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Fertilizer decisions for 2026 crop will be a balancing act
Fertilizer prices aren’t at historic highs, but relative to last year’s prices and the current prices for crop commodities, they are elevated. According to data from USDA and analysis by University of Illinois Farmdoc, fertilizer prices in the state are 6% to 20% higher than early fall 2024. High yields lead to high nutrient removal rates, but next year, nutrient replacement and feeding a new crop will come at a higher cost. Pro Farmer reports the price trends weigh heavier on farmers who are...
Win tickets and sideline access to Iowa Hawkeyes annual ANF game
With the first full week of the college football season on the horizon, Iowa Farm Bureau and University of Iowa are offering Hawkeye fans a chance to win four tickets and on-field sideline access to the America Needs Farmers (ANF) game on Oct. 18 against Penn State...
FBI partners with agriculture to defend food supply
Protecting the nation’s food supply is a critical part of national security. While the likelihood of a bioterrorism attack on American agriculture may be low, the stakes are extraordinarily high. An intentional strike against crops or livestock would not only threaten...
Modern Ag Alliance advocates for farmers from coast to coast
Even though the Modern Ag Alliance is only just over one year old, its impact in that short amount of time has been far-reaching. At this point, the coalition now contains over 100 ag organizations. At this year’s Farm Progress Show, Elizabeth Burns-Thompson,...
Consumers shrug off high beef prices
When retail prices for any product reach record-high levels, the demand usually plummets quickly. U.S. beef appears to be the exception to the basic rule of economics. Retail grocery store prices for beef skyrocketed and show no signs of descending. But demand hasn’t...
Wyffels Hybrids providing independent seed solutions for Iowa’s growers
The spring and summer seasons have delivered significant rainfall and warm weather to the state of Iowa and set the table for disease pressure. Mitch Heisler is product and agronomy manager at Wyffels Hybrids and he says the corn in Iowa has had everything thrown at...
Soybean leaders warn of growing tariff consequences
China has effectively shut U.S. soybeans out of its market, instead relying on Brazil to meet its massive demand. The real blow has come from retaliatory tariffs, which have priced American soybeans out and stripped farmers of access to their top export customer. To...
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National Weather Service issues La Nina watch
The National Weather Service recently enacted a La Nina watch which means that the climatic system could develop in the fall or winter months. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says that despite the watch being put in place, a La Nina weather pattern forming is not a...
Thinking smarter- and shorter- with new seed genetics
We’ll be learning a lot from this year’s corn crop, and much of that will be evident when harvest comes around. While the crops look good right now, there’s looming disease pressure that could cause some issues before the crop makes it to the bin. Clayton Robinson,...
U.S. bison industry gains access to key overseas markets
The European Commission has proposed legislation that would allow some duty-free access for U.S. bison meat into the European Union. With this legislation, the current 20% tariff on U.S. bison would be eliminated under an annual tariff rate quota (TRQ) for 3,000 mt of...
Concerns over Mississippi River levels as harvest approaches
There's continued evidence that we may once again experience some low water conditions on the lower Mississippi River this fall. The prospects for restricted barge transportation this fall may come as a surprise for many given the healthy amounts of rainfall...
Rural veterinarian shortages draw federal attention
Rural America is built on small towns where life often looks a little different from what it does in big cities. We know the trade-offs, and for the most part, we accept them. Having fewer shopping options is a small inconvenience, while limited broadband has long...
