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Secretary Naig announces urban water quality projects
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced four additional urban water quality projects, continuing the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s (IDALS) multi-phase investment in locally-led conservation efforts across Iowa communities. This announcement builds on two previous rounds of urban water quality projects announced in May and June. Together, these projects will help improve water quality, manage urban stormwater, reduce nutrient runoff, and provide...
Bayer may stop producing glyphosate
Bayer says it may stop producing glyphosate, the world’s most popular weedkiller unless it can get court protection against lawsuits blaming the herbicide for causing cancer. The Wall Street Journal says Bayer currently produces about 40 percent of the world’s...
John Deere continues to advance autonomous farming
Agricultural technology has advanced at an astonishing pace, transforming how we work the land in ways my grandfather could never have imagined. He was the last in our family to plow fields with horses, eventually trading reins for the steering wheel of a tractor, a...
Pioneer reflects on first year of Z-Series soybeans
At last year’s Commodity Classic in Houston, Pioneer announced the full launch of the Z-Series line of soybeans. One year later, they are now reflecting on the successes of the Z-Series genetics and traits. Shelby Schaa, marketing effectiveness manager with Corteva,...
Is it finally time to begin rebuilding the cattle herd?
The cattle inventory in the United States remains low with producers still asking the question, when will it be time to rebuild the herd? Mark Johnson, the extension beef cattle breeding specialist for Oklahoma State University, says there are signs the industry needs...
Legislation would expand access to meat and poultry
Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), a member of the Senate Ag Committee, joined Mike Rounds (R-SD) in reintroducing the “New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act.” The bipartisan legislation would allow meat and poultry products inspected by state Meat and...
President Trump discusses solutions for potential labor shortage
As deportations continue to increase, many farm laborers are worried about whether or not they will be able to work in the U.S., and their employers are worried about having enough labor to get through the crop year. That issue now appears to be on the President’s...
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More Ag News
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...
Iowa producers urged to stay engaged
The pork industry is facing a complex web of challenges — from animal disease and global trade pressures to regulatory scrutiny and shifting consumer expectations. At times, it can feel like there are too many irons in the fire and not enough hands to manage them....
