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Tree planting connects youth to America 250
A tree planting at the Iowa State Fairgrounds is one of many events planned this year as part of the America 250 celebration, marking the nation’s 250th birthday. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig, who also serves as vice chair of Iowa’s America 250 commission, says the effort includes a wide range of activities across the state, from large signature events to smaller community celebrations. Naig says the tree planting effort, which includes a goal of planting 250 trees across Iowa with the...
Fareway and Murphy Family Foundation team up for 6th annual food donation
This past Tuesday, the Murphy Family Foundation teamed up with Fareway for the sixth year in a row of donating Easter meal kits to the Food Bank of Iowa. Food insecurity is still more present than ever across the state, and these meal kits will provide a sense of...
Feeding the Economy report shows agriculture’s impact
Each year, the Feeding the Economy Report measures the downstream, off-the-farm economic impact of U.S. agriculture. Danny Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the report tracks three layers of impact. Munch said when you combine those...
Hog inventories up in March
The latest Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report from USDA shows an increase in inventories. USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell says the total number of hogs in the U.S. is up compared to this time a year ago. McConnell says hog inventories remain stable, adding that...
Secretary Naig issues statement on the Trump administration’s RFS volumes
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized strong renewable volume obligations (RVO) within the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2026 and 2027: “Biofuels lower costs at the...
Ernst: 45Z must reflect Iowa farm practices
As federal agencies continue working through the rulemaking process for the 45Z clean fuel production credit, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says the final guidance must reflect the work farmers are already doing on the ground. She says she and Senator Chuck Grassley have...
U.S. Export Sales Report (3-26-26)
It’s been a volatile time in the ag marketplace, and that is no different for the export sales. This week’s numbers were a bit of a mixed bag. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales are still strong overall. McBride said the soybean sales were...
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Biologicals can give your crops another advantage during the growing season
While last year brought its own unique crop challenges, it did provide an opportunity to learn more about the genetics and treatments farmers use for their corn and soybean seeds. Whether it was disease pressure or heat stress, certain treatments allowed crops to...
AFBF applauds grazing MOU between USDA and Department of Interior
The Departments of Agriculture and Interior have recently announced plans to formalize collaboration between the two agencies when it comes to grazing on public lands. Shelby Hagenauer, senior director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau, said these...
Status of Mexican cattle reentry into the U.S.
One of the biggest questions in animal agriculture is, when will cattle from Mexico once again be allowed across the southern U.S. border? In late February at Commodity Classic, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that the border will not be reopened until the...
USDA sets April loan rates as farmers weigh borrowing costs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced updated loan interest rates for April, offering a key benchmark for producers making financing decisions ahead of the planting season. Operating loans are set at 4.75%, while farm ownership loans will carry a 5.75%...
Know your number now on SCN
Even with BASF’s new Nemasphere soybean technology still targeted for a future launch, company officials say growers should already be taking steps to understand how much soybean cyst nematode may be costing them in today’s fields. Justin Moritz, BASF trait technology...
