Author: staff

By Cami Koons Not all farmers and ranchers will agree in a discussion about climate change, but it would be difficult to find a Midwest producer who did not value climate-related data addressing drought, precipitation, temperature, and frost outlooks.  These are all pieces of data gathered and distributed by the Ames-based Midwest Climate Hub, which along with the other 10 regional climate hubs under the USDA, is slated to be cut from the federal agriculture budget.  The U.S. House appropriations bill that sets the 2026 fiscal year budgets for agriculture, rural development, food and drug administration, and related agencies includes…

By Cami Koons State Climatologist Justin Glisan said the June 23–29 reporting period was the “wettest” of the season, with precipitation totals 2-4 inches above normal in some areas.  While the rain hindered some field work, it was overall beneficial for Iowa crops which continue to rate highly according to the crop progress and condition report from the USDA.  Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said corn tassels are beginning to show, “signaling crop development remains on track.”  According to the report, around 3% of Iowa corn was beginning to silk and the crop rated 85% good or excellent. Soybeans were also…

1. Soybeans, Grains Higher in Overnight Trading Soybeans and grains were higher in overnight trading amid positive crush reports from the USDA.  About 6.11 million tons of soybeans (204 million bushels) were crushed for oil in May, the agency said in a report this week. That’s up from 6.07 million from April and a 6.3% gain from May of last year.  Crude oil production rose 1% monthly and 7% annually to 2.42 billion pounds, while soybean-once-refined oil output was reported at 1.92 billion pounds, up 10% from April and 7% from May 2024.  Corn used for alcohol and other uses…

By Ryan Hanrahan Bloomberg’s Michael Hirtzer reported that “Bunge Global SA completed its takeover of Glencore Plc-backed Viterra, a move that will help the combined businesses better compete with larger rivals like Cargill Inc. and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. as the crop-trading sector faces a downturn in profits.” “First announced about two years ago, Bunge had initially sought to close the deal by mid-2024, but was held up as it awaited antitrust approvals from various regions,” Hirtzer reported. “The transaction now is closed, Bunge said in a Wednesday statement, weeks after receiving crucial support in China.” “Bunge, the world’s biggest oilseed processor…

By Jennifer Shutt WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans cleared the “big, beautiful bill” for President Donald Trump’s signature Thursday, marking an end to the painstaking months-long negotiations that began just after voters gave the GOP unified control of Washington, D.C, during last year’s elections. The final 218-214 vote on the expansive tax and spending cuts package marked a significant victory for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who were able to unify centrist and far-right members of the party against long odds and narrow majorities. But the legislation’s real-world impacts include millions of Americans expected…

1. Grain, Soybean Trading Closed for Fourth of July Grain and soybean trading is closed Friday for Independence Day.  2. Weekly Corn Sales Drop, Soybeans Gain   Sales of corn to overseas buyers plunged week to week while soybean sales increased, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Corn sales in the seven days that ended on June 26 dropped to 532,700 metric tons, the agency said. That’s down 28% on a weekly basis and 37% from the prior four-week average.  South Korea was the big buyer at 273,700 tons, followed by Mexico at 157,100 tons and Colombia at…

The Spirit of ’76 was a big deal for obvious reasons—America’s 200th birthday and all. But let’s be honest … it wasn’t just about patriotism. It was a full-blown commercial moment. If a company could slap stars and stripes on something, they did. From Burger King glasses to a red, white, and blue Poulan chainsaw, everybody cashed in. Tractor companies got in on the action, too. Not all of ’em, but a few rolled out special editions—and they’re pretty fun to look back on. So, since it’s Independence Day week, let’s take a little stroll through some of the more…

Agronomists and entomologists across the state have confirmed Japanese beetles are present and active in Iowa crop fields. First confirmed in the state in 1994, the beetle has now been identified in most Iowa counties. Many of the top corn and soybean growing states have a history with this beetle as well. In general, the beetles prefer feeding on soybeans over corn. Where Are the Japanese Beetles? Iowa State Extension Entomologist Erin Hodgson said Japanese beetles need about 1,030 growing degree days to complete development. The beetles will continue emergence until around 2,150 degree days. The latest maps from the…

December corn ended the day up 3½¢ at $4.37 per bushel. November soybeans closed up 1¼¢ at $10.49¼ per bushel. September wheat contracts closed lower. CBOT wheat was down 7¼¢ at $5.56¾ per bushel. KC wheat was down 6¼¢ at $5.36. Minneapolis wheat was down 1¾¢ at $6.47¼. August livestock closed mixed. Live cattle ended the day up $1.60 at $214.05 per hundredweight (cwt). Feeder cattle closed up 48¢ at $309.50 per cwt. Lean hogs were down $1.80 at $106.10 per cwt. As of 3:13 p.m. CT, August crude oil was down 29¢ at $67.16 per barrel. Note: Grain and…

From timely rains to soaring temperatures, June brought rapid changes to corn fields across the Midwest. Some states saw fairly consistent crop progress and conditions through the month, while others were split regionally. Experts from Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin shared what they were seeing in the fields through June, a pivotal month in the growing season. Here’s a week-by-week look at how the corn crop progressed in these four key Midwest states. Iowa First Week of June Corn emergence in Iowa the week ending June 8 had reached 92%, behind the five-year average by 2 percentage points, according to…