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Iowa Republican Senator Named 2012 ‘Friend of Agriculture’

Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Endorses Candidates

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

The Friends of Agriculture designation has been announced by the Iowa Farm Bureau Political Action Committee. The designation is part of a larger grassroots effort to evaluate political candidate’s positions on agriculture and examining their past voting records. The selection begins in July, when Iowa county committees evaluate candidates and one of the legislators on this year’s list is Sen. Merlin Bartz.

“Our organization takes these designations very seriously, and carefully considers each race,” said Rod Collins, IFBF PAC Committee Chair.  “It’s very important that our designations are guided by statewide grassroots input and how each candidate’s voting record and positions line up with Farm Bureau policy.  As we move forward, it will be important for all of us to work to get the Friends of Agriculture elected,” he said.  “We need to stand behind candidates who are aligned with our policy.”

The designation acts as a formal endorsement by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. The farm organization wants to encourage their members to consider the designation winners when voting on November 6.


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USDA Feb Crop Report a WIN for Soybeans + 1 Year Trade Truce Extension

Video: USDA Feb Crop Report a WIN for Soybeans + 1 Year Trade Truce Extension


USDA took Trumps comments that China would buy more U.S. soybeans seriously and headline news that the U.S./China trade truce would be extended when Trump/Xi meet in the first week of April was a BIG WIN for soybeans this week! 2026 “Mini” U.S. ethanol boom thanks to 45Z + China’s ban of phosphates from Feb. – August of 2026 will not help lower fertilizer prices anytime soon! 30 mmt of Chinese corn harvest is of poor quality and maybe a technical breakout in wheat futures.

*Apologies! Where we talk about the latest CFTC update as of 10th Feb 2026, managed money funds covered their net short position in canola to the tune of +42,746 week-on-week to flip to net long 145 contracts and not (as we mistakenly said) +90,009 wk/wk to 47,408.