by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch May 28, 2024 Iowa farmers had an average of about two days available for field work last week due to severe weather that spawned damaging winds, nearly 30 tornadoes and triple the typical precipitation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Our hearts go out to all the Iowans […]
by Brooklyn Draisey, Iowa Capital Dispatch May 27, 2024 Grinnell College has made a “decisive step” forward in the direction of operating without emissions with the completion of a 9,000-panel solar array. One-third of Grinnell College’s campus is now running on renewable energy with the array, the largest private solar installation in the state, Grinnell […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch May 24, 2024 President Joe Biden on Friday approved Gov. Kim Reynolds’ request for federal assistance for Iowa areas impacted by tornadoes this week, including the deadly twister that hit Greenfield. Biden made the major disaster declaration for Adair, Montgomery, Polk and Story counties that were impacted by severe […]
by Allison Winter, Iowa Capital Dispatch May 23, 2024 WASHINGTON — Democrats and Republicans on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee clashed late into the evening Thursday over funding for food and nutrition programs as part of Republicans’ sweeping proposal for the new five-year farm bill. The committee’s $1.5 trillion omnibus farm bill would set policy […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch May 22, 2024 Gov. Kim Reynolds, touring what she called “horrific” damage in Greenfield from Tuesday’s tornadoes, emphasized the resiliency of the Iowa communities and appreciation for the support received in the day since the storm. As severe weather impacted areas across Iowa, Greenfield was hit by a major […]
by Jane Norman, Iowa Capital Dispatch May 22, 2024 WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, on a call with reporters Wednesday, strongly criticized a farm bill draft written by U.S. House Republicans, saying it would damage the coalition that traditionally has united behind farm bills and “raises the real possibility of being unable to get […]
by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch May 20, 2024 The pace of corn and soybean planting accelerated last week amid a rainfall reprieve for much of the state, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Farmers planted more than a fifth of the overall expected acres for each crop that week and edged closer to […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch May 17, 2024 Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday signed the final slate of bills remaining from the 2024 legislative session, including new laws related to the regulation of hemp-derived product and changes to the state’s boards and commissions. The signing of 20 bills marked the end of action on […]
by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch May 9, 2024 For the first time in nearly two years, no part of Iowa has extreme drought — the second-worst dryness classification of the U.S. Drought Monitor. A new report on Thursday that takes into account the significant rainfall of last week and early this week shows the […]
by Jennifer Shutt, Iowa Capital Dispatch May 8, 2024 WASHINGTON — The commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said at a congressional hearing Wednesday the agency is preparing for the possibility the strain of avian influenza affecting dairy cattle could jump to humans, though he cautioned the probability is low. Robert Califf told […]
