Top Stories
Economic issues impact small communities the hardest
Declining farm income, reduced equipment sales, rising inventory and financing pressures, and trade uncertainty all create ripple effects that impact farmers and the communities they are a part of. A recent hearing with the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship highlighted the impacts of these issues. Jay Funke, past chairman of the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA), said he drew on his experiences as he testified before the committee. Funke said farmers are...
Cattle producers want to keep Section 199A around
Several tax bills have been recently introduced in Congress in order to protect several key tax provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and ensure cattle producers can keep more of their hard-earned money. In the latest episode of the National Cattlemen’s Beef...
Tips to extend the life of farm tires
Every minute in the field counts, and durable tires are the key to keeping up. Firestone Ag Tire expert Bill Durivage says tire technology and design boost durability, allowing you to cover more ground with fewer replacements and greater reliability. Proper tire tread...
Farm Bill progress: optimism meets legislative realities
With a new Congress in place and fresh leadership in the Senate, the timetable for the next Farm Bill is taking shape amid shifting political priorities. Lawmakers face the challenge of crafting bipartisan legislation that addresses agriculture, nutrition, and rural...
U.S. agriculture directly in the bullseye
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said she doesn’t believe the U.S. will impose tariffs on Saturday, February 1, as President Donald Trump had pledged. Reuters says her administration has already put a response plan in place if it becomes needed. The report says...
Ethanol industry confident in new EPA head Lee Zeldin
The ethanol industry is confident that newly confirmed EPA chief Lee Zeldin will be supportive of its top issues. Zeldin, a former New York Representative, has been critical of ethanol in the past, but the industry is confident that will change now that the...
Weak La Nina will continue into February
In December, the weather officially entered into a weak La Nina phase once again. Justin Glisan, state climatologist for Iowa, said there are plenty of recent data points to compare this winter to, as we saw a “triple dip” La Nina from 2020-2022. Glisan said a weak La...
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Fighting tar spot with early action and solutions
Farmers must stay vigilant to protect their crops from a variety of diseases that threaten yield and quality. One persistent challenge is tar spot, a fungal disease that has become a recurring concern in many corn-growing regions. As it continues to spread,...
Iowa State University hosts 97th annual Iowa FFA Convention
Iowa FFA members from across the state have taken over Ames for the 97th annual Iowa FFA Convention. As the longtime host for the event, the staff at Iowa State University never pass up the opportunity to network with these future ag industry leaders and show them...
USMEF seminar connects U.S. red meat exporters with African businesses
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) hosted a two-day trade seminar in Accra, Ghana, bringing together some 30 U.S. red meat exporters with 76 buyers from 12 African nations. Importers and exporters held direct meetings and heard presentations from USMEF and USDA...
Can modern fungicides combat uncertain outcomes?
Attempting to predict the unpredictable with weather, disease, and even market volatility can leave farmers frustrated. However, controlling what you can control and selecting the right inputs to provide consistent return on investment can provide some peace of mind...
U.S. ethanol exports up 27 percent year-over-year
U.S. ethanol exports have crossed the one-billion-gallon threshold halfway through Marketing Year (MY) 2024/2025, a 27 percent increase from the same period in MY 2023/2024, according to new information from the USDA. The sharp rise in ethanol sales contributed to an...
