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Farm credit conditions weaken across Upper Midwest
Financial pressure is building in farm country. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reports that agricultural credit conditions across the Upper Midwest weakened in the second quarter compared with a year ago. Bankers highlight commodity price volatility, high production costs, and tighter cash flow as key challenges. Chicago Fed Policy Advisor David Oppedahl says cash flow issues are causing severe loan repayment problems, hitting an all-time high since 2020. Rather than borrowing to expand...
USDA Secretary Rollins provides update on U.S.-Mexico border closure
On Thursday at the Commodity Classic farm show in San Antonio Texas, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins provided an update on the U.S.-Mexico border which remains closed for the importation of cattle from Mexico. Feeder cattle from Mexico remain unable to cross the border...
U.S. Export Sales Report (2-27-26)
For as good as the export sales have been recently- especially for this time of year- they were bound to have a down week eventually. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn export sales were weaker this time around. Soybeans saw lower sales as well, but...
Farm incomes drop despite abundant harvests
Farm incomes generally decreased across the Federal Reserve Bank’s Ninth District. That’s according to lenders responding to the fourth quarter Ag Credit Survey by the Minneapolis Fed. Lenders also reported that purchases of capital inputs fell, though farm household...
Iowa Corn pushes farmer voice on tariffs
The Iowa Corn Growers Association took a focused set of priorities to this year’s National Corn Growers Association Corn Congress, with trade policy, nitrogen tools, and access to clean fuel tax credits topping the list. ICGA President Mark Mueller says the...
Valent’s Rapidicil getting closer to commercialization
At last year’s Commodity Classic show in Denver, Valent U.S.A. unveiled its newest active herbicide ingredient, Rapidicil. Since then, research has shown that Rapidicil can help control a variety of weeds when paired with tank mix partners. Pat Clay, product...
Reaching the limits of feeding cattle to heavier finishing weights
The total number of beef cattle in the United States is at the lowest level since the 1950s. To make up for the lack of beef cattle while still producing the necessary amount of beef for consumer demand, the cattle industry is feeding cattle to heavier weights. Eric...
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More Ag News
U.S. Export Sales Report (4-2-26)
The Quarterly Grain Stocks report showed that demand for soybeans is not where it should be. The weekly export sales stayed in line with that data. Jason Meyer of AgMarket.Net gave a breakdown of the report and said that U.S. bean prices aren’t able to compete with...
Diesel prices hit record highs
Oil prices have been on a rollercoaster ride ever since the United States and Israel started bombing Iran. Initially, oil prices moved higher, but last week, oil prices dipped after President Trump paused attacks on Iran. But since those have resumed, oil prices have...
USTR’s Callahan previews 2026 ag trade priorities
US Ag trade negotiator Julie Callahan previewed the administration’s ag trade goals for this year at a recent Agri-Pulse forum. Callahan says the “bumper sticker” version of USTR’s recent Ag policy report is “full speed ahead” on the administration’s “America First...
Farm bill draft reignites debate over pesticide regulation
The newly introduced farm bill proposal is drawing sharp reactions from environmental advocates over provisions that could reshape pesticide regulation nationwide. The legislation, backed by leaders in Congress and informed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency...
Midwest Dairy report shows demand growth
Midwest Dairy’s newly released 2025 Annual Report gives farmers a detailed look at how their checkoff dollars were invested across the ten-state region, with a focus on growing dairy demand, strengthening consumer trust, and supporting future industry leadership....
