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Secretary Naig invites Iowans to embark on agritourism adventures with the 2026 Choose Iowa Passport
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today invited Iowans to hit the road and experience the best of Iowa agriculture through the 2026 Choose Iowa Passport, a free, interactive digital platform that connects consumers with farms, local food, beverages and horticulture, and agritourism destinations across the state. The free, interactive digital platform—developed in partnership with Travel Iowa—connects users with participating Choose Iowa members. Already nearly 80 members are...
Iowa’s young exhibitors show agriculture’s future is strong
Each year at the Iowa State Fair, the Governor’s Charity Steer Show draws crowds eager to see outstanding cattle and the young people who raise them. The event pairs youth exhibitors with celebrities and other Iowa leaders, all in support of the Ronald McDonald House...
August WASDE threw a curveball at the corn markets
With trade uncertainty on the minds of many farmers, the USDA threw the corn market a curveball. The August WASDE report gave farmers and ranchers across the country an interesting look into how production might look this fall. Faith Parum, an economist with the...
449 Century and Heritage Farm families honored at the 2025 Iowa State Fair
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Brent Johnson honored 449 Iowa farm families with Century or Heritage Farm designations at the 2025 Iowa State Fair. The program celebrates farms that have been owned by the same...
Crops are promising, but yields need to be protected
The recent WASDE report from the USDA confirmed that this year’s crops have great potential. Now, it’s important for farmers to keep a close eye on their crops and do whatever they can to realize those potential yields. Kurt Maertens, BASF technical service...
Corn yield estimate will affect local basis levels
On Tuesday, USDA published the August WASDE report with a corn yield estimate of 188.8 bu. That number was well above the trade guesses going into the report and signifies the potential for a massive crop. That is Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing who says that the...
Iowa producers urge action on farm bill & trade
In yesterday’s coverage, we noted the wide range of policy issues weighing on Iowa farmers. Today’s focus narrows to two of the most immediate priorities: passing a comprehensive farm bill and addressing ongoing trade challenges. While the Reconciliation Bill approved...
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Taking a look at WASDE estimates despite government shutdown
The impact of the government shutdown continues to be felt, as today was supposed to be the October WASDE report. However, we can still look at the trade estimates to get an idea of what this month’s report could have looked like. Allendale commodity broker Greg...
Farm aid delay is another shutdown casualty
It will take Congress to replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation, assuming that is the course the administration takes to fund emergency farm aid growers need now. But new appropriations were not in the cards, and the government was shut down. House Appropriations...
Senate Ag Committee Senator says China no longer reliable ag trading partner
Senate Ag Committee Republican Roger Marshall of Kansas says China is no longer a reliable ag trading partner. He argues that United States producers need to utilize value-added farm goods to make up for losses in the Chinese market. Value added farm goods are...
Secretary Naig Announces 12 grants to support Iowa specialty crop production
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has awarded Specialty Crop Block Grants to 12 projects across the state. The goal of the program is to enhance the competitiveness of Iowa-grown...
Synchronizing cows brings stronger herd performance and profit
Cattle producers looking to boost profitability may find new value in narrowing their calving window. Recent data from Merck Animal Health shows that synchronizing cow herds can lead to more uniform calf crops and higher returns when it is time to sell. The research...
