Tuesday July 14 Ag News - Weekly Crop Progress Report - NCGA on Biomanufacturing Bill - Iowa Shoppers Prefer Local Farm Connection - and more!

Nebraska Crop Progress & Condition Statistics - July 12

                               Very Short     Short    Adequate     Surplus
Topsoil Moisture .......:    21          37            38              04    
Subsoil Moisture .......:    27          35            34              04    

                              .....  Last year   Last week   This week   5YrAve
Corn Silking................:        25            10              26          28
Corn in Dough............:        04            --              01            02
Soybeans in bloom.....:        36            49             65            52
Soybeans setting pods.:        08            06              11          12
Sorghum headed ........:        11           05              08            06    
Winter Wheat Harvested:     33           25             42            36

                                              VP       Poor       Fair        Good       Excellent    
Corn Condition Rating ...:     02          05         30           44             19
Soybean Condition Rating    01          04          30          45             20
Winter Wheat Condition .:    61          32          05          02               -     
Pasture Conditions ..........:    34          28          28           9                1    



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 12, 2026. This is 1.6 days more than last year, when there were 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 14 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 18 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. 

Corn silking in Iowa reached 38 percent, which is 5 percentage points ahead of last year. One percent of Iowa’s corn crop reached the dough stage, which is 4 percentage points behind last year. Corn condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. 

Soybeans blooming reached 56 percent, which is 5 percentage points ahead of last year. Soybeans setting pods reached 16 percent, which is 1 percentage point behind last year. Soybean condition rated 74 percent good to excellent. 

Oats headed reached 98 percent, which is 2 percentage points ahead of last year. Eight percent of oats have been harvested, which is 10 percentage points behind last year. Oats condition rated 81 percent good to excellent. 

Pasture condition rated 73 percent good to excellent.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

U.S. corn condition ratings improved 1 percentage point after holding steady for two weeks, while soybean condition ratings also increased 1 percentage point from the previous week, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn silking was pegged at 34%, 2 percentage points ahead of last year's 32% and 4 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 30%. Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 6%, steady with last year and slightly ahead of the five-year average of 5%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 68% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition, 1 percentage point above the previous week of 67% and 6 percentage points below last year's 74%. Eight percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, steady with the previous week and 3 points above the previous year's 5%. 

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: Soybeans blooming was pegged at 50%, 5 points ahead of last year's 45% and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 44%. Soybeans setting pods were estimated at 19%, 5 points ahead of last year's 14% and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 13%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 65% of soybeans that had emerged were in good-to-excellent condition, 1 point above the previous week of 64% and 5 points below the previous year of 70%. 

WINTER WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: Harvest moved ahead 8 percentage points last week to reach 67% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That was 5 points ahead of last year's 62% and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 61%. 

SPRING WHEAT
-- Crop development: Seventy-two percent of spring wheat was headed, 4 points behind last year's pace of 76% and steady with the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 58% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, up 1 point from 57% the previous week. 



New Rescue Lights for Plainview Fire

Farmers Pride Cooperative and Land O’ Lakes were happy to recently 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.

Get the Farmers Pride Coop App
The Farmers Pride cooperative app is now available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. It utilizes our billing system and allows you online access to your accounts. You can gain 24/7 secure access to information such as grain bushels, daily invoices, monthly statements, online bill pay and much more!

Features
Scale Tickets
    You can view grain tickets under your account, in real time.
    You can also go back and sort and filter tickets by field name, commodity, locations or dates.

Contracts
    View and sign grain and energy contracts all via the app.

Statements
    View your monthly statements.
    Beat the mail system and take advantage of any early pay discounts.

Online Bill Pay
    Safely pay your bills via secure online ACH payments to your account.
    Sign up for digital statements to be emailed to you.

Any questions about your account or the new app, patrons can call the Battle Creek main office at 402-675-2375.



NCGA Works to Secure Support for Biomanufacturing Bill

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), along with 104 other groups, sent a joint letter to members of the U.S. House today urging members to support legislation that would expand manufacturing capacity for using biobased products, including corn-based materials and chemicals.  
 
H.R. 8137 would increase corn demand by creating new tax incentives to encourage investment in domestic biomanufacturing facilities and the production of renewable materials made from U.S.-grown biomass.
 
“As the United States works to strengthen its manufacturing base, enhance supply chain resilience, and grow the domestic bioeconomy, this legislation represents an important opportunity to expand investment and strengthen America's global leadership in biomanufacturing,” the letter said.
 
“A strengthened U.S. bioeconomy will create new economic opportunities for rural communities, increase market opportunities for farmers, and expand choices for consumers. The legislation will also strengthen our national security by reducing reliance on foreign supply chains while enhancing American competitiveness,” the groups noted.
 
NCGA has been on the forefront of efforts to increase corn demand. The organization recently released a strategy document that established a plan for increasing demand in the weeks and months ahead. 



Iowa shoppers are seeking local, direct-from-farmer animal proteins

A strong desire for local connection and trust is shaping how Iowa shoppers buy meat and dairy, according to the latest Iowa Farm Bureau Food & Farm Index®. The annual survey, conducted this spring by The Harris Poll, found that 84% of Iowa grocery shoppers have purchased directly from local meat lockers, farmers or farmer networks, and more than 1 in 5 (22%) say they always or often buy directly from local meat lockers or individual farmers.

Iowa shoppers are looking for a closer connection to the people who produce their food. Nearly 4 in 5 (79%) say they review labels for information about how or where food was grown, raised or processed. The label details they seek most commonly center on local sourcing and trust, with 35% looking for products raised, grown or made locally and 33% seeking products raised, grown or made in the U.S.

As consumer demand evolves, Iowa Farm Bureau is helping farmers explore diversification opportunities, alternative markets and direct-to-consumer sales that can create new revenue streams.

“As Iowa’s largest general farm organization, we represent farmers with a wide range of operations, and we’re committed to helping them identify new markets and value-added opportunities,” said Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson. “One growing trend we’ve highlighted is consumers buying directly from farmers. Iowa Farm Bureau’s annual Acres of Opportunity conference helps new and established farmers explore crop, livestock and business diversification, with breakout sessions focused on new revenue streams in niche markets such as specialty meats, berries, lavender, fresh flowers and agritourism. Our Grow Your Future Award competition also recognizes members ages 18 to 35 who are building creative, value-added businesses that meet emerging consumer demand and awards prize money to the top three finalists to help scale their operations.”

Iowans are increasing their intake of animal-based proteins
While nearly all Iowa households consume meat (97%) and dairy (98%) at least weekly, 1 in 5 say they have increased their consumption of animal-based proteins in the past year. Among those who are eating more meat, dairy and eggs, 87% cite at least one health or nutrition-related reason, and nearly half (49%) say they are looking for more protein in their diets. The trend is even stronger among younger shoppers ages 20 to 34, with 30% reporting increased consumption of animal-based products.

Iowa shoppers overwhelmingly view both meat and milk from animals as healthy, with 91% saying each plays an important role in a balanced diet. Health and nutrition facts may further increase interest in animal-based proteins. When told how zinc helps the immune system fight illness—with meat and seafood among the richest sources—and dairy products provide 13 essential nutrients while serving as top sources of calcium, vitamin D and potassium, among other examples, 87% of Iowa grocery shoppers said they were very or somewhat likely to increase their consumption of real animal proteins.

About the Iowa Farm Bureau Food & Farm Index
The annual survey, now in its 13th year, was conducted online by The Harris Poll, on behalf of Iowa Farm Bureau, April 22- May 5, 2026, and asked 512 Iowa adults, ages 20 to 60, with primary or shared household grocery shopping responsibilities about their purchasing habits and attitudes. The index also uncovered other trends and factors shaping consumption habits, including how and where Iowa grocery shoppers purchase meat and dairy for their families.  

Data are weighted where necessary by age by gender, race/ethnicity, household income, household size, marital status, education, and smoking status to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. 

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/-5.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subset of the surveyed population of interest.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to other multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including, but not limited to coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments.



USTR Recommends ITC Investigation into Lamb Imports Following ASI's Safeguard Request

The American Sheep Industry Association welcomed the decision by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) today to recommend that the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) initiate a global safeguard investigation into imports of lamb meat under Sections 201 and 202 of the Trade Act of 1974.

The recommendation follows ASI's formal safeguard petition, filed October 30, 2025, on behalf of its 42 state associations and more than 100,000 U.S. sheep farms and ranches. USTR's decision draws directly on the market data, import trend analysis, and documented financial injury that ASI submitted as part of that petition.

"This milestone was no accident," said ASI President Ben Lehfeldt. "It has been through the hard work of ASI state member leaders, ASI Legislative Action Council, ASI staff, and sheep producers throughout the country that we reach this point."

The case ASI assembled is grounded in data. U.S. lamb imports grew from 213.6 million pounds in 2020 to 309.3 million pounds in 2024, a nearly 45 percent increase. By 2024, imports captured roughly 70 percent of the domestic market. Imported lamb was sold at prices averaging 10.8 percent below domestic product, with some pricing gaps approaching 19.5 percent. Those disparities have displaced U.S. production, eroded profitability, and put American sheep operations at serious risk.

ASI developed the petition with legal counsel Kelley Drye and Warren LLP and economists at Georgetown Economic Services LLC. The resulting public and confidential reports gave USTR a comprehensive record of the injury domestic producers have sustained.

"We appreciate the leadership of the U.S. Trade Representative's Office in recognizing the serious challenges facing America's sheep producers and taking this important step forward," said ASI Executive Director Mike Michener. "A healthy U.S. sheep industry supports rural communities, strengthens domestic supply chains, and helps ensure the United States retains the capacity to produce high-quality American lamb here at home. This action also helps protect America's domestic food supply at a time of growing global uncertainty."

Throughout this process, ASI worked directly with Congressional offices to build the bipartisan support this case deserved. That work resulted in Dear Colleague letters filed in both the U.S. House and Senate in January 2026. ASI thanks Representative Celeste Maloy and the late Representative Doug LaMalfa for their leadership on the House letter, and Senator Steve Daines for leading the Senate push.

The ITC will now collect testimony and data from all interested parties, hold a public hearing, and determine whether increased lamb imports are a substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic industry. Under the statutory timeline, the ITC typically issues its determination within 120 days of receiving the petition. ASI will remain fully engaged throughout the process.

Producers and industry supporters can follow the case and contribute to ASI's ongoing advocacy at sheepusa.org/issues/asi-trade-case.



Cattle Slaughter Update
Will Secor, Extension Livestock Economist
University of Georgia

Building off last week’s In The Cattle Markets from Charley, this edition covers the slaughter figures through mid-year. As the previous post mentions, total cattle slaughter was down about 8.7% through the last full week of June. The makeup of that headline figure is interesting.

Both steer and heifer slaughter were lower through the first half of 2026 (about 9.3 percent). Lower inventories to start the year are not the only reason for the lower slaughter levels. More days on feed are also a significant driver for this slow down as cattle are being fed longer to heavier weights.

The breakdown between steer and heifer slaughter is noteworthy. Heifer slaughter has lagged much more than steer slaughter. Heifer slaughter dropped by 11.6%, while steer slaughter dropped by 7.8%. This difference is reflected further up the supply chain with heifers on feed as a percentage of all cattle on feed falling to 37% back in April (the most recent figure). This was technically the lowest reading since April 2018. However, April is often the lowest quarter for the year, and several years approached the 37% estimate, including 2025, 2022, 2021, and 2020.

Total cow slaughter is down (around 5.9%), but there again, the make-up matters. Dairy cow slaughter was actually up 3.9% through the end of June. This contrasts with a significant 16.3% drop in beef cow slaughter. If the current beef cow slaughter rate continues through the second half of the year, assuming typical seasonal patterns, less than 8% of the beef cow inventory as of January 1, 2026, will be slaughtered. That would translate to what appears to be another strong year of beef cow retention.

The remainder of the year will be interesting with respect to cattle slaughter. While cattle inventory to start the year was lower, cattle on feed inventories have grown and now exceed year-ago levels. In fact, the June 2026 cattle on feed estimate was the highest June inventory level since 2022. Margins remain tight at the feedlot and processor level which may limit opportunities to process additional cattle. Finally, consumer beef demand has been strong, but indications of growing consumer headwinds could weigh on the sector going forward. All of these dynamics indicate that this is an important area to watch in the coming months.