All of the milk collected from dairy cows being shown at the 11-day Iowa State Fair will be dumped this year. In years past, the milk was sold to a Des Moines area co-op for production into cheese. This year, however, the longstanding buyer backed out and no one else stepped up. Dairy farmer Doug…
Iowa Crops and Weather Report – August 14
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October. “As the dry weather continues we see the portion of Iowa in drought continuing to expand and crop…
Ryan Pig Wins State Fair’s “Big Boar” Contest
A pig from Ryan has been named the biggest boar in Iowa. “Big Buck,” a Hampshire boar from Ryan, has claimed the Big Boar title at the Iowa State Fair. The champion boar owned by Tom and Nancy McDonald of McDonald Acres tipped the scale at 1,192 pounds. “Big Chief,” owned by Charlie Bieber and…
Five Local Women Competing for Iowa State Dairy Princess
Several local women are competing today for the title of Iowa State Dairy Princess. There are a total of thirteen contestants, including Brittany Putz of New Vienna, Cynthia Hamlett of Aurora, Reba Gaul of Peosta, Grace Gadient of Anamosa and Jordan Kalenske of Fairbank. The winner will replace reigning Iowa State Dairy Princess Katelyn…
Record Number of Farmers Sign-up to Try Cover Crops
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced today that a record number of Iowa farmers signed up to install nutrient reduction practices on their farm through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s statewide water quality cost share program. More than 2,600 farmers signed up to try cover crops, no-till/strip-till…
Iowa Crops and Weather Report – Aug. 7
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey commented Monday on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October. “The cooler temperatures we saw last week were welcome, but the lack of significant rainfall means drought conditions…
USDA: Iowa Farmland Values Up
The latest U-S-D-A report estimates the value of Iowa farmland now averages eight-thousand dollars an acre. Farmland values in Iowa were up nearly two percent in the past two years. The other “corn belt” states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri all failed to see an increase in land values. The U-S-D-A calculation includes the…
Iowa Crops and Weather Report – July 31
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October. “Much of the state remains very dry with farmers looking for a good soaking rain, especially as we…
Iowa Livestock Official Says Master Matrix Rules Should Remain Untouched
The president of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association says the “master matrix” rules for confined animal feedlot operations in Iowa are working properly and don’t need strengthening. Mike Cline, of Elgin, says it’s critical those regulations are left intact and that there’s one statewide regulation in place for all producers to follow. “We’re strongly in support…
Worsening Drought Conditions Stressing Crops in Parts of U.S.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Drought conditions are getting worse in several states, and extreme heat and weeks with little rain have begun to stress corn, soybeans, wheat and livestock in some areas. The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says nearly 11 percent of the continental United States is…