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August Cattle on Feed report shows decline in placements
USDA published the August Cattle on Feed report last Friday and while it shows increased cattle inventory in feedlots compared to last year, there are still lower placements. USDA livestock analyst Anthony Fischer breaks down the numbers in the August report. Fischer says that the number of placements into feedlots were significantly lower than expectations. That was USDA livestock analyst Anthony Fischer.
Major reports can cause sudden market shifts
As we saw with the August WASDE report, sudden surprises can cause the grain prices to jump up at a moment’s notice. With the right preparations, farmers can take advantage of those price rallies to get premium prices for their stored grain. Michael Weidner, director...
U.S.-Canada trade negotiations are vital to agriculture success
U.S. farmers and ranchers are paying close attention to the negotiations on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. Virginia Houston, the senior director of congressional affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, highlights the vital roles Mexico and Canada...
Active August weather could boost Iowa crops
Strong thunderstorms rolled through Iowa on the opening morning of the Iowa State Fair, putting the weather front and center. While the storms may not have been what fairgoers wanted to see, the broader weather pattern could be arriving at a good time for Iowa crops....
August WASDE report drove U.S. grain prices higher
Overnight news of attacks on two Russian shipping ports had the markets higher to start the day, and the August WASDE report brought a few surprises that allowed to grain markets to hold on to those gains and go even further. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride...
Lower disease pressure gives Iowa corn growers more flexibility in 2026
Now that we are in the stretch run of the growing season, it won’t be long until corn growers fire up their combines and begin harvesting. However, there are still a lot of things that farmers can do the rest of the growing season and during harvest to optimize their...
Fertilizer, diesel costs remain elevated heading into fall
Fertilizer and diesel prices remain well above recent-year levels, adding pressure to farmers making fall input decisions for the 2027 crop. USDA data analyzed by the University of Illinois shows anhydrous ammonia averaged $915.50 per ton on August 7, up 16 percent...
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A winning farewell for Reynolds at steer show
Governor Kim Reynolds went out a winner in her final Governor’s Charity Steer Show Saturday at the Iowa State Fair. Reynolds teamed up with Kayle Englin of Orange City and his steer, Norm, for her final trip through the show ring as governor. By the end of the...
Norm ready to take the big stage at 2026 Governor’s Charity Steer Show
Governor Kim Reynolds is participating in her final Governor’s Charity Steer Show as Iowa Governor at this year’s 2026 fair. She is the celebrity show person for Norm, the steer of exhibitor Kayle Englin of Orange City Iowa. Norm’s sponsors are the Iowa Beef Industry...
Celebrating 100 years of Pioneer continues at the Iowa State Fair
August 13th marks the launch of an iconic event for Iowans, the Iowa State Fair. The first day of the fair coincides with an important date for the folks at Pioneer as the company celebrates its 100th year. Doug Reynolds of Pioneer took some time to talk about the...
U.S. Export Sales Report (8-14-26)
The export sales report this week didn’t have as much of an impact as the August WASDE report. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn markets are keeping an eye on the old crop shipment numbers. McBride said the soybean markets are monitoring the...
Sales of agricultural tractors and combines decline
U.S. sales of agricultural tractors dropped nearly 11% in July 2026 compared to the year before, with combine sales declining more than 5% in the same period. This is according to new data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Canadian agricultural tractor...
