Local, State & Ag News
Feenstra Raises Possibility of Requiring Private Schools to Accept All Students
Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra says if he’s elected governor, he would “consider” changes to state law tied to taxpayer funding for private school expenses. Speaking with reporters yesterday, Feenstra said
Slower slaughter rates pull USDA beef, pork estimates lower
The USDA has trimmed its 2026 red meat production numbers, while increasing the outlook for poultry. Beef is now projected at 25.79 billion pounds, down 20 million from March mostly
Minnesota dairy assistance bill clears Senate, awaits House action
A bill to provide financial assistance to Minnesota dairy farmers passed unanimously in the Senate. Ag Committee Chair Aric Putnam says the measure helps cover insurance in case milk prices
Nonfat dry milk stays above $2 in mixed cash dairy market
Cash dairy prices were mixed again on Thursday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, as nonfat dry milk remains above two dollars and butter makes a small price recovery. Dry whey was unchanged at $0.70. No sales were recorded. Forty-pound cheese blocks were
Outlaw: lost export markets and Brazil competition add pressure
An ag economist with Texas A&M University says the challenges facing U.S. agriculture go beyond low prices and high input costs. Joe Outlaw says getting lost export markets back won’t
New Iowa law will make benefit for child care workers permanent
Governor Reynolds has signed a bill into law that makes a temporary state program that’s covered child care expenses for about a thousand employees of Iowa child care centers permanent.
Dry conditions improve in Missouri, farmers resume soybean planting
A farmer in the Missouri Bootheel says he’s grateful for the recent one-inch rain. Aaron Porter tells Brownfield he had stopped planting last week, because field conditions had gotten too
Rice ending stocks rise as demand slows, cotton carryout steady
Slower demand is having an impact on the U.S. rice supply. The USDA now sees domestic rice ending stocks at 55.3 million hundredweight, an increase of 5 million from March’s
USDA sees larger 25/26 U.S. wheat ending stocks, no changes for corn, soybeans
The USDA raised its domestic wheat ending stocks guess, while leaving corn and soybean carryout unchanged. The U.S. wheat supply is seen at 938 million bushels, 7 million more than
Several Iowa projects receive funding from U.S.D.A. Rural Development
The U.S. Ag Department’s Rural Development Agency has approved grants for several Iowa projects. Iowa director Mike Sexton says $1.4 million is going to Iowa State’s Agricultural Marketing Resource Center
