For Mark Matuska, Milford, Iowa (Dickinson County) Friday, September 25, 2026. Filed by The MI Farm AI Desk.
Weather, Dickinson County, IA
What this means for today: Patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 62. Wind 6 to 15 mph through the day (see the hour by hour table below). Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible. Source: NOAA National Weather Service via the MI Farm AI weather layer for Dickinson County, IA, pulled this morning. Hour by Hour, the day ahead
Source: NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast and station observations, pulled this morning. Wind this morning at your nearest weather station was about 7 mph. Rain WindowWe could not get a reading right on your field this morning. The nearest weather station (Estherville IA, about 16 miles northwest) recorded 0.19 inches in the past 24 hours. Your own ground may differ, so check your gauge. Rain expected at your field: Next 24 hours: 0.00 inches expected Next 48 hours: 0.09 inches expected Next 72 hours: 0.15 inches expected Source: NOAA National Weather Service forecast and NOAA radar rainfall estimates, pulled this morning. Futures board reference (not your cash)
Friday close, board reopens Sunday 7pm CT. The board is a labeled futures reference, not your cash bid. Your cash and net after haul are below. Corn Today (Dec 2026 board)
Cash bid, your nearby buyers, ranked by net after haul, best first
Cash bid is each buyer's own posted local price (the local cash plus basis). Ranked by net after haul, best first (ties break to the shorter haul, then higher cash). Net is the cash bid minus the cost to truck it there. Patronage is money a co-op pays back on the bushels you deliver, often a few cents a bushel.
Local cash bids, as of 2026-09-25.
Soybeans Today (Nov 2026 board)
Cash bid, your nearby buyers, ranked by net after haul, best first
Cash bid is each buyer's own posted local price (the local cash plus basis). Ranked by net after haul, best first (ties break to the shorter haul, then higher cash). Net is the cash bid minus the cost to truck it there. Patronage is money a co-op pays back on the bushels you deliver, often a few cents a bushel.
Local cash bids, as of 2026-09-25.
Grain and Livestock, corn, soybeans, wheat, cattleCal's Grain Call: Price a portion of 69,700 bu corn at $5.04/bu via NEW Cooperative, Milford (a recommendation, see the factors).Corn: Grain in the bin is 2025 old crop corn; in September it prices on the old crop September board. Soybeans: The growing 2026 crop is new crop soybean; it prices on the November board.
Source: CME livestock futures. Cal's Market ReadOvernight, corn added about 1 cents; and beans added about 2 cents. Recent trend, over the last 5 sessions, corn has eased and beans have eased. That is the backdrop your cash bid is moving against. Here is our read on why. Cutting the other way, demand still reads firm per Tri-State Neighbor: Tropical Storm Polo to boost Southern Plains moisture. Honest truth, the tape does not hand us one clean reason today, so take this as our best read, not gospel. Stocks point higher into the open, S&P futures up about 0.5 percent. A firmer tape eases the borrowing and input-cost mood your lender watches, though it does not move your cash bid by itself. Cal Wall Street, yesterday's close
WHY IT MATTERS FOR YOUR FIELDS Decision DeliveredYour decisions for today and the week ahead:
What to Watch Today
From Cal's News DeskThe 10 stories that moved across the wires since yesterday's Brief, sourced, dated, and verifiable. Each one carries Cal's review, the same one the news page shows, with a link to read it straight from the source. 1. Cattle market strengthens, hogs closed weaker
"The cattle market strengthened today with live cattle finishing with moderate gains, while feeders were up several dollars. This week's trading action has been positive, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services have reported no new cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in recent weeks. On the other hand, the hog market closed weaker today, with prices falling by a few cents per pound."
Read the full article. Tri-State Neighbor, Fri Sep 25, 2026 4:55 PM CT 2. Tropical Storm Polo to boost Southern Plains moisture
Tropical Storm Polo is expected to bring significant moisture to the Southern Plains over the next week, reversing summer drought conditions. The Hightower Report predicts major coverage and amounts of rain needed for the positive impact. Bloomberg reports that food prices are headed up for the rest of the year.
Read the full article. Tri-State Neighbor, Fri Sep 25, 2026 5:12 PM CT 3. Climatologist says wet weather could delay harvest weeks, possibly months
The USDA director says wet weather will delay harvest for weeks or months. A stationary weather boundary has divided moisture conditions across the Corn Belt, with heavy rain in some areas but drought in others. Wet conditions have brought relief to some drought-stricken regions, but slow pace of harvest is likely to show up in next crop progress report. The driest window for farmers is expected during the second week of October.
Read the full article. Brownfield Ag News, Fri Sep 25, 2026 3:55 PM CT 4. Gov. Hochul Announces $10M Available to Support the Purchase and Preparation of New York Foods in New York Schools
Gov. Hochul Announces $10M Available for New York Foods in Schools,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced on September 25th, 2026 that $10 million is available through Round 4 of the Regional School Food Infrastructure (RSFI) Grant Program to support the purchase and preparation of more New York foods for K-12 students in schools across the state. This program aims to provide resources to organizations in the Capital Region, Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, and Finger Lakes Regions to facilitate on-site processing and preparation of fresh, nutritious meals and increase the use of more healthy, local New York food products in schools. The RSFI program is just one example of the many ways that New York State prioritizes farm-to-school programming, while working to reduce food insecurity, strengthen the resiliency of our food system, and support farmers. The program provides funding for capital projects to support the preparation and distribution of fresh meals for regional school infrastructure, such as aggregation, storage hubs, and/or commissary-type kitchens. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, local municipalities, school districts, and Boards of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES). The deadline to submit proposals for Round 4 is January 22nd, 2027 at 3:00 p.m. More information on the program, project eligibility, and how to apply can be found online.
Read the full article. Morning Ag Clips, Fri Sep 25, 2026 5:20 PM CT 5. AHC Applauds Introduction of Bipartisan TIME Act
The American Horse Council (AHC) is pleased to announce the introduction of the Temporary International Movement of Equines (TIME) Act of 2026. Bipartisan legislation sponsored by U.S. Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Kat Cammack (R-FL), the bill aims to modernize federal requirements governing the temporary international movement of elite competition and racehorses. This significant milestone reflects a years-long effort led by AHC and its industry partners, who seek to establish a more modern approach to the entry of high-health, high-performance horses into the United States while maintaining strong protections for equine health and biosecurity. The TIME Act directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop a science-based, risk-based regulatory framework that aligns with internationally recognized standards.
Read the full article. Morning Ag Clips, Fri Sep 25, 2026 5:15 PM CT 6. US harvest delays send soy processors scrambling for supplies
Soybean processors in the western US Midwest are offering high premiums for immediate deliveries of soybeans due to persistent rains delaying early harvest, causing a shortage of supplies and forcing some plants to scale back production. This has led to unexpected windfalls for farmers able to harvest their crops and get them to market. The surge in cash prices is prompted by robust profit margins for US soybean processing capacity, which has expanded in recent years largely due to rising demand for biofuel. However, some crushers have struggled to keep operating this month as supplies from last year's harvest dwindle while the 2026 harvest is off to a slow start.
Read the full article. AgWeek, Fri Sep 25, 2026 1:53 PM CT 7. Mississippi police say Tasia Fortune's hanging was 'staged' after her death in a drug dispute
Mississippi police have ruled Tasia Fortune's death a homicide after her body was discovered hanging in a tree behind an abandoned home in Jackson this summer. The discovery of the Black woman's body stoked fear and drew widespread attention due to its similarity to actual lynchings in Mississippi's history of racial violence. Two men, both Black, have been arrested on murder charges: Jarques Ratliff and Earnest Lloyd Jr. Ratliff has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed without bond, while Lloyd was arrested this week. Detective Samuel Dukes testified that the hanging was "staged" and that the motive for the killing appears to have been a drug dispute. Fortune's mother, Christy Spivey, said her daughter struggled with homelessness in recent years and was trying to get her life in order.
Read the full article. PBS NewsHour, Fri Sep 25, 2026 3:29 PM CT 8. Diesel, fertilizer prices weigh on Minnesota farmers
Senator Tina Smith visited a farm in southwest Minnesota and heard skepticism from farmers about the potential impact of a diesel export ban on their costs. Rising fertilizer prices and high interest rates are also major concerns for these farmers, who are struggling to cope with the trade war between the US and Canada.
Read the full article. Brownfield Ag News, Fri Sep 25, 2026 3:47 PM CT 9. Harvest Weather Forecast: Dry Days Give Way to Soaking Rains Before a Return to Sunshine
As the harvest season continues in Indiana, the weather forecast shows that dry days will give way to soaking rains before returning to sunshine. From Wednesday through next Monday, there will be a very wet pattern with rainfall totals ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 inches and 100% coverage across Indiana. After that, a drier forecast pattern is expected from Tuesday, October 6, through the rest of the week, with an extended forecast window likely being mostly dry. This period will also see cooler temperatures, with October usually seeing a nice drawdown in temperatures.
Read the full article. Hoosier Ag Today, Fri Sep 25, 2026 2:12 PM CT 10. Michigan Sugar changes operations at Toledo facility
In a notice to the state of Ohio on Sept. The company said it was providing the information to the state "as a courtesy," as it did not believe it was required under the state's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification or WARN Act. As a result, the decision has been made to move to a warehousing only operation in Toledo. In addition to the facility in Toledo, Michigan Sugar also has warehouse facilities in Bay City, Bridgeport, and Carrollton, Michigan, as well as Fremont, Ohio; and an Agricultural Research Center in Bay County, Michigan.
Read the full article. AgWeek, Fri Sep 25, 2026 1:51 PM CT Around the WorldThe world news moving your markets this morning, the same read from Cal's desk that runs on your dashboard. USDA Weekly Export Sales: Corn, Soybeans, Wheat Lead; China Tops Soybean Bookings, News and StatisticsCorn led all commodities in the latest USDA export sales report dated September 17, 2026, with 840,868 metric tons in net sales, followed by soybeans at 582,432 tons and wheat at 267,553 tons. On the outstanding sales side, soybeans sit far out front at roughly 19.64 million tons, ahead of corn near 14.26 million tons and wheat around 3.11 million tons. China was the biggest soybean buyer for the 2026/2027 year, booking 311,792 tons in net sales with total commitments topping 10.17 million tons. Japan and Mexico anchored corn demand, with Japan buying 246,988 tons and Mexico 210,981 tons, while Colombia added another 201,301 tons. On wheat, Mexico and Japan drove the numbers, with Mexico taking 65,350 tons of hard red winter and 49,879 tons of soft red winter, and smaller orders came from Vietnam, Spain, Italy, and others. For a farmer watching prices, these figures matter because steady foreign demand, especially from China on beans and Japan and Mexico on corn, helps support what your crop is worth this marketing year. IndexBox (via world wire). Read the full story.Local ObituariesWe note the passing of neighbors across your area, gathered from the local papers this morning. Our thoughts are with their families. Carol Leone (Adams) RiessenDickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary.Rose-Marie 'Ro' Doty JacksonDickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary.Mark ElliottDickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary.Ginger OsterholtDickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary.Dan TryonDickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary.William 'Bill' SchugDickinson County News obituaries. Read the full obituary.Cal's ReceiptCal's Receipt is the running ledger of every call this desk made for your farm, what was at stake, whether you followed it, and what it actually saved (or cost). Append-only, and every dollar cites its source. You will find it on your farm Dashboard, on the Farm Services desk. Open the Dashboard from the button at the bottom of this Brief. Today in Farm SafetyTreat a manure pit like a gas chamber. Agitation releases hydrogen sulfide, which can knock a person out in one breath at high levels. Never enter a pit without ventilation, a gas monitor, and a harnessed rescue plan, and never go in after a downed worker without protection, or you become victim number two. Source: NIOSH confined-space-in-agriculture alert. Cal The Coffee ShopToday in Farm History, Dust Bowl peak 1934On May 11, 1934, a single dust storm carried 350 million tons of topsoil from the Great Plains to the East Coast, so much that dust fell on ships 300 miles off Boston. The Dust Bowl years (1930-1936) cut Great Plains farm income by 60%. The Soil Conservation Service (today NRCS) was founded in 1935 as a direct response. Source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service history archive. [CAL'S QUIZ]
Eli Whitney's 1798 U.S. government contract that pioneered interchangeable parts was for how many muskets?
(a) 1,000
(b) 5,000
(c) 10,000
(d) 50,000
Answer at the bottom of the Brief. [CAL'S JOKE]
The barn cat does not work for me. I work for the barn cat. She just lets me believe the mice are my problem.
The MI Farm AI Desk
Cal "Corn-Bread" Halvorsen, your AI Agronomist and Editor in Chief Quiz Answer(c) 10,000 muskets. The principle, identical machine-made parts assembled by less-skilled labor, became the foundation of the McCormick reaper factory (1847), the Deere plow works (1855), and every farm-equipment factory since. Source: Smithsonian National Museum of American History; U.S. Patent Office.
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The MI Farm Brief is the independent daily farm intelligence brief that earns zero when you buy inputs. Cal "Corn-Bread" Halvorsen is the editorial persona of the MI Farm AI desk, the AI-orchestrated production team that produces this Brief every working morning. The Monthly Receipt is signed by the Founder, MI Farm AI. Honest. Independent. Loyal. Transparent. The HILT Covenant.*
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Signed by Cal "Corn-Bread" Halvorsen, Editor in Chief, The MI Farm AI Desk.