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ARC/PLC enrollment delayed until after planting
Enrollment for the USDA’s ARC and PLC Programs will not open until after the 2026 planting season. AgroLatam said the announcement comes as USDA readies a 61-page final rule implementing updates required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. Key changes include higher PLC reference prices, a 90 percent guarantee level for ARC, and expanded base acre eligibility for farmers with historically non-program crops. USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce said...
South American planting is behind schedule
You don’t have to tell farmers how much Mother Nature can change our plans. In Iowa alone, we went from a multi-year drought to a period when we were caught back up in a matter of weeks. And then suddenly, we were back in a drought again. While it probably isn't...
NCBA is making lower taxes a top priority
Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is expiring at the end of next year, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is making a major push on tax policy. In the latest episode of the Beltway Beef Podcast, NCBA President Mark Eisele said the fight for lower taxes is very...
Keep pigs and people safe during show season
Biosecurity is an important key to success in the pork industry, especially during show season when pigs from different states mingle. John Heins, manager of producer relations for the National Pork Board, said show pig producers need to have several important factors...
Grassley dismisses farm bill as rider on disaster aid measure
As Congress works on disaster aid for the hurricane-ravaged Southeast, some are proposing attaching a farm bill to the relief package. Longtime Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says he won’t go for it. For months Iowa’s Chuck Grassley has stated that he expects another...
Farmers invited on tour exploring the impact of EU policies on agriculture
Iowa Farm Bureau members are invited to apply for an International Market Study Tour from June 7-15, 2025, visiting Brussels and the Netherlands. The tour will explore agricultural practices and climate-policy impacts in Europe, with opportunities to engage directly...
Renewable Fuels Association elects new officers for a new chapter
We are at a pivotal stage for the biofuels industry in this country. We are on the cusp of being a part of the future in environmentally responsible aviation fuel options but seem to be no closer than we were a year ago. The industry has been vocal about its ability...
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More Ag News
South American Weather and Crop Update (1-21-25)
Some drier weather conditions have entered South America, which is partially responsible for the leap in market prices that we saw today. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the current weather patterns. That dry weather is allowing harvest in...
Upcoming beef reports will signify market trends
While U.S. cattle farmers and ranchers have seen high prices for their livestock, that does translate to increased cost for the consumer. Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said there are several upcoming reports that will tell us if...
Potential Canada and Mexico import tariffs and their impact on ag trade
As President Trump takes office for his second term, policy decisions are being made across Washington D.C. that will have wide reaching impacts in the world of agricultural trade. On Monday President Trump announced he is considering enacting 25% tariffs on Canada...
Trump names USDA Undersecretary Nominees
President-elect Donald Trump has announced a slate of undersecretary nominees for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Via social media, Trump announced that he will nominate Richard Fordyce as Agriculture undersecretary for farm production and conservation; Dudley...
New President, same ag issues persist
As President Trump begins another term, America’s agricultural sector faces critical challenges that demand urgent attention. Farmers and ranchers are grappling with labor shortages, trade disputes, and rising costs—issues that have persisted for far too long. These...
