Top Stories
Fertilizer supplies and prices are major concerns in 2026
As planting season quickly approaches, now is not the time for there to be questions about the fertilizer supply. The current problems in the Middle East could have a major impact on fertilizer supplies and prices for 2026 and possibly even 2027. Louisiana State University AgCenter Economist Dr. Michael Deliberto said the region is responsible for a large portion of the world’s nitrogen fertilizer supply. The Fertilizer Institute said 65 percent of U.S. farmers get most of their fertilizer...
Cutting nitrogen inputs without cutting yields
As input costs continue to rise, farmers are looking for ways to reduce costs while maintaining yields. Nitrogen is one of the costliest inputs, and fortunately there is a way to reduce the amount of nitrogen you apply without kneecapping your yields. Mark Peterson, a...
As Iowa farmers hold grain, crop protection continues
With grain prices under pressure and supplies heavy, many Iowa farmers are making the decision to hold grain in storage longer while waiting for better marketing opportunities. According to the USDA, ample production combined with softer demand has kept prices below...
Fareway donates nearly $300,000 of ham to Iowa food banks
Earlier this week, Fareway Stores made a donation of approximately 69,000 pounds of variety hams to the Food Bank of Iowa. The full retail value of this donation is $297,961.61, and that donation will quickly make it to food-insecure Iowans across the state. Annette...
Farmers play a key role in producing Super Bowl snacks
Super Bowl Sunday is consistently one of the highest demand days for food across the U.S., supporting the farm economy. Faith Parum, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said Super Bowl Sunday can really reflect the abundance of American agriculture....
Saving time on your cattle operation through data and analytics
Time is money for farmers and producers and products that can help simplify data and analytics can save producers time and allow them to keep their operation running smoothly. Dustin Balsley is founder and Chief Operating Officer of Performance Livestock Analytics and...
Iowa farms are re-evaluating how they use John Deere Operations Center
John Deere Operations Center is already part of many farming operations today, but how it is being used varies widely depending on equipment, connectivity, and how far a farm has gone down the precision ag path. As automation and advanced application technologies...
Video
More Ag News
U.S. Export Sales Report (2-12-26)
Heading into this week’s export sales report, the markets were expecting to see negative corn sales and positive soybean sales. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the report turned out to be the complete opposite from those estimates. Flash sales were active...
Demand is shifting for U.S. farmland
Farmland values have been resilient and even robust in past several years. However, those prices are entering a new phase as profit margins continue to change. Colton Lacina, the senior vice president of real estate operations for the Farmers National Company, said...
Dietary guidelines implementation updates
Secretaries for the Agriculture and Health and Human Services Departments Wednesday provided an update on implementation progress for the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans. That was USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. The guidelines provide guidance for federal food...
Smaller cattle herd means market volatility
It’s well-known that the U.S. cattle herd continues to shrink. The January U.S. Cattle Inventory report showed the total inventory at 86.2 million head on January 1. That was down 300,000 head from last year. American Farm Bureau analysis showed the combination of...
Naig says Iowa agriculture needs stability in uncertain cycle
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says farmers and agribusinesses across the state are facing growing pressure from multiple directions, including higher operating costs, workforce challenges, and continued uncertainty in the broader farm economy. Speaking this...
