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514 Iowa Century and Heritage farm families honored at the 2026 Iowa State Fair
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Brent Johnson today honored 514 Iowa farm families with Century or Heritage Farm designations during ceremonies at the 2026 Iowa State Fair. The annual recognition celebrates families who have owned their farms for 100 and 150 years, respectively. This year, 274 Century Farms and a record 240 Heritage Farms were recognized in the historic Livestock Pavilion. The 2026 ceremonies carry added significance as Iowa...
Quarterly economic condition report for U.S. agriculture
The Farm Credit Administration received its quarterly report on economic conditions affecting agriculture and an update on the overall performance of the Farm Credit System. Despite a turbulent year with tariffs and trade, the U.S. economy is expected to end 2025 on a...
Property rights pressure rises across rural America
It is easy to assume Iowa’s fight over carbon pipelines and new transmission lines is something unique to our state. But the same pressures and frustrations are playing out across rural America. Our neighbors to the south in Missouri are confronting many of the same...
Farmer Bridge Assistance program isn’t a long-term solution for economic issues
Earlier this week, the Trump Administration announced the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, which will offer $12 billion in economic aid to farmers impacted by low commodity prices, high input costs, and challenges to market access. While many farmers are appreciative...
House unanimously passes ePermit Act
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the ePermit Act, which codifies President Trump’s Action Plan to modernize permitting technology across federal agencies. The legislation aims to reduce processing times for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)...
Exports highlight U.S. corn balance sheet
The December WASDE report is typically a quiet report that is moved on from quickly. USDA published the monthly report on Monday and while it did not make big waves due to major changes there are some adjustments to make note of. One of the bigger adjustments was to...
Senators push USDA for faster bird flu vaccine plan
A bipartisan group of 23 senators called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expedite development of a comprehensive bird flu vaccination strategy amid rising infections in livestock flocks. Lawmakers warn that outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or...
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EPA issues Right to Repair guidance for farm equipment repairs
The EPA is weighing in on a debate farmers and independent repair shops have been having for years, issuing new Right to Repair guidance focused on non-road diesel equipment. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says the move is intended to clear up long-standing confusion...
Farmers need to think long-term when making planning decisions
Farming decisions this year can have a big effect for several seasons to come. Todd McRoberts, the Corn Technical Product Lead for Syngenta Corn Traits, said planning ahead is more important now than ever. When it comes to planning ahead, McRoberts said you have to...
November pork and beef export below year-ago levels
Exports of U.S. pork remained relatively strong in November but were below the large total reported in November 2024, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Lamb exports were a bright spot, posting the largest...
Phil’s forecast and possible ag implications
For those of us in the Midwest and eastern states, Punxsutawney Phil’s Groundhog Day forecast comes as no surprise with the famous groundhog calling for six more weeks of winter. That is USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey who says that Phil’s forecast lines up with the...
Farmers aggressively sold soybeans in 2025
U.S. farmers were aggressive sellers of soybeans last fall as prices climbed after trade tensions eased between the U.S. and China. With higher prices and a swifter pace of sales, commercial ownership of soybeans rose sharply while use of delayed pricing programs and...
