Author: staff

1. Soybeans, Corn Slightly Higher in Overnight Trading Soybean and corn futures were modestly higher in overnight trading amid strong demand for U.S. agricultural products and minor concerns about weather in South America.  Overseas buyers have committed to purchase 43.3 million metric tons of soybeans for delivery in the 2024/2025 marketing year that ends on Aug. 31, a 12% year-over-year gain, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Commitments to buy U.S. corn are up 28% to 46.4 million tons, and purchases of wheat have risen 10% to 19.3 million tons, the government said.  Exports of U.S. soybeans since the…

By Christopher Ingraham Tom Smude is a farmer who operates a sunflower processing plant in Morrison County. Last year his business was awarded a $500,000 grant through the USDA’s Resilient Food Infrastructure Systems Program to bulk up their processing of sunflower byproduct, which is used to make cereals and other foods. Smude has already ordered much of the equipment for the expansion, taking out a temporary loan to cover the cost while waiting for the federal reimbursement to come in. But now, thanks to the Trump administration’s chaotic freeze on loan and grant programs, that reimbursement is in limbo.  “The challenge is we…

By Nick Paulson, Gary Schnitkey, and Carl Zulauf The purchase of the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) — a county-level crop insurance program providing protection from 86% down to a producer’s COMBO product coverage level — requires use of Price Loss Coverage (PLC) as the commodity title choice. A question we’ve received from multiple farmers is whether the SCO restriction should cause a choice of PLC over Agricultural Risk Coverage at the county level (ARC-CO). For 2025, ARC is likely to trigger more often and make higher payments than PLC for corn and soybeans (see Farmdoc Daily from Jan. 28, 2025). This article focuses on comparing…

Ron Brownotter stood at the edge of an overlook, gazing for miles across the rolling hills, ravines, and plateaus of the Grand River Valley on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in northwest South Dakota. In the distance, the largest buffalo herd solely owned by an American Indian in North America — Brownotter’s herd — were tiny, dark brown dots. “Sitting Bull lived just over that ridge,” he explained, pointing to his left. Then, extending his arms and taking in the view, he said, “This is my office.” Brownotter, a Lakota-Yanktonai person and member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, came…

By Cami Koons The highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in a commercial turkey flock in Sac County, according to a Wednesday press release from Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. This is the fourth detection of the H5N1 bird flu in Iowa in 2025, and the second detection in the past week.  Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Sac County, which last had a detection of the bird flu in December, also in a commercial turkey flock. The current bird flu outbreak has been an ongoing crisis that has affected more than 162 million commercial and backyard poultry nationwide since…

By Cami Koons A bill that would shield pesticide companies from label-related lawsuits, provided the company adhered to federal label regulations, advanced from the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday. Senate Study Bill 1051 passed 11-7, with opposing senators arguing the bill protects companies rather than Iowans.  Sen. Mike Bousselot, who chaired the bill’s subcommittee, said the bill was a “common sense” piece of legislation. “It is the simple premise that someone should not be allowed to sue someone else … for failing any duty to warn, when that manufacturer followed every federal rule and regulation required to warn,” Bousselot said.  Similar legislation has…

At the close, May corn was half a penny stronger at $5.12¾ per bushel. May soybeans were up 14¾¢ at $10.63 per bushel. President of U.S. Commodities Don Roose said the market was trading on Wednesday comments from President Donald Trump, “He gave more of a, ‘Well, maybe we can get something that is more positive with China on trade.’ So, that gave us a little bit of support.” Looking more broadly at the markets, Roose said, “Technically, we’re into a lot of resistance areas, and the anchor on the market is South America. Weather continues to improve in some of…

Just like a gallon of milk, pesticides have a shelf life that can be greatly impacted by storage conditions. How long a pesticide can last in storage depends on many factors, including its formulation, active ingredient(s), age, temperature, and whether it remained sealed or was opened. “Farmers often have a significant investment tied up in crop-protection products sitting in the shed,” said Fred Whitford, director of Purdue Pesticide Programs. “Taking a few simple steps can help make sure farmers get their money’s worth from these products.” Here are five considerations farmers should keep in mind when storing pesticides: Check the…

By Nick Evans Since the beginning of this year, Ohio poultry farmers have culled almost 11 million birds infected with avian flu according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In an update to state lawmakers, Ohio Poultry Association Executive Vice President Jim Chakeres said the virus has “wreaked havoc” on commercial flocks, particularly in far west Darke and Mercer Counties. Ohio’s 2025 highly pathogenic avian influenza figures continue to outpace the rest of the country. The 10.9 million birds reported culled through of Feb. 14 is 4 million more than the next closest state — Indiana — and about half…

By Cami Koons Iowa lawmakers advanced bills aimed at protecting landowners through the permitting, construction, and operation of liquid hazardous pipelines.  The bills, which passed out of House subcommittees Thursday, would make pipeline operators liable for the increased insurance costs of surrounding landowners and require at least one member of the Iowa Utilities Commission attend public informational hearings.  Lawmakers and members of the public who spoke in favor of the bills referenced the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, which would transport liquid carbon dioxide from biofuel facilities in Iowa to underground storage in North Dakota. Insurance House File 240 would increase the…