Indiana Farm Bureau members outline 2026 policy priorities with state legislators
The 2026 Indiana legislative session is officially underway. Ryan Hoff, INFB’s senior director of government relations, says property tax reform and supporting local communities remain two of the top priorities […]
Naig announces Iowa Farm Act
Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig has announced plans to introduce the Iowa Farm Act during the 2026 state legislative session. He tells Brownfield the comprehensive package is similar to a […]
Iowa farmer adjusts nitrogen strategy amid high input costs
The prospect of low commodity prices and high input costs has farmers like Mark Mueller considering crop fertility changes. The eastern Iowa corn and soybean grower says he recently purchased […]
Soil moisture a concern for Iowa
Snow during the early part of December didn’t have much of an impact on ag in Iowa. The USDA says that while most of Iowa saw measurable snowfall last month, […]
Cool, dry end to 2025 for Indiana
Indiana was cool and dry during much of December. The USDA says the average statewide temperature for Indiana was a couple of degrees below normal, while precipitation fell more than […]
Illinois winter wheat rating lower than last year
Illinois’ winter wheat crop started 2026 in worse condition than 2025. The USDA says 64% of the crop is rated good to excellent, a decline of 5% on the year, […]
Arkansas soil moisture levels below a year ago
December was dry and mild for most of Arkansas. The USDA says more than half of the state has adequate to surplus soil moisture, but levels are well below a […]
Specialty growers await clarity on USDA’s billion-dollar Farmer Bridge Assistance program
The executive director of the Illinois Specialty Growers Association says much is still unknown about the USDA’s billion-dollar Farmer Bridge Assistance program targeted for specialty producers. Raghela Scavuzzo tells Brownfield, […]
Tariffs, quotas, and registration hurdles limit U.S. beef access to China
The head of the US Meat Export Federation says China’s recently announced tariffs on imports of beef are misguided. Dan Halstrom says the government is doing it to address inflationary […]
Property taxes a 2026 priority as Nebraska legislature faces budget gap
A Nebraska farmer says a legislative priority for 2026 is addressing property taxes. But, Jan TenBensel, says the state is facing a $471 million budget shortfall and that may make […]