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Secretary Rollins announces funding for new Seed Sovereignty Initiative
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins was in Prairie City, Iowa, today to announce a $180 million investment into a new Seed Sovereignty Initiative, which aims to protect valuable plant genetics resources and enable breakthroughs in U.S. agriculture innovation. Rollins said the investment will provide some much-needed support to the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). Rollins said the USDA will use this funding to sequence collections of major U.S. crops....
U.S. approaching tariff deadline with Canada
It's Wednesday, August 19th, and we're just a few hours away from the deadline for negotiations between the U.S and Canada to avoid a 50 percent tariff on several Canadian imports into the U.S. Cameron Castillo, an associate economist for the American Farm Bureau...
Timely rains continue to benefit Iowa crops
The luck of Iowa’s farmers continues as timely rains have cycled through much of the state. As the Pro Farmer Crop Tour goes across the state, many analysts are predicting a hefty crop. Landus Cooperative Technical Agronomist Dan Bjorklund said the rain has been...
Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards presented to 33 farm families at the 2026 ISF
Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon today recognized 33 Iowa farm families with Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards during a ceremony at the 2026 Iowa State Fair. The Iowa Farm...
Thompson says SAWA could help Iowa livestock farms
Finding enough workers remains a challenge across agriculture. Still, House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson says the federal guest worker program has not kept pace with the changing needs of farms and livestock operations. Thompson is pushing the Securing...
Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest brings farmers and fairgoers together
The annual Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest is one of the most delicious and best-smelling contests of each Iowa State Fair. While the focus is certainly on the food, it also serves as a great opportunity to connect fairgoers with the farming families that raise the...
Big Bad Joe shatters previous record to win 2026 ISF Big Ram Competition
"Big Bad Joe," the Suffolk ram shown by Jim Fisher of Mercer, MO, is the 2026 Iowa State Fair Big Ram Competition winner weighing in at 568 pounds. Big Bad Joe shattered the previous Iowa State Fair record of 507.5 pounds which was set in 2014. Owner Jim Fisher says...
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New agricultural innovations highlight Farm Progress Show
The Farm Progress Show is back in Boone Iowa this year and will take place next week September 1st-3rd. The Farm Progress Show is the largest outdoor farm show in the country and brings tens of thousands of people to central Iowa. In addition to drawing in showgoers...
Iowa soybean farmers urged to watch for red crown rot as disease spreads
Soybean farmers seeing signs of sudden death syndrome are being urged to inspect plants closely for red crown rot, an emerging disease that can produce nearly identical leaf symptoms. Iowa State University Extension confirmed red crown rot last week in a southeastern...
USDA implementing three-stage cattle import protocol
After halting imports to limit the spread of New World Screwworm, the U.S. is importing cattle from Mexico once again. As imports resume, a three-stage protection protocol will help to control the further spread of NWS in the U.S. Alan Huddleston, USDA acting chief...
Iowa field trials show biological treatment differences
Wet conditions earlier this growing season created opportunities for disease development in Iowa fields, even as much of the state's corn and soybean crop continues to show strong yield potential. NewLeaf Symbiotics plant pathologist Allison Jack recently traveled...
Muhlbauer talks top ag issues facing Iowa farmers
Global wars, supply chain issues, and volatile market prices have created a difficult ag economy across the board. Farmers and producers are searching for solutions that can help them to not only navigate this economy but improve their financial standing as well. Dave...
