In March 2025, Iowa’s agricultural community saw a mix of modest gains and subtle shifts. Corn saw an average of $4.53 per bushel, a price that, despite a small 6-cent drop from February, still marked a 10-cent gain compared to March 2024. Meanwhile, soybean prices held firm at $10.00 per bushel—unchanged from February but trailing March 2024 by $1.70—prompting cautious evaluations among growers navigating both domestic factors and global market influences.
The livestock segment reflected varied trends. The national hog market nudged higher with the “hogs, all” category climbing to $67.00 per hundredweight in March, up from 66.00 the previous month. On the flip side, table egg prices dropped significantly to 5.96 per dozen from a previous 7.47, underscoring some volatility in the market. A year ago in March 2024, eggs were 2.15 per dozen.
Adding to the livestock picture, the USDA report sheds light on the beef cattle market. For March 2025, prices received for all beef cattle averaged around $202.00 per hundredweight, maintaining relative stability compared to February levels. Moreover, the report highlights a dynamic shift in younger stock, with average prices for calves rising notably from 328.00 per hundredweight in March 2024 to 378.00 per hundredweight in March 2025—a change that underscores evolving market demand in the sector.
Dairy producers also faced mixed signals. Iowa milk prices averaged $21.50 per hundredweight—a $2.00 decline from February yet a $2.40 leap over March 2024. Additionally, milk cows, crucial for herd replacement, fetched an average of $2,960 per head as of April 1, 2025, hitting a new record high.
These figures combine to illustrate the multifaceted challenges and opportunities within Iowa’s agricultural landscape. The full Agricultural Prices Report from The USDA Economics, Statistics and Market Information System can be found here.
