Local, State & Ag News
Grassley Visits Sioux Center Health, Discusses Challenges Facing Rural Healthcare
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley toured Sioux Center Health and met with hospital board members and staff on Monday as part of his annual 99-county tour across Iowa, using Congress’ Fourth
U.S. rice acres drop as upland cotton rises
U.S. rice planted area fell to a multi-decade low in 2026, while cotton acres were higher. The USDA has planted area for all types of rice at 2.017 million acres,
Farmers eyeing winter canola encouraged to lock in seed selections
A grain elevator manager in the Eastern Corn Belt says now is a good time for farmers to make seed considerations if they want to plant canola in the fall.
Hold off fireworks until the 4th to help Iowans with PTSD
Iowans who celebrate Independence Day early with fireworks may be upsetting some of their neighbors, and not just for shattering the tranquility. Those loud noises can make it very difficult
Changing Iowa highway speed signs from 55 to 60 won’t be quick
The spokesman for the Iowa Department of Transportation says things won’t automatically change when the new minimum 60 mile an hour speed limit law takes effect tomorrow (July 1st). Daniel
FEMA buyouts of flooded properties starting in Hawarden
The mayor of a small northwest Iowa community hit hard by flash flooding two years ago says recovery hasn’t been easy, but Hawarden Mayor Larry Gregg says in some ways
Cash dairy prices were mixed Tuesday at CME
Cash dairy prices were mixed Tuesday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dry whey was unchanged at $0.68. No sales were reported. Forty-pound cheese blocks were up $0.0075 to $1.43. Three sales were recorded ranging from $1.4175 to $1.43. Cheese barrels were down $0.0050 to $1.4750. No sales were
Trump temporarily lifts Moroccan phosphate duties, ag groups welcome fertilizer relief
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a proclamation temporarily lifting countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer from Morocco, and several ag groups say they are pleased with the decision. National Corn
Wheat planted area 6% below 2025
Farmers planted even fewer wheat acres than expected in 2026. Wheat acres are the lowest on record at 42.74 million acres, with farmers planting fewer acres to both the spring
USDA adjusts corn, soybean planted area numbers
Farmers did make some changes to their corn and soybean intentions during the 2026 planting season. The USDA now has soybean planted area at 85.365 million acres, up 700,000 from
