February meetings will examine grain and livestock markets, ag finance and risk management. 

Following a challenging 2025, Iowa farmers enter 2026 facing increased margin pressures, elevated interest costs and escalating market uncertainty driven by input cost inflation, tariff volatility, reduced Chinese soybean demand and broader geopolitical tensions.

Iowa Farm Bureau is helping farmers prepare for these economic challenges with its Ag Market Outlook series in February. 

The outlook series will bring together experts in grain and livestock markets, ag finance and crop insurance at six regional meetings across the state to break down what these disruptions mean for producer profitability and how you can better manage your operation’s risk in 2026. 

Attendees will gain clear insight on the factors shaping grain and livestock price direction, ag finance considerations and crop insurance and risk management strategies such as Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) to help navigate what is shaping up to be a year of increased volatility and price risk in the ag sector, says Zach Brummer, Iowa Farm Bureau farmer education program manager.

“Attendees will leave these meetings with a better understanding of the levers influencing the direction of the ag economy and commodity prices in 2026 along with strategic insights into managing risk while capturing market opportunities,” says Brummer. 

Meetings are planned in O’Brien and Sac counties Feb. 16, Harrison County Feb. 17, Winneshiek and Jones counties Feb. 24 and Jefferson County Feb. 25. 

The agenda for each meeting includes a 2026 corn and soybean market outlook from Brummer; 2026 hog and cattle market outlook by Iowa Farm Bureau Economics and Research Manager Christopher Pudenz; and an overview of crop insurance changes for 2026 and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) from Farm Bureau Financial Services regional crop consultants Zach Hyland, Shelby Oetting and Angie Horn. 

In addition, Carol Jensen, vice president of Luana Savings Bank in Ossian; Nic Klein, agriculture lending officer at Central Bank in Urbandale; and Trevor Hulett, commercial banker at F&M Bank in Anamosa, will present ag lending and finance updates for 2026, while the Jefferson meeting will host a farm succession planning discussion by Erin Herbold-Swalwell, senior council at Farm Bureau Financial Services. 

Registration is free for Iowa Farm Bureau members. Go to iowafarmbureau.com/marketoutlook to register. Each meeting will include breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on the meeting time. Nonmembers who would like to attend can contact the hosting county Farm Bureau to register or become a member at www.iowafarmbureau.com/join.


IFBF Ag Market Outlook Series
O’Brien County

Monday, Feb. 16, 7:45 a.m.- 10:45 a.m. at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon.

Sac County

Monday, Feb. 16, 12:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m. at Wall Lake Community Center in Wall Lake. 

Harrison County

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 9:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. at Dunlap Four-County Fairgrounds in Dunlap. 

Winneshiek County

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 7:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m. at Northeast Iowa Community College Dairy Center in Calmar.

Jones County

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 12:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m. at Jones County Farm Bureau Building in Anamosa.

Jefferson County

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 5 p.m.-8:15 p.m. at Cambridge Building, Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Fairfield.