A top U.S.D.A. official suggests President Trump will have to referee a dispute within his administration about federal payments to partially cover farm losses due to the trade war. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky was in Iowa met with commodity group representatives Thursday … [Read more...]
ISU survey shows several factors led to small drop in farmland values
The new Iowa State University Land Value Survey released today shows a small drop in land values. Iowa State University economist Wendong Zhang says values dropped just under one percent (.08). He says that puts the average value of an acre of land in the state at to $7,264. That's $62 an acre less … [Read more...]
Renewable fuels advocates defend the RFS in House hearing
Ethanol industry leaders defended the Renewable Fuels Standard at a hearing Tuesday before the House Energy Committee. At issue is the recently released draft of the 21st Century Transportation Fuels Act, which aims to sunset the RFS. Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, called the RFS an … [Read more...]
Iowa Farm Bureau researcher: food wasn’t a weapon in NAFTA negotiations
A top Iowa Farm Bureau official says he's thankful Mexico didn't start a food fight during the renegotiation of NAFTA. David Miller, the IFB's director of research, notes - - unlike other countries -- Mexican trade officials did not target agricultural products when retaliating to U.S. steel and … [Read more...]
Soybean Association president optimistic about new negotiations with China
The Iowan who leads the American Soybean Association is cautiously optimistic about word of negotiations ramping-up between the U.S. and China. John Heisdorffer, of Keota, says a resolution to the trade war would brighten the holidays for America's farmers. "It's a great Christmas present for … [Read more...]
Ernst optimistic Farm Bill reaches president in December
Senator Joni Ernst says there appears to be a breakthrough in negotiations on the Farm Bill. "I am hopeful that the deal gets done by the end of the year," Ernst told Radio Iowa. "I think we have reached an agreement in the conference committee, so that is really good news for our farmers and … [Read more...]
Key Farm Bill negotiators hint a deal may be near
The four top negotiators working on the next Farm Bill have announced a tentative agreement "in principle" -- but the deal is not yet done. The Farm Bill expired October 1. A conference committee of House and Senate members have struggled to settle on a new version. Committee leaders say they're … [Read more...]
Ag Secretary seeks more money to prep for foreign animal disease outbreak
The state ag secretary is asking lawmakers for a quarter of a million dollar budget increase, to boost the "Animal Agriculture Industries Bureau" in the Iowa Department of Agriculture. "To prepare, present, detect and, if needed, to respond in the case of a foreign animal disease," Ag Secretary … [Read more...]
Most corn is in the bin, except for southwest Iowa
The final weekly U.S.D.A. Crop Progress and Condition report of 2018 was released Monday. The report shows 96% of Iowa's corn crop had been harvested as of Sunday, just ahead of a winter storm that buried parts of southern and eastern Iowa under a foot or more of snow. According to the U.S.D.A. … [Read more...]
German firm plans to make ‘renewable’ natural gas in Iowa
Officials have awarded state tax breaks to a European company that plans to open a biofuels plant at the site of a closed ethanol production facility near Nevada. VERBIO is based in Germany. The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board has approved state tax benefits in support of the company's … [Read more...]