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Secretary Naig opens sign-up for annual cover crop cost-share program
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today encouraged Iowa farmers and landowners who are planning to seed cover crops this fall to enroll in the state's annual Cover Crop Cost-Share Program. This program is open to first-time and returning cover crop users in all 99 counties and offers cost-share assistance on up to 160 acres per participant. “More Iowa farmers are choosing to plant cover crops because they've seen the benefits in their own fields, while also delivering cleaner water for...
Iowa response limits pseudorabies trade impacts
Iowa's response to a recent pseudorabies case demonstrated how established animal health protocols can protect both livestock and export markets. The virus was detected in a small commercial swine herd after pigs that had previously been housed in Texas were moved...
Above normal temperatures and near to below normal rainfall in the forecast
The latest 8-14 day forecast provides details on the upcoming weather for the beginning of pollination season. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says that the Midwest will experience some hot temperatures at the end of June and beginning of July. Rippey says the...
Premium opportunities for row crop markets
Unlike commodity crops, farmers growing premium crops can demand higher prices, with some of them being hard to grow, while others are not. Kelsey Graber, the product line manager for specialty corn at Clarkson Grain in Illinois, highlights the fact that despite...
Clean Fuels: EPA building domestic markets for farmers
According to Clean Fuels Alliance America, the Environmental Protection Agency's finalized Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2026 and 2027 will provide an important economic boost for American farmers by expanding domestic demand for biofuel feedstocks. The group...
AgMarket.Net releases USDA Acreage report estimates
Next week, we will finally see the much-anticipated USDA Acreage report. The March Planting Intentions report showed a shift of corn acres to soybean acres, and many estimates are showing that even more acres may have shifted to soybeans since then. Garret Arndorfer,...
Naig details next phase of water quality efforts
Iowa leaders are beginning to roll out the next phase of the state's water quality and conservation strategy following passage of the bipartisan Farm to Faucet legislation earlier this year. The package includes investments in water treatment infrastructure, drinking...
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What to expect from the USDA acreage and grain stocks reports
On Tuesday June 30th USDA will publish the planted acreage and quarterly grain stocks reports. These reports typically have been known to move the ag marketplace one way or the other based on the updated numbers for planted acreage and the grain on hand in the stocks...
US hog inventory edges lower; productivity ticks up
The U.S. hog and pig inventory totaled 73.7 million head as of June 1, down slightly from a year earlier and from March, USDA said Thursday in its quarterly report. Market hogs accounted for 67.8 million head, while 5.88 million were kept for breeding, according to...
Next week’s heat dome could stress Iowa crops
We’re roughly halfway through the growing season here in Iowa, and there are varying crop conditions across the state. Much of the crop looks very strong currently, but there are some areas struggling with disease, pest, and weather issues. Dan Bjorklund, technical...
Uncertainty around Brazil’s production forecast for 2027
Brazil’s corn and soybean crops could have a major impact on global grain markets. Joanna Colussi, a research assistant professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, identified fertilizer as the root of the problem. Colussi discussed how the stagnant...
Screwworm far from Iowa, but worth watching
New World Screwworm remains hundreds of miles from Iowa, with confirmed cases confined to parts of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. While there is no indication the pest is moving into Iowa anytime soon, state officials say it's important for livestock producers to...
