Author: staff

According to data compiled by the Successful Farming team, more than 735 acres of Iowa farmland are slated for auction in July 2025. Listings vary in size, from individual tracts under 25.5 acres, to parcels as large as 204 acres. While recent farmland sales have remained relatively strong, the broader market is showing signs of tightening, according to Luke Nissen, an accredited land consultant and Iowa land specialist with United Country Hawkeye Farm Management & Real Estate. “The market is interesting right now,” said Nissen, who grew up on a family farm in western Iowa’s Audubon County and remains involved…

With 1.3 billion individuals ages 15 to 24 globally, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has released a comprehensive report titled, The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems, which examines and emphasizes the crucial role of youth in transforming agrifood systems to improve food security, nutrition, and economic opportunities. Notably, nearly 85 percent of global youth today live in low- and lower-middle-income countries, where agrifood systems are essential for livelihoods. Improving their inclusion in those systems could make a trillion-dollar difference in the global economy. The report delves into technical and policy initiatives designed to create decent…

At a press conference on Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the National Farm Security Action Plan. As the second pillar of the USDA’s Make Agriculture Great Again initiative, the farm security plan seeks to protect American agriculture from foreign threats. The 12-page plan detailed three key areas of emphasis: Promote agricultural and economic prosperity by securing U.S. farmland, identifying gaps in the supply chain, and protecting the U.S. nutrition safety net.Protect agriculture research and innovation by enhancing research security and evaluating USDA programs. Strengthen domestic agricultural productivity by safeguarding plant and animal health and protecting critical infrastructure.  Rollins was joined…

During remarks Tuesday in Washington, D.C., Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins outlined a vision for the future of farm labor in the United States. Rejecting the possibility of legal status for undocumented agricultural workers, Rollins instead floated a plan for “mass deportations … in a strategic and intentional way” and suggested replacing the current labor force with “100 percent American participation.” Rather than relying on the estimated 50 percent to 75 percent of farmworkers who, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are undocumented, many of whom perform seasonal, physically demanding labor, Rollins appeared to propose filling the gap by utilizing…

After solid June rainfall, Corn Belt crop conditions for corn and soybeans are sitting in a better spot than in 2024. As of the latest Crop Progress Report on July 7, 95% of the nation’s corn crop was listed in fair, good, or excellent condition — a sign of optimal growing conditions to this point in summer, said Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather’s lead long-range forecaster.  Ohio Valley Outlook Drought Monitor Even in areas where rains haven’t been as prevalent, such as sections of Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and into the Ohio Valley, Pastelok has a positive outlook. Ohio sits drought free as…

December corn ended the day down 6½¢ at $4.14¼ per bushel. November soybeans closed down 3¼¢ at $10.17½ per bushel. September CBOT wheat closed down less than a penny at $5.47¾ per bushel. September KC wheat was down 5¢ at $5.22½. September Minneapolis wheat was down 7½¢ at $6.29¾. August livestock ended the day mixed. Live cattle closed up $4.08 at $219.98 per hundredweight (cwt). Feeder cattle were up $5.40 at $319.13 per cwt. Lean hogs were down 33¢ at $106.78 per cwt. As of 2:17 p.m. CT, August crude oil was up 41¢ at $68.34 per barrel.Published: 2:40 p.m.…

All food has expiration dates and some are longer than others. This can be a good thing. Maybe you’ve been busy and had no time to go grocery shopping in the past week, but chances are when you get home at the end of a long day you can find something on the shelf to make for supper. These shelf-stable products can be a life saver, but there are lots of misconceptions and opinions surrounding them. People say things like, “If it can sit on the shelf for years it can’t be good for me.” Some people are rule followers…

For the past several years, Anheuser-Busch has recognized American growers through the release of limited-edition Busch Light cans — with a portion of the profits going to the nonprofit Farm Rescue organization. Like last year, 10 cents of every Busch Light Farming case sold during the month of July will go toward Farm Rescue, which works to provide material aid to family farms and ranches in times of need or crisis throughout the Midwest. Money will be donated until Busch Light reaches a $200,000 cap. The specialty packaging features vibrantly wrapping with a red barn design, a tractor, cattle, and…

In its latest Crop Progress report, the USDA rated 75% or more of the soybean crop in four of the top 18 soybean-growing states good/excellent. The condition of the soybean crop in these four states stands well above the U.S. average. Nationwide, 66% of the soybean crop was rated good/excellent. Take a look at the four states with the best soybeans for the week ending July 6. Iowa According to USDA, 79% of Iowa’s soybeans were rated good/excellent as of July 6, with 19% of that total representing excellent soybeans. Eighteen percent of the crop was rated fair, while 3%…

American Farmland Trust has awarded $2,820,250 in grants to 208 farmers and ranchers across the country through its 2025 Brighter Future Fund programs. Of the recipients, 113 are beginning farmers, underscoring AFT’s commitment to support the next generation of agricultural stewards and to ensure a more resilient, equitable food system. Now in its fifth year, the Brighter Future Fund continues to help fund producers working to strengthen on-farm resilience, enhance soil health, plan for long-term viability, and grow climate-smart local food systems. In 2025, AFT funded a range of targeted initiatives, including the Regenerate Virginia Healthy Soils Grant, Regenerate Virginia…