Top Stories
Farmers face another year of tight margins
U.S. farmers are entering another growing season with tight profit margins as lower crop prices, elevated input costs, and trade uncertainty weigh on the outlook for 2026. Corn and soybean prices remain below levels seen during recent highs, while expenses for fertilizer, fuel, seed, and machinery continue to pressure farm budgets. Economists say many producers may break even or post losses unless yields are strong or markets improve later this year. Dakota News Now reports some growers are...
Encouraging conversations on carbon pipelines
Conversations about the pros and cons of carbon capture pipelines and other carbon technologies are very much ongoing, and many of those conversations have a lot of emotion involved. Joe Heinrich, executive director of the Smart Carbon Network, said there are...
Delayed farm bill could limit ag program funds
Growing concern over a government shutdown but also over a delay in passing a new farm bill and how that may affect safety programs like crop insurance during a dry year here in Iowa. It appears politics are being played with the annual defense spending bill in the...
Protecting yield potential with biological products
During the growing season, farmers want to see their plants reach their full potential. The management practices that are implemented during the season all have an impact on whether a plant reaches its full yield potential. Should biologicals be a part of that plan...
Ethanol industry supports GREET model for scientific emissions accuracy
American ethanol organizations like the U.S. Grains Council, Growth Energy, and the Renewable Fuels Association sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on sustainable aviation fuel. When it comes to global actions to decarbonize the aviation transportation...
Vilsack marks the anniversary of Climate-Smart Commodities Program
Climate-smart practices are nothing new to the agriculture industry. We have been constantly looking for ways to do a better job of protecting our land, water, and air. Without these, we cannot hope to be successful either now or in future generations. A year ago, the...
Iowa business among semi-finalists for AFBF Ag Innovation Challenge
Farm Bureau this week named the ten semi-finalists that will compete in the Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Among the finalists is Appanoose Manufactured Products, which is based in Moulton, Iowa. American Farm Bureau Director of Industry Relations, Chase...
Video
More Ag News
Farm bank lending increased in 2023
Agricultural loan demand increased in 2023, and agricultural lending by U.S. farm banks grew 6.7 percent to $110 billion. The American Bankers Association’s annual Farm Bank Performance Report credits elevated production costs, commodity price volatility, and a return...
South American Weather and Crop Update (3-26-24)
Argentina is still dealing with crop concerns from the amount of rain they’ve gotten as of late. Even with that rain, though, dryness is still looming over South America. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest weather conditions in Brazil...
Vibrant market for U.S. red meat in South Korea
An agribusiness trade mission organized by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is underway in Seoul, South Korea, led by Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) helped coordinate the...
Naig gives update on legislative efforts for agriculture
As the state house gets ready to wind down for the year, and tractors and farms get ready to wind up, we have decided to take a look at a few of the initiatives that the Iowa government looked at concerning agriculture policy. Two of those come right to the forefront,...
Cattle on feed report shows big jump in February placements
The latest Cattle on Feed report was released on March 22nd by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and it shows a significant increase in placements in feedlots in February. The latest Cattle on Feed report from USDA indicates that placements in...
