Mark Magnuson

New dairy research is putting a dollar value on a trait many producers have been focusing on for years: milk components. CoBank Dairy Economist Corey Geiger says the difference between top and bottom performing herds can add up to hundreds of dollars per cow annually

Despite the slower than usual pace of harvest for parts of the Midwest and Corn Belt, including Iowa, other regions of the country have made substantial progress.

USDA's recent record soybean forecast will lead to more soybean exports, according to World Ag Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski.

Just a few years ago, drones were a novelty in the agricultural world. Today they are being used in ever increasing numbers and are becoming a major part of farming operations across the country. Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, says that drones are being used on an increasing number of farmland acres.

Parts of Iowa and other midwestern states were impacted by heavy rainfall in the month of September and the heavy moisture has discolored some of the soybean crop. Those beans discolored by fungus are designated as Soybeans of Other Color, or SBOC, and can have a big impact on a farmer's bottom line.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told the media in recent weeks that he intends to pass the GOP farm bill before the end of the year, even if it must be attached to other legislation.

Uncertainty brings problems for everyone in agriculture that is trying to build long-term plans and make long-term decisions. In the case of companies that are trying to bring new active ingredients to market and give farmers new tools to battle weeds, pests, and disease uncertainty with the regulatory process can also create issues.

At this time of year, you are hard pressed to visit a retail store that doesn't have pumpkins available for purchase. Pumpkin patches have also become extremely popular weekend destinations for people to visit for entertainment and family fun and to pick out a pumpkin to take back home.

After more than 10 years of research and development, the new insecticide active ingredient from Syngenta, PLINAZOLIN® technology, is available for Iowa's growers to use.

USDA published the October Cattle on Feed Report on Friday and the report provided us clues on the direction of the United States cattle herd. The placements number was below trade expectations; USDA livestock analyst Anthony Fischer provides the data.