Iowa Farmer Today

Rising interest rates, tariffs on farm goods and stagnant grain prices are among elements forming a dark cloud hanging over the ag economy. But it may not all be doom and gloom. Some observers are straining to see the bright…

When it comes to 2019 commodity prices, bigger would be better of course.

Editor’s note: The following was written by Austin Duerfeldt, University of Nebraska Extension agricultural systems economist, for the university’s Crop Watch website Dec. 11.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — About one year ago, University of Illinois agricultural economist Todd Hubbs predicted the price of corn for 2018 to be $3.30 per bushel.

The livestock industry enters 2019 playing a high-stakes poker game, with at least a couple of wild cards still in the deck.

Bruce Buchanan was so elated with Donald Trump’s October vow to allow higher sales of corn-based ethanol that he carved a 60-acre thank you note in his Indiana cornfield.

Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican, announced Friday he won’t seek re-election in 2020.

Cheap feed and demand are usually a recipe for increasing cattle marketing weights, but this year’s spike has been smaller than many expected.

China is back in the market for U.S. soybeans after taking a holiday break, just as Washington and Beijing plan more trade discussions.

ST. LOUIS — Frank Perdue may have been a tough businessman, but deep inside, he was as tender as the chicken he sold.

The weather outlook for the Midwest may become clearer in the coming weeks.

DES MOINES — Water quality, beginning farmer programs, taxes and research funding are among the priorities for Iowa agricultural leaders as they prepare for lawmakers to return to Des Moines for the 2019 session of the Iowa legislature.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri’s agricultural groups will be watching a variety of ag-related issues during the Missouri General Assembly’s legislative session, which beings Jan. 9. One of the key issues will be efforts to control increases on property tax…

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois farmers are hoping tensions between the U.S. and its trade partners dissipate after record-yielding harvests in 2018.

U.S. government officials are publicly withholding judgment on China’s efforts to ease trade tensions ahead of talks next week, raising the prospect that Beijing’s latest economic-reform announcements won’t go far enough to satisfy President Donald Trump’s demands.

While herbicides will remain the backbone of weed management systems for the foreseeable future, it should be clear that additional tactics are needed.

Political changes, bumper crops and tighter profit margins marked the farm environment in Illinois in 2018. Here are a few highlights — and lowlights — of the year.

The potential for strong South American soybean export competition during the marketing year is the limiting factor in expanded U.S. soybean exports, despite the possible resolution of the China trade issue.

Whatever you want to say about 2018, there was no doubt that when it came to agriculture, it was one wild ride.