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Senators introduce bill aimed at stabilizing farm labor costs
U.S. Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina and several Republican colleagues have introduced legislation aimed at stabilizing agricultural labor costs and providing greater certainty for farmers. The proposal, known as the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization, or FARM, Stability Act, would codify recent U.S. Department of Labor changes to how wages are calculated under the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program. Supporters say the measure would help producers better predict labor...
National Pork Industry Forum shapes the future of U.S. pork
As the pork industry’s largest annual meeting across both the National Pork Producers Council and the National Pork Board, the National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City, Missouri, brings together producers and industry stakeholders from across the country. Rob...
CROPLAN Offers Crop Management Advice for Iowa
As Iowa farmers prepare for another growing season, agronomists say planning ahead for disease pressure and crop management decisions can help growers stay ahead of potential problems. Jeff Osterhaus with CROPLAN says many conversations with farmers right now focus on...
Iowa Soybean Association is evolving to face ag industry issues
This year’s Commodity Classic in San Antonio saw a record number of farmers in attendance. In many discussions throughout the event, it was clear that farmers are prepared to give this crop season their all, no matter what challenges they may face. Aaron Putze, chief...
Expanding export markets for U.S. biofuels
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden is bullish on export opportunities for U.S. produced biofuels. Vaden was a speaker at this year’s USDA Ag Outlook Forum and says the potential for biofuel exports is ever expanding. Vaden says that U.S. biofuels are a key...
SNAP funding debate slows farm bill markup process
The House Ag farm bill markup has entered its second day, but the key stumbling block to a bipartisan bill has now come into sharp focus. The fight over SNAP versus farm programs has kept a new farm bill off the books for at least three years. Republicans got around...
Secretary Naig extends popular cattle and conservation working lands project
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced a three-year extension of the popular, farmer-led Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Project. The extension renews program agreements in Taylor, Page, Carroll, Cherokee, Guthrie, and Ida counties through...
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New biomanufacturing device makes biological production more accessible
Researchers at Iowa State University (ISU) have developed a biomanufacturing device that could make it much more feasible for companies to produce biological products on a small scale. Funded by BioMADE, the Continuous Taylor Vortex Fermentor-Extractor-Separator...
What to expect in the Prospective Plantings Report
The 2026 USDA Prospective Plantings Report is scheduled for release on Tuesday March 31st. The report surveys farmer planting intentions for major crops, including corn, soybeans, wheat, and more. This report gives us the first real snapshot of what planted acreage...
Searching for Iowa’s Best Burger
For those searching for the best burger in Iowa, the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association are making the quest easier as they announce the top 10 finalists in the 17th annual Iowa’s Best Burger Contest. More than 350 restaurants were...
2025 saw almost record volume and value for pork exports
2025 proved to be another strong year for U.S. pork exports, with a volume of 2.9 million metric tons. This is three percent shy of the 2024 record, but it was still the third highest on record. Value was three percent down from 2024’s record but the second highest...
Understanding soil variability can improve crop management
Understanding what is happening below the soil surface can help farmers make more precise agronomic decisions and better target their input investments. New tools are allowing growers and agronomists to collect more detailed soil data that can reveal variability...
