“These are farmers and landowners who want to do conservation on their farm. They want to do something we all seem to support — which is conserving natural resources,” said Jonathan Coppess, an associate professor and director of the Gardner Agriculture Policy Program at the University of Illinois.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nearly 5 million chickens, turkeys and other birds have been
Iowa ranks No. 4 in the United States for its crop insurance payouts due to drought and excess moisture.
Predicted rains may help replenish soil moisture before the ground freezes over.
In an effort to expand equitable access to nature nationwide, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack came to Cedar Rapids Thursday to announce $6 million toward Cedar Rapids’ effort to reforest the city after the 2020 derecho. The city is among 385 recipients of $1.1 billion toward tree planting.
The funding is part of $300 million from a USDA program intended to support underserved producers and landowners like Guy Ngoma, who came to Cedar Rapids from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ngoma hopes to get 28 acres of his own land one day to grow culturally relevant African food for the community.
Three months into its post-collegiate life, the future of the vacated Iowa Wesleyan University campus is starting to take shape thanks to Mount Pleasant Community School District’s $1.25 million offer to buy portions of the 60-acre property.
Iowa will participate in a federal program to help provide food for Iowa school children during summer break. The announcement comes after anti-hunger groups implored state officials to apply for the federal assistance.
Also, Gov. Reynolds completes second leg of overseas trade mission
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development office over the years has lent billions to colleges and universities — including at least seven in Iowa since 2013 — often because it wants the smaller communities in which they reside to thrive. Now, with Iowa Wesleyan — one of those loan recipients — closing, the community and the USDA are working to decide the best future use for the campus.
Federal officials have suspended the license of Iowa dog breeder Steve Kruse, who has a long history of regulatory violations.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced about $40 million worth of grants for 31 projects in numerous states during a visit to Iowa State University, which is among the grant recipients.
A recent report highlights low EQIP and CSP acceptance rates across the country, although Iowa officials say the state is in better shape than depicted.
U.S. farm income is forecast to drop substantially in 2023 as commodity prices fall and expenses rise, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service reported this month.
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