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Passing the heart of Thanksgiving from one generation to another
Thanksgiving is one of those rare holidays that feels familiar before it even begins. It starts with the smell of the food, the sound of the parade, and the rhythm of a day that never really changes. Growing up on the farm, we did not have to travel far. My grandparents lived only three-quarters of a mile away, and the farms were connected by an old field road that felt like a private highway just for our family. The drive took only a couple of minutes, but even as a kid, it felt like a...
Navigating tough decisions on fertilizer this fall
The discussion on fertilizer this fall has put a lot of farmers between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand prices for commodities are low but on the other hand fertilizer prices are elevated. That leaves the grower often wondering if they should cut back on...
U.S. Export Sales Estimates (10-16-25)
As the government shutdown persists, we still don’t have any official export numbers to look at. We can, however, look again at the weekly estimates. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn numbers are still projected to be well above the average. On the...
Falling oil prices should indicate cheaper fuel
For the past several weeks and even several months, oil prices have held fairly steady, remaining in the mid-$60 per barrel range. But, thanks to OPEC’s increased production, that trend is no more. Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com, said banks...
Secretary Naig announces eight additional abandoned mine land reclamation projects
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is beginning construction on eight additional abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation projects in southeast Iowa. The eight projects, which represent...
From the mine below to the fields beyond
In our previous story on Nutrien’s Allan Facility, we heard how Environmental Engineer Curtis Ferguson and his team work to protect the land, air, and water surrounding one of Saskatchewan’s largest potash operations. Today, we delve beyond the surface to explore how...
Looking ahead at financing options for 2026
It’s never too early to start thinking about the next crop season already. Vince Restucci, market segment manager with Valent, said farmers can start making next year’s plans as they sit in their combine cabs during harvest. Restucci said many financing programs for...
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Canada believes tariffs will continue despite upcoming hearing
President Donald Trump said that he, personally, wants to attend next month’s Supreme Court hearing on his tariff policies. Beginning November 5th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on whether the president can unilaterally impose tariffs under emergency...
Rollins announces immediate farm aid, reopening of FSA offices
In response to mounting pressure from farmers and their legislators, President Trump has authorized the early release of emergency farm aid, despite the ongoing government shutdown. The president directed USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to immediately free up $3 billion...
IDALS urges Iowans to be on the lookout for spotted lanternflies
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is asking Iowans to be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly (SLF) insects. The colorful but invasive and destructive insect is native to Asia and was unintentionally introduced into Pennsylvania in 2014....
U.S. Export Sales Estimates (10-24-25)
With the government shutdown still dragging on, the grain markets are searching for any news to trade on. While there is no official news on exports, we can still look at the estimates to get a rough idea of what the weekly sales might look like. Allendale commodity...
Smart Swaps keeps dairy strong in school meals
School meal programs have been through a lot of change in recent years. From the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act under the Obama Administration to multiple revisions and rollbacks that followed, school nutrition teams have had to constantly adjust to new federal...
