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Stalled renewable fuels growth risks Iowa rural economy
Renewable fuels have been one of the most important demand drivers for Iowa agriculture over the past two decades, helping farmers absorb growing productivity while supporting jobs and investment in rural communities. But industry leaders say that momentum has stalled, even as farmers continue to produce more grain. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw told members of the organization that the problem is not a lack of capacity or innovation, but a lack of policy...
Secretary Rollins sends letter about screwworm spread to Mexican government
The threat of New World screwworm is looming, but not enough progress has been made towards containing it. Recently, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins wrote a letter to Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Julio Berdegué Sacristán, urging the Mexican government to...
Japan ramen chain now using underutilized U.S. pork cuts
Two national ramen noodle chains in Japan are now using underutilized U.S. pork cuts in popular dishes, thanks to product development efforts led by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) and funded through support from the National Pork Board and USDA. USMEF...
USDA trade nominee Lindberg cites litany of ag trade barriers
USDA Undersecretary for Trade nominee Luke Lindberg says the United States ag sector is facing too many unfair trade barriers in world trade. Lindberg told Senate Ag lawmakers at his recent confirmation hearing that the U.S. for too long has let other nations “rig”...
Nomination deadline for the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award extended to May 19
Iowans seeking to nominate individuals or families who are conservation leaders in their community for the 2025 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award now have two additional weeks to complete and submit the application. The nomination deadline for the prestigious...
Fast start, sudden stop: Spring in 2025
The 2025 Spring Planting Season kicked off at full throttle, with tractors humming and seeds hitting the soil in a race against time. But just as quickly as it began, Mother Nature threw a wrench in the works, bringing rain, wind, and cool temperatures that brought...
Cercospora leaf blight poses a heightened challenge for soybean farmers
As planting season continues and the 2025 crop season gets fully underway, it’s important for farmers to be aware of the diseases that can impact their crops and limit yields. Last year, the top yield-limiting foliar disease for soybeans was Cercospora leaf blight...
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Concerns for Iowa farmers remain as Canada negotiations resume
Canada’s Department of Finance announced over the weekend that it would rescind a digital services tax at the center of a trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada, allowing negotiations between the countries to continue. However, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF)...
Quiet Quarterly Grain Stocks and Acreage report surprises analysts
There was a little bit of buzz heading into the Quarterly Grain Stocks and Acreage reports today, with many analysts predicting a slight increase to corn acres in particular. However, the reports did not deliver on that, and the market prices were mostly unbothered....
Managing nitrogen loss following recent Iowa rainfall
Recent rainfall in the state of Iowa has led to nitrogen loss concerns for many growers. After periods of intense or excessive rain, naturally farmers begin to have concerns about nitrogen loss in their fields. Mark Christianson is a product manager with Helena and he...
GDM announces agreement to acquire AgReliant Genetics
GDM, a global plant genetics company committed to empowering farmers and advancing global agriculture, today announced an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in AgReliant Genetics, a leading North American provider of corn and soybean seeds. The strategic...
Iowa corn disease pressure builds early
Tar Spot has been detected early in Iowa cornfields, raising concerns for farmers as they prepare to implement their crop protection plans. The fungal disease, which can spread rapidly under the right conditions, is showing up weeks ahead of typical timelines in some...
