Friday, April 17, 2026
corn field

While corn growers warn of a farm crisis without E15, rising cancer rates and pipeline costs raise questions about the true price of Iowa's ethanol push.
Dollar bills

Analyze the impact of U.S. tariffs on agriculture, China’s massive soybean purchases, and rising fertilizer costs in this 2026 trade policy market report.
american flag

Alan Guebert writes that Congress is trading real farm reform for record-breaking bailouts. Discover why surging subsidies and tariffs are failing rural America—and what must change.
thanksgiving dinner

Opinion writer Alan Guebert explores the controversy behind the USDA’s new "MyPyramid" guidelines. From farm-table traditions to industry conflicts, see why these dietary shifts are sparking debate.
snowy farmland

Despite strong election support, rural communities face deep cuts to SNAP, Medicaid and farm programs. Alan Guebert explores the real-world economic math of these losses.
USDA NIFA ERS building Washington

Opinion columnist Alan Guebert dicusses how more than 20,000 USDA employees left in 2025, sparking fears of a "brain drain" as the agency manages a $234B budget and new relocation plans for 2026.
soybeans

Explore the true cost of 2025’s ag policy, from record export deficits and tariffs to billions in hidden subsidies that challenge fiscal integrity.

A fact check of White House claims on farm aid shows tariffs hurt U.S. agriculture, boosted bailouts and contradict rhetoric about a “war on farmers.”
money

Alan Guebert: Political tariffs and policy shifts on Brazilian and Argentine beef have sent US cattle futures soaring, then plunging, creating chaos in the cattle market.
open sign

A nostalgic look at Christmas traditions on a southern Illinois farm, where the magic of Western Auto shaped childhood memories.