Author: staff

The month of August is a critical time across the Corn Belt. It can be make or break for kernel fill and overall yield. To understand the month’s impacts on the corn crop, we asked agronomists in some of the top corn-growing states to describe August in a single word, reflecting the crop’s progress, condition, and challenges in their regions. Here’s what they had to say. Disease Wyffels agronomist Eric Wilson summed up August in Iowa with the word “disease.” Wilson supports southern and northeast Iowa. In mid-August, he said southern rust and heat were the biggest threats to yield.…

By Cami Koons Iowa farmers are gearing up for harvest season, as the latest crop progress and condition report notes 9% of corn acres across the state have reached maturity and farmers have scattered reports of soybeans dropping leaves. The crops continue to develop, with 63% of corn acres across the state now dented and 19% of soybeans coloring, for the reporting period of Aug. 25–Aug. 31.  Corn condition was rated at 84% good to excellent, the same as last week, while soybean condition at 77% good to excellent declined slightly from the week prior.  The report, written by U.S.…

The Trump administration’s removal of federal support for solar power, along with eliminating tax credits over the next three years, seems likely to cancel some projects, but industry experts insist that demand growth is too strong to stop solar entirely.  President Donald Trump has termed renewable energy a “green new scam” while promoting fossil fuels for energy dominance, and he got congressional Republicans to repeal Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act subsidies as part of a sweeping domestic policy bill enacted in July. Meanwhile, USDA promised in March that solar panels on productive farmland would lose their prioritization points when seeking funding,…

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Thursday the “unease with the current farm economy” many farmers are experiencing is part of President Donald Trump’s larger plan to put America first, and she pledged the agricultural outlook would improve as he completes “even more exciting” trade deals. “These trade renegotiations, opening up the markets, cutting deals….. Bangladesh, just, I believe, yesterday, announced a massive purchase of wheat from America. We’ll have more of those coming soon,” she said during an interview on Fox Business Network. “The golden age for our American farmers is around the corner.”  The Agriculture Department continues to forecast higher farm…

A half-million-acre stretch of wilderness in western New Mexico, listed for $115 million, has new owners. The Great Western Ranch, one of the largest privately held properties in the United States, sold in July after just 10 months on the market — an unusually quick turnaround for a property of its scale. This gives you a better sense of what that looks like:   504,801 acres790 square miles70 miles from east to west29 miles from north to south76% the size of Rhode Island  The Great Western Ranch is located outside Quemado, near the Arizona border, and about 150 miles west of…

By Cami Koons The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced Thursday it was investing $200,000 into the Choose Iowa Farms to Food Banks Program, which helps food banks purchase from local farmers.  IDALS operated a pilot version of the program last year and the Iowa Legislature approved $200,000 in the department’s budget to run the full program in 2025.  Six food banks participate in the program and get a dollar-for-dollar match on the purchase of dairy, meat, poultry, eggs, honey, and produce from Choose Iowa registered farms. A press release from IDALS said flour and grains were added to the…

By Marcela Ayres BRASILIA, Sept. 4 (Reuters) – Brazil’s trade surplus jumped 35.8% in August from a year earlier, government data released on Thursday showed, despite steeper U.S. tariffs on goods from the country. The trade surplus recorded by Latin America’s largest economy reached $6.1 billion. Unlike the trend seen so far this year, exports grew faster than imports in August. Outbound shipments rose 3.9% to $29.9 billion, supported by higher sales of crude oil, iron ore, soybeans, corn and meat. Imports fell 2.0% to $23.7 billion. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration raised tariffs on Brazilian goods to 50% from 10% starting in August, while…

Key Takeaways Tar spot spreading — The disease has now been confirmed in 28 counties, raising concern as harvest nears, alongside southern rust and northern corn leaf blight.Corn crop remains strong — Despite disease pressure, 83% of Wisconsin’s corn is rated good to excellent, ranking second among the top 18 corn producers.Crop progress on track — Most corn is in the dough or dent stage, with maturity slightly ahead of average, and cooler weather is slowing development but giving growers more harvest prep time. Tar spot has now been confirmed in 28 Wisconsin counties, raising concern as growers approach harvest.…

Key Takeaways Dry August capped yield potential — After excellent June and July weather, Nebraska crops faced a dry August ending with cooler temperatures, raising concerns about grain fill and early frost.Corn and soybeans lagging behind average — Both crops are behind their five-year averages in key growth stages, but conditions are generally rated stronger than national averages.Sorghum and oats also behind schedule — Sorghum development trails normal progress, while oat harvest is nearly complete but slightly slower than average. USDA published the latest Crop Progress report on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Here’s a closer look at recent weather and the…

By Ryan Hanrahan Reuters reported earlier this week that “California lawmakers on Wednesday voted to allow the sale of a higher-ethanol gasoline blend that could help bring down fuel prices in the largest U.S. auto market. The sale of E15, a blend containing 15% ethanol, would be allowed immediately once the bill is signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. California had been the only U.S. state that did not allow sales of the fuel.” “The move likely will benefit biofuel producers and corn farmers, as it will expand the market for their products to the most populous U.S. state,” Reuters reported.…