Top Stories
Beef prices and herd retention decisions
With turbulent cattle markets due to beef imports and the southern border with Mexico reopening for cattle imports cattle producers have a lot to think about when making decisions for the future of the herd. Will cattle ranchers and farmers make plans for starting the rebuilding process for the remainder of 2026 and going into 2027? That is USDA Chief Economist Justin Benevidez. He says that price data will influence the choices of producers at the individual and national level when making...
U.S. Export Sales Report (8-6-26)
This week’s export sales were decent once again and provided some baseline support for the grain markets. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest corn numbers from the USDA. While the soybean sales weren’t bad, McBride said they were...
Iowa farmers urged to act before options disappear
As many farm operations continue working through a challenging economic environment, experts say recognizing financial problems early can make a significant difference. While many producers wait until lenders raise concerns, addressing financial issues sooner can...
Rainfall supports higher yield estimates for Iowa crops
Another round of rain has gone through the state, and this time the western region finally got some relieving moisture. As indicated by the August producer survey from StoneX, this may lead to a strong crop for most Iowa farmers. Dan Bjorklund, technical agronomist at...
U.S. bison gains duty-free access to European Union
Under a newly implemented tariff rate quota (TRQ), U.S. bison now has duty-free access to the European Union. The TRQ is for 3,000 metric tons annually. As National Bison Association Executive Director Jim Matheson explains, U.S. bison has been gaining interest in the...
Weather forecast keeping pressure on corn and soybean marketplace
While there are a lot of factors that are exerting influence on the grains in the ag marketplace, including the crude oil price and the stock market, the main influence remains the weather forecast. While the forecast is positive in terms of crop conditions and...
Record ethanol blend rate lowers fuel costs for drivers
The average ethanol content in U.S. gasoline reached a record 11.29 percent in May, according to new data from the Energy Information Administration. The Renewable Fuels Association says the increase was driven by strong blending economics as ethanol sold at a...
Video
More Ag News
Grassley, Thompson discuss Farm Bill path at Iowa State Fair
The Farm Bill remains unfinished in the Senate, but two lawmakers closely involved in the process say there is still a path to completing a new five-year bill this year. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley and House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson both discussed...
Another record-breaking Governor’s Charity Steer Show in 2026
The 2026 Governor’s Charity Steer Show set a record Saturday by raising $572,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. Owen Kahl of Tipton Iowa was one of the exhibitors in the show alongside his celebrity showman former Iowa Hawkeye and NFL Football Player...
Developing new processed products for Latin America at Global Innovation Symposium
Buyers and processors from across Latin America gathered at Colorado State University to develop new processed products with U.S. beef and pork at the Global Innovation Symposium hosted by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). USMEF Manager of Technical Programs...
Supporting farmers and small businesses across the country
The Iowa State Fair is a top entertainment event for the state, but it also serves as an opportunity to connect people with agriculture. This is especially important as each new generation becomes further removed from the farm. Bringing that connection back starts...
U.S. soybean export sales surge
U.S. soybean export sales jumped during the latest reporting week, providing encouraging news for farmers heading toward harvest. USDA data released Thursday showed sales for delivery during the 2026-27 marketing year reached 1.76 million metric tons during the week...
