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Midwest heat raises late-season corn and soybean concerns
Extreme heat remains a major agricultural issue across a large portion of the Corn Belt. Heat warnings stretch from Iowa and Kansas through Illinois and toward Ohio, with heat indexes expected to reach 105 to 110 degrees in some areas. The timing matters. USDA reported last week that 13% of corn was mature as of Aug. 30, while 13% of soybeans were dropping leaves. That leaves portions of both crops vulnerable to late-season stress. The immediate concern may be greatest for soybeans still...
Upcoming USDA reports to feature key data for hog producers
USDA livestock reports can offer valuable insights into the hog industry. Lee Schulz, Ph.D., chief economist of Ever.Ag, says that reports such as the annual livestock slaughter report, set for release on April 22, can give producers a snapshot of the state of the...
New data shows continued threat to food affordability due to California Prop. 12
Equipped with brand new retail and U.S. Department of Agriculture data reinforcing California Proposition 12’s detrimental impacts on both producers and consumers, 105 American pork producers from 23 states took to Capitol Hill, advocating for their livelihoods with...
Filing season shows impact of farm tax changes
Farm families are getting a clearer picture of how last summer’s federal tax changes could affect long-term business planning after working through another filing season. In an interview with the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke...
To replant or not to replant, that is the question
This week’s unpredictable, severe weather shows just how quickly conditions can go from favorable to harmful for the crops in Iowa. No farmer wants to plan on making replant decisions, but it’s still important to keep in mind for when the crop season inevitably throws...
No E15, farm aid expected in GOP budget bill
Year-round E15 and additional farm aid are not expected to be included in a new GOP party-line budget bill. United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says that the reconciliation bill will not include relief for farmers. According to Grassley, the White House has...
Farmers can’t afford all the fertilizer they need this spring
A new American Farm Bureau survey shows a large majority of farmers can’t afford enough fertilizer this year amid skyrocketing prices. Nearly half of Midwest farmers say they can’t afford all the fertilizer they need this year. Almost 70 percent in the Northeast and...
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Soy checkoff continues evolving with changing demand needs
Farmers across the country are taking a harder look at every dollar moving through their operations. With tight margins, elevated input costs, and continued uncertainty in the ag economy, some soybean growers may question whether they are truly seeing value from the...
Iowa Farm Bureau accepting applications for “Grow Your Future” award
Iowa Farm Bureau is now accepting applications for its Grow Your Future Award, offering one young farmer $10,000 to scale their ag-related business. The competition highlights Farm Bureau members ages 18 to 35 who are building creative, value-added businesses from...
Feenstra says year-round E15 has strong bipartisan support
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives was able to pass legislation that would allow E15 to permanently be sold year-round. By unleashing ethanol production, demand for corn can increase, fuel prices can go down, and America can become more energy...
U.S. Export Sales Report (5-14-26)
This week’s export sales were mostly a repeat of recent trends once again. However, there were a few notable differences. Allendale commodity broker Ben Breisch said old crop corn sales were lacking, but that market has been so strong recently that this is a minor...
Latest Cattle on Feed Report hints at minor herd rebuild
April’s USDA Cattle on Feed Report provided a breakdown of steers and heifers on feed with heifers falling to 37 percent of the total on-feed inventory. Typically, this is the initial signaling of herd rebuilding. ShayLe Stewart, a livestock market analyst with DTN,...
