Top Stories
Uncertainty grows over future of U.S. farm bill legislation
Agriculture policy analysts say 2026 could mark the end of the traditional five-year U.S. farm bill era, as lawmakers struggle to produce comprehensive legislation. The most recent farm bill provisions expired in 2023 and Congress has extended them annually since, leaving perennial programs in limbo. Experts say shifting political priorities and partisan divides have complicated efforts to craft a broad farm policy package that addresses commodity supports, conservation, nutrition and rural...
Establish and maintain a strong crop protection program in 2026
Throughout harvest, farmers are monitoring their fields for problem areas. Now that harvest is wrapped up, it’s time to take those observations and start making some plans for next year. Will Griffin of Valent said a strong pre-emerge program can protect the...
Forecasting winter temperatures and precipitation
The latest weather outlook from the National Weather Service is calling for a La Nina weather pattern that will dictate temperature and precipitation patterns for the winter months. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says that recent very cold temperatures are in line...
First confirmation of ASF in Spain since 1994
Late last month, African swine fever (ASF) was confirmed in Spain for the first time since 1994. ASF was first found in two dead wild boars in the Barcelona area, located in the Catalonia region. Eleven more wild boars, found dead in the same area, later tested...
China’s deadline moved to February
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent extended an earlier deadline for Beijing’s purchases of American soybeans from December to February. Bessent said China is on pace to meet its pledge to buy 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans by the end of February. Bloomberg said...
ASA urges real movement in soybean trade talks
Soybean farmers have been navigating one of the most difficult trade years in recent memory. Tariffs, months of stalled demand, and unpredictable movement from key buyers have shaped the 2025 market in ways few expected. American Soybean Association President Caleb...
Farmers should aim to use a variety of different seed genetics
Every year, farmers deal with a myriad of different crop issues. While we don’t have a crystal ball to predict exactly what issues will come up, there are a few things farmers can try to manage by diversifying their seed. AgriGold agronomist John Brien said the...
Video
More Ag News
Reporting deadline approaching for Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
USDA recently announced $12 billion is available for a Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, and the first deadline for getting signed up for the financial assistance is this week. Richard Fordyce, USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation, said the first...
China not honoring commitments in Phase One Agreement
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has launched a Section 301 investigation of China’s implementation of the U.S.-China Economic and Trade Agreement, popularly known as the Phase One Agreement. A public hearing on that investigation will open tomorrow (Dec. 16)....
USDA to update Expanding Access to Risk Protection with final rule
The public comment period closes on January 27th for a final rule designed to expand producer access to crop insurance and other risk protections. USDA Risk Management Agency Administrator Pat Swanson says the goal of the Expanding Access to Risk Protection (EARP)...
Quarterly economic condition report for U.S. agriculture
The Farm Credit Administration received its quarterly report on economic conditions affecting agriculture and an update on the overall performance of the Farm Credit System. Despite a turbulent year with tariffs and trade, the U.S. economy is expected to end 2025 on a...
Property rights pressure rises across rural America
It is easy to assume Iowa’s fight over carbon pipelines and new transmission lines is something unique to our state. But the same pressures and frustrations are playing out across rural America. Our neighbors to the south in Missouri are confronting many of the same...
