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Farmer bridge assistance enrollment period begins
During the keynote speech at USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum last Friday, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the applications for the farmer bridge assistance program would open ahead of schedule. The application process is now open as of Monday February 23rd, says Rollins. Pre-filled applications will be available online for farmers who filed 2025 crop acreage reports for eligible commodities and have a Login.gov account. Growers have until April 17th to submit completed farmer bridge...
Two webinars will examine impact of excessive farm heat on people and produce
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Farm, Food and Enterprise Development team is holding two webinars in August that will explore the role of intense heat on farmers and growers, as well as their crops. “Heat exposure is an increasing problem for...
New capital gains updates may help Iowa succession
The capital gains provisions in the Reconciliation Bill have become a hot topic, in part because they paint with a broad brush. While critics argue that the changes are a tax break for billionaires, the reality is more nuanced, especially for the agricultural sector....
Plenty of rain for Iowa crops as pollination continues
June is historically the wettest month in Iowa, and this year was no different. Heading into July, we normally expect things to dry off a little bit, but that’s where things have been surprising. Dr. Justin Glisan, state climatologist for Iowa, said some farmers have...
Landscape of potential tariffs continues to shift
Several major developments have taken place when it comes to trade. This includes delays in the implementation of country-specific tariffs, as well as new threats of tariffs against the European Union, Mexico and Brazil. Dave Salmonsen, senior director of government...
Disease pressure looms despite Iowa’s strong start to growing season
When driving through the countryside this season you have probably been doing a lot scouting from the highway and noticed that the crops in Iowa have looked excellent. That has been reflected in the crop condition ratings with this year’s crop appearing to be poised...
Ernst supports mental health care for Iowa farmers
U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced the bipartisan Farmers First Act to support access to critical mental health resources for Iowa farmers. Farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. The...
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CLAAS breaks ground on new Midwest facility
Today, CLAAS broke ground on a new 44,800 square foot Research and Development Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The facility will add new jobs and support the local economy in an area that is already very familiar with CLAAS, as the new building is being constructed on the...
PQA Plus program helps build trust with consumers
The Pork Quality Assurance® Plus, or PQA Plus®, program helps pig farmers and their employees continually improve animal care practices. Illinois pork producer Paul Ayers says the industry reevaluates the PQA program every three years to ensure it stays relevant,...
USDA announces efforts to increase rural veterinarians
There is a shortage of rural veterinarians in the United States and the low numbers are creating issues for animal health in rural areas. On Thursday Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new plan designed to increase the number of veterinarians in rural America....
Fresh pork expected to be more price-competitive with beef and chicken
A National Pork Board report expects pork to be even more price-competitive with beef and chicken during the fall. The pork supply continues to fall short of expectations. In the last month, slaughter is down 3.3 percent, and when combined with the decline in weights,...
Farmers applaud court decision on H-2A costs
Farms across America face razor-thin margins and rising input costs, especially when relying on seasonal labor. Family-run operations often struggle to hire and retain enough workers during peak seasons to get crops planted, tended, and harvested. Under the H-2A visa...
