had been on a protected list under the Endangered Species Act. Its numbers had dwindled for several reasons. While the...
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South American Weather and Crop Update (9-17-24)
Much like what we are seeing here in Iowa, the weather in South America is still quite dry. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the current forecasts for Brazil and Argentina. While it is early to be getting too worried about the weather’s impact...
Budget battle limiting legislative work for farmers
With elections looming, the Congressional calendar is tight. Right now, Congress is locked in a funding battle. Emily Buckman, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the deadline is quickly approaching. Buckman says a continuing...
Navigating tough weather conditions with a more stable form of nitrogen
One of the biggest memories of the 2024 growing season in Iowa will be the extremely wet start to the season. With plentiful rainfall that quickly replenished Iowa’s soil, eventually some areas in the state became oversaturated with water. When there is too much rain...
Mississippi River levels falling again
For the third consecutive year, Mississippi River water levels are falling again, making shipping goods difficult. Farm Policy News says the low levels are forcing barge companies to put limits on how much cargo they can carry and cutting into farm profits. It was...
NK excited about new BT traits that will be ready for 2026
Keeping ahead of pests in our fields is a never-ending job. Having new tools to fight against the toughest pests requires constant innovation. This is especially true when you are fighting against the billion-dollar pest, corn rootworm. NK Seeds has announced a new...
