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USDA announces efforts to increase rural veterinarians
There is a shortage of rural veterinarians in the United States and the low numbers are creating issues for animal health in rural areas. On Thursday Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new plan designed to increase the number of veterinarians in rural America. The program is designated as the Rural Veterinarian Shortage Action Plan. Rollins says the USDA will also enable economic research to analyze veterinarian shortages and work with schools to help increase the number of vets in needed...
Iowa cash rents drop in 2025
The 2025 annual survey of cash rental rates for Iowa farmland shows that rates decreased, on average, by 2.9 percent in 2025 to $271 per acre. It’s the first decline in cash rents since 2019, after a peak of $279 per acre during the previous two years of the survey....
Congress yet to deliver on E15 promise
E15 fuel will be available again this summer thanks to another temporary waiver from the Trump Administration. While Iowa is one of eight Midwestern states already allowing year-round E15 sales, this fix remains only partial. Iowa lawmakers are still in the fight,...
South American Weather and Crop Update (5-27-25)
Farmers in Argentina are hoping to see some more dry weather so they can make up some harvest progress and catch up to the average pace. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the forecast looks like it will line up with those hopes. McBride said the farmers in...
Labor costs may keep rising this year
Labor challenges are among some of the most difficult issues facing farmers and ranchers, especially for those who utilize the H-2A program. John Walt Boatright, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, explained how the program works....
Grassley discusses the “One Big Beautiful Bill” as it moves to Senate
As the Trump tax bill now moves to the Senate for consideration, the ag world will be watching to see what revisions are made to the farm bill improvements included in the House version of the bill. House Ag Chair GT Thompson last week touted the Trump tax cuts, death...
Farm groups react to MAHA commission report
On the heels of Thursday’s report released by the Make America Healthy Again Commission, industry organizations are calling for science-based agricultural policy. In a statement, the Modern Ag Alliance said the report raises the possibility that the federal government...
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ISU combining solar farms with production agriculture
There’s a unique form of agriculture being studied at Iowa State University: “agrivoltaics,” which is the crossroads between solar power production and farming practices. At the Alliant Energy Solar Farm south of Ames, they’re trying to figure out which ag practices...
Increased RFS volumes from EPA give support to soy complex
Last week the Environmental Protection Agency released the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2026 and 2027. The increased volume of biomass-based diesel compared to recent years sent the price of soybean oil limit-up with a $3.00 increase on Friday followed...
BBQ & Brew at the Ballpark returns Saturday
The countdown is on! BBQ & Brew at the Ballpark is back for its third year, and it’s heating up to be bigger and better than ever. Hosted by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA), the Iowa Cubs, and Fareway, the family-friendly event kicks off this Saturday,...
Ag industry can help recent graduates start careers strong
Many new college graduates are out looking for jobs to start their careers, and the ag industry is a good place to begin. A company in Massena, Iowa, is dedicated to helping those recent graduates find their starting point in agriculture. Tammy Jensen, president of...
Proposed biofuels volumes bring optimism to Iowa
The biofuels industry has faced a rough stretch in recent years, with uncertainty and setbacks taking a toll not just on producers but on the entire agricultural economy. Blending decisions made under the previous administration led to the closure of several ethanol...
