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Trade deals only first step for USDA
As new trade agreements take shape, USDA officials say the next step is making sure those deals translate into real opportunities for U.S. agriculture. USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg says securing market access is only part of the process when it comes to expanding global demand for American products. Lindberg says once those agreements are in place, the focus shifts to building relationships and connecting U.S. producers with buyers around the...
South American Weather and Crop Update (3-3-26)
As harvest wraps up in Brazil for the soybean crop, the safrinha corn crop is being planted right behind it. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the weather forecast looks good for both processes to continue smoothly. While progress is behind the usual pace,...
Many farmers have already signed up for Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
Several overdue changes are now happening for antiquated systems that farmers have relied on for many years. USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Programs Richard Fordyce talked about a new “One Farmer, One File” initiative at the agency. The USDA...
Iran conflict strengthens ethanol industry case for year-round E15 legislation
The ethanol industry now has another argument for Congress to enact legislation for year-round E15 sales as the Iran-Middle East conflict erupted last weekend. Troy Bredenkamp of the Renewable Fuels Association says that with oil and gas prices on the rise due to the...
HPAI detected in a multi-species backyard flock in Washington County
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) in a multi-species backyard flock in...
Iowa Corn’s Mueller: Agriculture Faces Rough Road
While policy debates and committee votes dominated much of the agenda at the National Corn Growers Association Corn Congress, Mark Mueller says the tone inside the room told a deeper story about the current state of agriculture. The Iowa Corn Growers Association...
House Ag Committee beginning farm bill markup this week
After another delay- this time due to the weather- the House Ag Committee will begin the markup process for the next farm bill. With so much outdated legislation, Congress has their work cut out for them to modernize the top ag policy. Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra...
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New biomanufacturing device makes biological production more accessible
Researchers at Iowa State University (ISU) have developed a biomanufacturing device that could make it much more feasible for companies to produce biological products on a small scale. Funded by BioMADE, the Continuous Taylor Vortex Fermentor-Extractor-Separator...
What to expect in the Prospective Plantings Report
The 2026 USDA Prospective Plantings Report is scheduled for release on Tuesday March 31st. The report surveys farmer planting intentions for major crops, including corn, soybeans, wheat, and more. This report gives us the first real snapshot of what planted acreage...
Searching for Iowa’s Best Burger
For those searching for the best burger in Iowa, the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association are making the quest easier as they announce the top 10 finalists in the 17th annual Iowa’s Best Burger Contest. More than 350 restaurants were...
2025 saw almost record volume and value for pork exports
2025 proved to be another strong year for U.S. pork exports, with a volume of 2.9 million metric tons. This is three percent shy of the 2024 record, but it was still the third highest on record. Value was three percent down from 2024’s record but the second highest...
Understanding soil variability can improve crop management
Understanding what is happening below the soil surface can help farmers make more precise agronomic decisions and better target their input investments. New tools are allowing growers and agronomists to collect more detailed soil data that can reveal variability...
