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House Ag Committee beginning farm bill markup this week
After another delay- this time due to the weather- the House Ag Committee will begin the markup process for the next farm bill. With so much outdated legislation, Congress has their work cut out for them to modernize the top ag policy. Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra said there are several priorities for Farm Bill 2.0. Perhaps at the top of that list is research funding, with things like New World Screwworm and African Swine Fever posing a threat to U.S. livestock. For more information, visit...
Late plantings may have saved us from some storm damage
The past few weeks were largely uneventful in terms of weather conditions, but last Friday reminded us that things can change in the span of a few minutes. A powerful thunderstorm system traveled through central Iowa, bringing large hail and intense rainfall with it....
U.S. and Canadian cattle inventory down two percent
The USDA says all cattle and calves in the U.S. and Canada combined to total 111 million head on July 1, 2022, a two percent drop from the 113 million head on July 1 of last year. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 44.5 million head, were down two percent from...
Argentinian farmers may hold on to their corn for better profits
The South American corn crop is all but harvested in both Brazil and neighboring Argentina. The Argentine corn crop in particular was 98 percent harvested a week ago. Dr. Michael Cordonnier, an agronomist with Soybean and Corn Advisors, Inc., said the big question...
Tour wraps up with Iowa surprising many scouts
The 30th Pro Farmer Crop Tour is in the books. The East & West wrapped up Iowa and Minnesota before meeting in Rochester, MN. As with the western leg on Wednesday, Thursday?s Eastern leg travels came through the eastern two-thirds of Iowa. And much to the surprise of...
U.S. Drought Monitor is status quo for Iowa once again
The U.S. Drought Monitor didn?t show any significant changes in drought conditions this week for Iowa, which is both a good and bad thing. On one hand, it?s nice that nothing got worse, but, on the other hand, we really need to see these drought conditions start to...
U.S. Export Sales Report (8-25-22)
This week?s report was certainly an interesting one. Since the USDA is switching over to a new reporting system, the numbers were a bit confusing. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride they?re not quite sure what to do with the numbers yet, but, as of right now,...
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More Ag News
NW Iowa planting season update
As we saw in this week?s crop progress report, Iowa farmers have had a great time with planting season this year, with progress in most areas being way ahead of the average. Even though northwest Iowa is still seeing more than its fair share of challenges from drought...
Senator Grassley gives update on debt limit negotiations
Lawmakers in Washington D.C. have been actively engaged in debt limit negotiations with some politicians warning that the United States could go into debt default and be unable to pay its bills as soon as June 1st if the debt ceiling isn?t raised.United States Senator...
The story behind rising farm real estate debt levels
A recent report from the USDA?s Economic Research Service says farm sector debt tied to real estate will hit a record high of $375.9 billion in 2023. Randy Dickhut, farmland analyst for Agricultural Economic Insights, said the headline doesn?t tell the whole story of...
Markets bracing for a turbulent couple of days
We know that there are a lot of outside factors that can shape the trajectory of our markets. Many of these factors are the results of the actions of other countries around the globe. Whether it?s purchases of our crops or invasions of smaller countries, the markets...
Century and heritage farm program applications due June 1
DES MOINES, Iowa (May 9, 2023) ? Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig reminds eligible farm owners to apply for the 2023 Century and Heritage Farm Program through June 1.The program was created by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa...
