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Previewing President Trump’s visit to China and ag trade topics
United States President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, the President of China, are scheduled to meet this week in Beijing. The meetings will take place on May 14th and 15th with the two sides expected to discuss trade and tariffs, the conflict in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, and energy and supply chains. From an ag perspective all focus will be on the ag trade discussion between the two world leaders. Joe Camp of Commstock Investments tells the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network that United...
Shrinking labor force poised to threaten U.S. economic growth
Declining labor force participation, lower birth rates and a collapse in net migration are combining to squeeze the U.S. labor supply. The looming labor shortage could begin to weigh on businesses and strain economic growth as soon as later this year, according to a...
Iowa Eyes Below-Average Missouri River Runoff
Despite a wetter year in parts of the region, the runoff in the Missouri River Basin remains below average. Years of drought have left a lasting impact, and the system has yet to recover fully. Iowa depends on the Missouri River to the west and the Mississippi River...
Markets decided to sell off in reaction to July WASDE
There were slight expectations that the USDA would adjust corn yields in this month’s WASDE report, but that did not end up happening. And while the report as a whole was still fundamentally friendly to the marketplace, the commodity prices did not like missing out on...
One Big Beautiful Bill contains both wins and losses for Iowa producers
The reconciliation bill, referred to as the One Big, Beautiful Bill, was signed into law. The reaction across the ag industry was mixed, with many farmers celebrating the tax provisions while also lamenting the cuts to SNAP benefits. Mike Stranz, Vice President of...
Iowa’s wet July fueling foliar disease concerns
The state of Iowa continues to receive persistent rainfall which is leading to near ideal conditions for fungal diseases to flourish. John Long is a retail sales agronomist with Brevant seeds and he covers the southwest and west central portions of Iowa. He says that...
Food spending increases from 2023-2024
USDA says per capita total U.S. food spending increased 3.2 percent from 2023 to 2024, slightly outpacing the 2.3 percent increase in food prices during the same period. That showed a stronger demand for food despite higher prices. However, national trends in sales...
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More Ag News
Proper hybrid selection is vital to a successful crop year
When it comes to mitigating risk for a given crop season, proper hybrid selection is key. AgriGold Agronomist Steve Schany said they have a highly diverse seed portfolio, so producers can more easily pick a specific hybrid that works for their farm. Schany said there...
U.S. Export Sales Report (9-11-25)
With the end of the old crop marketing year, this week’s export sales were a little deceiving at first glance. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said corn sales were good this week, but they were slightly inflated by old crop carryover. It was a similar story...
Grassley says he will push for year-round E15 in defense bill
The ethanol industry says that year-round E15 is a national security issue and belongs in the annual defense bill which is now before Congress. United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says that he supports year-round E15 as part of the bill and he has others in...
60 Choose Iowa members to welcome guests for the Choose Iowa farm open house
Sixty Choose Iowa members from across Iowa will welcome guests on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13 and 14, for the first ever Choose Iowa Farm Open House. Interactive Map: All Statewide Stops Iowans and tourists visiting our state are invited to discover the state’s rich...
Nitrogen response clear, profitability still the question
Few inputs carry more weight in corn production than nitrogen. It fuels yield potential, but it also drains farm budgets at a time when fertilizer prices remain elevated. Ongoing research is helping to refine our understanding, confirming long-held practices while...
