Author: staff

Insect droppings, commonly known as insect frass, may seem useless and downright disgusting, but scientists found that this waste can improve soil health when added as a fertilizer in farming. Insect frass is a mixture of excreta, feed, and molted skins. These droppings are a by-product of farming insects like yellow mealworms, banded crickets, and black soldier flies. Farmers raise and breed insects, also known as “mini-livestock,” to be an alternative protein source for animals and be a more sustainable practice in agriculture.  Insect frass may also be used as fertilizer. Previous studies by this team led by the United…

According to data compiled by the Successful Farming team, more than 4,800 acres of Iowa farmland are set to be auctioned in Feb. 2025. Listings range from single tracts of less than 40 acres to a multi-parcel auction that includes 1,350 acres. Here’s a closer look at the farmland expected to change hands across 18 Iowa counties. Hardin County Eight Hardin County tracts totaling 1,350 acres will be sold at public auction on Feb. 19, 2025. Online bidding will be available. All the tracts will be sold via buyers choice method. This means the winning bidder will have the option…

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., perhaps the most contentious Cabinet-level nomination for the second Trump administration, was the center of combative and tense testimony today before the Senate Finance Committee in his bid to become the next Secretary of Health and Human Services. It took mere minutes into the hearing for Kennedy to feel the heat from aggressive and pointed criticism about his track record and to be told that “he should not be entrusted with the health and well-being of the American people.” RFK Jr. has long stood against mainstream nutrition research and been combative against vaccine science, and he…

Corn ethanol has been the standard for biofuels in the United States for nearly 20 years since the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was introduced in 2005.  Carbon pipelines have been positioned as the next step the ethanol industry needs to sequester carbon, receive tax credits, and be poised for growth, including in new areas such as sustainable aviation fuel. In our series on carbon pipelines, we have covered how companies are working to establish pipelines across the Midwest. We also looked at how farmers can navigate eminent domain use when pipeline construction comes closer to reality.  For this story, we…

By Nick Paulson, Gary Schnitkey, and Ryan Batts On December 21, 2024, the U.S. Congress passed, and President Biden signed into law, the American Relief Act of 2025. That Act extended the 2018 Farm Bill into 2025, resulting in another year of farmers facing the decision between Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) for commodity program support. Farmers have until April 15 to make or change decisions, a month longer than in recent years. The farmdoc 2025 Farm Bill What-if Tool — a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet — has been revised to analyze the 2025 decisions. Overall, ARC at the county level…

Farmers are the backbone of our food system, yet public perception of agriculture is often shaped by powerful voices in pop culture. Celebrities can play a significant role in amplifying support for farmers or, conversely, perpetuating harmful narratives. Here’s a look at some of the most prominent pro-farmer celebrities shaping the conversation around agriculture today. Pro-Farmer Celebrities: Advocates for Agriculture 1. Luke Bryan Image by Luke Bryan The country music star has deep agricultural roots, growing up on a peanut farm in Georgia. Bryan actively supports farmers through initiatives like his annual “Farm Tour,” which brings music to rural America…

A packed house filled the auction arena for the 2025 Auction of Junior Livestock Champions, hosted by BOK Financial. The event showcased the bright future of the livestock industry, with this year’s Grand and Reserve Champions stealing the spotlight. The energy in the room was electric as bidding for the 2025 Grand Champion Steer reached a record-breaking $210,000, surpassing the previous $200,000 record set in 2023. Five of the top eight animals shattered records, including the Reserve Grand Champion Steer, which sold for $125,000, topping its previous high of $100,000. Madilyn Norvell from Oklahoma exhibited the Grand Champion Steer, Thunder,…

The 11th annual Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge crowned Indiana-based Gripp as the 2025 winner during the American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio. This competition, a partnership between the American Farm Bureau Federation and Farm Credit, showcases business innovations that address pressing challenges in agriculture. Gripp, led by Indiana Farm Bureau member Tracey Wiedmeyer, took home the grand prize of $100,000. The company’s operator-centric platform integrates asset tracking with communication tools, streamlining farm management and connectivity. Labby, a New York-based startup led by Julia Somerdin, was named runner-up and received $25,000. Labby develops advanced, real-time milk testing solutions powered…

By Allison Kite Aquifer levels in parts of western Kansas that rely on groundwater for everything from drinking to irrigation fell more than a foot last year, Kansas Geological Survey scientists said Tuesday.  The Kansas Geological Survey earlier this month completed its annual campaign to measure the Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies the western one-third of the state with water. The Ogallala, the largest underground store of freshwater in the nation, has been declining for decades because of overuse to irrigate crops in otherwise arid parts of the state.  According to preliminary data presented to the Kansas House Water Committee, aquifer…

With National Reading Month taking place in March and Read Across America Day quickly approaching on March 3, Discover Dairy has a new book available, titled Curious Clover, to help bring dairy farming to life for elementary and middle school students. The book is available in both English and Spanish and includes accompanying interactive resources to encourage literacy, creativity, and farm-to-table connections. The Discover Dairy program is managed through the Dairy Excellence Foundation. With a $15 donation to the foundation, individuals can receive a printed copy of the book to share with students and families. “Every time someone turns the…