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Extreme heat impacts the Midwest
Extreme heat has been impacting the western two-thirds of the United States in recent days as crops are in critical stages of growth. One example of the intense heat occurred recently in the badlands of South Dakota says USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. Although temperatures are not expected to be as extreme this week, the threat to crops and grasslands in the Midwest still remains says Rippey. Some relief is on the way with more cloudy skies and expected rainfall, but Rippey says some of the...
Iowa Ag concerns tied to outdated policies
The clock is ticking on the long-overdue Farm Bill, with just three months left before Congress may be forced to extend it for yet another year. That would push the current bill—already outdated—more than halfway through a second life it was never intended to have....
Extreme heat creating concerns for Iowa’s livestock and crops
The extreme heat in recent days has felt more like late July or August and is causing stress for livestock and crops in Iowa. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the more immediate concern is for livestock. High humidity and overnight temperatures in the upper 70s and...
U.S. Export Sales Report (6-26-25)
Export sales are looking good ahead of the Quarterly Grain Stocks report that will be released next Monday. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales were especially great in the latest data. Soybeans also looked good this week, which is a far cry...
Tar spot has already been observed in East Central Iowa
Pollination is quickly approaching for corn and soybeans, and it’s important to make sure that crops are performing at a high level in order to maximize yields down the road. Diseases can enter and impact a field very quickly, so prevention is key to disease...
Landus, Iowa’s largest farmer-owned cooperative, launches nationwide CEO search
Landus is launching a nationwide search for its next Chief Executive Officer. Since April, the Board of Directors and interim CEO Sam Caton have met with farmer-owners and employees to gather feedback. Their input has been crucial in identifying the qualities needed...
Naig reports encouraging crop conditions in much of Iowa
Before planters even rolled into Iowa fields this spring, there were early warnings that a hot and dry summer could pose serious challenges for the 2025 growing season. While summer is still in its first week, crop conditions across much of the state are holding up...
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More Ag News
Warm temperatures will bring harvest here before we know it
The end of this crop year has been defined by disease pressure, specifically from diseases like Southern Rust and Sudden Death Syndrome. Unfortunately, farmers who did not prepare with fungicides are already seeing significant yield losses. Southwest Iowa Beck’s...
Iowa rural roadway safety considerations during harvest season
Rural roadway safety is one of the biggest safety challenges during harvest season. Dan Neenan of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety says that rural drivers need to demonstrate patience as farmers share the roadways. Neenan says that motorists and...
Fertilizer decisions for 2026 crop will be a balancing act
Fertilizer prices aren’t at historic highs, but relative to last year’s prices and the current prices for crop commodities, they are elevated. According to data from USDA and analysis by University of Illinois Farmdoc, fertilizer prices in the state are 6% to 20%...
USMEF Heartland team reviews market investments in Korea
A team of producers representing the pork, beef, corn and soybean industries visited Korea last week to see first-hand the investments the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is making in the market. Korea is the leading export market for U.S. beef, with purchases...
Rollins: Mexico cooperation key to screwworm defense
The New World screwworm has not entered U.S. herds, but the threat has officials on guard. The parasite can devastate livestock, particularly cattle, and poses risks to any mammal. A recent case in a U.S. traveler returning from El Salvador underscored that danger....
