Iowa's ethanol and biodiesel industry reacted in disbelief and anger today after the Environmental Protection Agency issued a draft policy on future biofuels production targets. The president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association was first to react, saying he was outraged the EPA failed to … [Read more...]
Pence urges Iowa crowd to lobby Democrats on USMCA
Vice President Mike Pence told a crowd at a farm near Waukee today that he was in Iowa to "turn up the heat" and urge Democrats to ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. "The truth is, and we all know it, Democrats have been spending all their time on endless investigations and a partisan … [Read more...]
As Pence touts USMCA, ‘Farmers for Free Trade’ pushes for China deal
Vice President Mike Pence will visit a central Iowa farm this afternoon, part of the Trump Administration's effort to pressure congress to ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Angela Hofmann of "Farmers for Free Trade" says farmers across the country are hoping the trade war with China is … [Read more...]
Allegations lead state to put hold on incentives for Sioux City plant
State officials have frozen tax incentives for a Sioux City pork processing plant due to an investigation of alleged mistreatment of foreigners recruited to work at the plant. Seaboard Triumph Foods was awarded $16.5 million in tax credits and sales tax breaks for the Sioux City facility which … [Read more...]
Farmers and ranchers gather in Omaha to protest cattle prices
Nearly 400 farmers and ranchers gathered in Omaha Wednesday for a rally to protest low cattle prices and high profits for beef processors. Organizers say meat packers are manipulating the cattle markets and the Trump Administration must take action. Chris Petersen, a hog farmer from Clear … [Read more...]
Iowa’s governor still awaits details of Trump’s biofuels deal
Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has not yet seen a document outlining how the Trump Administration may address farmers' fury over ethanol waivers granted to oil refineries. "I'm optimistic that we'll hopefully get something this week, but we're still waiting to see the final details on it," … [Read more...]
Man burned in fire at hog farm near Le Mars
A man working at a hog confinment near Le Mars is at a hospital in Nebraska for treatment of severe burns after a fire near the hog barn on Monday. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the man was initially rushed to the local hospital by private car, then airlifted to Lincoln. "Prior to our … [Read more...]
Federal trade-related payments sustain farm economy
An economist who monitors Iowa's farm sector says things would be far worse if the Trump Administration hadn't given farmers $28 billion in trade relief payments. Iowa State University economist Chad Hart says the farm economy has been struggling for the past five years due to depressed commodity … [Read more...]
Economists: ‘We need a deal’ with China, USMCA ratification
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says he's concerned when economic pressure -- like tariffs -- are used to reach non-economic goals, like trying to get China to stop stealing intellectual property. "When economics and politics collide, economics loses every time," Goss says, "and it's … [Read more...]
Water quality lawsuit against State of Iowa to proceed
It appears a lawsuit seeking a moratorium on new livestock confinements near the Raccoon River and action to limit farm chemical run-off into the river will go to trial. A district court judge has rejected a request from attorneys representing the state to have the lawsuit dismissed. "It's … [Read more...]