Iowa Politicians Want "Absentee Landlords" to Pay Higher Taxes

Joe's Premium Subscription

Apple Podcasts

🇺🇸 Iowa Farmland Controversy

Iowa Auditor and gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand is backing a plan to raise taxes on out-of-state property owners — including farmland. Sand argues it would help make land more affordable for Iowans and preserve state culture.

👉 Iowa State University’s 2022 data shows half of Iowa farmland is owned by non-farmers, and a quarter of 2022 land sales were investment-driven. Two of the top 10 landowners in Iowa are based out of state.

📎 Click HERE to read the article.

🌱 Market Update

Soybeans led Monday’s rally — Jan26 up 13¢ to $11.30/bu — as optimism grows that the government shutdown may end and exports to China may pick up.

Corn gained nearly 3¢ to $4.30, and Chicago wheat rose 8¢ to $5.36.

📊 Traders are eyeing possible yield cuts in Friday’s USDA Crop Production and WASDE reports.

🚢 Export Inspections

USDA data showed 1.1mmt of soybeans inspected for export last week — up 11% from the prior week but down 54% from last year.

🇨🇳 China was absent from the market.

Corn: 1.4mmt (strong vs. last year)

Wheat: 290kmt (weaker week-over-week)

📈 See seasonal soybean export inspection chart below.

🥩 Tyson Foods Outlook

Tyson Foods expects 2026 profits to hold steady despite ongoing beef segment losses from high cattle prices.

🐄 The US cow herd is at a 70-year low, and rebuilding may take until 2028.

🍗 Stronger demand for chicken and processed products is helping offset beef weakness.

President Trump recently urged the DOJ to investigate major packers — including Tyson — over alleged price manipulation.

📊 See Tyson Foods charts below.

🇧🇷 Brazil Weather & Planting

Brazil’s soybean planting reached 61%, up 14% from the week prior but behind last year’s 67%.

🌦️ Irregular rainfall continues to slow progress.

Corn planting is 72% complete, in line with 2024.

🗺️ See CropProphet maps below.