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How an Iowa farmer pushes through less-than-average crop yields

Jul 27, 2023
It takes a "that's farming, buddy!" attitude — and crop insurance helps, too.
"That's farming, buddy!" says April Hemmes, a corn and soybean farmer, in the face of drought in her home state of Iowa.
Ben Hethcoat/Marketplace

How does the price of soybeans, corn and other commodities affect the cost of food?

May 31, 2023
Prices received by U.S. farmers are down 2.2% since last year. But you may not feel it at the grocery store.
After record highs about a year ago, soybean prices have dropped to some of the lowest levels farmers have seen in recent years. Above, the crop being harvested in Iowa.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Despite drought, this Iowa farmer had a record harvest

Nov 8, 2022
April Hemmes was in the "Goldilocks spot" when it came to weather.
April Hemmes on her farm in 2019. This year, she had a record soybean harvest despite a drought earlier in the year.
Ben Hethcoat/Marketplace

Low water levels in the Mississippi River are disrupting the supply chain

Oct 24, 2022
Austin Golding says his family's barge business was able to plan ahead, but it's still costing the company money and productivity.
A tug pushes a barge down the Mississippi River through St. Paul, Minnesota.
Karen Bleier/AFP via Getty Images

The other oil market that's being disrupted by the conflict in Ukraine: the oils we eat

Mar 2, 2022
Ukraine and Russia are big producers of sunflower oil, so turmoil in that market is roiling the edible oil markets.
The Black Sea region accounts for more than half of the world's sunflower oil output and more than three quarters of sunflower oil exports.
Evgenii Zorin / Getty Images

"A lot of crap has gone down" for Iowa farmer, but it's finally harvest time

Sep 30, 2021
April Hemmes had to replant her soybeans after a frost killed them. But they're coming out better than expected, she says.
April Hemmes on her farm in 2019. This year, she had a record soybean harvest despite a drought earlier in the year.
Ben Hethcoat/Marketplace

How some farmers are feeling about Biden's election

Nov 10, 2020
Iowa corn and soybean farmer April Hemmes says farmers are wondering how quickly Biden will undo some of Trump's policies.
April Hemmes on her farm in 2019. This year, she had a record soybean harvest despite a drought earlier in the year.
Ben Hethcoat/Marketplace

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What the phase one deal means for one Iowa farmer

Jan 15, 2020
Corn and soybean farmer April Hemmes isn't sure she'll be able to regain the Chinese buyers she lost during the trade war.
An Iowa corn farm in 2015.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Farming during a trade war

Oct 21, 2019
The loss of soybean sales to China have created a lot of stress, says farmer Blake Hurst.
Blake Hurst on his farm in Atchinson County, MO.
Courtesy of Blake Hurst

Canadian farmers caught in the middle of U.S.-China disputes

Sep 30, 2019
Since Canada detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou late last year, Chinese imports of several agricultural crops have slowed or stopped altogether.
Soybeans growing on a farm in Canada.
Emma Jacobs/Marketplace