Rachel Cramer
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Iowa Public Radio
Over the next two years, the USDA plans to genetically sequence collections of major crops in the agency's National Plant Germplasm System and make that information available to U.S. companies. USDA leaders say this and a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Justice will increase competition in the seed industry.
Courtesy of the campaigns
Jared Strong
/
Iowa Capital Dispatch
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A family farm in central Iowa recently transitioned their industrial hog operation to grow something else — specialty mushrooms. They say it’s better for them and the environment, and with help from a nonprofit, they hope to inspire other farmers. -
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins outlined plans to support cattle producers and streamline how the USDA collects and uses data at the Farm Progress Show. -
Shades of red extracted from an ancient corn variety held up to heat and other conditions typical of food processing and storage. Researchers are exploring whether this natural dye alternative could open new markets for Midwest farmers.
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Lawmakers in 13 states have proposed banning or restricting paraquat, a toxic herbicide that researchers have tied to an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. But efforts to outlaw it have failed across the Midwest. -
U.S. Geological Survey researchers developed models to better understand the timing and sources contributing to nutrient pollution in streams and rivers. They say their findings can help guide efforts to improve water quality. -
Farm Bill progress stalled Thursday as the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee failed to move forward its version of the omnibus legislation due to a conflict over when states will shoulder a share of federal nutrition assistance costs.
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A group of farmers say voluntary approaches to conservation are not delivering the scale of change needed to meet the state’s nutrient reduction goals. They’re calling for a new system of incentives and disincentives. -
A new report identifies challenges to agricultural diversification in the Corn Belt and policy changes that could make it easier to grow different crops or integrate livestock and trees. -
Row crop farmers in Iowa are facing a third consecutive year with costs generally exceeding prices, according to a new report. While lenders are seeing more signs of financial stress, researchers say the conditions are not the same as the 1980s farm crisis.
