Top Stories
China’s soybean purchases seen as symbolic, not transformative
It’s been months of uncertainty between the United States and China since President Trump placed new tariffs on Chinese goods, sparking another round of back-and-forth tension in the ag sector. Now, an agreement reached last week has China pledging to resume purchases of U.S. soybeans. The announced totals don’t make much of a dent in what’s been missing from the marketplace, but many say it’s still a step forward in rebuilding one of America’s most critical export relationships. A recent...
Canada believes tariffs will continue despite upcoming hearing
President Donald Trump said that he, personally, wants to attend next month’s Supreme Court hearing on his tariff policies. Beginning November 5th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on whether the president can unilaterally impose tariffs under emergency...
Rollins announces immediate farm aid, reopening of FSA offices
In response to mounting pressure from farmers and their legislators, President Trump has authorized the early release of emergency farm aid, despite the ongoing government shutdown. The president directed USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to immediately free up $3 billion...
IDALS urges Iowans to be on the lookout for spotted lanternflies
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is asking Iowans to be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly (SLF) insects. The colorful but invasive and destructive insect is native to Asia and was unintentionally introduced into Pennsylvania in 2014....
U.S. Export Sales Estimates (10-24-25)
With the government shutdown still dragging on, the grain markets are searching for any news to trade on. While there is no official news on exports, we can still look at the estimates to get a rough idea of what the weekly sales might look like. Allendale commodity...
Smart Swaps keeps dairy strong in school meals
School meal programs have been through a lot of change in recent years. From the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act under the Obama Administration to multiple revisions and rollbacks that followed, school nutrition teams have had to constantly adjust to new federal...
ICA responds to President Trump’s comments on the cattle industry
Yesterday, President Trump made a post to his Truth Social account regarding U.S. cattle producers and his plan to increase beef imports from Argentina in an effort to lower beef prices for consumers. The post is causing what the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA)...
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More Ag News
Naig says Congress has wasted enough time
As the government shutdown drags into its twenty-eighth day, frustration across the country is boiling over. From farmers waiting on FSA offices to reopen, to families relying on SNAP benefits, real Americans are paying the price while Congress remains stuck in its...
October is National Manufacturing Month
October is National Manufacturing Month, and manufacturers are incredibly important for the ag industry. Manufacturing is also a big part of Iowa’s economy, with over 220,000 Iowans employed in the manufacturing industry. Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra said...
Digging into the relationship between crop yields and soil fertility
At the end of harvest season, growers do not have much time to take a break and enjoy the hard work of the growing season. It’s also the time when farmers begin to start building a plan for next year. A big portion of crop yield is tied directly to soil fertility...
Former ISU professor to receive prestigious USMEF award
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) announced the 2025 recipients of its two most prestigious awards, who will be honored Nov. 13 at the USMEF Strategic Planning Conference in Indianapolis. National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) CEO Ted...
Secretary Naig, Governor Reynolds encourage farmers to plant fall cover crops
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Governor Kim Reynolds are encouraging Iowa farmers to plant cover crops this fall to improve water quality and save money on next year’s crop insurance premiums. The savings are offered through the Iowa Department of Agriculture...
