Tuesday August 26 Ag News - Weekly Crop Progress Report - NE Corn Internships - SGM Expands in IA - Pink Eye in Swine - and more!

Nebraska Crop Progress & Condition Report

Topsoil Moisture 6% surplus, 66% adequate, 23% short, 5% very short 
Subsoil Moisture 6% surplus, 63% adequate, 24% short, 7% very short 

Corn Dough 81% - 71% LW - 89% 5YA
Corn Dent 49% - 28% LW - 53% 5YA 
Corn Mature 6% - 0% LW - 8% 5YA
Corn Condition 28% excellent, 50% good, 18% fair, 3% poor, 1% very poor 

Soybean Setting pods 89% - 80% LW - 94% 5YA 
Soybeans Dropping Leaves - none - 6% 5YA
Soybean Condition 26% excellent, 52% good, 19% fair, 2% poor, 1% very poor 

Pasture Condition 10% excellent, 35% good, 32% fair, 14% poor, 9% very poor 



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Iowa had 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 24, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. The week started with warm temperatures but closed with much cooler weekend weather. Field activities included harvesting oats and hay. Reports noted increasing levels of disease in field crops.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus.

Corn in the dough stage reached 88 percent, 1 day behind last year’s pace and 3 days behind normal. Corn in the dent stage reached 45 percent, 1 day ahead of last year, but 1 day behind the five-year average. Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 56 percent good and 28 percent excellent. 

Ninety percent of soybeans were setting pods, 1 day ahead of last year, but 4 days behind normal. Soybeans coloring reached 8 percent. Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 59 percent good and 20 percent excellent. 

At 97 percent, almost all Iowa’s oat for grain crop has been harvested.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 78 percent complete. 

Pasture condition rated 80 percent good to excellent.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

The condition of the nation's corn crop remained unchanged, while soybean conditions increased slightly, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released on Monday.

Both crops also appear to be reaching maturity consistent with their five-year averages, NASS reported.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 83%, equal to last year but 1 percentage point behind the five-year average of 84%. Corn dented was estimated at 44%, equal to both last year and the five-year average. Corn mature was pegged at 7%, 3 points behind last year's 10% but equal to the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 71% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, unchanged from the previous week. Eight percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, unchanged from the previous week and below 13% from last year. 

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: Soybeans setting pods were estimated at 89%, 1 point ahead of last year's 88% and equal to the five-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves were pegged at 4%, 2 points behind last year's 6% and equal to the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 69% of soybeans were in good-to-excellent condition, up 1 point from 68% the previous week and up 2 points from 67% the previous year. Eight percent of soybeans were rated very poor to poor, unchanged from the previous week and 1 percentage point below the previous year's 9%. 

WINTER WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: Harvest inched ahead 4 percentage points last week to reach 98% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That was 1 point behind last year's 99% and consistent with the five-year average. 

SPRING WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: Spring wheat harvest picked up speed last week, jumping ahead 17 percentage points to reach 53% complete as of Sunday. That was 5 percentage points ahead of last year's pace of 48% and 1 percentage point behind the five-year average of 54%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 49% of the crop remaining in fields was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, down 1 percentage point from 50% the previous week and 20 points below last year's 69% good-to-excellent rating. 



Volunteers Needed: Help at the Beef Pit during Nebraska State Fair

Nebraska Cattlemen is looking for a few extra volunteers to help us at some upcoming shifts at the Beef Pit during the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island.

Tuesday, August 26 - 3:15 pm – 9:00 pm
Wednesday, August 27 - 3:15 pm - 9:00 pm
Thursday, August 28 - 3:15 pm – 9:00  *Yes, the Husker game is on … we will have the radio on!
Monday, September 1 - 10:00am – 3:00 pm

If you would have time to help us, we would appreciate it.  Let Bonita Lederer know at (402) 450-0223 to send you a ticket to get into the fairgrounds. 



Nebraska Corn Board Now Accepting 2026 Internship Applications

The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) has now opened the internship application period for seven internship experiences beginning in May 2026. The internships vary in location, focus and scope but are designed to provide students with an overview of Nebraska’s corn industry through real-world professional experiences.

Five of the seven internships are summer-long experiences, with four based outside the state of Nebraska. Many of the internships are with cooperating partners of NCB. The two positions based with the Nebraska Corn office are yearlong internships.

2026-2027 Internship Opportunities:

Communications and Event Management Internship
Host: Nebraska Corn
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Duration: Summer 2026 and/or 2026-2027 School Year
Application Due Date: October 10, 2025

Research and Demand Internship
Host: Nebraska Corn Board
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Duration: Summer 2026 and/or 2026-2027 School Year
Application Due Date: October 10, 2025

Communications and Investor Relations Internship
Host: National Corn Growers Association
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Duration: Summer 2026
Application Due Date: October 11, 2025

Public Policy and Analysis Internship
Host: National Corn Growers Association
Location: Washington, D.C.
Duration: Summer 2026
Application Due Date: October 10, 2025

Agriculture Broadcasting and Digital Communications Internship
Host: Nebraska Rural Radio Association and Market Journal
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Duration: Summer 2026
Application Due Date: October 10, 2025

Event Management Internship
Host: U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council
Location: Washington, D.C.
Duration: Summer 2026
Application Due Date: October 10, 2025

Promotion and International Relations Internship
Host: U.S. Meat Export Federation
Location: Denver, Colorado
Duration: Summer 2026
Application Due Date: October 10, 2025

“Each year, the interns we recruit, and host raise the bar for the next, easily proving a high return on investment for the next generation,” said Brandon Hunnicutt, NCB chair. “Each internship is uniquely poised and designed for various skills of undergraduate students who are delving into various future career areas. With agriculture being more than farming, these broad opportunities showcase how vast the industry is, and the plentitude of skills needed for its success. We look forward to the next group of interns we will recruit, sponsor and host.”

Nebraska Corn Board internships are open to all college students, with a preference given to students enrolled in colleges or universities located in Nebraska. The application process can be found online at nebraskacorn.gov/internships/. The submission deadline is Friday, October 10, 2025. 



Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association Awards $100,000 in Scholarships to 68 Students

The Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA) is pleased to share that it has awarded $100,000 in matching scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year to 68 students pursuing careers with Iowa and Nebraska equipment dealerships. 

“The Andrew Goodman Scholarship program allows Grosshans International to financially support individuals with a passion for the ag equipment and technology field,” said Doug Glunz of Grosshans International. “It serves as an important resource for recruiting and developing skilled professionals who contribute to our customers' success.” 

The Andrew Goodman Scholarship program, created in 2008, helps address the technician and employee shortage and also helps dealers attract and nurture homegrown talent. Since 2008, INEDA has awarded more than $935,000 to 792 students through the program. 

INEDA President and CEO Mark Hennessey shared his pride in supporting students, stating, “INEDA and our members are honored to help students pursue their goals and aspirations. Technical education lays a strong foundation for numerous career paths, and an equipment dealership is the ideal place for those dreams to take shape.”

The Andrew Goodman Scholarship is an annual matching scholarship program available to all employees/potential employees of members of INEDA in good standing. INEDA matches scholarship amounts awarded by dealers to eligible applicants up to $1500 per applicant per year. Applications are due annually by April 15. 

This year, the following dealers provided matching awards: 21st Century Equipment, AgriVision Equipment, AKRS Equipment, Bobcat of Omaha, Bodensteiner Implement Company, Butler Ag Equipment, Central Iowa Farm Store, Grosshans International Inc, K.C. Nielsen, LTD, Keim Farm Equipment Co., LandMark Implement, O'Brien County Implement, Platte Valley Equipment, LLC, Red Power Bancroft Implement, Sinclair Tractor, Titan Machinery, True Ag and Turf, LLC, West Point Implement, and Van Wall Equipment.

“The Andrew Goodman Scholarship is a valuable partnership that supports K.C. Nielsen team members pursuing a technical education, said Jamie Wubben, HR Manager of K.C. Nielsen LTD. “It plays a key role in their growth and development by helping them gain essential mechanical and hands-on skills for future careers as service technicians.  This scholarship also demonstrates our strong commitment to education and the long-term success of our future leaders.”



Soybean gall midge confirmed in five new Iowa counties in 2025
Ashley Dean, ISU Extension Education Specialist, Entomology 

Currently, soybean gall midge is known to occur in 185 counties across seven states in the Midwest (go to https://soybeangallmidge.org/soybean-gall-midge-distribution to see the full distribution). 
Eight new counties have been confirmed in 2025, with five of those being in Iowa. The Hodgson lab, agronomists, and farmers found soybean gall midge larvae in Union and Clarke counties in southern Iowa and Tama, Poweshiek, and Grundy counties in central Iowa.

These new detections mean that 56 counties in Iowa have soybean gall midge in at least one field. That’s over half of the state! If you find soybean gall midge in any county th at has not been highlighted in the map above, send photos and location inform ation to Erin and Ashley to confirm identification. More information on what to look for can be found in the soybean gall midge encyclopedia article.

Research to understand effective management of soybean gall midge is underway, but no research-based management recommendations exist at this time. You can find summaries of current and past research projects in the webinar recordings here: https://soybeangallmidge.org/soybean-gall-midge-series-videos. 



New Iowa Pork Industry Center Publication Focuses on Conjunctivitis Causes, Treatment, Control

Conjunctivitis (sometimes referred to as “pinkeye”) in swine is characterized by inflammation of the conjunctival membranes of the eye. Causes can include common infectious pathogens and non-infectious avenues such as high levels of dust or ammonia, elevated hydrogen sulfide levels and allergenic bedding material.

pigs behind a fenceA new publication from the Iowa Pork Industry Center, Conjunctivitis in Swine, has information on how to recognize the condition and what to do when it is detected in your animals. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach swine veterinarian Chris Rademacher, who is one of the authors, said many cases are observed during the late nursery to early grow-finish phase. Conjunctivitis also is a common complaint among producers, including those involved in swine exhibition opportunities.

“Both prevalence and severity in a group depend on the route of infection and transmission,” he said. “For example, Chlamydia suis is a common agent, yet other viruses such as PRRS, Influenza A and pseudorabies should be ruled out with veterinarian assistance.”

Non-infectious agents, including high levels of dust or ammonia, irritant bedding material and transport events (stressors), may also lead to conjunctivitis.

If conjunctivitis is detected in your animals, Rademacher said commercial and exhibition swine producers should assess the environmental conditions, take swab samples and work with their veterinarian on the next steps. Iowa State researchers are also looking for cases from which to collect swab samples as part of a study on which pathogens are most prevalent. Producers with potential affected sites can contact Dr. Megan Hindman by email at mpieters@iastate.edu for more details.

The publication, IPIC 211, is available at no charge from the ISU Extension Store https://shop.iastate.edu/extension/farm-environment/animals-and-livestock/ipic211.html.

The other authors of the publication are Megan Hindman, DVM, clinical assistant professor; Maria Clavijo, DVM, PhD, research associate professor; Daniel Linhares, DVM, MBA, PhD, Roy A. Schultz Professor in Swine Medicine;  and Locke Karriker, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVPM, professor and chair, all from ISU veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine; and Michele Moncrief, DVM, post-doctoral research associate, Swine Medicine Education Center.



Raising Your Dairy Best Heifer: Webinar Series Returns for Season 2

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team will offer the second season of the Raising Your Dairy Best Heifer webinar series. The series, intended for dairy producers, will cover practical heifer management topics.

“Nearly 25% of dairy production costs are related to raising heifer replacements, so a considerable amount of feed, time and facilities must be invested to optimize growth for heifers to calve at an appropriate age,” said Jennifer Bentley, dairy field specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “The topic of raising your ‘dairy best’ heifers can have significant financial and herd benefits.”

Each webinar will cover a different topic related to heifer management and include a Q&A session at the end for any questions participants may have.

A complete list of dates and speakers is available below:
    Oct. 1 – “What's all the Fuss about Pair Housing Calves? Benefits and Management Considerations,” Melissa Cantor, assistant professor of precision dairy, Penn State University
    Oct. 8 – “Positive Biofilms in Calf Health,” Sarah Morrison, research scientist, Miner Institute
    Oct. 15 – “Utilizing Genetics to Improve Dairy Calf Health and Performance,” Isaac Haagen, assistant professor in dairy production, University of Minnesota
    Oct. 22 – “Weaning: The Other Transition,” Jennifer Bentley, dairy field specialist, ISU Extension and Outreach
    Oct. 29 – “Colostrum Delivery Strategies,” Donald Sockett, veterinary microbiologist/epidemiologist, Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and Ryan Breuer, clinical associate professor, University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
    Nov. 5 – “Practical Tips for Managing Heifer Body Condition,” Gail Carpenter, associate professor, dairy extension specialist, Iowa State University
    Nov. 12 – “Fresh Cow Success Starts with the Heifer: Calving Pen Readiness,” Howard Tyler, associate professor of animal science, Iowa State University
    Nov. 19 – “Pasture-Raised Potential: Grazing Dairy Heifers for Performance and Profit,” Larry Tranel, dairy specialist, ISU Extension and Outreach
    Dec. 3 – “Heifer Mastitis,” Pamela Adkins, assistant professor, food animal medicine and surgery director of the Master of Public Health Veterinary concentration area, University of Missouri

Those interested in participating in the webinar series can register online https://go.iastate.edu/DAIRYBESTHEIFER2.



August Cattle on Feed
Charley Martinez, Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee

The monthly cattle on feed report came out this past Friday. Total cattle on feed, on August 1, was estimated to be 10.92 million head. That puts cattle on feed 2% lower than July 1, 2025, and 2% lower than last year’s August 1 cattle on feed report. From a yearly perspective, August is usually the month that has the lowest amount of cattle on feed. Thus, the lower amount of cattle compared to last month was expected.

Placements for July 2025 totaled 1.598 million head, which is 11% higher than in June 2025 and 6% lower than in July 2024. The annual lowered placement difference was highlighted by Colorado and Texas placements, which were 110,000 head and 290,000 head, and put them at 24% and 25% lower compared to July 2024. Kansas and Nebraska were up 21% and 22% compared to a year ago with 435,000 head and 440,000 head placed in July.

Marketings were estimated to be 1.749 million head in July, which is 2% higher than June 2025, and 6% lower than July 2024. Many states in the report were estimated to below 90% of their marketings from a year ago, which contributed to the 6% lower estimate compared to July 2024. Similar to the placement numbers, Texas and Colorado had sizable differences compared to last year. Texas’ marketings for July were estimated to be 360,000 head, which was 3% higher compared to June, but 14% lower compared to a year ago. While Colorado marketings was an estimated 125,000 head, which is unchanged from June 2025, but 17% lower than July 2024.

When comparing placements and marketings to last year, they both are 6% lower than last year. Similarly, as of last week, year-to-date slaughter (18.89 million head) is 6.9% lower compared to last year. Thus, as we are about to start the fall run, it will be interesting to see what the coming month’s cattle on feed reports have. In particular, the next quarterly report will have heifer on feed estimates. The estimates will give us another indication of how the industry is reacting (rebuilding vs not) to the all-time high feeder calf prices that many have experienced this year.