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Learning from 2025 to build a better 2026
It’s been one of those Iowa harvests that went smoothly overall, but it gave us a clear look at any shortcomings we had this year. Early planting conditions looked ideal, but as the summer wore on, humidity, storms, and disease pressures really started to challenge fields across the state. Now that the combines are wrapping up, it’s time to take a step back and look at what we learned this year and how we can build a stronger plan heading into 2026. FEATURED CONVERSATION WITH JIM MCDERMOTT:...
Corn harvest ahead of the average, soybeans more modest
Way ahead on harvest progress, at least for corn here in the state of Iowa. Soybeans, well that's a different story so check out these numbers per the weekly report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Upper Midwest Regional Office, where the...
Grassley says farm bill prognosis bleak
The current farm bill, which was signed in December 2018, expired at the end of the fiscal year on September 30th. On Tuesday, United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) signaled that an extension of the current farm bill is probably more likely than agreement on a...
Farm real estate market holding steady
As combines roll into fields this fall, there is a renewed sense of optimism when looking at the real estate market. The current state of the ag land market is resilient, and the demand for high-quality farmland remains strong in the face of higher interest rates and...
Today is 4-H Giving Day
Yesterday, we talked about the beginning of National 4-H Week, the importance of the program for the kids, and that it goes beyond the impression that it is a program only for rural communities. It offers activities and life lessons that can help our kids develop into...
Food Bank of Iowa hosts ribbon cutting for new expansion
While its usage has already proved to be immensely useful, the Food Bank of Iowa hosted an official ribbon cutting for its new expansion last week. In a time of unprecedented need for healthy and nutritious food for the hungry, CEO Michelle Book said the expansion has...
All of your farming tools in one place
When purchasing a house, the potential buyer usually attempts to gather as much information about the property and house as possible. Charles Baron, co-founder of Farmers Business Network, says that AcreVision from FBN Finance offers a similar service to a potential...
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More Ag News
Finding new uses and sustainable demand for U.S. corn
At last week’s Commodity Classic farm show in Houston Texas the stage was set for the announcement of the "The Radicle Corn Value Chain Challenge sponsored by US Corn Farmers." The challenge comes from Radicle Growth, a company that invests in early stage ag and food...
U.S. corn and soy vital for success of red meat exports
Last week, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Chair Randy Spronk and other USMEF leaders were on hand at Commodity Classic in Houston to thank corn and soybean producers for their support. Spronk said it was very important for the red meat industry to show its...
Iowa Corn Growers highlight the benefits of your checkoff dollars
In a time when we are all having to tighten our belts again, it is not out of the question to take stock of monies being spent and make sure that you are getting the most out of each dollar. After all, any dollar not being spent wisely should be reallocated. This is...
Number of U.S. farms falls below two million
The USDA says the number of U.S. farms has fallen under two million for the first time since before the Civil War. The numbers come from the 2022 Census of Agriculture. In 2022, there were 1,900,487 farms in the country, a seven percent decline from the level in the...
Farm Bill differences continue to hinder legislation progress
United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack quoted USDA’s founder, President Abraham Lincoln at a USDA oversight hearing with Senate Ag Leaders this week. With the President Lincoln quote he made the unspoken point, that stubborn partisan differences...
