Top Stories
Iowa FFA members fight food insecurity at annual convention
Since 2012, Iowa FFA members have helped package pre-made meals to fight food insecurity during the annual Iowa FFA Leadership Conference. Servant leadership is one of the core values of the FFA, which means that events and opportunities like this truly resonate with members. Scott Johnson, executive director of the Iowa FFA Association, said they are grateful to have this partnership with both Meals from the Heartland and the current project sponsor, Cargill. Johnson said Iowa FFA members...
High production costs won?t ease next year
USDA?s first cost of production forecast for major field crops like corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, rice, and others shows that input costs are expected to remain elevated into the next growing season. The costs will likely be at the third-highest level of all time and...
Land values hitting plateau, but still remain high
For the past couple of years, we have seen land values increase in Iowa and across the corn belt. Land values are up in a range of 20% - 34% in this time period. Of course, most of these land values have been attained through land auctions. This allows for bidding...
New Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons excited to take on first fair
The best time of the year. The greatest summertime event. Or, as it?s referred to as this year, the best days ever. No matter what you call it, nothing compares to the Iowa State Fair. At this point, we are less than a month away from the start of the state fair, and...
AFBF promoting the importance of the farm bill
The American Farm Bureau Federation led the creation of Farm Bill for America?s Families, a campaign to highlight the broad reach of the farm bill. AFBF President Zippy Duvall says the high-level campaign includes several messages to Congress.?We want to see a 2023...
Labor issues remain prevalent in animal agriculture
Between Prop 12 compliance requirements, labor issues, and the constant threat of foreign animal disease there is a lot weighing on the minds of Iowa?s hog producers.Terry Wolters is a former president and current board member of the National Pork Producers Council....
Legislation would lower the cost of biofuel-blending compliance
A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to lower the cost of complying with biofuel-blending mandates. Reuters says legislation was introduced that would direct the White House to let oil refiners purchase compliance credits (RINs) for biofuel blending laws at a lower...
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More Ag News
New poll suggests ag economic downturn
A new poll of agricultural economists by Farm Journal shows most expect lower commodity prices, along with the outlook for higher costs, to weigh on the agriculture industry in 2024. Farm Journal has partnered with the University of Missouri to create the Ag...
Tax bill passes in House, some ag senators raise doubts
Members of Congress from ag heavy states helped to push sweeping tax legislation across the finish line in the House, but there may be more resistance ahead in the Senate. The message of House members in favor of the bill, that it will benefit farmers and ranchers,...
NCBA on track to meet sustainability goals
At the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show held in Orlando, Florida, sustainability is a huge focus. NCBA Senior Director of Sustainability Samantha Werth said there has been a continued focus on defining what...
Be cautious of damage to alfalfa this winter
This has been a winter we will likely remember for a long time. It’s been pretty comfortable, unseasonably warm, and we got a large amount of snow and bitter cold quickly. Then as quickly as it arrived, it was gone. We have also noted that our ground hasn’t seen the...
Tax relief package is now heading to the Senate
A tax relief package passed the House of Representatives this week and heads to the Senate for consideration. The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act restores tax provisions left out of the 2017 tax reform efforts. American Farm Bureau Federation...
