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Iowa State Fair economic and community impact study results
The internationally acclaimed Iowa State Fair is the state's largest event and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. A 2025 study conducted by Johnson Consulting found that the economic impact from the Iowa State Fair and Fairgrounds' year-round activities for the state of Iowa totaled $629.2 million in 2024. The economic impact findings were shared with the public by Iowa State Fair CEO and Manager Jeremy Parsons on Wednesday, November 19,...
Smart Swaps keeps dairy strong in school meals
School meal programs have been through a lot of change in recent years. From the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act under the Obama Administration to multiple revisions and rollbacks that followed, school nutrition teams have had to constantly adjust to new federal...
ICA responds to President Trump’s comments on the cattle industry
Yesterday, President Trump made a post to his Truth Social account regarding U.S. cattle producers and his plan to increase beef imports from Argentina in an effort to lower beef prices for consumers. The post is causing what the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA)...
FSA offices resume limited service during shutdown
Farm Service Agency offices are reopening on a limited basis despite the government shutdown. The USDA made this move despite the ongoing stalemate in funding the federal government. Brian Glenn, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation,...
Grassley urges shift from temporary waivers to permanent E15 legislation
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa is continuing to seek President Trump’s support of Grassley’s bipartisan year-round E15 legislation. Grassley says that at a time when farmers are set to receive aid because of the trade war and low prices for commodities, year-round E15...
Despite challenges, beef demand at 40-year high
For the past year, the drumbeat across cattle country has been lower herd numbers, market fluctuations and rising input costs. Total beef supply tightened by 3% and beef retail prices climbed to an average of $8 per pound. Yet consumer demand for beef surged to a...
Tariffs pressure sheep industry, but opportunities remain
Over the past week, we have been looking at how tariffs and trade disputes have affected several parts of American agriculture, from soybeans and pork to dairy. But those are not the only producers feeling the impact. The American sheep industry has also been caught...
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IPPA and Fareway donate ground pork to Food Bank of Iowa
Over the past two days, the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and Fareway Stores made a donation of $20,000 worth of ground pork to six regional food banks across Iowa and western Nebraska. The donations were made as part of an ongoing effort to fight food...
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing attempts to address high input costs
A Senate Judiciary hearing was held on Tuesday to attempt to address high input costs for farmers from seed prices to fertilizer costs. American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland told Judiciary lawmakers some recommendations for driving down fertilizer...
Helena highlights ag innovation on screen and in classrooms with new documentary series
Helena Agri-Enterprises announced today the documentary series Innovation Never Stops at the 98th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana. Thousands of teachers and students received an advance look at the nine-part video series debuting next week,...
Iowa Farm Bureau member testifies in front of Senate Judiciary Committee
As rising input costs continue to burden rural America, lawmakers are finally taking notice. An Iowa Farm Bureau member was able to share his perspective at a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the high costs of inputs. Noah Coppess, who farms near Stanwood,...
China’s return offers hope but little market movement
There is finally some good news for U.S. soybean growers as China has stepped back into the market. The purchase is not a large one, but it marks the first notable move in months and offers a small sign of progress in a strained trade relationship. For many farmers,...
