Tuesday July 29 Ag News - Weekly Crop Progress Report - Farmers Pride grants - Nebraska's Blender Pump Grants - I-20 MooU talks Milk Pricing - ISU Drone Program - and more!

 USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

The U.S. corn crop's good-to-excellent condition rating fell slightly last week while soybeans' good-to-excellent rating increased by 2 points, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released on Monday.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn silking was pegged at 76%, 1 percentage point ahead of last year's 75% and 1 percentage point below the five-year average of 77%. Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 26%, 2 points behind last year's 28% but 2 points ahead of the five-year average of 24%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 73% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition, 1 point below the previous week's 74% and 5 points ahead of last year's 68%. Seven percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, up 1 point from the previous week and still below 9% last year. 

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: Soybeans blooming were pegged at 76%, 1 point ahead last year's 75% and equal to the five-year average. Soybeans setting pods were estimated at 41%, 1 point behind both last year and the five-year average of 42%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 70% of soybeans were in good-to-excellent condition, up 2 percentage points from 68% the previous week and ahead 3 percentage points to last year's 67%. Six percent of soybeans were rated very poor to poor, down 1 percentage point from 7% the previous week and 2 percentage points below last year's 8%. 

WINTER WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: Harvest moved ahead another 7 percentage points last week to reach 80% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That was 1 point behind both last year and the five-year average pace of 81%. 

SPRING WHEAT
-- Crop development: 92% of spring wheat was headed, 1 point behind to last year's pace of 93% and just 3 points behind the five-year average of 95%.
-- Harvest progress: In its first spring wheat harvest report of the season, NASS estimated that just 1% of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, equal to last year's pace and 2 points behind the five-year average of 3%. 
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 49% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, down 3 percentage points from 52% the previous week and 25 points below last year's 74% good-to-excellent rating. 



Nebraska Crop Progress Report

In Nebraska, 76% of corn is silking, a big jump from 56% last week—though still a bit behind the 5-year average of 85%. 20% has reached the dough stage, and condition ratings are looking strong: 77% of Nebraska corn is rated good to excellent, with only 6% in poor or very poor shape.

Nebraska’s soybean crop is moving along. 73% is now blooming, which is still below the 5-year average of 85%. Just 29% has set pods, still well behind normal, though up sharply from 16% last week. But the good news is condition: 75% of Nebraska’s soybeans are rated good to excellent, with only 4% poor or worse.

In Nebraska, 46% of pasture and range is now rated good to excellent, up from just 33% last week. Only 8% is rated very poor, and that’s a noticeable improvement from earlier this season.

In Nebraska, 71% of topsoil and 60% of subsoil are now considered adequate to surplus. 

Winter wheat harvest in Nebraska is 79% complete, trailing the five-year average of 85%. 



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Another wet and humid week limited Iowa farmers to 3.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 27, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting oats, cutting hay and applying fungicide.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 4 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 30 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 7 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 24 percent surplus.

Corn silking reached 84 percent, 1 day ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Thirty-four percent of Iowa’s corn has reached the dough stage, 1 day ahead of last year’s pace and 3 days ahead of normal. Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 10 percent fair, 59 percent good and 28 percent excellent. 

Soybeans blooming reached 81 percent, unchanged from last year, but 2 days behind normal. Fifty-two percent of soybeans were setting pods, 5 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 61 percent good and 21 percent excellent. 

Ninety-five percent of oats were turning color and 49 percent of the oat crop has been harvested. Oat condition rated 0 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 67 percent good and 16 percent excellent.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 87 percent complete while 28 percent of the third cutting has been completed. Hay condition rated 86 percent good to excellent. 

Pasture condition rated 82 percent good to excellent. Livestock stress from heat and humidity was reported.



Farmers Pride Coop, Land O Lakes fund grants to local organizations

Farmers Pride Cooperative and Land O’ Lakes were happy to present matching grant funds to the Plainview Fire Department.

The funds were put towards the purchase of new rescue scene lights to assist first responds to see scenes more clearly after dark.

Each year Farmers Pride cooperative is able to offer matching grant fund applications through the regional cooperative Land O’ Lakes, and local non-profits are invited to apply. This year, we are happy to announce several area donations being made. Other organizations receiving matching grants in 2025 include: Battle Creek Fire and Rescue, Lutheran High Northeast FFA, Neligh-Oakdale FFA, O’Neill Fire and Rescue, Pierce Volunteer Fire Department, Osmond Volunteer Fire Department, Sons of Clearwater, and the Wayne Community School Foundation.



The Nebraska Corn Board Is Seeking Applications for Blender Pump Grant Program

The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) is now accepting applications for the Blender Pump Grant Program. This initiative is designed to increase the availability of higher ethanol blends, including E15, E30 and E85 at fuel retail locations statewide. Retailers are invited to submit applications which could award up to $50,000 per retail location for the installation of equipment supporting mid- to high-level ethanol blends like E15, E30 and E85, in accordance with the guidelines provided in the application.

“This program directly connects Nebraska corn farmers with new market opportunities by growing in-state demand for ethanol,” said Payton Schaneman, director of market development at NCB. “Every pump installed is another step toward building stronger local economies, lower cost fuel for consumers and expanding demand across Nebraska.”

Applications must be received no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, September 26, 2025. For further information, visit nebraskacorn.gov/corn-101/corn-uses/ethanol or contact Payton Schaneman at 402-471-2676.



I-29 Moo University webinar On August 12 To Focus On Revision To The USDA Milk Pricing System: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

The I-29 Moo University Dairy Webinar Series continues Tuesday, August 12 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. CDT, focusing on revisions to the USDA Milk Pricing system with Dr. Lawrence Jones with FARME Institute.

Investigating the milk market became Jones passion when he was working to predict a farm’s future milk checks.  He applied his programming skills and knowledge of the dairy industry to develop analytical tools incorporating milk pricing data gathered from USDA.  During trading days, the spot market is analyzed and evaluated relative to it’s impact on the futures market. Major USDA reports are summarized on a YouTube channel (Milk Market Tid Bits) and an in-depth analysis is presented in a weekly subscription service.  The in-depth analysis includes predictions of the weekly National Dairy Products Sales Report, Class and Component values along with key elements of the Milk Production, Cold Storage, and Dairy Products reports. I am an avid Phyton Programmer. To “Walk the Talk”, I actively trade milk futures on the CME.

His formal training includes Dairy Science degrees from The Ohio State University (BS) and the University of Illinois (MS, and PhD).  The PhD topic was an early application of Artificial Intelligence (i.e., Natural Language Interface) to dairy management.  This was followed by a six-year stint as a Cornell University faculty position for computer application in Dairy Management. 

There is no fee to participate in the webinar; however, registration is required at least one hour prior to the webinar. Register online at: https://go.iastate.edu/SOK6PU.

 For more information, contact: in Iowa, Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230; in Minnesota, Jim Salfer, 320-203-6093; or in South Dakota, Maristela Rovai, 605-688-5488.



New Training Event Offers In-Depth Look at Drone Spraying in Agriculture

The Iowa State University Digital Ag Innovation Lab and Terraplex are co-hosting a new educational event, offering research-backed insights on drone spraying use in agriculture.

“Drone Spraying Essentials: From Basics to Application” will take place on Sept. 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Digital Ag Innovation Lab in Ames, Iowa. The event is designed for a range of attendees, from curious farmers and licensed applicators to agricultural professionals and ag-tech startups.

Doug Houser, digital agriculture extension specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, said the day will address common questions about the emerging use of drones in agriculture.

“Drone spraying technology is reshaping agriculture across Iowa, and producers, agriculture professionals and entrepreneurs want the knowledge to keep pace with this innovation,” he shared. “This full-day workshop will provide both beginning and advanced knowledge on agricultural drone spraying. It’s a great chance to connect with experts and get your questions answered.”

Attendees will learn:
    How drone spraying is transforming farm practices
    Certification and licensing requirements for drone applicators
    Safe and effective drone operation strategies
    Legal and regulatory considerations
    Expert advice from industry, policy and technology leaders

The cost to attend this event is $225, which includes a complimentary lunch and educational materials. Online pre-registration is required by Aug. 15 at 11:59 p.m., and space is limited to 100 attendees https://go.iastate.edu/ATMKGV.

The Digital Ag Innovation Lab is located at 3800 University Blvd., Ames.

For more information, contact Doug Houser at dhouser@iastate.edu or Christina Hicks at cmhicks@iastate.edu.



Smith: Trade Deal with EU Groundbreaking

Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE), Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee's Trade Subcommittee, released the following statement after the United States and the European Union announced a deal to lower trade barriers and expand mutual investment.

"This announcement breaks new ground for trade relations with our partners in the European Union. The EU has long posed significant tariff and non-tariff barriers to American goods and services. President Trump and his negotiating team have secured powerful commitments which, if upheld, will unlock meaningful market access for American manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, and digital companies. The deal will also strengthen supply chains critical for shared economic and national security. I salute the work of President Trump and Ambassador Jamieson Greer, who continue to be relentless in the president's mission to establish a level playing field for our world-leading producers and innovators."  



Council Reacts To New Trade Deal With European Union

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is encouraged to hear that a trade deal between the U.S and the European Union (EU) was announced today by President Trump and the White House.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the EU will purchase $750 billion in U.S. energy, including ethanol.

Although the EU threatened 25% and 30% tariffs on U.S. corn and U.S. sorghum, respectively, early in the negotiations, reports also say the EU has agreed to zero tariffs on some ag products, but the EU has not provided a list of specific commodities at this time.

Previously, U.S. corn and sorghum have been held to a “floating tariff” that has calculated to be zero for the majority of the last five years.

“While we are eager to see the details, the Council thanks President Trump, the USDA and the USTR for continuing their tireless effort to bring about fair trade between the U.S. and the EU,” said USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand. “This deal promises to build upon long-established trade with our eighth largest grains-in-all-forms trading partner worth more than $1 billion in the 2023-2024 marketing year and our fourth largest ethanol trading partner, valued at more than $320 million dollars during the same period.”



NGFA welcomes U.S.-EU trade agreement framework

President Trump on Sunday announced the framework for a new trade deal with the European Union that reduces tariffs and aims to expand access for U.S. exports, including key agricultural products. The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) released the following statement from its president and CEO, Mike Seyfert:

“NGFA appreciates President Trump’s tireless efforts to expand international markets for U.S. agriculture, and we applaud the announcement of a trade deal framework with the European Union. This is a meaningful step forward in opening one of the world’s most restrictive markets to American producers. We are encouraged by the President’s call to diversify agricultural trade with the EU, and we look forward to ongoing discussions to build on that goal.

“A stable, rules-based framework also creates an opportunity to address longstanding non-tariff trade barriers. NGFA stands ready to work with the administration to ensure the agreement is finalized and implemented in a way that delivers real results for U.S. agriculture.”



NCBA Endorses HELP Act to Support Livestock Haulers

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) urged support for the Hauling Exemptions for Livestock Protection (HELP) Act introduced by Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO). This legislation supports livestock haulers by protecting drivers from burdensome hours of service (HOS) and electronic logging device (ELD) mandates.

“When you are hauling cattle, you are dealing with livestock that must be protected from the elements and cannot be easily unloaded until you get to your destination. Livestock haulers need flexibility to complete their trips free from government mandates,” said NCBA Policy Division Chair Skye Krebs, an Oregon rancher who hauls livestock and holds a Commercial Driver’s License. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, haulers and ranchers like me were granted additional flexibility on hours of service and electronic logging devices. In that time, we proved that we could safely transport our livestock and also support the overall supply chain.”

The HELP Act codifies HOS and ELD exemptions that were issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for about two years during the pandemic. Since then, America’s livestock haulers have been burdened by HOS rules again, but this legislation would reinstate permanent exemptions, providing the flexibility necessary to safely transport livestock.

Last week, FMCSA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced they are withdrawing a proposed rule to mandate speed limiters in trucks. This announcement was welcome news for livestock haulers, but HOS and ELD mandates continue to pose a threat to drivers. NCBA strongly supports the HELP Act and thanks Rep. Hurd for introducing it. We urge Congress to pass this legislation. 



USDA to Gather Conservation Data to Assess Trends and Improve Programs and Services

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), in partnership with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is reaching out to farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners to gather in-depth information about the conservation practices they use.

Nearly 23,000 operators nationwide will receive the 2025 Conservation Effects Assessment Project survey. Data obtained will support the third set of national and regional cropland assessments delivered by USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP), a multi-agency effort led by NRCS to quantify the effects of conservation practices across the nation’s working lands.

“Responding to the survey gives farmers the opportunity to provide the most accurate picture of conservation practices on their cropland,” said NASS Administrator Joseph Parsons. “Information from CEAP – which is made stronger by robust survey response – will help inform programs that benefit producers by protecting the natural resources on which their livelihoods depend.”

Local NASS representatives will visit farmers and agricultural landowners in August and September of 2025 to determine if their operations and properties meet the criteria to be considered eligible candidates for the survey. Eligible farmers and landowners may be contacted between November 2025 and March 2026 and asked to participate in the survey. Typical questions will discuss farm production practices; chemical, fertilizer, and manure applications; tillage; irrigation use; and installed conservation practices. NASS will provide survey data to NRCS, the agency tasked with publishing findings.

CEAP Cropland Assessments quantify the environmental outcomes associated with implementation and installation of conservation practices on agricultural lands. Findings are used to guide conservation program development and support agricultural producers and partners in making informed management decisions backed by data and science.

Specifically, CEAP results may help:
    Evaluate the resources farmers may need in the future to protect soil, water, and habitat.
    Shed light on techniques farmers use to conserve healthy environments.
    Improve and strengthen technical and financial programs that help landowners plan and install conservation practices on agricultural land.
    Support the conservation programs that can help producers’ profits while also protecting natural resources. 

The CEAP survey is conducted through a cooperative agreement between NRCS and NASS. NRCS will couple survey results with modeling to report on trends in cropland conservation – and associated outcomes – from 2024 through 2026.

Information provided to NASS and analyzed by NRCS is kept confidential, as required by federal law. The agencies only publish data in aggregate form, ensuring that no individual respondent or operation can be identified.       

The data from this survey will be published as a report on the CEAP Cropland Assessments webpage at nrcs.usda.gov/ceap/croplands. If you have questions about the survey, please contact us at 888-424-7828.



Hoskins, Hutchins USDA Nominations Advance
NPPC newsletter

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry moved to the full Senate for confirmation the nominations of Dudley Hoskins as undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Scott Hutchins as undersecretary for USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics mission area. Both were put on hold by the committee in May.
 
Hoskins currently is counsel on the Senate Agriculture Committee and previously was senior adviser to then-Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and chief of staff for the MRP mission area in the first Trump administration. The mission area includes the Agricultural Marketing Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 
Also serving during Trump’s first term, Hutchins was deputy undersecretary for the REE mission area, which consists of the Agricultural Research Service, Economic Research Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the Office of the Chief Scientist.
 
The MRP undersecretary oversees the agencies that facilitate domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products, protect U.S. plant and animal health, regulate genetically engineered organisms, administer the Animal Welfare Act, and carry out wildlife management activities. They also help set national and international standards.
 
The REE undersecretary oversees programs that ensure a safe, sustainable, and competitive food system through integrated research, analysis, and education. The REE also serves as the conduit between the federal government and land-grant universities.



U.S. Dairy Organizations Testify Before USITC on Global Policies Affecting Dairy Markets 

National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) Executive Vice President for Policy Development & Strategy, Jaime Castaneda, and Senior Vice President for Global Economic Affairs, Will Loux, testified today before the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) on the need for the U.S. government to hold trading partners accountable for policies that disrupt global markets for nonfat milk solids products and harm U.S. dairy producers and exporters. Chief among those concerns were Canadian dairy policies.

Throughout the hearing, Castaneda and Loux highlighted how trade distorting policies and subsidies from Canada, India, Turkey, the European Union, and others have driven artificially low-priced exports from those competitors onto global markets, undercutting U.S producers. The remarks complemented a set of in-depth comments filed on July 16. 

“The U.S. is an extremely competitive player in world dairy markets,” said Castaneda. “However, Canada’s actions are one of the major policy factors undermining fair competition in those markets. We encourage this investigation to include a focus on the full breadth of trade distorting policies that Canada and other major suppliers employ that can undercut U.S. producers and exporters. It is critical that the United States takes steps to curb these anticompetitive practices during the 2026 USMCA review process.”  

The hearing was part of an ongoing USITC investigation into the global nonfat milk solids market and export competitiveness. As requested by the U.S. Trade Representative, the inquiry and subsequent report will analyze government policies and programs that Canada and other major suppliers maintain that affect the production and exports of nonfat milk solids products from major dairy producing countries. NMPF and USDEC have been urging the U.S. government to take steps to address Canada’s continued attempts to circumvent its trade commitments that were intended to limit the offloading of artificially low-priced dairy proteins onto the global market. USTR’s initiation of this investigation was a key step in that direction. 

“Canada’s exports of protein concentrates and isolates have more than doubled since the implementation of USMCA,” said Loux in his remarks. “India’s subsidized SMP exports were as high as 45,000 metric tons in 2021 and were sold at a 10% discount compared to the global average. Turkey’s whey exports—which have quadrupled in the last two years by selling at roughly half the global average—are increasingly moving beyond the Middle East and into critical export markets for U.S. manufacturers, including Southeast Asia and China. It is essential that the United States push back against dishonest trade practices and ensure that U.S. dairy producers can compete on a level playing field around the world.”

USITC is scheduled to submit its report to USTR by March 23, 2026.

Complementing this effort, NMPF and USDEC are dedicated to working with the Administration and Congress to leverage the investigation’s findings through the 2026 USMCA Review process to ensure that U.S. dairy producers are delivered the market access they were promised and fully benefit from the agreement moving forward.



Mid-Year Cattle
Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, South Dakota State University

The Cattle and Cattle on Feed reports were released after the markets closed last Friday. Last year, the Cattle report was cancelled for budgetary reasons and restored for 2025. The trade was expecting smaller inventory totals as of July 1, generally compared to two years ago. The expectations were also consistent with the contraction that has been occurring for several years. Missing the mid-year data from last year makes some comparisons more difficult or less relevant. Regardless, the overall totals across categories are still valuable for insights into the supply situation. The actual total of 94.2 million head was down 1 percent from last year and was slightly above trade expectations.

Beef cow inventory and calf crop estimates, while down, were not down as much as expected. The number of beef replacement heifers and the number of other heifers are both lower, affirming the continued contraction on the beef side, although not by much. The cattle on feed total across all feedlots, at 13.0 million head, suggests that small feedlots, those with less than 1,000 head capacity, have an inventory level almost unchanged from two years ago. While nothing suggests major contraction, there is also nothing suggesting any expansion.

The trade was also expecting a tighter on-feed total. The actual, at 11.2 million head, continued the typical seasonal trend of lower inventories. Placements in June surprised the trade, coming in at 1.44 million head and at only 92 percent of last year. This was below the low end of trade estimates. While feeder cattle auction volume for June was up from a year ago, the direct sales volume was down sharply. There was no evident pattern in placement weights as the number of head placed across different classes were consistently lower than a year ago. Marketings, at 1.71 million head, were in line with expectations and slaughter volumes for June.

Some regional differences were evident. Relatively high placements offset relatively high placements in Kansas, resulting in a higher on-feed total. Despite relatively low placements, the on-feed total in Nebraska remained relatively high. Texas had relatively low placements and marketings, resulting in a relatively low on-feed total. The continued disruption of feeder cattle imports from Mexico could be showing up there.

The quarterly heifer mix on feed, the ratio of heifers to all cattle on feed, was 38.1 percent as of July 1, 2025. The mix has been hovering around 39 percent for several years. The mix bottomed out at around 31 percent in mid-2015 during the last cattle expansion. The mix had been getting lower, especially last quarter when it reached 37.6 percent. An increase from April 1 to July 1 is consistent over time. The mix is the smallest it has been on July 1 since 2019, and would be the slightest indication that some expansion is being considered.