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Iowa hosts largest barn tour in the world – September 19-20
If you are looking for something different to do on a September weekend, consider taking a self-guided tour of Iowa’s historic barns. The Iowa Barn Foundation is holding its 26th Annual All-State Barn Tour on Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, featuring over 100 barns across the state that will be available for visiting inside and out from 9-5 both days. Iowa is proud to host the largest barn tour in the world! The fall tour highlights barns that have received a restoration grant from the...
Secretary Naig encouraged by President Trump’s trade announcement with the UK
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig issued the following statement today after President Donald Trump and United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer jointly announced the framework for a bilateral trade deal between the two countries: “A new trade deal with a key...
Nunn introduces Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act
Over the past several years, the biofuels industry has faced a lack of consistent support, whether from past administrations or previous leadership at the EPA. This has left a critical renewable energy sector waiting for the backing it needs to drive innovation and...
Don’t get too comfortable with the current cattle prices
Both the live and feeder cattle markets are experiencing unprecedented price levels. Those levels won’t last forever, though, so it’s important to maintain a level of caution when navigating the marketplace. Ross Baldwin, hedging strategist at AgMarket.Net, said he...
Examining the operating expense ratio
The operating expense ratio is a tool that farmers can utilize to determine the financial efficiency of their grain farms. Gerald Mashange, an agricultural economist at the University of Illinois, explains how the operating expense ratio is calculated. Mashange says...
Vaccinating birds against HPAI poses trade and logistical challenges
The war on avian influenza may soon include vaccines for birds. However, there are challenges to a nationwide vaccination strategy. USDA is investing significant resources to fight Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, including $100 million into research and development...
Bessent signals optimism as U.S./China trade talks stall in public
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in an interview with CNBC, expressed optimism that “substantial progress” in U.S./China trade negotiations could be achieved in the coming weeks. However, the overall status of talks remains uncertain, with public statements from both...
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July 2025 brought historic rainfall to Iowa
After experiencing an already wet month in June, history would suggest that July would back off on the faucets a little bit. That was not the case this year, though, as Iowa experienced the second wettest July on record. Dr. Justin Glisan, state climatologist for...
USMEF applauds confirmation of new USDA Undersecretary for Trade
On Saturday evening, the U.S. Senate confirmed Luke Lindberg as USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs on a vote of 77-18. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom said there was strong bipartisan support in the...
USDA says farmland values up, cash rents stable
USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer says that USDA’s annual snapshot of farmland value and cash rents shows a slowdown in year over year growth. He expands on land values when breaking down the numbers for cropland and pasture values. Farm real estate value by state...
Secretary Naig announces start of construction on Middle Cedar watershed project
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that construction is starting on a “batch and build” water quality project in Tama and Grundy Counties. This project, led by Heartland Co-op, will include the installation of 14 saturated buffers and four...
Precision spraying expands on Iowa farm acres
Farmers and custom applicators are finding that using a mix of equipment is key to keeping up with the demands of modern crop management. For operations across Iowa, combining Hagie’s front-mounted boom sprayers with John Deere machines outfitted with See & Spray...
