Author: staff

By Marcelo Teixeira DES MOINES, Oct. 21 (Reuters) – There are no new sales of United States’ soybeans to China and nothing is expected to be loaded in coming weeks, according to information from U.S. soy industry groups American Soybean Association (ASA) and the U.S. Soybean Export Council. Harvested soybeans are not moving to export hubs, and instead going to storage, representatives for the two U.S. soy industry groups told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday. Some farmers could face financial collapse if there are no changes to the situation soon, they added. “There is…

By Ella Cao and Lewis Jackson BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Reuters) – China imported no soybeans from the U.S. in September, the first time since November 2018 that shipments fell to zero, while South American shipments surged from a year earlier, as buyers shunned American cargoes during the ongoing trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies. Imports last month from the U.S. fell to zero from 1.7 million metric tons a year earlier, data from China’s General Administration of Customs showed on Monday. Shipments fell because of the high tariffs China has imposed on U.S. imports and as previously harvested U.S. supplies, known as old-crop beans, have already been traded. China is the world’s…

By Brooklyn Draisey Iowa State University (ISU) researchers have unlocked new secrets within the bacteria responsible for the creation of thousands of fruits and vegetables as we know them today, with the goal of seeing how they can balance its uses as a tool versus its prevalence as infection. Kan Wang, an ISU professor of agronomy and biotechnology, and students have released a paper detailing how they investigated the chromosomes of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a bacterium responsible for crown gall disease in plants and the most crucial instrument in genetically modifying crops. Using gene editing tools they tailored to their needs,…

By Joana Colussi and Michael Langemeier Farmers across Brazil have begun planting the 2025/2026 crop season, with expectations for another record in corn and soybean acreage. The first outlook for the new cycle, released by the National Supply Company (Conab), Brazil’s food supply and statistics agency, projects an increase in planted area. The expansion is driven by growing domestic demand for biofuels and strong export performance, which continues to push shipments to record levels. Despite the expected acreage growth, gross margins for both crops are likely to decline significantly due to rising production costs and lower prices. This article reviews…

What Happened Feeder cattle prices continued their long-term uptrend, posting new contract highs again this past week. Tight supplies — due to a smaller herd, low feed prices, strong consumer demand, and rising deferred live cattle futures — have all helped propel futures to new all-time highs. Monthly futures charts indicate feeder cattle have been trending higher since finding a bottom in 2020 near $104 per hundredweight. Recently, front-month feeders (October futures) reached over $381, up $277, or 266%. Auction barns remain active, with one recent radio broadcaster describing activity as “red hot.” Deferred live cattle prices have recently accelerated…

A group of 13 FFA members has been selected to serve as young leaders for agriculture through the National FFA #SpeakAg Pioneers program. The 2025-2026 cohort of #SpeakAg Pioneers promotes agricultural advocacy and literacy to other members and the public by hosting workshops and creating content for social media. You can view a picture of the new cohort here. The #SpeakAg Pioneers will attend the upcoming 98th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1. They will also participate in other local and national events to interact with policymakers and advocate for agriculture on behalf…

By Jarrett Renshaw Oct. 21 (Reuters) – The American Petroleum Institute said on Tuesday it opposes legislation to expand year-round sales of E15 gasoline, a reversal that underscores deepening tensions between the oil and ethanol industries after a brief period of cooperation. The influential oil trade group earlier this year had teamed up with farm-state lawmakers and ethanol producers to support higher renewable fuel blending mandates and a December legislative push for year-round E15, in exchange for restrictions on a program that allows smaller refiners to skirt renewable fuel obligations. E15 gasoline contains 15% ethanol, a higher blend than the typical E10 sold across the country. The API said…

Ranchers and agricultural advocates warn the nation’s cattle industry is in dire straits as Walmart and Brazilian-based JBS expand in the U.S. market. To Mike Schultz, Kansas ranchers are stuck in velvet handcuffs. Walmart, the nation’s largest grocery retailer and private employer, recently expanded into the U.S. beef industry with its own processing plant in Olathe, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. The opening of the Walmart-owned plant in July marked a turning point for the company and the nation’s cattle industry. Schultz, a cattle rancher in Brewster, Kansas, a state that accounts for roughly 4 percent of the nation’s…

By Cami Koons Iowa farmers are near the end of harvest season for corn and soybean crops following yet another week of above-average temperatures in the state.  While crop progress and condition reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have not been issued since the start of the current government shutdown, reports from past years show farmers are typically more than halfway done with corn harvest and more than 80% complete with soybean harvest at this point in October.  In 2024, Iowa farmers had harvested 68% of corn acres and 91% of soybean acres for the mid-October reporting period.  Iowa Secretary of…

For American agriculture, trade is not just policy; it’s an economic necessity. U.S. farmers, ranchers, and workers in the agriculture supply chain depend on global markets to stay competitive, grow their operations, and support millions of jobs across America’s heartland. Approximately 20 percent of all U.S. agriculture production is exported each year, making access to international agriculture markets a cornerstone of economic health. Despite these facts, for decades, U.S. agriculture has endured the consequences of unresolved trade disputes and market distortions. Today, thanks to the courage and conviction of President Donald Trump and others in the Trump Administration, those longstanding…