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How Southern Rust changed Iowa corn plans
Just ahead of the 2025 growing season, many in the crop protection industry expected tar spot to be the primary disease concern in corn. Instead, southern rust emerged as the dominant threat across much of Iowa, forcing growers to quickly evaluate their management plans as the season unfolded. Todd Cogdill with FMC says even those watching the disease closely were surprised by how quickly southern rust took over. Instead of tar spot, southern rust became the disease that separated growers who...
Possible expansion for dairy on the horizon?
It had been a rough few years for the dairy industry. The markets had not been good, and we had been seeing family farms closing up shop left and right. Those who were fighting to keep going said that they felt that good times had to be on the horizon once again....
Take the initiative against SCN during SCN Action Month
BASF Agricultural Solutions and The SCN Coalition are partnering together to recognize October as SCN Action Month for the fourth straight year. The partnership brings farmers the latest tools, research, and resources in order to effectively manage soybean cyst...
Despite crop adjustments, USDA still projects a record harvest
USDA made slight changes to its October crop production forecasts, but as expected, it still predicts record soybean and near-record corn crops. USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer said the October crop forecasts, after adjustments, had no surprises. As for the soybean...
Grassley discusses timeline for potential new farm bill in 2025
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says that it is looking more and more likely that a new farm bill is not passed in time in 2024. With a time crunch for Congress following the presidential election in early November, and still no farm bill compromise in place, another...
U.S. corn production up while soybean production drops
Friday’s USDA Crop Production Report showed corn production is forecast at 15.2 billion bushels, up less than one percent from the previous forecast, but down one percent from last year. Soybean growers are expected to increase their production by ten percent from...
A Christmas miracle amid a September hurricane
For a few weeks, we have been focused on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia. We have stories of loss and destruction. The disruption of lives has been breaking our hearts and leaving us all struggling to find ways to...
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More Ag News
South American Weather and Crop Update (1-14-25)
Some rain has returned to the forecast in South America, providing relief to the crops that were experiencing dry weather. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest conditions in Brazil and Argentina. Harvest is just getting started in...
More data released on foreign-owned land
Foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land remains a widely debated topic. Two additional years of data from 2022 and 2023 became available recently, and Danny Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said only a small portion of foreign-owned...
Grassley presses Trump EPA pick Zeldin on anti-ethanol votes in Congress
A senior United States senator pressed Donald Trump’s pick to head the EPA, Lee Zeldin, ahead of his confirmation hearing regarding Zeldin’s ethanol votes during his time in Congress. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) met recently with former New York Congressman Lee...
Autonomous equipment use to grow 12 percent
The autonomous harvester market size is expected to record a 12 percent annual growth rate between 2024 and 2032. Global Market Insights says the rise will be fueled by a surge in product launches and the melding of advanced technologies with farm management systems....
USB showing the value of the Soy Checkoff in 2025
Yesterday we talked with United Soybean Board (USB) Executive Committee Member Rob Ewoldt, an Iowa producer. We talked about some of the challenges and opportunities that the USB is looking at in 2025. We know that the current situation is going to make it tough for...
