Officials with Prestage Foods of Iowa are announcing a joint venture that's being called Prestage Wholestone. The collaboration is with Wholestone Farms of Nebraska which is a farmer-owned pork processing facility based in Fremont, Nebraska. Prestage Wholestone will operate the two plant … [Read more...]
Regional conferences planned for pork producers
The Iowa Pork Producers Association is hosting four regional conferences across Iowa this week. Dal Grooms, the organization's spokeswoman, says the meetings will be focused on providing useful information for hog farmers. "In the morning, we're going to have Pork Quality Assurance Plus training … [Read more...]
Nominations sought for annual ‘best burger’ contest
The annual contest is now underway to find the best hamburger in the state. Iowa Beef Industry Council spokesperson, Kylie Peterson, says the criteria for the 2023 contestants remains the same. "A 100% real beef patty served on a bun or bread product from a restaurant here in the state of Iowa," … [Read more...]
Bill would limit placement of solar arrays on farm ground
A key senator is proposing new restrictions for commercially owned solar installations placed on farmland. Senate Ag Committee chairman Dan Zumbach said the goal is to establish limits on how close solar arrays may be to property lines, farm buildings and homes. "Most people that live around … [Read more...]
First woman to lead Iowa Pork Producers is from Buchanan County
For the first time in about nine decades, the Iowa Pork Producers Association is being run by a woman. Trish Cook, of Buchanan County, was elected Tuesday at the organization's annual meeting. Cook and her family run a farm near Winthrop that produces 32,000 hogs a year as well as corn and … [Read more...]
ISU seeks state funds for second phase of Vet Lab construction
Construction of the front end of a new Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Ames is scheduled conclude in 2023. Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen says 80% of the lab's operations were not included in phase one of the project, however. "Phase Two is needed to provide an additional … [Read more...]
‘Farm Couple Getaways’ planned in Dubuque, Holstein
Iowa State University Extension will host "Farm Couple Getaways" in Dubuque and Holstein in early 2023. Fred Hall, a dairy program specialist with ISU Extension, says the program began several years ago. "We started seeing high stress levels in farm couples," he says, "so we put together this … [Read more...]
ISU economist says key factors contribute to escalating agland prices
Iowa State University ag economist Chad Hart says the recent sale of 73 acres of northwest Iowa farmland, for $30,000 an acre, indicates Iowa farmers are seeing fairly good profit margins. "At the same time, too, though -- I would say that we're also hearing of less land being put on the market … [Read more...]
Western Iowa gets federal grant to improve meat and poultry production
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Carroll-based Region 12 Council of Governments had been selected to receive a $15 million grant from the new Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program. Region Executive Director Rick Hunsaker says the goal is to increase capacity. "As we saw … [Read more...]
Tougher rules drafted for manure storage in northeast Iowa
Staff in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources have drafted tougher rules for manure storage at any new livestock confinements or cattle feedlots in parts of northeast Iowa. The regulations would apply in areas with what's called "karst" topography, where the bedrock is closer to the surface … [Read more...]