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Early legislative debates touch core issues for Iowa farmers
Just a few weeks into the Iowa legislative session, agriculture is already firmly on the agenda. While lawmakers are still early in the process, several issues important to farmers and rural communities are already drawing attention at the Capitol. Earlier this month, Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig discussed the goals of the Iowa Farm Act ahead of the session. Now, with lawmakers already at work, that conversation is expanding beyond that bill to include property taxes, private property rights,...
Farmers still struggling to find enough farm labor
Finding enough labor to get the work done on the farm and navigating the regulations for the workforce have become increasingly troublesome in recent years. Mike Stranz, Vice President of Advocacy for the National Farmers Union, said reform is more important now than...
Iowa Farm Bureau members gather for 107th annual meeting
Iowa Farm Bureau members gathered in Des Moines to connect, learn, and celebrate Iowa agriculture. It’s been an eventful year for the Iowa ag industry, which made for plenty of insightful discussions. Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson said profitability was one...
Trump discusses year-round E15, addresses farm input costs
President Trump this week discussed the importance of year-round E15 for America’s farmers and the potential for more domestic production of fertilizer. During the President’s farm aid announcement at the White House, the topic of year-round E15 was brought up....
How will food prices affect holiday meals in 2025?
The holidays bring large increases in food spending for both food at home and food away from home. Consumers’ decisions during this season can have important implications for farmers and ranchers. Farmdoc, at the University of Illinois, said persistent inflation has...
Farmers see stronger results from Deere autonomous tillage
Autonomous technology has been one of the most talked about advancements in production agriculture over the past few years, but 2025 was the first season when many farmers were able to see it working at scale. Labor was tight, weather windows were narrow, and every...
AFBF advocates for continued China trade discussions
The trade relationship between the U.S. and China remains critically important for American agriculture. Dave Salmonsen, senior director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said there has been some progress between the two nations recently....
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ICA heading into 2026 with plenty of optimism
Cattle producers from across the state recently gathered in Altoona for the annual Iowa Cattle Industry Convention. This year’s gathering had one of the highest attendance numbers from both producers and industry-leading companies. Iowa Cattlemen’s Association CEO...
USDA finalizes stage two of Supplemental Disaster Relief Program
Eligible farmers and ranchers are now invited to apply for specific disaster relief. The American Relief Act, passed in late 2024, authorized the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, and applications for farmers and ranchers are now open. Danny Munch, an economist...
Soybean marketplace remains quiet despite positive export news
Despite good news for the soybean complex in terms of export demand this week, the markets have not responded with bullish price movement. China has secured at least seven million tons of U.S. soybeans after multiple purchases during the past two weeks. That puts...
Ethanol production hits another record high
The Energy Information Administration said ethanol output jumped to a new record high in the seven days ending on December 12. U.S. production rose to an average of 1.131 million barrels a day, which the agency said is up from 1.105 million the previous week and...
ASA’s Ragland says farmers facing a thousand cuts
Soybean farmers have been battling more than slow demand and market uncertainty this year. The cost of doing business has climbed steadily, pushed higher by tariffs, input inflation, and the ripple effects of a prolonged trade war. American Soybean Association...
