State officials have drafted a preliminary list classifying 622 Iowa waterways as "impaired" during 2018. That's a two percent increase from the previous year's list. Roger Bruner supervises the water monitoring staff in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and he spoke with reporters this … [Read more...]
State officials optimistic Iowa meat sales to Japan will jump
Iowa's governor and the state's agriculture secretary are in Japan, meeting with government officials and grocers to tout Iowa beef and pork. Ag Secretary Mike Naig said Iowa meat has been sold in Japan "for decades." "It's about relationships and meeting with customers to hear their concerns, … [Read more...]
A new president for the Iowa-based World Food Prize
The co-founder of a non-profit who has been focused on international food safety and food security issues for the past decade will be the new leader of the Iowa-based World Food Prize Foundation. Iowa native and Nobel Prize winner Norman Borlaug founded the World Food Prize 33 years ago. The … [Read more...]
Reynolds embarks on 7-day trade mission to Japan
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds left early this morning on a trade mission to Japan. "It's just to continue to drive markets and look for opportunity," she says. Reynolds will encourage more direct investment in Iowa by Japanese businesses. "We have Japanese companies that are located in Iowa," … [Read more...]
Buttigieg says there’s real cost to Trump’s broken RFS promises
Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg says President Trump isn't keeping his promises to Iowa's agricultural community when it comes to the Renewable Fuels Standard. "Actions speak louder than words and the president says he cares about farmers, but if you look what he's done with the … [Read more...]
Biden questions President Trump’s deal-making skills
Former Vice President Joe Biden started a campaign swing through eastern Iowa today, offering a critique of President Trump's trade policies. "He's great at the 'Art of the Deal' isn't he?" Biden asked rhetorically, mentioning the title of one of Trump's books. "Every farmer who thinks they're … [Read more...]
Congresswoman Axne says EPA ‘bait and switch’ on RFS unacceptable
Industry officials say up to 400 jobs in Iowa biofuels plants are at stake if the EPA's proposed standards for blending ethanol and biodiesel into motor fuel are adopted. Four plants in Iowa have temporarily shut down. Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne warns more may follow if the EPA fails to … [Read more...]
‘Outrage’ in Iowa biofuels industry over proposed EPA blending rules
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...]