Top Stories
When rebuilding the herd, quality must be the focus
For the Angus cattle industry, business has been very good recently. Casey Jentz, Chief Operating Officer at the American Angus Association, says that Angus currently have 80 percent of the market share in the commercial space. He adds that if Angus ranchers could produce more product, they would sell more. Jentz says that a focus on quality genetics has led to a great product, and that focus on genetics will be key as the industry tries to rebuild the national herd. Jentz says it’s important...
Groups ask for permanent extension of Section 199A
A large number of organizations representing farmers, ranchers, forest owners, agricultural cooperatives, and industry stakeholders sent a letter to Congressional leaders regarding Section 199A in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. “We urge Congress to permanently extend the...
Bullish news in latest Cattle on Feed Report
The recent Cattle on Feed Report brought some good news for the cattle industry. After several years of contraction, there may be some indicators that the U.S. cattle herd is rebounding. Bernt Nelson, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the...
Bayer announces new Vyconic™ soybean platform
It’s not every day that we get to talk about a groundbreaking hybrid that can redefine crop protection, but Bayer has done just that with the release of its latest soybean brand. This new innovation offers farmers protection with up to five different modes of action,...
Food banks facing uncertainty as USDA suspends funding
Recently, the USDA announced that it is suspending $500 million in funding for food banks across America, saying that the previous administration “created unsustainable expectations for the Emergency Food Assistance program” and pointing to spending authority under...
Signup deadline approaching for Dairy Margin Coverage program
There’s a lot of volatility in the ag marketplace right now, and the dairy industry is no different. Fortunately, there are programs that can help to manage some of these risks. The signup deadline for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program is rapidly approaching....
Senator Grassley discusses tax policy
During his weekly ag conference call with broadcasters and reporters, United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on Tuesday was asked for an update on Senate work regarding tax policy. Senator Grassley provided an update on the Senate Finance Committee’s latest...
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More Ag News
Iowa Ag concerns tied to outdated policies
The clock is ticking on the long-overdue Farm Bill, with just three months left before Congress may be forced to extend it for yet another year. That would push the current bill—already outdated—more than halfway through a second life it was never intended to have....
Extreme heat creating concerns for Iowa’s livestock and crops
The extreme heat in recent days has felt more like late July or August and is causing stress for livestock and crops in Iowa. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the more immediate concern is for livestock. High humidity and overnight temperatures in the upper 70s and...
U.S. Export Sales Report (6-26-25)
Export sales are looking good ahead of the Quarterly Grain Stocks report that will be released next Monday. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales were especially great in the latest data. Soybeans also looked good this week, which is a far cry...
Tar spot has already been observed in East Central Iowa
Pollination is quickly approaching for corn and soybeans, and it’s important to make sure that crops are performing at a high level in order to maximize yields down the road. Diseases can enter and impact a field very quickly, so prevention is key to disease...
Landus, Iowa’s largest farmer-owned cooperative, launches nationwide CEO search
Landus is launching a nationwide search for its next Chief Executive Officer. Since April, the Board of Directors and interim CEO Sam Caton have met with farmer-owners and employees to gather feedback. Their input has been crucial in identifying the qualities needed...
