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Fertilizer price probe opens as farm margins tighten
The Federal Trade Commission has opened an industrywide investigation into fertilizer prices after sharp increases during spring planting. Reuters reported that FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said the agency is using civil investigative demands to gather documents and testimony. The probe comes as growers face higher fertilizer and fuel costs, drought in parts of the Plains and another year of narrow margins. Reuters said urea prices have climbed 55% since shipping through the Strait of Hormuz...
How will food prices affect holiday meals in 2025?
The holidays bring large increases in food spending for both food at home and food away from home. Consumers’ decisions during this season can have important implications for farmers and ranchers. Farmdoc, at the University of Illinois, said persistent inflation has...
Farmers see stronger results from Deere autonomous tillage
Autonomous technology has been one of the most talked about advancements in production agriculture over the past few years, but 2025 was the first season when many farmers were able to see it working at scale. Labor was tight, weather windows were narrow, and every...
AFBF advocates for continued China trade discussions
The trade relationship between the U.S. and China remains critically important for American agriculture. Dave Salmonsen, senior director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said there has been some progress between the two nations recently....
December WASDE didn’t bring much for the grain markets
As expected, the December WASDE report did not bring much news for the corn and soybean markets to react to. The most significant change came to the corn carryout numbers, which caused the prices to move up slightly. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave a...
Adjuvant technology can get the most out of herbicide applications
At a time when margins are tight for growers, efficiency is the name of the game when applying herbicide. Farmers want to get the most out of their herbicide applications without losing any efficacy of the product. One of the ways in which a grower can enhance their...
Statements on farmer bridge assistance program announcement
ICGA Statement on Farmer Bridge Assistance Program Announcement JOHNSTON, Iowa – December 8, 2025 – Earlier today, the Trump Administration announced the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, offering $12 billion in economic assistance to farmers impacted by low commodity...
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Trade Win Strengthens Outlook for U.S. Dairy Exports
U.S. dairy organizations are welcoming a key trade victory after the Colombian government dismissed an investigation into U.S. milk powder imports, ending a process that industry leaders say was costly, time-consuming, and ultimately unfounded. The subsidies and...
The many benefits of prairie strips
It may sound counterintuitive, but setting aside just 10 percent of a field for wildlife habitat can benefit both the environment and that field’s productivity in the long run. Prairie strips allow farmers to keep their soil in place, filter water runoff, and add some...
FarmMind is this year’s AFBF Ag Innovation Challenge winner
Innovation is at the heart of everything farmers and ranchers do, and this year’s Ag Innovation Challenge winner is the first to bring AI, or artificial intelligence, to the fields. FarmMind, winner of the 12th annual American Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge, was...
Update to FSA County Committee election schedule
USDA Farm Service Agency County Committee elections were delayed in the fall by the federal government shutdown. However, FSA Administrator Bill Beam says that the voting period will begin again soon. Candidates have already been nominated and are on the ballots that...
ARC/PLC enrollment delayed until after planting
Enrollment for the USDA’s ARC and PLC Programs will not open until after the 2026 planting season. AgroLatam said the announcement comes as USDA readies a 61-page final rule implementing updates required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. Key changes include...
