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Helping Iowa’s farmers reduce stress during the busy planting season
Planting season is very similar to harvest in that it is one of the busiest and potentially most stressful times of year for growers. Long days and a lack of sleep can make things difficult for farmers. Add in the uncertain weather and equipment breakdowns and stress relief techniques are needed to assist farmers during the growing season. David Brown of Iowa State University Extension says that all farmers need to be striving to get adequate sleep during the planting season. Even while...
Employment data in rural America
USDA’s "Rural America at a Glance" report gives insight into employment trends in rural areas of the United States. USDA research economist Tracey Farrigan says from 2023-2024 employment in rural areas grew at a rate of about .6%. She says this was a continuation of a...
Rural Energy Council is a “disgrace”
Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, was very unhappy after it was announced that a legislative fix for year-round E15 was dropped from the January government funding bill. It was further incensed that Congress would instead form a “rural...
Iowa ag efforts meet setbacks as policy debates continue
Iowa agriculture continues to face pressure from growing production and slower demand growth, a dynamic that has weighed on commodity prices and raised broader questions about market access for farmers. Those issues were discussed earlier this week during a...
Potential ag impacts from significant winter system
A winter storm is set to move across the country this week and could have adverse effects for agriculture. The storm is unique in that it is tracking farther south than would be expected at this time of the year says USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. Southern states are...
Trump’s tariffs make a tough economy even tougher
As President Trump continues with his trade policies, farmers in Iowa are feeling the squeeze economically. It’s going to take much more than a bridge payment to make sure that family farms in Iowa are able to keep operating in the future. Iowa Farmers Union President...
Analysis shows the farm economy still needs help
While some progress has been made in stabilizing the farm economy through the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program and Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, recent numbers show that farmers still need help. Faith Parum, an economist with the American Farm Bureau...
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More Ag News
ISA reacts to 45z tax credit news
The soybean markets have seen a ton of support this week, mostly due to the announcement of 45z tax credit guidelines. Soybean farmers across the country have been waiting for this announcement for far too long, and now there is finally a light at the end of the...
USDA Farm Income Forecast is lower for 2026
USDA released the first farm income projections for 2026. Carrie Litkowski, a senior economist with the USDA’s Economic Research Service, said the income forecast is lower this year. Litkowski said there are several notable increases in the forecast as well. For more...
Tracking the price movement in the cattle complex this week
It was a week of ups and downs in the ag marketplace for cattle this week. Two headline stories sent prices down midweek before a recovery on Friday to end the week. Joe Camp of Commstock Investments tells the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network about one of the news...
Former ag leaders warn of farm economy in crisis
A bipartisan group of former leaders of America’s major agricultural commodity organizations and biofuels organizations, farmer leaders, and former USDA officials issued a stark warning to Congress and the Trump administration. In a letter, they outlined the...
At Renewable Fuels Summit, Reynolds looks back and ahead
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds addressed industry leaders at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit this week, highlighting Iowa’s long-standing leadership in renewable fuels and the policy work that helped build the industry into a national force. Reynolds focused on market...
