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Federal farm safety net payments reach record $13.8 billion
Federal farm safety-net payments are expected to reach a record $13.8 billion for the 2025 crop year, reflecting the growing importance of government assistance to American agricultural producers. USDA says payments through the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs will be the largest since Congress established them in the 2014 farm bill. The programs provide financial protection when commodity prices or farm revenues fall below established thresholds. USDA says the...
Protecting Peking key to Iowa SCN management
Iowa soybean farmers have a powerful tool available in the fight against soybean cyst nematode, but researchers say how farmers use that tool now could determine how effective it remains in the future. Peking resistance has become increasingly available in soybean...
September USDA crop reports build upon August
The September WASDE and Crop Reports from USDA will be published on Friday September 11th. The September reports build upon initial field survey numbers from August. USDA World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski explains how the hard data is gathered by...
Midwest heat raises late-season corn and soybean concerns
Extreme heat remains a major agricultural issue across a large portion of the Corn Belt. Heat warnings stretch from Iowa and Kansas through Illinois and toward Ohio, with heat indexes expected to reach 105 to 110 degrees in some areas. The timing matters. USDA...
Beef markets may not need government intervention
The cattle industry continues to sort through questions surrounding the Trump administration's proposal to temporarily allow an additional 300,000 metric tons of imported beef into the U.S. market. At the same time, producers are dealing with the smallest U.S. cow...
Beef exports were strong in July while pork was down
July exports of U.S. beef climbed 6% year-over-year in value while volume was steady, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said the value increase was driven primarily by...
Another trade dispute leaves farmers facing the fallout
Trade tensions between the United States and Canada are creating another potential problem for American agriculture, this time for the dairy industry. Trade negotiations between the two countries broke down in August, followed by new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods....
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Propane can be used for more than just grain drying
Many farmers primarily use propane in grain drying equipment, but with the ever-rising prices of fuel and energy, propane can offer a more affordable power option. Michael Newland, director of agriculture business development at the Propane Education and Research...
Weather systems and precipitation slowing early harvest efforts
As farmers are beginning to harvest in Iowa, they are encountering some slowdowns with a widespread weather system delivering rain to the Midwest. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says that a moisture laden weather system is making its way across the country this week....
Pork producers advocating for industry priorities on Capitol Hill
The National Pork Producers Council has brought nearly 100 pig farmers from about 20 states to Capitol Hill for the Legislative Action Conference this week. NPPC Vice President Todd Marotz said they are meeting face-to-face with lawmakers and sharing the story of an...
Secretary Naig announces 125 schools receive Choose Iowa local food for schools grants
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that 125 Iowa public and private schools will receive funding through the Choose Iowa Local Food for Schools Program to purchase Iowa grown and raised food. Each participating school will receive approximately...
Iowa farmers can put soybean quality to test
Soybean harvest is just barely getting started in Iowa, and heavy rains across the state have put much of that early progress on hold. Once combines can get back into the fields, however, soybean growers can learn more about the quality of this year’s crop while...
