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House Ag Chair proposes sweeping change in ag labor program
House Agriculture Committee Chairman G. T. Thompson has introduced legislation aimed at expanding the H-2A agricultural guest worker program and addressing long-standing farm labor shortages. Politico said “The Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026” would broaden access to H-2A workers while allowing some undocumented agricultural employees in the U.S. to apply for temporary legal status under the program if they meet eligibility requirements. Thompson said the proposal is intended to...
Discovering Iowa’s best burger: the 16th annual contest is here
The Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and the Iowa Cattlemen's Association (ICA) are excited to announce the launch of the 16th annual Iowa's Best Burger contest. This much-anticipated event celebrates the culinary creativity of Iowa's talented chefs and...
Strong South American harvest facing a few challenges
South America’s agricultural sector is having a strong year, with high yields boosting expectations for tomorrow’s WASDE report. Markets anticipate impressive numbers, reflecting strong grain and oilseed production across the region. However, weather challenges,...
U.S. red meat exports thrived in 2024
Exports of U.S. pork eclipsed previous highs in both volume and value in 2024, according to year-end data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef export value climbed 5% from 2023 despite a slight decrease in volume, as unit...
Early season weed control in corn
Having clean fields as corn plants emerge will get the crop off to the best possible start. Phil Krieg, an agronomy service representative with Syngenta, says early-season weeds fundamentally alter corn growth from the very beginning of the growing season. Krieg...
Expanding the reach of the National FFA Organization
FFA alum Aaron Wetzel recently took over as the 2025 Chairman of the National FFA Sponsors’ Board. Wetzel is the Vice President of Production and Precision Agriculture with John Deere, where he’s spent over 35 years. Wetzel said technological curiosity will be a big...
Farm sector profits to grow in 2025
USDA’s Economic Research Service forecasts inflation-adjusted U.S. net cash farm income, defined as gross cash income minus cash expenses, to increase by $30.6 billion from 2024 to $193.7 billion in 2025. U.S. net farm income, a broader measure of farm sector...
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More Ag News
An update on the status of H5N1 in the swine industry
The effects of H5N1 are still being felt across the livestock industry, even though it has mostly fell out of public focus. While there has been only one minor detection of H5N1 in U.S. swine, the industry is still prepared in the event of an outbreak. Dr. Marisa...
U.S. agriculture is leery of RFK Jr.’s policies
Many promises have been made by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr., but few have been delivered on yet. The Make America Healthy Again Commission is being closely watched by American agriculture as it issues a widely anticipated report. Bill...
Inaugural statewide Choose Iowa farm store crawl set for June 21-22
On Wednesday Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced the inaugural statewide Choose Iowa Farm Store Crawl which will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 21-22. The two-day event will also coincide with the Iowa Barn Foundation's (IBF) Spring Barn Tour in Cedar...
GROWMARK announces 2025 scholarship winners
Fifty-five students have been selected to receive scholarships totaling $2,000 each through the GROWMARK Foundation. Nearly 805 students from across the United States and Ontario, Canada, applied for the scholarships. Students who received scholarships will have those...
Naig outlines ag priorities, skips governor race
Since Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced last month that she would not seek reelection, speculation about her potential successors has quickly intensified, particularly within the Republican Party. The field is already starting to take shape, with 4th District U.S....
