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Beef supporters turned crisis into lasting impact
What started as an effort to recognize young livestock exhibitors during a canceled Iowa State Fair has grown into an organization that has raised $1.3 million in just a few years. The Iowa State Fair Beef Champions Supporters formed in 2020 after the COVID pandemic forced the cancellation of the Iowa State Fair. An alternative event was held for exhibitors, but Kevin Brooks with the organization says a group of supporters wanted to make sure young people who had already invested months of...
Pushing innovation in agricultural education
Farmers face new issues every year, so the ag industry has to be able to keep improving to keep up with changing demands. On top of that, we need to make sure the next generation of agriculturists is ready to tackle these problems. Brad Hammes, product specialist at...
Detailing recent improvements to the farm safety net
The long wait continues for an updated and modernized farm bill, but the farm safety net has seen recent improvements via the One Big Beautiful Bill Act says a senior USDA official. Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce says that the...
Secretary Naig announces 33 renewable fuels infrastructure grants to expand E15 access across Iowa
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) Board approved 33 ethanol infrastructure grants during its quarterly meeting on March 11, supporting new and expanded biofuel infrastructure projects at...
Federal Reserve is concerned about the Iran war’s impact on commodity markets
The war with Iran is causing upheaval in the commodity markets. The early volatility has seen an increase in the price of corn and soybeans, but it has also included sharp setbacks. Even more concerning is the risk presented to U.S. farmers and consumers as the...
Ernst helps lead recognition of women across agriculture
As National Ag Week continues and we look ahead to National Ag Day, there is a growing effort to recognize a group that has always been central to agriculture’s success, even if they have not always been front and center. Women in agriculture. A bipartisan resolution...
U.S. Export Sales Report (3-19-26)
This week’s export sales were disappointing all around, but there has been so much major news recently that this is not weighing heavily on the markets. Allendale commodity broker Greg McBride said the corn sales broke their trend of performing above average. On the...
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Iowa State University encourages students to pursue all areas of agriculture
Today marked the final day of the 98th Annual Iowa FFA Leadership Conference. The event, which takes place on the campus of Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames, isn’t just an opportunity to connect with fellow FFA members- high school juniors and seniors often also...
Congress proposes changes to Endangered Species Act
New legislation is aimed at providing improvements and updates to the Endangered Species Act. Shelby Hagenauer, senior director of government relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the organization especially appreciates the updates help to...
Findings from April Cattle on Feed Report
The Cattle on Feed Reports from USDA provide a look at the inventory of cattle in feedlots throughout the United States. The April Cattle on Feed Report shows another year over year decrease according to USDA livestock analyst Michael McConnell. McConnell points out...
U.S. to use tariff funds to offset high fertilizer prices
The Trump administration is preparing to direct tens of billions of dollars from tariffs and renegotiated trade deals toward strengthening domestic fertilizer production, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Speaking before lawmakers during a House...
AG trade deficit drops 42 percent
New numbers from USDA show progress in reducing the U.S. agricultural trade deficit, but officials say there is still more work ahead to return to a long-standing trade surplus. USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg says when the...
