Top Stories
Federal farm safety net payments reach record $13.8 billion
Federal farm safety-net payments are expected to reach a record $13.8 billion for the 2025 crop year, reflecting the growing importance of government assistance to American agricultural producers. USDA says payments through the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs will be the largest since Congress established them in the 2014 farm bill. The programs provide financial protection when commodity prices or farm revenues fall below established thresholds. USDA says the...
BASF prepares new weapon against soybean cyst nematode
Soybean cyst nematode has been a familiar challenge for Iowa soybean growers for decades, but the pest continues to adapt to some of the tools farmers have relied on to manage it. BASF is preparing to launch Nemisphere in 2028, a new soybean trait designed to provide...
Using precision ag technology to manage farm operations
Precision ag technology can make the challenge of navigating the ever-changing ag industry a bit easier on farmers. Nate Greuel, precision product marketing manager at CNH Industrial, said FieldOps can help farmers process all of the data they get from their farms....
Canada-U.S. trade talks are in limbo
As the Canada-U.S. tariff war continues for targeted industry sectors, trade negotiators on both sides of the border have decided to play the waiting game for now. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated late last week that there is no hurry to get back to the...
Secretary Rollins proclaims October National Cooperative Month
On Thursday Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins issued the annual proclamation announcing this month's recognition of our country's cooperatives and their contributions to our national and rural economies. Secretary Rollins also provides statistics on the number of...
USDA expands regenerative agriculture pilot
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expanding its Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program for fiscal year 2027, providing $1 billion in financial assistance to producers. USDA says $650 million will be provided through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program,...
Ag groups seek stability in uncertain markets
It has been a week since President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the White House, and U.S. agriculture continues to watch for signs that those discussions could lead to stronger trade relationships. Representatives from the ethanol and cattle...
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Opening the playbook on soybean variety selection
Managing soybean cyst nematode can influence more than how farmers protect yield. The resistance needed to manage the pest can also affect which soybean varieties are available to match the other agronomic needs of an individual field. BASF is developing its...
Seed Sovereignty Initiative capitalizes on U.S. seed collection
Yesterday, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a $180 million investment into the new Seed Sovereignty Initiative. This provides much-needed support for the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). Dr. Scott Hutchins, USDA...
Diesel tax relief is appreciated, but costs are still high
Earlier this week, President Trump made an executive order to temporarily allow tax-free dyed diesel to be used on highways and defer the federal diesel tax through the end of the year. While farm groups are welcoming any relief this move could provide, many say the...
Fall warmth kickstarts harvest in Iowa
After an abnormally wet September, drier conditions have returned to some of the key row crop growing regions of the country in October. USDA Chief Meteorologist Brad Rippey says the drier conditions are leading to a slow and steady return to harvest activity in...
Farm bill expiration leaves rural programs in uncertainty
The latest extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expired September 30, leaving Congress without a new long-term agriculture policy. The Farm Bill covers farm safety-net programs, conservation, crop insurance, food assistance, and other programs important to rural America....
