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News, Insights & Interviews Archive
Fed Economists: Agriculture Showing Resilience Despite Ongoing Challenges
The struggles facing U.S. farmers and the agriculture industry as a whole have been well documented over the past few years. The headlines paint a picture of a sector under pressure: low commodity prices, high input costs, trade disputes, and global conflicts that continue to weigh on the bottom line of both farmers and the businesses that support them. But a recent article from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, packed with data spanning the past 25 years, offers some
Brooke Bouma Kohlsdorf
1 day ago3 min read
Farm Data May Become Agriculture's New Asset
A new product may soon emerge for farmland owners across the United States: their data. At the 2026 TopSoil Summit June 10 in Riverside, Iowa, speakers emphasized the importance of watching updates on the Section 45Z federal tax credit. By using conservation practices and keeping good records, farmers and landowners can tap into an emerging asset. Mitchell Hora, who created the summit and is also founder and CEO of Continuum Ag, said there was a lot of uncertainty when he fir
David Geiger
1 day ago3 min read
What to Know about New World Screwworm
The return of the New World screwworm (NWS) may have younger or newer ranchers and farmers searching for information since the past few generations haven’t had to worry much about the potentially fatal parasitic pest. The confirmation this month of seven cases of NWS (6 in Texas and 1 in New Mexico) put the greatest focus on livestock and possibly pets. The parasitic fly can cause severe – potentially fatal – infestations with its unique ability to target living issue rather
Dave Price
1 day ago2 min read
Almond Growers Finally Seeing Some Stability After Years of Tough Decisions
For almond growers, the last several years have been defined by difficult choices, tight margins, and a lot of uncertainty. But according to Carl Evers III, President of AgIS Capital Property Management and Director of Sustainability, the industry may finally be finding some balance.
Dave Price
1 day ago3 min read
Land Values Hold Firm in Midwest as Farm Borrowing Needs Increase
A new change has impacted one of the long-standing responsibilities of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, which monitors the agricultural economy across the Midwest. The Chicago Fed's district includes some of the nation's most agriculture-intensive states: Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. Each quarter, the bank releases survey results from agricultural lenders through its AgLetter publication. These responses provide a snapshot of land values and credit co
Brooke Bouma Kohlsdorf
Jun 53 min read
The Wait for a Decision on Glyphosate Cancer Case Ruling
Farmers could learn within the next month whether additional lawsuits may move forward about claims that agricultural pesticides cause cancer. The U.S. Supreme Court heard a case in April that could have broad implications in the search for answers about what is causing an increase in cancer diagnoses in certain parts of the country. It would also impact companies that make pesticides and herbicides, and agricultural producers who rely on weed and pest killers on their farms.
Dave Price
Jun 53 min read
New World Screwworm Raises Concerns about Spread and Government’s Response
Newer generations of cattle ranchers may have never envisioned that they are now searching for whatever information they can about New World Screwworm, a highly infectious parasite that had largely been eradicated in the United States for more than 60 years. And it has triggered tension between local and state leaders in Texas and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. A calf near La Pryor in South Texas – about 50 miles from the border with Mexico – has ignited the na
Dave Price
Jun 53 min read
Canadian Couple: Sharing Farm Hub Concept to Support Local Farmers
A man in one country and a woman from another country who randomly met at a concert, dated long-distance, and started as farmers largely by persistence and the generosity of an older couple, hope that others can replicate their agricultural pathway to profitability. Although, they don’t expect others to follow their exact steps.
Dave Price
Jun 53 min read
Stable Cash Rents Support Some Farmers, Pressure Others
Figure 1. Average Cash Rental Rates in Iowa, $/acre, nominal. Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Cash Rental Rates for Iowa Survey Iowa farmland resisted broader agricultural volatility with cash rental rates in 2026 according to a new report. This supports parts of the farm economy, but it presents challenges to others. According to the Cash Rental Rates for Iowa survey, trends stayed flat across the state at $270 per crop acre. The report focused on one st
David Geiger
May 293 min read
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