Iowa
Talk about farm and food, AGree asks presidential hopefuls
Food and agriculture are getting short shrift in the presidential campaign, despite Iowa's role as the starting point in the race for the White House, say the three co-chairs of the AGree food policy project. They called on the candidates to elevate food and agricultural policy.
Iowa Republicans like the oil industry as much as ethanol
A Des Moines Register survey of people planning to attend the Iowa precinct caucuses on Feb 1 found strong support for the ethanol mandate - not a surprising result considering that Iowa is No 1 in corn and ethanol production. When asked if they supported the Renewable Fuels Standard, which requires use of ethanol and other biofuels, 77 percent of Democrats and 61 percent of Republicans said yes. Republicans were just as supportive of the oil industry.
Western Iowa town aims for farm-to-table hub
Civic leaders in the western Iowa town of Harlan "are designing an economic development strategy around food and farm entrepreneurs," says a Wallace Center article reprinted by the Daily Yonder. The chief executive of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Todd Valline, says, “Our goal is to establish Shelby County as the hub of the wheel of the local farm-to-table sector in the region."
Biotech corn blamed briefly for Iowa poll results
When a poll put Donald Trump in second place in Iowa, biotech corn was fingered as the culprit on social media before the Trump campaign apologized, says Agri-Pulse. The dustup began when Trump's Twitter feed reposted a tweet that originated with a Nevada businessman, who noted that surgeon Ben Carson was leading Trump in Iowa, and then added: "Too much #Monsanto in the #corn creates issues in the brain?"
Egg farms in Iowa move toward cage-free barns
Producers in Iowa, the No 1 egg state, "say they are looking to house more of their hens in cage-free barns to meet growing demand from big buyers like McDonald's," says the Omaha (Neb) World-Herald. Rembrandt Farms, based in Spirit Lake and one of the largest producers of processed egg products, will shift to an all cage-free model.
Bird-flu cost to Iowa economy: $1.2 billion
A study by an Iowa consulting company estimates the state economy lost $1.2 billion due to the avian influenza epidemic, reports the Des Moines Register.
Vilsack endorses Clinton for president once again
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack endorsed Hillary Clinton for president in an op-ed appearing today in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the second time the former Iowa governor backed her for the Democratic nomination.
Turkey farm is first bird-flu site in Iowa to re-stock flock
Nearly three months after avian influenza was confirmed on Moline Farms near Manson, Iowa, the turkey farm is filling its barns with new birds.
One defendant freed in seed-corn theft case
U.S. Judge Stephanie Rose dismissed charges against a Chinese woman, Mo Yun, accused of conspiring to steal trade secrets from U.S. seed companies, said the Associated Press.
Farms hit by bird flu could resume production this fall
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says poultry producers who lost flocks in the worst avian influenza epidemic ever to hit the United States could have birds back in the barn by fall, according to USA Today.
Christie says he wants USDA leader with “real life experience”
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, seeking the Republican nomination for president, says if he had the chance he would "put someone in charge of USDA who actually has done this before," says Agri-Pulse in a story from a GOP pig roast near Camanche, Iowa.
Stringent biosecurity crucial in preventing bird flu, says USDA
In an updated report on the worst-ever bird flu epidemic to infect U.S. poultry flocks, the government says "comprehensive and stringent biosecurity practices remain crucial to reducing the risk of HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] infection."
U.S. hen total plunges again, as bird-flu fallout continues
The inventory of hens laying eggs for table consumption dropped by 5 percent in June, says the monthly Chicken and Eggs report. It was the second month in a row that the total plunged and a sign of the swift spread of the avian influenza epidemic.
‘Tax extenders’ bill advances, including Section 179 expensing
The Senate Finance Committee approved, 23-3, a bill to retroactively revive four dozen tax breaks that expired at the end of 2014.
Rural electric projects get $349 million in U.S. support
Fifteen projects to improve more than 1,844 miles of transmission and distribution lines in rural America will receive a total of $349 million in low-cost federal loans.
The $1 billion elephant in Iowa’s caucus rooms
Iowa gets the first word on presidential nominees through its precinct caucuses, scheduled for Feb. 1, so the Hawkeye State is awash with candidates who are trying to build a bond with voters. "Yet for all their love for everyday Iowans, none of the candidates is getting anywhere near the biggest crisis to hit the state in years - one of the worst animal health emergencies in U.S. history," says Politico Magazine.
In bird-flu boomerang, chicken to cost less
The avian influenza epidemic hit egg-laying poultry flocks and spared the growers who produce broiler chickens used for meat. But many nations restricted or altogether banned U.S. poultry products because of the flu. The result is a rapidly increasing supply of chicken, says the monthly Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook. And when supplies go up, prices come down.
Bird-flu results: Fewer eggs and a 25-percent price increase
Egg prices will run an average 25 percent higher this year than expected two months ago - and at record high prices - because of the worst avian influenza epidemic ever to hit U.S. poultry farms, says the government. In its monthly WASDE report, the USDA estimated that the bird flu, which has affected 47.1 million fowl, would reduce egg production by 5 percent this year and by 4.5 percent in 2016.