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Governor Reynolds signs pair of ag bills, including Iowa Farm Act
On Monday Governor Kim Reynolds signed Iowa House File 2771, featuring the Farm to Faucet Water Quality package, and Senate File 2465, also known as the Iowa Farm Act, at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. House File 2771 is primarily the state’s fiscal year 2027 agriculture and natural resources appropriations bill but also includes the “Farm to Faucet” water quality package. Governor Kim Reynolds says the water quality aspect of the bill was a priority. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike...
Grassley calls for common sense on SAF tax credits
United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says the next version of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel tax credit needs common sense, something he says is lacking in this year’s credit that’s due to run out in December. Senator Grassley says the 45Z tax credit due by the...
U.S. hog inventory up one percent
The U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1 was 74.5 million head. USDA says that was up one percent from June 1, 2023, and up slightly from March 1, 2024. Breeding inventory, at 6.01 million head, was down three percent from last year and down slightly from the...
Keep your sprayers in tip-top shape
As the wet weather has us thinking about fungicides, and we plan for late-season herbicides and insecticides; it is good to make sure you are doing everything you can to keep your sprayer running efficiently. Your bottom line is going to heavily weigh on this...
Smithfield foods closing its Altoona Iowa facility
Smithfield Foods will close its Altoona, Iowa, ham boning facility and consolidate the production volume at other locations to improve the efficiency of its manufacturing platform. Smithfield says it will provide transition assistance to the 314 employees at the...
July weather forecast for the Midwest and Corn Belt
With July a critical month for crop growth in Iowa, growers have their eyes fixed on the latest weather forecasts in hopes of timely rains for their crops. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says a cooler trend is in store for parts of the Midwest and Corn Belt to begin...
Cover Crop Business Accelerator from PFI and ISA celebrates 5 years
Practical Farmers of Iowa and the Iowa Soybean Association offer their Cover Crop Business Accelerator (CCBA) program to support cover crop adoption in the Midwest. The program is now in its fifth year, and it helps new and emerging cover crop businesses with the seed...
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More Ag News
Cold air blasts across the state
After some warmer temperatures, a blast of cold wind hit the state. It seems that the switch to winter may be upon us already, as those cold temperatures are projected to stick around for a while. Fortunately, it looks like the precipitation will stick around as well....
U.S. Export Sales Report (11-21-24)
While global demand looks like it might start to shift soon, the USDA released another positive export sales report this week. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the latest numbers. Flash sales were predicted to potentially fall off, but McBride...
Ag experts agree new farm bill not likely until new Congress
Ag experts agree that a new farm bill is now unlikely until next year when the new Congress is in session. Leadership elections have been held in Congress, but lawmakers have a lot of non-farm bill related work left to complete including the annual defense bill. John...
AFBF Thanksgiving survey shows dinner cost declined from 2023
Cooking a Thanksgiving dinner this year for friends and family will cost less than last year but is still more expensive than before COVID-19. The 39th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey shows the cost of this year’s classic holiday feast for ten people is $58.08 or...
Talking with the EPA Part 2
Yesterday, we started a conversation with Venus Welch-White, Acting Director of the EPA Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OARA). We talked about the Endangered Species Act, the power of the courts with the EPA, and more. Today we will continue that conversation...
