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South American Weather and Crop Update (5-19-26)
After several weeks of dry weather that started to raise concerns over crop conditions, farms in Brazil finally found some relief in some timely rains. Allendale commodity broker Ben Breisch said that rain may have still come in a little too late, however. Breisch said those weather concerns have allowed U.S. grain- particularly corn- to have a price advantage over Brazil when it would normally be the other way around. As a result, Breisch said now is a good time for U.S. farmers to be selling...
Helping Iowa’s growers prepare for whatever the crop season throws at them
When building their plans for the 2026 growing season this spring, farmers have been making tough decisions across the board. Decisions on high priced fertilizer and whether to cut back on inputs are being made as growers encounter lower prices for their commodities...
Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award nomination deadline extended to May 22nd
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has extended the deadline for nominations for the 2026 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award. The deadline to nominate a farmer or farm family is now Friday, May 22. The Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award...
NASA technology helping farmers from space
Interest in NASA and America’s return to the Moon has surged again following the Artemis missions and the growing focus on deep space exploration. But while much of the public attention is focused on rockets and astronauts, NASA says some of its most important work is...
Encouraging Iowa consumers to buy more food locally
Every year, Iowans spend approximately $12.6 billion on food. Unfortunately, much of that money does not stay within the state. In order to bring some of this spending back to Iowa, the Iowa Food System Coalition has launched the Iowa Local Food Challenge. By inviting...
Farm industry is navigating challenging times
There’s no doubt it’s been a rough go for the U.S. agricultural sector in recent years. Rob Larew, the president of the National Farmers Union, said the passage of the farm bill out of the House provides a bit of hope. Larew said it was disappointing to see year-round...
House farm bill amendment blocks foreign adversaries from buying U.S. farmland
Foreign adversaries are barred from buying U.S. farmland under an amendment added to the House farm bill which recently passed in the House by voice vote. The bill was introduced by Florida Republican Greg Steube. Much of the land referred to by Steube is located near...
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Grassley urges Speaker to get year-round E15 through the House without changes
United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson to act quickly on year-round E15 in the House Rules Committee. This follows a delay for the legislation in a move to appease Republicans from oil rich states. Grassley says that...
Tracking fertilizer costs since the beginning of the conflict in Iran
Fertilizer prices have climbed sharply following the outbreak of conflict involving Iran, raising concerns about higher production costs for U.S. farmers in the years ahead. Analysts say nitrogen fertilizers have seen the largest increases due to disruptions tied to...
E15 fight reaches critical moment in Congress
The push for nationwide year-round E15 could soon clear one of its biggest hurdles yet as the U.S. House prepares to vote on standalone legislation next week that would permanently allow the fuel blend to be sold through the summer driving season nationwide. Growth...
U.S. Export Sales Report (5-7-26)
Once again the corn sales were strong this week, and the soybean sales were disappointing. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest U.S. Export Sales Report. Even with the strong corn exports, McBride said the USDA will likely have to make...
Students need career development skills on top of classroom education
Employers today aren’t just looking for diplomas- they want people who can think creatively, lead teams, and solve problems in new and innovative ways. On top of earning an agriculture degree, students at Iowa State University can use the Pathways Program to gain...
