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Iowa soybean farmers urged to watch for red crown rot as disease spreads
Soybean farmers seeing signs of sudden death syndrome are being urged to inspect plants closely for red crown rot, an emerging disease that can produce nearly identical leaf symptoms. Iowa State University Extension confirmed red crown rot last week in a southeastern Iowa field. The farmer previously believed the affected area had sudden death syndrome. Both diseases can cause yellowing between leaf veins and premature plant decline. However, red crown rot can be identified by reddish...
Secretary Naig opens sign-up for annual cover crop cost-share program
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today encouraged Iowa farmers and landowners who are planning to seed cover crops this fall to enroll in the state's annual Cover Crop Cost-Share Program. This program is open to first-time and returning cover crop users in all...
USDA could regain food aid programs
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman wants two major U.S. foreign food aid programs returned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Boozman says USDA is better equipped than the State Department to oversee programs built around American agriculture....
Vaccinating swine without using traditional syringes
One of the most stressful parts of raising livestock is vaccinating your herd, and that’s especially true for swine producers. The process can be risky for both the livestock and the farmhands administering the vaccines. For the past 20 years, Merck Animal Health has...
U.S. chilled beef may see opportunity in South Korea
Shipments of Australian beef into South Korea have reached more than 90% of the 2026 safeguard volume of 196,00 mt, meaning the tariff rate on Australian beef will soon jump from 5.3% to 24% for the remainder of the year. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Vice...
Methods to combat heat stress in cattle
With most of the country experiencing on and off instances of extreme heat in recent weeks, producers are working hard to prepare for a potentially long and hot summer for their cattle. Producers need to be preparing for ways to mitigate heat stress in their animals...
Ethanol production reaches highest level in two months
U.S. ethanol production climbed to its highest level in more than two months last week, according to the latest report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Ethanol output averaged 1.117 million barrels per day during the week ending June 26, up from 1.09...
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USDA invests $500 million in processors
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $500 million to strengthen the nation's beef processing capacity through its Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers, or SPUR, program. The funding is aimed at small and midsize meat processors, which USDA defines as...
U.S. Export Sales Report (7-16-26)
While there was no major reaction in the grain markets, this week’s export sales were good, especially for this time of year. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales were decent. McBride said the soybean sales were better than expected for this...
Northern heat wave shouldn’t last long enough to negatively affect crops
A stretch of the Northern U.S. is the path of a ridge of high pressure producing high temperatures hovering around 100 degrees through the week. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the northern portions of the great plains are still experiencing high temperatures that...
USDA implementing scientific research priorities
In 2026, the USDA began implementing its strategy, which builds on what has made American growers the most productive in the world: scientific research. Agriculture Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics Scott Hutchins believes that protecting the...
Poll reveals record voter support for E15
A new national survey shows record-high voter support for expanding access to E15, the 15 percent ethanol fuel blend, and making it available year-round. The Renewable Fuels Association says 75 percent of registered voters support wider availability of E15, while more...
