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Pilot program targets nitrogen efficiency
As Iowa farmers prepare to get planters rolling this spring, a new soil testing effort is aiming to help producers better manage fertilizer costs while also improving environmental outcomes. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says the pilot program focuses on understanding how much residual nitrogen is already present in the soil before additional fertilizer is applied. He says recent conditions, including drought and a warm winter, have created higher-than-normal nitrogen carryover in some...
Iowa FFA members fight food insecurity at annual convention
Since 2012, Iowa FFA members have helped package pre-made meals to fight food insecurity during the annual Iowa FFA Leadership Conference. Servant leadership is one of the core values of the FFA, which means that events and opportunities like this truly resonate with...
USDA launches National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech
USDA’s recently launched National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech is designed to help ag-tech companies develop products that can help farmers be more profitable and successful through real world testing. USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics...
Senators introduce bill aimed at stabilizing farm labor costs
U.S. Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina and several Republican colleagues have introduced legislation aimed at stabilizing agricultural labor costs and providing greater certainty for farmers. The proposal, known as the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization,...
U.S. red meat exporters connecting with buyers in Mexico
Exporters of U.S. beef, pork, and lamb met face-to-face with buyers from across Mexico last week at the U.S. Meat Export Federation’s second U.S. Red Meat Symposium in Mexico City. One of those exporters was Mark Spengler of Greater Omaha Packing Company, who...
Rollins points to demand drivers for corn
As farmers prepare to get the 2026 crop in the ground, attention is turning to both demand and costs, and how the balance between the two could shape the year ahead. In an interview with the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins...
Whey protein boom is redefining dairy market dynamics
The boom in demand for whey protein is reshaping the economics of the U.S. dairy industry. While it does introduce plenty of new opportunities for revenue, it also creates a few new risks for dairy producers. Fred Hall, Northwest Iowa Extension Dairy Specialist, said...
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Iowa State University encourages students to pursue all areas of agriculture
Today marked the final day of the 98th Annual Iowa FFA Leadership Conference. The event, which takes place on the campus of Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames, isn’t just an opportunity to connect with fellow FFA members- high school juniors and seniors often also...
Congress proposes changes to Endangered Species Act
New legislation is aimed at providing improvements and updates to the Endangered Species Act. Shelby Hagenauer, senior director of government relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the organization especially appreciates the updates help to...
Findings from April Cattle on Feed Report
The Cattle on Feed Reports from USDA provide a look at the inventory of cattle in feedlots throughout the United States. The April Cattle on Feed Report shows another year over year decrease according to USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell. McConnell points out...
U.S. to use tariff funds to offset high fertilizer prices
The Trump administration is preparing to direct tens of billions of dollars from tariffs and renegotiated trade deals toward strengthening domestic fertilizer production, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Speaking before lawmakers during a House...
AG trade deficit drops 42 percent
New numbers from USDA show progress in reducing the U.S. agricultural trade deficit, but officials say there is still more work ahead to return to a long-standing trade surplus. USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg says when the...
