Author: staff

Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois State Fair officials unveiled the 2025 Butter Cow in the Dairy Building today. Inspired by this year’s fair theme of “Adventure Awaits,” sculptor Sarah Pratt’s creation captures the spirit of the fair through the eyes of an adventurer. While the Butter Cow is the undisputed star of the show, the cow has a delightful companion – an adventurer seeking hidden treasures across the fairgrounds. As in years past, 13 hearts have been hidden between the two displays to signify the 13 essential nutrients found naturally in milk. Pratt was joined this year by her husband…

An estimated 2.67 million trees in Iowa forests and another 4.4 million trees in urban canopies were killed or damaged by the 2020 Midwest derecho that swept across Iowa, according to a new data tool from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  Twenty-seven Iowa counties were given a disaster declaration at the time because of destruction from the Aug. 10 derecho. The data tool shows how Iowa state parks, cities, forests, and communities have recovered from the destruction over the past five years and how many of those damaged trees have been replanted.  A derecho is a long-lived, straight-line windstorm that damages…

The first time is the scariest. The first day of school, the first time you drive, the wedding day, the birth of baby, the first time baby is sick … There are so many emotions associated with all of these things. It’s exciting, albeit scary, to do new things. Some of the “first” things we get to choose to do, others of them are forced upon us, often when we’re least prepared. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t choose to do them. Or fear the unexpected ones. Several months in to our parenting journey, our baby got his first fever.…

by Cami Koons A beer called Yield of Dreams is on tap at the Iowa State Fair and features corn grown across the state and donated by 18 Iowa farmers.  The lager, brewed at Confluence Brewing Company in Des Moines, is a partnership between the Iowa Brewers Guild, the Iowa Corn Growers and Choose Iowa, which is promoting a slew of locally produced goods at this year’s state fair.  This is the second year the groups have partnered to create the Yield of Dreams brew and offered it to fairgoers at the Iowa Craft Beer Tent.  According to a press release,…

Image by maRRitch, Shutterstock The American Farm Bureau Federation has sent a series of recommendations to the Make America Healthy Again Commission that will benefit health outcomes and ensure farmers can continue growing safe, healthy and affordable food for America’s families. “Farmers and ranchers share the goal of advancing health in America,” said Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “Healthy meals start with healthy farms, which is a responsibility farmers take seriously. Investing in research, rewarding innovation and alleviating overregulation helps them reach that goal. We appreciate the opportunity to share these policy recommendations that can directly and positively improve farmers’…

In 2025, farmers have experienced a barrage of extreme weather, from severe flooding in the Southeast, to dust storms that battered fields in the Midwest. Amid these challenges, farmers have found resilience in maintaining yields through their soils’ health. Clint Orr has spent the past two decades moving from conventional tillage toward no-till and strip-till with cover crops on every acre of his central Indiana farm. While Orr isn’t chasing record yields, his focus on regenerative practices has made his operation more weather resistant. “We’ve increased water infiltration and organic matter,” he said. “We don’t know what the weather is…

Two individuals have been arrested following an investigation by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office into an incident involving an injured horse found in an abandoned trailer on July 27, 2025. Deputies were dispatched to a parking lot after receiving a call about a horse in distress. Upon arrival, they found a trailer with visible damage and a severely injured horse inside. No driver or owner was present at the scene. A veterinarian responded to assess the animal’s condition and determined that the injuries were critical and non-recoverable. The horse was humanely euthanized on site to prevent further suffering. The Animal…

A new documentary film, An Open Door, is set to highlight the influential life and groundbreaking work of Temple Grandin, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, autism advocate, and internationally recognized leader in animal welfare. The film, produced in partnership with CSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences, will be released on August 12 via streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and Kanopy. Grandin is well-known for her pioneering role in designing humane livestock handling systems, many of which are now standard in the global meat industry. Her insights are deeply informed by her autism and her unique…

The Red Angus Association of America has announced the 2025 Junior Red Angus Association scholarship recipients, six outstanding young leaders recognized for their commitment to the beef industry, academic excellence and dedicated service to their communities. Five $2,000 JRA College Scholarships were awarded to Addison Green Russell of Kansas, Kacee Wasem of North Dakota, Madilyn Gruszie of Montana, Lilly Ostlie of Minnesota and Wesley Meyer of Iowa. The $1,000 Dee Sonstegard Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Mikayla Skiba of Minnesota. Image courtesy of the Red Angus Association Addison Green Russell, of Downs, Kansas, is attending Kansas State University to pursue…

USDA published the latest Crop Progress report on Monday, Aug. 4. Here’s a closer look at recent weather and the status of Michigan’s most important crops in early August. Weather Nicolle Ritchie, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension field crops agronomist educator, and Angie Gradiz, MSU Extension agriculture water use efficiency and irrigation educator, reported in a Southwest Michigan field crops update that high temperatures and high humidity continue. Humidity is expected to remain high but temperatures are likely to cool down. The central part of the state is in moderate drought with some areas reaching severe drought, according to the U.S.…