Congressman-elect Randy Feenstra says it's time for the U.S. Department of Justice to address allegations of price fixing in the livestock industry. "The packers, they're making all kinds of profits, so we've got change it," Feenstra says. "We've got to break up the monopoly." Four companies … [Read more...]
Free meals handed out by Iowa Falls business
Iowa Falls-based Iowa Select Farms wrapped up its Operation Christmas Meal program this week, having passed out 17,000 free pork loins to needy Iowans during a dozen events across the state. Jen Sorensen, at Iowa Select, says there were long lines of cars and trucks at every stop as the pandemic … [Read more...]
Biden touts Vilsack’s ‘deep experience’ at U.S.D.A.
President-elect Joe Biden says he had to do a bit of persuading to convince former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to agree to serve again as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Biden introduced Vilsack and four other members of his domestic policy team today, three of whom served in the Obama … [Read more...]
Head of pork producers says everyone has responsibility for clean water
The leader of one of Iowa's largest agricultural groups says some people wrongly blame farmers for the recent report that finds 750 segments of Iowa's lakes, rivers and streams are impaired by pollution. Mike Paustian, of Walcott, president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, says it’s … [Read more...]
Federal farm payments doubled in 2020, net farm income up 43%
The USDA is forecasting net farm income for 2020 will jump 43% over last year, reaching a seven-year high of nearly $120 billion. "I would summarize this as an update of a pretty dramatic upswing in the farm economy," said ag economist David Widmar of the consulting firm Agricultural Economic … [Read more...]
Grassley on Heitkamp, Vilsack as US ag secretary nominees
Senator Chuck Grassley predicts Joe Biden's pick to be the next U.S. treasury secretary will get a favorable review in the U.S. Finance Committee. Grassley is currently chair of the panel. "Janet Yellen, former chair of the Federal Reserve, to be secretary of the treasury's one that seems to have … [Read more...]
Economist predicts ’21 a good year for ag sector
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says this year's increase in farm income is leading to an increase in farmland prices. "Farmers are out there and they're feeling better about the economy, but unfortunately we're not seeing it in the businesses on what we call 'Rural Mainstreet,'" Goss … [Read more...]
Tyson investigates allegations Iowa plant manager ran bets on Covid spread
Tyson Foods has suspended the manager of its Waterloo plant who's accused in a lawsuit of running a betting pool this spring on how many workers would get Covid. Another manager who allegedly ordered sick workers to stay on the job has also been suspended. Tyson has hired former US Attorney … [Read more...]
Cattlemen’s Association to hold meetings on marketing issues
The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association will host a series of ten cattle marketing meetings starting this week. Cora Fox, the association's director of government relations, says they’ll be sharing information on possible solutions before the U.S. Senate to the long-running cattle marketing … [Read more...]
In Des Moines rally, Trump touts ‘great history’ with Iowa farmers
President Donald Trump greeted what he called a "beautiful crowd" of thousands of cheering supporters at the Des Moines Airport tonight. "There has never been a president that has done more for farmers and ranchers, for the Farm Belt, for Iowa," he said. "There's never been a president that's … [Read more...]