Top Stories
Barn owls take the night shift to protect farms from rodents
Today, more farmers are taking advantage of barn owls for rodent control on their farms. Jennifer Ackerman, an ornithologist and author, discussed what makes barn owls so effective for pest management. She said that barn owls are excellent rodent hunters and a better alternative to rodenticides, which can be poisonous for potential rodent predators. Ackerman shared the factors to consider when choosing locations for barn owl nesting boxes. She highlighted the location's openness, height, and...
NCBA provides update on status of New World screwworm
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was notified late last fall about the detection of New World screwworm in Mexico. Since then, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) has worked closely with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)...
NRCS celebrates 90 years of service
The 90th anniversary of the Natural Resources Conservation Service was recognized Friday in ceremonies at USDA headquarters in Washington DC. NRCS Chief Aubrey Bettencourt says the NRCS has played a large role in conservation efforts nationwide, but that work was also...
Off-farm income keeping some operations afloat
For most U.S. farm households, income from off-farm jobs like teaching, driving a bus, or managing a bank branch helps keep an operation running. In 2023, an AFBF Market Intel Report says 23 percent of farm household income for farm families comes from farming itself,...
IDALS supports urban & rural initiatives for clean water
As we kick off National Soil and Water Conservation Week, we realize that water quality has long been a hot-button issue in Iowa, drawing attention from communities across the state. While much of the spotlight has been on how farmers are working to protect and...
EPA grants summertime E15 fuel waiver
On Monday the Environmental Protection Agency announced an emergency fuel waiver to allow the summertime sale of E15 in 2025. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says her group is grateful for the announcement. Skor says the emergency waiver will save drivers money at the...
Corn grower groups urging Ford to stand with rural America
The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA), alongside more than 20 other state corn organizations and the National Corn Growers Association, is formally calling on Ford Motor Company to reinstate its production of Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) and reengage in advancing...
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More Ag News
Iowa producers can optimize grain storage with GrainVue
For many years, grain storage has been a largely manual process. Once the grain is in the bin, farmers have to constantly monitor the conditions to make sure nothing spoils and leads to yield loss. However, the latest technology makes it to where grain storage...
Indonesia trade deal could remove burdensome non-tariff barriers
Last week, the White House announced a framework for negotiating a trade agreement with Indonesia. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Vice President of Economic Analysis Erin Borror said that, while Indonesian tariffs on U.S. red meat are only 5%, the country places...
Forcivo fungicide to bring extended residual control to Iowa fields
New tools to help control foliar disease are always welcomed by farmers and the latest fungicide from Corteva Agriscience is close to market availability for growers in Iowa. Forcivo™ Fungicide boasts three active ingredients and extended residual control to give...
Representatives Flood and Carter reintroduce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Information Act
U.S. Representatives Mike Flood, R-Neb., and Troy A. Carter, Sr., D-La., have reintroduced the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Information Act. The SAF Information Act directs the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to include data on SAF in its Petroleum...
Low supply keeps Iowa farmland values firm
Iowa farmland remains one of the most closely watched indicators of the state’s agricultural economy strength. Even with falling commodity prices and tighter profit margins, interest in ground across the state hasn’t let up. Farmers and landowners alike are keeping a...
