Top Stories
Health care costs strain families in the countryside
Health care has become one of the most unpredictable and financially draining parts of rural life. Premiums continue to climb, choices remain limited, and many families in agriculture are being forced to make decisions that simply do not feel sustainable. Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins says the issues facing his members look almost identical to what Iowa farm families have been experiencing for years. Hawkins says the struggles tied to the Affordable Care Act have left many...
As Pro Farmer Crop Tour continues, crops are mostly looking better
After estimates of a near-record crop in Ohio for a second year and a lot of potential in South Dakota on Monday, the Pro Farmer Crop Tour scouts found even better results in Nebraska and Indiana on day two. Longtime Eastern Leg Scout Bryan Coffman of Iowa said that,...
U.S. Export Sales Report (8-22-24)
Export sales were better than expected this week, potentially in part due to the lower grain prices we are experiencing right now. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest numbers. Flash sales in particular have seen increased activity due...
USDA chief economist says farmland values rise, questions strength
USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer says farmland values continue to rise year-over-year, but questions land value strength amid changing economic conditions on the farm. Or as Meyer says, an increase of $200 an acre, rising to $4 on average for crop and pastureland…...
Soy growers wary of EPA herbicide strategy
American soybean growers are worried about the feasibility of implementation and the impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s final Endangered Species Act Herbicide Strategy. Josh Gackle, president of the American Soybean Association, says while there are...
Soy checkoff & State organizations make investment in PNW Soy Meal Port
Earlier this week we talked about the work being done by the beef checkoff to invest dollars into continuing education. The soybean checkoff is also investing in the marketability of the soybeans that we grow. Recently a group led by the United Soybean Board (USB),...
Pro Farmer Crop Tour saw lower day one results than last year
The results from the first day of Pro-Farmer’s annual Midwest Crop Tour are lower than last year. About a thousand scouts- including our own Andy Petersen- headed out into Midwestern corn and soybean fields on Monday to objectively determine the final projections....
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More Ag News
Succession planning can make passing the farm down easier
Farming is full of investments, but those investments aren’t in traditional things like stocks and bonds- they’re in things like land and machinery. Matt Roberts, chief planning officer of the West Des Moines-based Syverson Strege, said that’s why it’s even more...
Menke makes trade visit to Taiwan
Last week Iowa Deputy Agriculture Secretary Grant Menke had the chance to lead a trade mission, with the Iowa Economic Development Council to the countries of Japan and Taiwan. Today we will focus on the Taiwan portion of the trip. While Taiwan isn’t as large of a...
Details of the screwworm detection in southern Mexico
The United States-Mexico border was closed for the importation of Mexican cattle after a cow was detected with screwworm in southern Mexico on November 22nd. However, a USDA veterinary official says the situation has not worsened and the U.S. and Mexico are continuing...
Trump selects nominee for U.S. Trade Representative
Jamieson Greer is President-elect Trump’s nominee for U.S. Trade Representative. Greer was an aide in the office during Trump’s first term and will help steer the incoming president’s trade agenda. A graduate of the University of Virginia’s Law School, Greer was chief...
La Nina might not be to blame for chilly temperatures
The cold temperatures we’ve seen recently in Iowa are a sure sign of one thing- winter is quickly approaching. Eric Snodgrass, principal atmospheric scientist at Conduit, said this week has been and will continue to be full of chilly air. As we’ve talked about...
