WEEKLY AGRICULTURAL NEWS AND REPORTING

Where Landowners Get Their News

Bankruptcy Attorney Joe Peiffer: It’s Time for Tough Decisions for Some Farmers

Fall brought the early warning about what is likely ahead for Joe Peiffer, a longtime farm bankruptcy attorney in Hiawatha, Iowa. More farmers than he can remember reached out for assistance in August and September, which signals that the typical busier time post-harvest could be even busier this year. “You have to spend time with them,” Peiffer told American Farmland Owner regarding his conversations with farm families in financial distress, “You have to give them time to pr

Dave Price

4 days ago

Featured Articles

WEEKLY AGRICULTURAL INSIGHTS

Agriculture Aid Package Could Be Coming Next Week

Farmers who have been waiting for months for federal help as they are overwhelmed with input costs, borrowing rates, tariff fallout, and low commodity prices may learn some news in the coming weeks. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said on Tuesday that a “bridge payment” could arrive next week. Regardless of how it is publicly stated, the commitment would be a tacet acknowledgment that many farmers are not getting immediate benefit from President Donald Trump’s tr

Dave Price

4 days ago3 min read

California Takes Legal Action Against Ultra-Processed Food Companies

Growers and producers across the country could have reason to pay attention to a landmark lawsuit filed by the City of San Francisco against some of the nation’s largest food manufacturers, accusing them of knowingly producing and marketing ultra-processed foods (UPFs) that contribute to a growing public-health crisis. While the fate of the lawsuit is uncertain and could take years to resolve, it could lead to greater demand for whole foods and minimally processed foods. Perh

Dave Price

4 days ago3 min read

Tyson Plant Closure Signals New Phase in Tightening Cattle Cycle

Tyson Foods’ decision last month to shut down one of its largest beef-processing plants in Lexington, Nebraska, has organizations scrambling to support the thousands of employees who will soon be out of work and cattle ranchers wondering what is ahead. The company is the nation’s largest meat supplier. It plans to close the 3,000-employee facility—which can process nearly 5,000 head of cattle per day—in January. The shutdown comes as an historic cattle shortage continues to s

Brooke Bouma Kohlsdorf

4 days ago3 min read

Latest Agricultural Reporting

NEWS, INSIGHTS, ANALYSIS, & INTERVIEWS

Agriculture Aid Package Could Be Coming Next Week

Farmers who have been waiting for months for federal help as they are overwhelmed with input costs, borrowing rates, tariff fallout, and low commodity prices may learn some news in the coming weeks. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said on Tuesday that a “bridge payment” could arrive next week. Regardless of how it is publicly stated, the commitment would be a tacet acknowledgment that many farmers are not getting immediate benefit from President Donald Trump’s tr

FARMLAND FINANCE & INVESTMENT (FIN)

Dave Price

4 days ago3 min read

California Takes Legal Action Against Ultra-Processed Food Companies

Growers and producers across the country could have reason to pay attention to a landmark lawsuit filed by the City of San Francisco against some of the nation’s largest food manufacturers, accusing them of knowingly producing and marketing ultra-processed foods (UPFs) that contribute to a growing public-health crisis. While the fate of the lawsuit is uncertain and could take years to resolve, it could lead to greater demand for whole foods and minimally processed foods. Perh

POLICY, POLITICS, & GOVERNMENT

Dave Price

4 days ago3 min read

Tyson Plant Closure Signals New Phase in Tightening Cattle Cycle

Tyson Foods’ decision last month to shut down one of its largest beef-processing plants in Lexington, Nebraska, has organizations scrambling to support the thousands of employees who will soon be out of work and cattle ranchers wondering what is ahead. The company is the nation’s largest meat supplier. It plans to close the 3,000-employee facility—which can process nearly 5,000 head of cattle per day—in January. The shutdown comes as an historic cattle shortage continues to s

LIVESTOCK & ANIMAL HEALTH (LIV)

Brooke Bouma Kohlsdorf

4 days ago3 min read

Bankruptcy Attorney Joe Peiffer: It’s Time for Tough Decisions for Some Farmers

Fall brought the early warning about what is likely ahead for Joe Peiffer, a longtime farm bankruptcy attorney in Hiawatha, Iowa. More farmers than he can remember reached out for assistance in August and September, which signals that the typical busier time post-harvest could be even busier this year. “You have to spend time with them,” Peiffer told American Farmland Owner regarding his conversations with farm families in financial distress, “You have to give them time to pr

FARMLAND FINANCE & INVESTMENT (FIN)

Dave Price

4 days ago4 min read

New Farm Bankruptcy Filings Delayed

Thanksgiving week, for those who can, is often a week of overeating and excess. It is also time for appreciation for America’s producers whose year-round efforts help to feed the traditional family gatherings. The partial shutdown of the federal government might be prolonging the wait to find out how deeply some American farmers are suffering during this holiday week. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court does not yet show third quarter bankruptcy filings. The third quarter ended on Oc

FARMLAND FINANCE & INVESTMENT (FIN)

Dave Price

Nov 282 min read

By the Numbers: Profitable Farming and Bird Flu’s Spread

Cattle farmers are doing better since prices have improved. Although, they must also be cautious about what impact the Trump administration’s increased imports of foreign beef could have on those prices. Fortunately for those American ranchers, consumers are focused on protein. That could also help pork and poultry producers, too, with the increased American appetite for protein. Inflation is not the albatross for farmers and ranchers that it was a few years ago after COVID s

FARMLAND FINANCE & INVESTMENT (FIN)

Dave Price

Nov 283 min read

Land Values Report Shows Increase for Key Midwest States

Every quarter, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago releases its findings on land values for the states of Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Its latest report released last week shows a modest increase of 3% in values for the area overall compared to the same time last year. This 3% gain matches the amount recorded in 2024. The Bank sends out a survey to district agricultural bankers each quarter to measure the temperature of the farming economy. This latest co

FARMLAND FINANCE & INVESTMENT (FIN)

Brooke Bouma Kohlsdorf

Nov 283 min read

Ed Blundy: Who Is Buying Farmland in the UK Today?

The UK farmland market continues to evolve under the pressure of changing tax rules, volatile agricultural economics, and shifting investor appetite. To understand who is buying land today—and why—American Farmland Owner spoke with Ed Blundy, a partner at Brown & Co.

LANDOWNERS PODCAST

Dave Price

Nov 284 min read

November 2025 Farmland Auction Highlights Across the Midwest

November land auctions across Missouri, South Dakota, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and

FARMLAND FINANCE & INVESTMENT (FIN)

American Farmland Owner

Nov 263 min read

BioMADE Breaks Ground on New Biomanufacturing Facility Near Ames

A new chapter in Iowa’s biomanufacturing story is officially underway. Earlier this month, BioMADE, state leaders, and Iowa State University celebrated the groundbreaking of a pilot-scale bioindustrial manufacturing facility near Ames. The $40 million project, set to open in 2027, is expected to produce everything from national defense products to consumer goods like fabrics and detergents. The company and state leaders say it will boost Iowa’s rural economy and at the same t

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

Brooke Bouma Kohlsdorf

Nov 213 min read

Tractor on green field spraying fertilizer

New Legislation Would Address High Fertilizer Costs

For some farmers and producers struggling with depressed commodity prices and tariffs that, at least for now, have limited export potential and increased costs, they may find optimism in legislation proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives that targets high fertilizer costs. Although, the legislation does not promise immediate help. High fertilizer prices remain one of the most urgent challenges facing U.S. farmers. House lawmakers have now joined a previous effort in th

FARMLAND FINANCE & INVESTMENT (FIN)

Dave Price

Nov 212 min read

EPA Proposes Major Redefinition of ‘Waters of the U.S.’

“Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) has splashed around in various forms depending on the political party of the current president and court rulings. The administration of President Donald Trump, a Republican, has proposed the latest form of the longstanding guidelines that have previously impacted – and sometimes frustrated – farmers, ranchers, energy producers, and other landowners. On November 17, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), together with the U.S. Army C

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

Dave Price

Nov 213 min read

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Where Landowners Get Their News Podcast

DISCUSSIONS WITH INDUSTRY THOUGHT LEADERS

Bankruptcy Attorney Joe Peiffer: It’s Time for Tough Decisions for Some Farmers

Fall brought the early warning about what is likely ahead for Joe Peiffer, a longtime farm bankruptcy attorney in Hiawatha, Iowa. More farmers than he can remember reached out for assistance in August and September, which signals that the typical busier time post-harvest could be even busier this year. “You have to spend time with them,” Peiffer told American Farmland Owner regarding his conversations with farm families in financial distress, “You have to give them time to pr

4 days ago4 min read

Ed Blundy: Who Is Buying Farmland in the UK Today?

The UK farmland market continues to evolve under the pressure of changing tax rules, volatile agricultural economics, and shifting investor appetite. To understand who is buying land today—and why—American Farmland Owner spoke with Ed Blundy, a partner at Brown & Co.

Nov 284 min read

Geopolitical Expert Peter Zeihan: Why Losing Immigrants Is Bad for U.S. Agriculture and the Country’s Future

Reducing immigrants in the United States will hurt U.S. agriculture short-term and the country overall longer-term geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan believes.

Nov 214 min read

R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard: Time to Bring Back Country of Origin Labeling for Beef

Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts Consumers could be critical on two fronts for American cattle ranchers, Bill Bullard believes: they can choose American beef over the imports, and they can insist that beef packaging includes on the label the country where the beef originated. Bullard is the CEO of R-CALF USA, cattle producers’ national lobbying association. He told American Farmland Owner from his office in Billings, Montana, that the Trump administration idea to increase

Nov 144 min read

A New Seal for a New Standard: Brian Burgett’s ‘NonBCM7 Certified’ Vision for A2 Dairy

Listen and subscribe on SPOTIFY | APPLE When lifelong dairy enthusiast and former IT professional Brian Burgett began researching milk digestion, it wasn’t for a new business venture. It was for his daughter. What began as a personal mission to help her navigate dairy sensitivities has evolved into a potentially industry-shifting proposal: a new certification seal for A2 milk products, called “NonBCM7 Certified.” BCM-7 – “beta-casomorphin-7, is a peptide derived from the di

Nov 74 min read

Land Broker Liz Strom: Illinois Farmland Values Stabilizing

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Cattle, corn, and soybeans filled Liz Strom’s life as she grew up on the family farm in central Illinois. She still goes back to the farm when her schedule allows. But these days she is thinking about more than just her family’s farm. Strom, an accredited farm manager and Vice President at Murray Wise Associates in Champaign, Illinois, is watching farmland values. She saw them rise quickly but doesn’t expect them to fall with that same for

Oct 313 min read

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American Farmland Owner Hayfields mountains

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