Top Stories
North American Bee Strategy aims to improve honeybee health
Honeybee colonies in the U.S. experienced significant losses in 2024, with an estimated 55% of managed colonies reported as lost from April 2024 to April 2025. That is the highest loss rate since tracking began in 2010. In response, the Honey Bee Health Coalition crafted the North American Bee Strategy, which aims to improve pollinator health. Matt Mullica, head of the coalition, said they brought the leading beekeeper organizations in the U.S. and Canada together for this strategy. Mullica...
John Deere’s See and Spray hits milestone
It was only a few years ago when we got to see John Deere’s See and Spray Technology on display at the facility near Bondurant. The technology has changed the game in how farmers can attack weeds and cuts down on the input costs for the products needed to protect our...
South American Weather and Crop Update (9-17-24)
Much like what we are seeing here in Iowa, the weather in South America is still quite dry. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride gave an update on the current forecasts for Brazil and Argentina. While it is early to be getting too worried about the weather’s impact...
Budget battle limiting legislative work for farmers
With elections looming, the Congressional calendar is tight. Right now, Congress is locked in a funding battle. Emily Buckman, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the deadline is quickly approaching. Buckman says a continuing...
Navigating tough weather conditions with a more stable form of nitrogen
One of the biggest memories of the 2024 growing season in Iowa will be the extremely wet start to the season. With plentiful rainfall that quickly replenished Iowa’s soil, eventually some areas in the state became oversaturated with water. When there is too much rain...
Mississippi River levels falling again
For the third consecutive year, Mississippi River water levels are falling again, making shipping goods difficult. Farm Policy News says the low levels are forcing barge companies to put limits on how much cargo they can carry and cutting into farm profits. It was...
NK excited about new BT traits that will be ready for 2026
Keeping ahead of pests in our fields is a never-ending job. Having new tools to fight against the toughest pests requires constant innovation. This is especially true when you are fighting against the billion-dollar pest, corn rootworm. NK Seeds has announced a new...
Video
More Ag News
Marketing pork to different types of consumers
The Pork Checkoff is re-imagining pork in consumer hearts and minds to build a bigger appetite for pork. National Pork Board Member Bill Luckey said the recent consumer segmentation research project showed a wide range of pork consumers. Short-term and long-term...
Iowa’s late-season H5N1 outbreaks are thanks to warmer fall
As we are now in winter, we know that prolonged exposure to colder temps will not be far away. Mother Nature has already given us a taste or two here in December. As much as we don’t always like the brisk cold, it is going to be a necessity to stop the latest round of...
Meals on Wheels providing food and company to isolated seniors
The holiday season is a joyous time for most of us as we gather with our families, enjoy great meals, and share gifts with each other. For some people, though, the holidays can be a difficult time to get through. All across Iowa, there are many seniors who spend the...
Dairy checkoff highlights work in 2024
The dairy checkoff continues to find ways to grow sales and build trust in dairy. Dairy Management Inc. President and CEO Barbara O’Brien said one of the key areas of focus is growing the checkoff’s longtime commitment to research and science and working with...
Record NRCS program acreage enrollment
2024 was a record year for acreage enrollment in USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service programs. In fiscal year 2024, 11 million acres were enrolled in the programs says NRCS Chief Terry Cosby. He says the increase in conservation program investments along with...
