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Will the cattle cycle turn in 2026?
The CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as a part of CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, said there are signals showing changes ahead in 2026. The U.S. cattle and beef industry enters 2026 with strong but volatile market conditions, as historically tight cattle supplies, record-setting beef demand, and elevated policy and weather uncertainty continue to support prices, even as markets appear to be near cyclical highs. “Tight inventories and exceptional demand remain the dominant forces shaping...
Secretary Naig Presents 2025 Ag Leader Awards
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig this week recognized three organizations and one business that have made exceptional contributions to the continued success of Iowa agriculture. The honorees received awards during the 13th Annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner held on...
Secretary Rollins talks trade at Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins made her inaugural visit to Iowa on Monday, engaging with local farmers and agricultural leaders throughout the state. Her tour culminated in a keynote address at the Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner in Ankeny, where she emphasized the...
March ends like a lamb with mild USDA reports
There’s an old saying that says March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. With today bringing two major USDA reports, it was looking like the month might end more like a lion instead. However, that wasn’t necessarily the case, as both the Quarterly Grain...
Proposed port service fees would hurt red meat exports
The office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) held hearings this week on a proposal to impose a service fee for each U.S. port call of a Chinese-operated ship, or a per-net-ton service fee applied on the ship’s carrying capacity. While they do support the overall...
Recapping the winter weather season
For the most part, the 2024-2025 winter season in Iowa was mild with warmer temperatures and not much precipitation to help replenish soil moisture levels. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says that the final numbers from the winter months of December, January, and...
Producers have until April 15th to enroll in key safety net programs
Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2025 crop year have until April 15, 2025 to revise elections and sign contracts. Both safety net programs, delivered by USDA’s Farm...
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More Ag News
Record ethanol production slows ahead of summer driving demand
The U.S. has churned out record levels of ethanol since late 2024, largely due to a rise in exports and steady domestic demand. But Reuters said output has dropped from record levels during the last two weeks, which coincides with the buildup of the summer driving...
Vietnamese delegation signs MOUs for grain trade in Des Moines
A trade delegation led by the Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture signed several memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to purchase approximately 7.5 million metric tons of U.S. ag products on Monday. The signings took place at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines between...
Rain has been falling across Iowa in some large bursts
The weather has brought plenty of rain for most parts of the state recently, and it has done so in large bursts. In fact, some parts of central Iowa saw over 4.5 inches of rain in a single day. This is great for the soil moisture profiles, but it was almost too much...
U.S.-China trade a top focus at USMEF Spring Conference
The U.S.-China trade relationship was a major focus of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference, which wrapped up Friday, May 23rd, in Fort Worth, Texas. Guest speaker John Newton, the executive head of Terrain, said he expects the current tariff...
Cattle industry prepares for USMCA review
Since returning to office in January, President Trump has once again brought trade policy to the forefront of national discussion. His previous use of tariffs is now facing scrutiny from the U.S. Court of International Trade, reigniting debate over their impact. But...
