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Reference price adjustments aim to support farm income
After more than a decade without major updates, reference prices used in federal farm programs are being adjusted, a change that could impact producer revenue moving forward. In an interview with the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said those updates were included in the same H.R. 1 legislation passed last summer that also addressed tax policy affecting agriculture. Reference prices play a key role in the farm safety net, helping determine support...
Rural America needs more ag tax professionals
Tax season can be a stressful time of year, and that is especially true for farm country. As the number of tax preparers who are familiar with the unique complexities of agricultural income declines, a new program from Iowa State University is being developed to offer...
Rising farmer sentiment in March surprised some industry experts
Despite rapidly rising input prices for farmers the March Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer registered a rise in producer sentiment. Michael Langemeier, the director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture at Purdue University, says the rising March...
AFBF continues to push for new farm bill
The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging Congress to continue work on a new farm bill. More than one month ago, the House Agriculture Committee passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act on a bipartisan basis. Brian Glenn, director of government affairs for...
NCGA survey shows rising alarm over fertilizer costs
U.S. corn farmers are growing increasingly concerned about fertilizer affordability and availability, with worries extending beyond the current planting season. That’s according to new survey results released by the National Corn Growers Association. Surveys conducted...
Spring volatility gives way to El Niño watch
Spring weather across Iowa and much of the Midwest has been delivering the kind of rapid temperature swings farmers know all too well. Warm afternoons that hint at an early planting push have quickly been followed by colder air, gusty winds, and even lingering shots...
Quiet April WASDE report still contained important information
The April WASDE report lined up with the market expectations and made virtually no changes this month. However, that’s not to say that the report did not contain valuable information moving forward. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the April WASDE included...
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U.S. blockade in Strait of Hormuz will have long-lasting impact
The Iran conflict has escalated further, as President Donald Trump announced a plan for a full U.S. Navy blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the energy and fertilizer industries are wondering what that will do to prices. Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer...
U.S. Red Meat Symposium brings U.S. exporters and Mexican importers together
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is conducting a U.S. Red Meat Symposium, April 14-17 in Mexico City, which will allow U.S. exporters to meet face-to-face with importers and other prospective customers from throughout Mexico. This is the second edition of the...
Adjustments to the soybean balance sheets in USDA April WASDE report
The monthly WASDE reports from USDA provide a snapshot of the current state of U.S. and World Soybean Supply and Demand Estimates. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski notes the changes to the U.S. domestic use numbers in the April WASDE report. The...
Advisors urge farmers to use tax data for broader financial planning
Farm financial records can offer more than a snapshot of past performance: they can serve as a roadmap for future decisions, according to agricultural finance experts. As producers prepare tax returns for filing this week, advisors say the process provides an...
Nutrien programs offer revenue paths for Iowa growers
Iowa farmers looking for ways to improve profitability may have another opportunity through sustainability programs that reward management decisions already happening in many corn and soybean systems. Sally Fliss with Nutrien says the company’s FarmSmart programs are...
