Top Stories
Rural America needs more ag tax professionals
Tax season can be a stressful time of year, and that is especially true for farm country. As the number of tax preparers who are familiar with the unique complexities of agricultural income declines, a new program from Iowa State University is being developed to offer free ag-tax training to tax-prep professionals across the country and bring those numbers back up. Kristine Tidgren, director of Iowa State’s Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation (CALT), said they are spending the next year...
Overcoming crop stress to deliver quality yields
Iowa Soybean Association Treasurer and District 1 Director Brent Swart is a farmer in Northwest Iowa near Spencer. While almost the entire state is in moderate to severe drought right now in 2023, northwest Iowa dealt with the most severe drought conditions in the...
U.S. Export Sales Report (6-29-23)
Export sales were looking better for a couple weeks, but that might be reversing already. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest U.S. export sales report.Mexico also made a flash purchase of U.S. corn, but that?s sending mixed signals...
AFBF hosts first Ag ConnectHER event
The American Farm Bureau Federation recently held the first Ag ConnectHER event to inspire women in agricultural leadership. Shawn Wood, Western Region Representative on the Farm Bureau Women?s Leadership Committee, was the emcee for the first event.?We're super...
Drought brings spider mite threat to midwestern fields
We know that every year is different. Farmers must prepare for any eventuality and be able to pivot your plan on very short notice. Different weather patterns also bring other problems with them. Different diseases, weed pressures, and even pest problems come along...
Placements jump 5% over 2022 in June cattle on feed report
USDA?s June Cattle on Feed report declared a three percent decline on-feed. It also showed a five percent increase in placements versus a year ago.According to USDA, cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of...
Survey highlights barriers to effective herbicide-resistant weeds management
A recent survey of certified crop advisors in all 50 U.S. states shows they are concerned about the escalation of herbicide resistance and the impediments to effective weed management. The Weed Science Society of America survey found that four out of ten crop advisers...
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More Ag News
CCC farm bill remedy has some support even from critics
United States Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack recently suggested use of Commodity Credit Corporation Funds as a remedy for the lack of farm bill funding to increase crop subsidy triggers or reference prices. That idea may have some support even among its critics. Vilsack...
U.S. Export Sales Report (1-19-24)
There’s been a lot of negativity in the marketplace following last week’s WASDE report, but we were able to end this week with some more friendly news from the export sales. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave a breakdown on this week’s numbers. This week’s...
Deadline approaching for crop insurance discount program
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today reminded farmers and landowners who planted cover crops this past fall to apply for the state’s Crop Insurance Discount Program ahead of the Friday, January 26 deadline. Eligible Iowans can receive a $5 per acre discount...
Soybean numbers appear to weaken in South America
As we go through the winter, it is obvious that the markets are watching what happens in Brazil. They are passing our numbers for exports and are in the midst of their growing season. However, they are also getting much attention because the conditions in the south...
Great Plains Manufacturing talks partnership with Bayer ForGround
The newest sustainability practices can be confusing or intimidating to some farmers, so it’s important for companies to make the technology easy to use and to understand. James Shurts, president of the ag division at Great Plains Manufacturing, said they’ve been at...
