Top Stories
Grills and gatherings spotlight Iowa agriculture
Summer in Iowa means more than just sunshine and warm weather — it’s a season packed with hometown festivals, bustling county fairs, and backyard barbecues. From Main Street parades to pork chops on the grill, these events celebrate the best of Iowa communities and Iowa agriculture. Whether you’re sipping on local craft brews or savoring a sweet corn roast, summertime traditions offer the perfect opportunity to support and showcase Iowa-grown products. This season, make sure what’s on your...
“Big Beautiful Bill” would exacerbate food insecurity in Iowa
While legislative battles rage on in Washington D.C., food banks across the country are struggling to get enough food to feed those who are in need. Not only are USDA donations halted, but the “Big Beautiful Bill” threatens to cut SNAP benefits if it is passed, which...
Latest hog and pig report shows bearish market conditions for Iowa producers
The latest USDA Hogs and Pigs Report indicates bearish market conditions. Total inventory of animals is up compared to the previous report. Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the latest report contained some big numbers. On the...
Des Moines Water Works feeling the strain from elevated nitrate levels
On June 12th Central Iowa Water Works issued a residential and commercial lawn watering ban citing strain on water treatment facilities because of elevated nitrate concentration in raw source waters. The press release from CIWW says “Central Iowa Water Works needs to...
ISU Extension and Outreach launches Garden Academy in September
The Iowa Master Gardener Program, along with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will launch Garden Academy in September 2025, providing high-quality gardening education in a refined format for both aspiring Iowa Master Gardeners and home gardening...
Iowa Ag concerns tied to outdated policies
The clock is ticking on the long-overdue Farm Bill, with just three months left before Congress may be forced to extend it for yet another year. That would push the current bill—already outdated—more than halfway through a second life it was never intended to have....
Extreme heat creating concerns for Iowa’s livestock and crops
The extreme heat in recent days has felt more like late July or August and is causing stress for livestock and crops in Iowa. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the more immediate concern is for livestock. High humidity and overnight temperatures in the upper 70s and...
Video
More Ag News
Concerns for Iowa farmers remain as Canada negotiations resume
Canada’s Department of Finance announced over the weekend that it would rescind a digital services tax at the center of a trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada, allowing negotiations between the countries to continue. However, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF)...
Quiet Quarterly Grain Stocks and Acreage report surprises analysts
There was a little bit of buzz heading into the Quarterly Grain Stocks and Acreage reports today, with many analysts predicting a slight increase to corn acres in particular. However, the reports did not deliver on that, and the market prices were mostly unbothered....
Managing nitrogen loss following recent Iowa rainfall
Recent rainfall in the state of Iowa has led to nitrogen loss concerns for many growers. After periods of intense or excessive rain, naturally farmers begin to have concerns about nitrogen loss in their fields. Mark Christianson is a product manager with Helena and he...
GDM announces agreement to acquire AgReliant Genetics
GDM, a global plant genetics company committed to empowering farmers and advancing global agriculture, today announced an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in AgReliant Genetics, a leading North American provider of corn and soybean seeds. The strategic...
Iowa corn disease pressure builds early
Tar Spot has been detected early in Iowa cornfields, raising concerns for farmers as they prepare to implement their crop protection plans. The fungal disease, which can spread rapidly under the right conditions, is showing up weeks ahead of typical timelines in some...
