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Iowa FFA member receives national award
At this year’s National FFA Convention, an Iowa FFA member was recognized for going above and beyond in their agriscience research. Tessa Tauke, from the Beckman Catholic FFA Chapter in Dyersville, Iowa, was named as this year’s National FFA American Star Award Winner in Agriscience. Tauke said she has conducted several projects on a variety of issues she encountered on her family’s farm. Tauke said she was able to tackle increasingly challenging topics over the years of her projects. Tauke,...
Midwest heat raises late-season corn and soybean concerns
Extreme heat remains a major agricultural issue across a large portion of the Corn Belt. Heat warnings stretch from Iowa and Kansas through Illinois and toward Ohio, with heat indexes expected to reach 105 to 110 degrees in some areas. The timing matters. USDA...
Beef markets may not need government intervention
The cattle industry continues to sort through questions surrounding the Trump administration's proposal to temporarily allow an additional 300,000 metric tons of imported beef into the U.S. market. At the same time, producers are dealing with the smallest U.S. cow...
Beef exports were strong in July while pork was down
July exports of U.S. beef climbed 6% year-over-year in value while volume was steady, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said the value increase was driven primarily by...
Another trade dispute leaves farmers facing the fallout
Trade tensions between the United States and Canada are creating another potential problem for American agriculture, this time for the dairy industry. Trade negotiations between the two countries broke down in August, followed by new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods....
Lending a trusted ear to farmer mental health struggles
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and that’s especially important in rural areas, where suicide rates are roughly 1.5 times higher than urban areas. A lack of rural mental health care options and a negative stigma against discussing mental health have...
U.S. Export Sales Report (9-4-26)
Old crop grain sales are wrapping up as we prepare to enter into the new crop year. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the old crop corn sales were strong in the latest export sales report, and that will likely be reflected in next week’s WASDE report....
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More Ag News
Fuel prices will likely keep climbing higher
Diesel fuel is at an all-time high of more than six dollars a gallon as farmers start a busy harvest season. Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com, said the price for fuel in the U.S. is hard to swallow. DeHaan said the U.S. and Iran war isn’t...
Ag Committee advances Farm Bill 2.0 to uncertain future in full Senate
The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its 2026 farm bill on a narrow 12-11 party-line vote after Sen. Mitch McConnell’s return enabled action on the measure. The bill includes major agriculture priorities such as year-round E15, mandatory country-of-origin...
Soybean checkoff turns research into new demand
Soybeans are most commonly associated with food, livestock feed, and renewable fuels, but a growing share of soybean research is looking at what the crop can do beyond those traditional markets. From tires and lubricants to firefighting foam, industrial uses are...
Propane can be used for more than just grain drying
Many farmers primarily use propane in grain drying equipment, but with the ever-rising prices of fuel and energy, propane can offer a more affordable power option. Michael Newland, director of agriculture business development at the Propane Education and Research...
Weather systems and precipitation slowing early harvest efforts
As farmers are beginning to harvest in Iowa, they are encountering some slowdowns with a widespread weather system delivering rain to the Midwest. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says that a moisture laden weather system is making its way across the country this week....
