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Corn and soybean planting near completion nationwide
Most U.S. farmers have nearly finished spring planting as crop conditions remain generally favorable. According to USDA data reported by Successful Farming, 97% of the nation’s corn crop has been planted, while soybean planting is more than 90% complete. Kentucky, Nebraska and North Carolina have already finished corn planting. USDA reports show 67% of the corn crop is rated good to excellent, reflecting favorable weather across much of the Corn Belt. Soybean emergence is also progressing...
Weekly crop progress and condition report
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and...
Iowa Turkey celebrating new look and new menu items
The Iowa Turkey Federation Grill has been a go-to destination for hungry fairgoers for over four decades. They have been offering their traditional staples of a smoked turkey leg and a turkey tenderloin sandwich plus mixing in some new foods here and there. This year...
Iowa Dairy royalty wrapping up a year of representing the industry
With their year of service wrapping up this State Fair, we talked with the Iowa Dairy Princess and Iowa Dairy Princess Alternate about their experience. Ashley Elsbernd served as the 70th Iowa Dairy Princess this past year. We spoke to Ashley about her background in...
August WASDE keeping soybean prices under heavy pressure
An increase in bean acres along with high carryover values and yields has caused the soybean market to lurch lower again today. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said that, while the beans were poor, the corn had a positive report. The beans have not been...
Highlighting the ways in which agriculture connects everyone in Iowa
The Iowa Food and Family Project is located just inside the south doors of the Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fair. The project brings together all fairgoers, from producers to consumers, to learn more about the ways in which agriculture connects...
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to host ISF ceremonies
As part of the 2024 Iowa State Fair, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will host three award ceremonies this week celebrating and commemorating Iowa agriculture. Each of the three ceremonies are open to the media and the public is invited to...
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USMCA biotech corn dispute settled in U.S. favor
After almost two years of back and forth between the parties, a U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement Dispute Settlement Panel recently announced its ruling on a U.S. challenge of Mexico’s ban of U.S. biotech corn imports. In a March 2023 senate hearing, Under Secretary for...
Bird flu driving egg costs higher
Shoppers were buying more eggs to bake Christmas treats ahead of the holiday season at the same time U.S. wholesale egg prices were up 150 percent from last year. Reuters says the average retail price of a dozen eggs surpassed $3.60 in November, $2.50 higher than the...
NPB recaps 2024 for the holidays
As 2024 draws to a close, the National Pork Board wants to take a moment to look back on the work that they Pork Checkoff accomplished this year based on producer priorities. One primary initiative is the 15-member producer-led Board of Directors allocated a large...
Holidays can intensify rural mental health challenges
For the 46 million people living in rural America, the holiday season can present added pressures to an already stressful time of year. In addition to higher rates of depression, suicide rates among people in rural areas are 64 to 68 percent higher compared to people...
Christmastime is here
“Christmastime is here.” Those are the opening words to one of my favorite holiday tunes and the theme of the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. It is one of my favorite specials of the season. I will be watching it here today as I celebrate the day. Also, one of the...
