Welcome to Episode 221 of The Spokesman Speaks podcast. In this episode, Iowa Farm Bureau economist Dr. Christopher Pudenz breaks down a new, 107-page report on Iowa’s agricultural economy, including analysis of crops, livestock, trade, ag lending and more. The study – titled “2026 Iowa Agricultural Outlook: The Pressure is Rising” – was published jointly by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at Iowa State University, the Iowa Bankers Association, and Iowa Farm Bureau. It was first released at Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2026 Economic Summit, July 17 in Ankeny. 

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Resources Mentioned in this Episode
  • Read the full report, 2026 Iowa Agricultural Outlook: The Pressure is Rising. 
  • Report authors: Miguel Carriquiry — Instituto de Economía, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Rabail Chandio — Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), Iowa State University; John M. Crespi — Director, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), and Professor of Economics, Iowa State University (co-editor); Jerome Dumortier — Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Indianapolis; Amani Elobeid — Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), Iowa State University; Joohun Han — Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF), University of Missouri; Chad Hart — Department of Economics and Extension, Iowa State University; Sunghun Lim — Department of Economics, Iowa State University; Alejandro Plastina — Director, Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF), University of Missouri; Christopher C. Pudenz — Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (co-editor)
About The Spokesman Speaks Podcast

Since 1934, The Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman has been Iowa’s leading agriculture news source, and today it has the largest readership of any ag newspaper in Iowa. While The Spokesman newspaper is available exclusively to Iowa Farm Bureau members, The Spokesman Speaks podcast is available publicly, providing the ag news and farmer education that matter most. You can find episodes of the podcast here or subscribe and listen in your favorite podcast app, such as Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Audible, TuneIn Radio, Audacy, YouTube or AgriAmerica.com.