Top Stories
Food hubs: the connecting piece for local farmers and producers
When people think of agriculture, they tend to focus only on what happens on the farm, namely planting, harvesting, or raising livestock. However, farmers still need to find a way of reaching consumers, which is where food hubs come in. Market access can be challenging, especially for local producers without a dedicated supply chain system. Food hubs aim to bridge that gap by enabling producers to reach a broader clientele. Phil Jahnke Sauer, a value chain manager with Iowa Value Resource...
USDA: U.S. ag trade deficit continues to grow
USDA has published the latest ag trade data for the current fiscal year. USDA economist Bart Kenner details the latest export and import projections from October to January. Kenner explains what that means for the ag trade balance sheet for the 2024-2025 fiscal year...
Iowa’s Best Burger top 10 finalists announced
From quaint hometown diners to upscale urban eateries, the competition was fierce as the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association accepted nominations for the 16th annual Iowa’s Best Burger Contest. This year’s contest saw impressive engagement,...
Crop insurance deadline is today
Today is the last day to sign up for crop insurance. If you haven’t enrolled yet, make sure to get it done to protect your crops from unexpected losses. Reach out to your local agent if you need assistance with the process. Tom Zacharias, president of NCIS, shared...
Adjuvants can help protect endangered species
Adjuvants, which are substances that are added to pesticides, can play an important role in protecting endangered species that are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Helena Agri Enterprises has played a large role in advocating for that on Capitol Hill....
EPA currently accepting feedback on WOTUS regulation
Earlier this week, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a draft guidance for WOTUS involving continuous surface connection. This guidance is great news for cattle producers, and it’s part of the work that the National Cattlemen’s...
National Farmers Union sets 2025 policy priorities during national convention
The National Farmers Union recently held its national convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and detailed its policy priorities for 2025. As with most farmer and ag based groups, NFU President Rob Larew says one of the top priorities for the year is a new five-year...
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More Ag News
Asian longhorned tick confirmed in Iowa for the first time
Recently, theileriosis- a disease that is predominantly transmitted through the Asian longhorned tick- was detected in a Southeast Iowa cattle herd. This is the first outbreak in Iowa since the invasive tick was first detected in New Jersey during 2017. Grant Dewell,...
Cover Crop Business Accelerator program accepting applications for sixth year
Cover crop acres in Iowa have seen a sharp increase in the past several years. To support cover crop adoption, Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) and the Iowa Soybean Association offer the Cover Crop Business Accelerator (CCBA) program. The program helps both new and...
Strong piglets are the key to raising more profitable pigs
Producers are always striving to raise pigs to reach their full growth potential. One of the most important pieces of that puzzle is ensuring that young pigs get a good start to maximize their potential. Alex Hintz is a technical service representative with the swine...
Nearly 70 Choose Iowa members to welcome guests for the Choose Iowa Farm Store Crawl
Nearly 70 Choose Iowa members from across Iowa will welcome guests on Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22, for the first ever Choose Iowa Farm Store Crawl. This fun weekend event offers Iowans and tourists an opportunity to explore diverse agricultural offerings,...
Pork sector not immune to Screwworm danger
The New World Screwworm is once again drawing attention as it creeps closer to the U.S. border. While it hasn’t been found in the United States, recent cases further south have raised red flags across the livestock industry. Because this flesh-eating parasite can...
