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Looking for profits amid heightened grain market volatility
The markets are already volatile at this time of year, but when you add a few global news headlines on top of that, you get what we are currently seeing in the ag marketplace: chaos, chaos, and more chaos. Michael Weidner, director of grain origination and producer strategy with Landus Cooperative, said everything is combining to create a perfect storm of market volatility. Weidner said the recent reports from the USDA have created a very interesting situation for the grain markets. Weidner...
Try to block out the noise when marketing grain
With the high amount of volatility in the ag marketplace right now, it can be tricky for farmers to market their grain. However, it’s possible to take advantage of some price rallies and protect your bottom line at the same time. Michael Weidner, director of grain...
Latest USDA domestic fertilizer expansion efforts
On Tuesday Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins provided updates on federal efforts to expand domestic fertilizer production in both short-term and long-term capacities. Speaking at USDA headquarters Rollins detailed some of the size and scope of the infrastructure...
Secretary Naig invites Iowans to embark on agritourism adventures with the 2026 Choose Iowa Passport
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today invited Iowans to hit the road and experience the best of Iowa agriculture through the 2026 Choose Iowa Passport, a free, interactive digital platform that connects consumers with farms, local food, beverages and...
NCBA says screwworm threat requires preparation, not panic
The cattle industry continues to closely monitor the growing threat of New World screwworm as detections move closer to the U.S. border. During the recent NAFB Washington Watch event, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Executive Director of Government Affairs...
Meat demand is rising even as prices climb higher
As the summer grilling season kicks off, consumers may find higher prices at the meat counter. However, those prices might not reduce demand. Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said consumers are eating more meat than ever before as...
South American Weather and Crop Update (5-19-26)
After several weeks of dry weather that started to raise concerns over crop conditions, farms in Brazil finally found some relief in some timely rains. Allendale commodity broker Ben Breisch said that rain may have still come in a little too late, however. Breisch...
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More Ag News
Corn farmers looking out for tar spot and southern rust in 2026
Iowa farmers are always on the lookout for disease issues, but there are two diseases from 2025 that have farmers the most alert: tar spot and southern rust. Last year, these two diseases popped up in unexpected areas around the country, causing some of the highest...
Governor Reynolds signs pair of ag bills, including Iowa Farm Act
On Monday Governor Kim Reynolds signed Iowa House File 2771, featuring the Farm to Faucet Water Quality package, and Senate File 2465, also known as the Iowa Farm Act, at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. House File 2771 is primarily the state’s fiscal year 2027...
Fertilizer price probe opens as farm margins tighten
The Federal Trade Commission has opened an industrywide investigation into fertilizer prices after sharp increases during spring planting. Reuters reported that FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said the agency is using civil investigative demands to gather documents and...
USMEF says African Growth and Opportunity Act could help create trade access
The Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), which was created to incentivize two-way trade between the U.S. and sub-Saharan African countries, allows the president to offer duty-free access to certain nations. However, some of the countries benefitting from AGOA...
Interior official highlights ranchers’ stewardship role
When I was in Washington, D.C. recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Karen Budd-Falen, Associate Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Interior, about several issues affecting western livestock producers. One topic that generated significant discussion was...
