Top Stories
Pork industry balances profit and patience
The latest USDA data is giving pork producers plenty to think about as they look toward 2026. After a year of steady profitability, markets are showing a softer tone heading into fall, but the fundamentals remain solid. The most recent Hogs and Pigs Report provided a fresh look at inventories and production trends, suggesting a slightly tighter supply picture than analysts had anticipated. Lee Schulz, chief economist at Ever.Ag, says those government reports are an important place to start...
Warm temperatures will bring harvest here before we know it
The end of this crop year has been defined by disease pressure, specifically from diseases like Southern Rust and Sudden Death Syndrome. Unfortunately, farmers who did not prepare with fungicides are already seeing significant yield losses. Southwest Iowa Beck’s...
Iowa rural roadway safety considerations during harvest season
Rural roadway safety is one of the biggest safety challenges during harvest season. Dan Neenan of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety says that rural drivers need to demonstrate patience as farmers share the roadways. Neenan says that motorists and...
Fertilizer decisions for 2026 crop will be a balancing act
Fertilizer prices aren’t at historic highs, but relative to last year’s prices and the current prices for crop commodities, they are elevated. According to data from USDA and analysis by University of Illinois Farmdoc, fertilizer prices in the state are 6% to 20%...
USMEF Heartland team reviews market investments in Korea
A team of producers representing the pork, beef, corn and soybean industries visited Korea last week to see first-hand the investments the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is making in the market. Korea is the leading export market for U.S. beef, with purchases...
Rollins: Mexico cooperation key to screwworm defense
The New World screwworm has not entered U.S. herds, but the threat has officials on guard. The parasite can devastate livestock, particularly cattle, and poses risks to any mammal. A recent case in a U.S. traveler returning from El Salvador underscored that danger....
September WASDE leaves analysts scratching their heads
This month’s WASDE report was not as friendly as projected, but the markets still moved higher to end the week. A few factors, including the recent end of the old crop marketing year, may be influencing the markets in confusing directions. Allendale commodity broker...
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More Ag News
New World Screwworm detected 70 miles from U.S. border
Today, the USDA announced that New World Screwworm was detected in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, approximately 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. In light of this news, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is urging the federal government to expedite...
U.S. beef trade to Indonesia reopens
Earlier this month, the Indonesian Halal Authority (BPJPH) moved to reaccredit the only U.S. halal certifying company in the U.S. approved for Indonesia. The accreditation had been suspended in March, effectively halting U.S. beef exports to Indonesia. U.S. Meat...
Lower cattle feedlot placements in August
The USDA published the latest Cattle on Feed Report on Friday and the numbers indicate continued contraction of cattle feedlot inventory. USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell details the numbers as of September 1st. McConnell expands on the trends in the latest...
ICGA celebrates harvest weight proclamation, effective immediately
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds granted Iowa Corn’s request and signed a proclamation today granting a temporary weight limit exemption for trucks operating on Iowa roads to support the haul of this year’s crop during harvest. The proclamation allows vehicles transporting...
Naig shares crop expectations and safety reminders
This week is Farm Safety Week, a time when farmers and the ag industry take a step back to focus on staying safe during one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year. With harvest beginning in earnest very soon across Iowa, the reminders are timely because...
