News Archives
Dealing with drought and potential cattle feed
Iowa is fortunate to have corn as a major cropping enterprise. That's why it's important to keep harvest management tips in mind, according to Iowa State University extension beef specialist Beth Doran.

Retailer partnerships bridge gap between conservation research and implementation
Many soy checkoff-funded research projects have explored how soybean farmers can protect and even improve the quality of their soil, water and other natural resources. However, integrating new, research-proven conservation practices into an agronomic system presents unique challenges for every farm.

Aggies oppose revised Biden WOTUS Rule, despite similarities with Trump version
The EPA removed the significant-nexus jurisdiction test from the waters of the U.S. rule this week, but the Biden administration's action drew unanimous opposition from agriculture.

Drops in commodity returns, government payments pulling down 2023 farm income projections
The Agriculture Department expects net farm income to decline in 2023 amid falling agriculture commodity revenues, higher production expenses and a decline in direct payments from the government.

EATS Act now faces opposition in the Senate
A bill that would block California’s Proposition 12 is facing more pushback in Congress.

Barriers to adopting precision agriculture practices
Precision agriculture technologies help optimize returns on crops and livestock while using resources as efficiently as possible. However, many farmers—specifically those in the Upper Midwest—still see many barriers to adopting PA practices, according to a new study from Tong Wang and Hailong Jin, associate professors in South Dakota State University's Ness School of Management and Economics.

Effects of wildfires on commodity crops can be good or bad, but much remains up in the air
The thick haze of Canadian wildfire smoke persistently blowing down into the United States throughout the month of June left many farmers turning to Dan Quinn for an answer to this common question: How will this poor air quality affect crop development? 

Vilsack announces renewable energy project, calls for no tweaks to IRA funding
Fresh off the heels of a nearly $266 million renewable energy announcement from USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is urging a hands-off approach by those outside the department looking to tweak the agency’s funding pools.

Ag lobbyist says EPA pesticide pilot project is problematic for farmers
An ag lobbyist says all the focus right now is on the farm bill, but there are bigger challenges ahead for farmers.

Variable crop makes 2023 corn yield estimates tricky
Predicting the corn crop in August has become almost as competitive as basketball brackets during the madness of March.

Gov. Pritzker announces increased access to mental health services for rural farmers and agricultural communities
Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) at the 2023 Farm Progress Show to announce funding for a grant program aimed at breaking down the stigma of accessing mental health services in agricultural communities.

Cattle producers urged to watch for prussic acid poisoning
University of Missouri Extension specialists urge producers to closely watch cattle grazing pastures with Johnson grass and other sorghum species.

EPA releases amended WOTUS rule
The Environmental Protection Agency has amended the Waters of the U.S. Rule.

State ag directors see need to use farm bill to protect pork market in California
The secretaries of agriculture for Iowa and Missouri both support Congress stepping in to draft a new law that would block the ability of states to restrict agricultural products from other states.

Mexico embeds GM corn ban in food regs as USMCA dispute intensifies
Mexico wants more than just a presidential decree on its genetically modified corn ban in place as it enters the final phase of a dispute with the U.S., so the country is working to solidify the prohibition in its national food production standards.

New study finds U.S. soybean industry has $124 billion impact on the United States economy
The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) and the United Soybean Board (USB) are pleased to announce the availability of a new study, The Economic Impact of the U.S. Soybeans & End Products on the U.S. Economy, that examines the value of the American soybean industry.

New John Deere 1 Series Round Balers are fast and efficient while capturing important bale data
John Deere's new 1 Series Round Balers help farmers ensure optimal moisture levels and consistent bale weights are maintained in every field, in every windrow and with every bale.

Interest rates drawing some investors away from ag land
Agricultural land price hikes are reported to be slowing in many regions this year, as higher interest rates provide investors with more choices.

Autonomy to headline 2023 Farm Progress Show
The 2023 Farm Progress Show is expected to showcase more autonomous technology than ever before.

The ripple effect of ag's immigrant challenges 
As farmers and companies in the food and ag sector struggle to find workers, many have increasingly turned to recruiting foreign workers through visa programs, including H-2A. Demand for H-2A workers, who can take seasonal jobs on crop or livestock operations, has been skyrocketing.

56% of U.S. corn, 58% of soybeans good to excellent
The USDA’s national good to excellent ratings for corn and soybeans declined slightly over the past week. That followed some extremely hot temperatures and dry conditions in many key growing areas. 

K-State cattle experts offer tips to minimize weight loss when traveling to a sale site 
While many people would love to see their weight decrease when crossing the scale, beef cattle producers selling cattle by the pound prefer to minimize weight loss animals experience from the farm to the sale facility, said the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute.

USDA updates livestock disaster payment rate to assist producers hard-hit by heat and humidity
The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced it is updating the  Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) payment rate to support livestock producers in the Midwest who have lost cattle to the extreme heat and humidity experienced this summer. 

Low Mississippi River levels back again
Mississippi River levels remain low for the second consecutive year, which could affect grain shipments in the new crop marketing year.

Miller-Meeks: Biggest challenge to rural healthcare is access
Inflation and consolidation of healthcare facilities have been huge challenges in maintaining access to healthcare in rural areas, an Iowa Republican lawmaker says.

Grazing warm-season forages gives cattle producers a fast-growing option
Warm-season annual forage grazing offers cattle producers a quick-growing option for those who are short on traditional perennial grass pastures.

Nunn introduces bipartisan legislation to expand opportunities for next generation of farmers
U.S. Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) today introduced bipartisan legislation, the Next Generation of Farmers Act, to support new and beginning farmers with loans to purchase farmland.

EATS Act faces pushback
A bill that would prevent states from regulating interstate trade and agricultural practices is facing some pushback in Congress.


