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Wider tassel wrap issues put focus on genetics

Wider tassel wrap issues put focus on genetics

Many Midwest farmers are finding more tassel wrap in their fields this season than in years past. The condition occurs when tassels remain trapped within the plant’s upper leaves, limiting pollen shed and interfering with pollination. That lack of pollination can lead to yield losses in the affected areas. Agronomists say the rise in cases this year has made the problem harder to ignore. Agronomists say the rise in tassel wrap this season is linked not just to the weather, but also to the...

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RFS and USDA July bean and corn balance sheet

RFS and USDA July bean and corn balance sheet

How does the recently announced Renewable Fuel Standard proposal play a role in USDA's U.S. soybean and corn supply and demand estimate in the July WASDE report? USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer says the RFS proposal plays a big role in the soybean numbers from this...

Great weather for pollination in Southwest Iowa

Great weather for pollination in Southwest Iowa

If you look at the nearest corn field, you might see tassels at the tops of each of the stalks of corn. That means pollination is in full swing, and farmers are praying for the stars to align and allow their crops to reach their full potential yields. Southwest Iowa...

Shrinking labor force poised to threaten U.S. economic growth

Shrinking labor force poised to threaten U.S. economic growth

Declining labor force participation, lower birth rates and a collapse in net migration are combining to squeeze the U.S. labor supply. The looming labor shortage could begin to weigh on businesses and strain economic growth as soon as later this year, according to a...

Iowa Eyes Below-Average Missouri River Runoff

Iowa Eyes Below-Average Missouri River Runoff

Despite a wetter year in parts of the region, the runoff in the Missouri River Basin remains below average. Years of drought have left a lasting impact, and the system has yet to recover fully. Iowa depends on the Missouri River to the west and the Mississippi River...

Markets decided to sell off in reaction to July WASDE

Markets decided to sell off in reaction to July WASDE

There were slight expectations that the USDA would adjust corn yields in this month’s WASDE report, but that did not end up happening. And while the report as a whole was still fundamentally friendly to the marketplace, the commodity prices did not like missing out on...

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U.S. Export Sales Report (7-24-25)

U.S. Export Sales Report (7-24-25)

Corn sales rebounded this week after a disappointing performance last week. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an analysis of this week’s numbers. McBride said bean sales looked weaker at first glance, but strength remained in the old crop numbers. McBride...