Top Stories
Prop 12 battle continues as farm bill stalls again
Yesterday, the Senate Farm Bill failed to pass out of the Senate Ag Committee after Democrats rejected the Republican proposal in a narrow 10-11 vote. Now, the Farm Bill- and all of its attached legislation- does not have a clear path forward. However, groups like the National Pork Producers Council are still adamant that the eventual farm bill must contain legislation to address California Proposition 12. Iowa Pork Producers Association President Dean Frazer, who runs a farrow-to-finish...
June forecast for meat prices
In the latest livestock, dairy, and poultry outlook from USDA, the Department of Agriculture provides the updated meat price forecasts for this month. USDA World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski says the adjustments for cattle were slight. He says the...
Corn and soybean planting near completion nationwide
Most U.S. farmers have nearly finished spring planting as crop conditions remain generally favorable. According to USDA data reported by Successful Farming, 97% of the nation’s corn crop has been planted, while soybean planting is more than 90% complete. Kentucky,...
Check on your tires to minimize equipment downtime
Downtime in the field not only slows you down, but it also hurts your pocket. Regardless of the stage you are in during the growing season, keeping equipment in optimal conditions is crucial for maximizing its use. Greg Jones, the senior manager for field engineering...
Hesitation could hinder screwworm eradication efforts
The effort to prevent New World Screwworm from reestablishing itself in the United States continues on multiple fronts. While officials are expanding the infrastructure needed to combat the pest, animal health experts say success will also depend on vigilance and...
South American Weather and Crop Update (6-17-26)
The upcoming forecasts for Brazil and Argentina finally contain some rain, and while that is normally appreciated, it can cause harvest delays. However, Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said that shouldn’t be a problem. McBride said harvest in Argentina is...
Midwest set up for beneficial growing conditions
Last week the Midwest and the Corn Belt experienced widespread severe weather with storms, damaging winds, and heavy rains. This week the weather pattern should be more tame but with adequate rainfall still helping crops through critical growth stages says USDA...
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Naig stresses value of USMCA framework
Trade agreements often receive the most attention when negotiations become contentious, but for Iowa agriculture, their greatest value is often found in the stability they provide. Canada and Mexico remain Iowa's two largest international trading partners, making the...
Boozman defends excluding Prop 12 from farm bill
Senate Ag Chair John Boozman shares reasons for his decision not to limit the out-of-state reach of California’s Prop 12 restriction on extreme animal confinement in his farm bill draft. Boozman says although Republicans are ready to vote to restrict California’s...
How El Niño will impact agriculture
The weather pattern shifting to El Niño this year has been a topic of conversation in weather forecasts for some time. Chad Merrill, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, says the El Niño weather pattern arrived earlier this month. Merrill says the forecast for July is...
Grain markets brace for key USDA reports
Grain traders are positioning for one of the most closely watched government report releases of the year as USDA prepares to issue its Planted Acreage and Quarterly Grain Stocks reports on Tuesday. Market analysts say the reports could significantly influence corn,...
U.S. Export Sales Report (6-29-26)
Last week’s export sales held a couple of surprises, particularly in the corn exports. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales may look disappointing, but they were actually good compared to the 5-year average. McBride said the soybean sales were...
