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Secretary Naig and INREC expand nitrogen soil sampling project
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and the Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council (INREC) today announced the expansion of the Nitrogen Soil Sampling Project that delivers free nitrogen soil testing for farmers in counties upstream from the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids metro areas. The announcement was made during the Conservation Districts of Iowa annual meeting in Ames. The Nitrogen Soil Sampling Project, originally launched in April 2026, was well-received by Iowa farmers and...
Iowa State Fair just two weeks away
With just two weeks until the Iowa State Fair opens, excitement is building for one of Iowa's signature summer traditions. As county fair season begins to wind down, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says those local fairs continue to connect Iowans with...
Map the Meal Gap study highlights growing presence of food insecurity
The latest Map the Meal Gap study from Feeding America shows the harrowing impact of food insecurity in Iowa and across the country. In this year’s study, data shows that 1 in 8 Iowans and 1 in 6 Iowa children face food insecurity. Additionally, the annual meal gap in...
GLP-1 trend fuels demand for U.S. dairy
Consumer demand is reshaping the dairy industry, introducing new market opportunities for versatile dairy producers. The biggest growth isn't coming from traditional products like cheese and butter. Instead, processors are investing heavily in high-protein milk,...
USDA reminds farmers of important deadlines
USDA is reminding farmers and ranchers that deadlines are approaching for several programs designed to help offset higher input costs, recover from disasters, and strengthen financial protection. The Farm Service Agency says applications for the Assistance for...
Extreme heat impacts the Midwest
Extreme heat has been impacting the western two-thirds of the United States in recent days as crops are in critical stages of growth. One example of the intense heat occurred recently in the badlands of South Dakota says USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. Although...
Farmers continue embracing conservation practices
Iowa farmers continue adopting conservation practices at a record pace, and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says new state investments will help keep that momentum going. During a recent interview, Naig said conservation remains one of the department's top...
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More Ag News
South American Weather and Crop Update (8-4-26)
As harvest continues to progress in South America, the weather is staying mostly the same. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the current forecast is pretty much a carbon copy of what they have seen recently. With the amount of rain they have seen, McBride...
Build-out continues on state-of-the-art animal disease lab
The Plum Island Animal Disease Center is being replaced by a brand-new facility in Kansas. The federal government continues relocating the animal disease laboratory from Plum Island, New York, to the new National Bio and Agro Defense Facility, or NBAF, in Manhattan,...
A disaster plan for your livestock operation is vital
Unfortunately for farmers and livestock producers, disaster can strike a farming operation at any time. A fire, flood, or tornado for example does not allow for much time to react. Dr. Mark van der List, a professional services veterinarian with Boehringer-Ingelheim,...
U.S. cropland value surpasses $6,000 per acre for first time
The average value of U.S. cropland has climbed above $6,000 per acre for the first time, underscoring the resilience of farmland prices despite weaker farm income and tighter profit margins. New data compiled by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service show...
Early action can preserve farm financial options
The current farm economy continues to put financial pressure on many producers. While government assistance has helped offset some losses, several years of tight margins have left many farm operations facing difficult financial decisions. Legal experts say recognizing...
