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Southern Rust has been detected again in Iowa
Last year, Southern Rust made a late appearance in corn fields across Iowa and wreaked havoc on yields. Yesterday, Southern Rust was officially confirmed in a few Iowa counties, which is particularly alarming considering the similar timing to last year's problems. However, farmers learned many lessons last year that will help in managing the disease this year. Dan Bjorklund, technical agronomist at Landus Cooperative, said he had a good idea a couple weeks ago that Southern Rust was making its...
Planting window has been wide open in Southwest Iowa
Aside from a few storms earlier this spring, the weather has been mostly wide open for planting season. With most of the crops planted at this point, farmers are now waiting for some timely rains. Southwest Iowa Beck’s Agronomist Nate Meyer said the planting window...
Outlook for summer and fall weather
The past week of weather in Iowa has felt more like July than May. The warm and dry conditions have allowed farmers to move quickly with planting, but the heat has some questioning if it is still spring. With abnormal warmth in mid-May, what do the summer and fall...
SAF Coalition commends House Ways and Means Committee for advancing 45Z extension
Today, the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition’s Executive Director, Alison Graab, issued the following statement in response to the House Ways and Means Committee’s inclusion of a 45Z extension in its budget reconciliation markup. “Sustainable aviation fuel...
Ernst: keep food policy off Rodeo Drive
It’s been more than two years since California’s Proposition 12 took effect, and pork producers across the country are still grappling with its consequences. The law has done little to improve animal welfare, critics say, but has created significant financial strain,...
South American Weather and Crop Update (5-13-25)
Concerns about the dry weather are becoming more real in South America- in fact, it's to the point where the USDA is now adjusting its crop projections. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said there's some rain in the forecast, but the overall climate is going to...
Farmers travel to Washington D.C. to talk labor issues
Officials with the White House, Department of Labor, and USDA hosted a roundtable with farmers and ranchers to talk about labor challenges facing agriculture. Officials with the White House, Department of Labor, and USDA hosted a roundtable with farmers and ranchers...
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Grassley discusses farmer concerns at Iowa State Fair
United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has visited the Iowa State Fair at least once every year since 1974. On Friday he made his annual visit to the fairgrounds and stopped by the Iowa Ag Radio exhibit. Senator Grassley tells the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network...
Iowa State Fair crowns 2025 Big Boar champion
While it may not have been another record, this year’s big boar at the Iowa State Fair still tipped the scales at a hefty 1,268 pounds. The winning pig, Duke, is owned by Brian Britt out of Monticello, Iowa. Britt said he has raised Duke since he was born. In order to...
Wetter weather leads to enhanced disease pressure
We’ve had a very successful crop year, but the intense amount of moisture recently has led to some concerns. Emily Prevo, an AgriGold agronomist in southern Iowa, said farmers are worried about water pooling and nitrogen runoff from all of the rain. Prevo said the...
U.S. ag trade deficit continues climbing in 2025
The U.S. agricultural trade deficit hit a record high in the first half of 2025. Bloomberg said that only highlights American farmers’ longtime dominant role in world exports, which is hurt by President Donald Trump’s trade wars. Agricultural export value trailed the...
Grilling up fun at the Iowa Pork Producers Tent
Mother Nature tried to put a damper on the Iowa State Fair yesterday, spending much of the morning tossing thunderstorms our way. Nothing severe, but enough to keep the early crowds in check. By the time I arrived for my 11 a.m. “celebrity chef” shift at the Iowa Pork...
