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Cherokee County Farm Bureau Farm Bureau is Iowa’s largest grassroots farm organization, with over 159,000 member families, foc

10/15/2026

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Secretary Naig Encourages Iowa Farmers to Plant Fall Cover Crops to Save Money on Crop Insurance

Farmers who plant fall cover crops can save $5 per acre on next year’s crop insurance premiums through the Crop Insurance Discount Program

DES MOINES, Iowa (Oct. 15, 2026) - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is encouraging Iowa farmers to plant cover crops to improve water quality and soil health while saving money on next year’s crop insurance premiums. Through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s annual Crop Insurance Discount Program, farmers who plant eligible cover crops this fall can receive a $5 per acre discount on their 2027 crop insurance premiums.

The Crop Insurance Discount Program has no cap on the number of eligible cover crop acres that can receive the crop insurance discount. Farmers can plant cover crops this fall and then enroll those acres when the online application window opens December 1, 2026.

“For the past decade, the Crop Insurance Discount Program has provided another way to help farmers save money while putting more cover crops on the land. Farmers can plant now, and then enroll those eligible acres when the application window opens in December,” said Secretary Naig. “We have seen record interest in cover crops this fall, which is very encouraging as we work with farmers and partners to accelerate conservation and water quality progress across Iowa. Farmers have already enrolled nearly 1.4 million acres in our state cover crop cost-share program, more than double the previous statewide record, including more than 340,000 acres in the Greater Des Moines Watershed, which is more than triple last year. We are also encouraged to see many first-time users getting started with cover crops. That kind of momentum is exciting, and we want to keep building on it by giving farmers more options to put conservation practices on the ground.”

The online sign-up period will open Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, and close Friday, Jan. 22, 2027. Farmers can learn more about the program and sign up to receive reminders about the upcoming enrollment period by visiting CleanWaterIowa.org/cropinsurancediscount.

The Crop Insurance Discount Program is jointly administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA). To qualify, cover crop acres cannot be enrolled in other Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship or USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) cost-share programs. Certain insurance policies, including Whole-Farm Revenue Protection or those covered through written agreements, may be excluded. Farmers should follow all existing farming practices required by their respective policies and work with their crop insurance agents to maintain eligibility.

For a decade, the Crop Insurance Discount Program has offered Iowa farmers an additional incentive to plant cover crops and has become a model for similar programs in other states and at the federal level. More than 2,500 Iowa farmers have enrolled more than 2.1 million acres of cover crops through the program to date.
The Crop Insurance Discount Program is part of Iowa’s ongoing implementation of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and is one of many programs available to help farmers add conservation practices to their land.

To learn more about conservation and water quality efforts in Iowa, visit CleanWaterIowa.org.

10/14/2026

IOWA FARMERS RECEIVE TEMPORARY TAX RELIEF

Iowa farmers are receiving temporary fuel cost relief under state and federal orders allowing tax-exempt dyed diesel for certain agricultural hauling. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds' proclamation suspends state penalties and fuel tax liability for vehicles hauling soybeans, corn, hay, straw, silage, stover, distillers grains, soybean meal, livestock, livestock feed, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas) and manure (dry and liquid) and other farm products transported on Iowa public roads through Feb. 2, 2027. President Donald Trump's federal executive order authorizes broader highway use of dyed diesel and defers the 24.3-cent-per-gallon federal diesel excise tax through year-end. Congressional action would be required to eliminate the deferred tax obligation. Combined state and federal diesel taxes total 56.3 cents per gallon. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said allowing the use of tax-exempt dyed diesel for on-road hauling will provide farmers with much needed price relief as they work to complete harvest. An AFBF analysis found that a $2.60 increase in the cost of diesel fuel over the past year is costing farmers an additional $8 per acre for corn and $4 per acre for soybeans. The Iowa Department of Transportation said drivers should check neighboring states' rules before crossing state lines in a vehicle using dyed diesel.

Cover Crop and Manure Management Field Day to be Held in Le Mars Nov. 3 Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and m...
10/14/2026

Cover Crop and Manure Management Field Day to be Held in Le Mars Nov. 3

Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and manure management field day as part of their “Beyond the Basics: Advanced Cover Crop Series” in Le Mars on Tuesday, Nov. 3, from noon to 2 p.m. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost and includes a complimentary meal.

“Cover crops play a key role in ensuring healthy land and water resources in our state. Although livestock manure can add another moving piece, it also offers an opportunity to diversify nutrient sources needed for crop production,” said Mitch Harting, water outreach specialist with Iowa Learning Farms. “This field day will offer more insights into how cover crops and manure can be used together to maximize their benefits.”

The field day will feature Leah Ten Napel, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, who will share the important role cover crops play on the landscape and how they can be integrated into a corn-soybean system. Daniel Andersen, associate professor and extension manure management specialist with Iowa State, will discuss how manure can be integrated into systems with living cover. The field day will also feature Tony Schroeder, local farmer and Plymouth County Soil and Water Conservation District commissioner, who will share about his experiences using cover crops and manure on his farm.
The field day will begin at the upper level of the Le Mars Convention Center, located at 275 12th St SE, Le Mars, IA 51031. It will continue at the Tony Schroeder Farm, located on the corner of K64 and 230th St.

The event is open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Harting at 515-294-8912 or [email protected] by Oct. 27. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for Iowa State Prairie Strips honey.

Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information, visit Iowa Learning Farms.

To the farmers who weather the storms, the early mornings and the long days: your work feeds families, sustains communit...
10/12/2026

To the farmers who weather the storms, the early mornings and the long days: your work feeds families, sustains communities and keeps the rhythm of the seasons alive. We are so grateful for you.

10/12/2026

Contact your crop insurance agent for questions on corn and soybean quality issues

Communication with crop insurance agents is crucial for farmers who encounter soybean and corn quality issues during harvest this fall. After the third wettest September on record in Iowa, many farmers are encountering grain quality concerns caused by excess moisture, mold development, sprouting, low test weight, kernel damage or mycotoxins. Handling and harvest of damaged or discolored crops may vary depending on the specific situation, but connecting with your crop insurance agent is an important first step to establishing a quality loss claim. Crop insurance companies advise farmers who are concerned about damaged grain to start by having a sample taken from a truck or combine professionally graded. A small, hand-shelled sample from the field generally isn't enough to accurately determine the extent of damage. Damaged crops shouldn't be commingled with crops from other fields in storage until they have been reviewed by a crop insurance adjuster, especially if you suspect mycotoxins that may compromise feed quality.

10/12/2026

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Secretary Naig Invites Community Meat Lockers to Apply for Choose Iowa Butchery Equipment Grants

Small-scale meat processors and custom lockers are eligible for funding to purchase equipment that expands processing capacity

DES MOINES, Iowa (Oct. 12, 2026) - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today invited small-scale meat processors and custom lockers to apply for a Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Equipment Only Grant. Eligible businesses may receive up to $20,000 of state funding to purchase cold storage, meat processing and/or packaging equipment that helps increase meat and poultry processing capacity in Iowa.

“As I travel the state meeting with farmers, I consistently hear about the need for more local meat and poultry processing. That need continues to intensify as we see larger plants closing and Iowa’s livestock producers working to grow the U.S. beef herd,” said Secretary Naig. “The Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation grant program helps local meat lockers and custom processors grow their businesses to better serve local farmers and consumers. I will continue asking the Iowa Legislature for additional funding for this and other Choose Iowa programs that support farm families, small businesses and rural communities, and help strengthen the local food system.”

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has allocated $105,000 to support the Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Grant program in FY2027.

“The Butchery Innovation Grant Program continues to be an important tool for Iowa's independent meat processors,” said Iowa Meat Processors Association President Katie Anderson, co-owner of Edgewood Locker in Edgewood. “These investments help businesses modernize operations, improve efficiency, and create opportunities for future growth while continuing to provide high-quality processing services to Iowa livestock producers and consumers.”

How to Apply
State or federally inspected, small-scale meat processors based in Iowa are eligible to apply for the Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Equipment Only Grant. Eligible businesses may receive up to $20,000 to purchase cold storage, meat processing and/or packaging equipment that helps increase meat and poultry processing capacity in Iowa. Applicants must provide at least a one-to-one financial match. Grant funds are paid out as a reimbursement after the project is completed. Full details including financial matching requirements, application, eligibility, and scoring criteria are available on the Choose Iowa website.

Grant applications should be submitted through the link provided on the Choose Iowa website by 12 p.m./CT on Nov. 20, 2026. Grant recipients will be announced in December 2026. The project cannot be in progress before the application is submitted and projects must be completed by June 30, 2027. Questions about the Butchery Innovation Equipment Only Grant or the Choose Iowa marketing program and member benefits may be emailed to [email protected].

In 2025, IDALS awarded $355,000 in Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation grants to nine local businesses. Approved projects required at least a one-to-one financial match, generating a total investment of about $1.94 million to expand local processing capacity in nine Iowa counties.
About Choose Iowa
Choose Iowa is the state’s signature branding and marketing program to promote Iowa-grown, Iowa-raised and Iowa-made food, beverages and agricultural products. Initiated by Secretary Naig and administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Choose Iowa continues to build momentum with nearly 360 members statewide. Through its growing membership, consumer promotion, grant programs and food purchasing initiatives, Choose Iowa is creating new market opportunities for Iowa farmers and small businesses while making it easier for consumers to find and purchase Iowa products.

From the inches of rain, purple beans, bean mold, the dust, high diesel fuel prices...area farmers are taking it all in ...
10/08/2026

From the inches of rain, purple beans, bean mold, the dust, high diesel fuel prices...area farmers are taking it all in stride and making the 2026 Harvest happen!

10/08/2026

Plans are nothing; planning is everything.

10/07/2026

Secretary Naig Thanks President Trump and Gov. Reynolds for Providing Diesel Tax Relief for Iowa Farmers During Busy Harvest Season

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today issued the following statement in response to President Trump and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ actions temporarily allowing farmers to use non-taxed, off-road diesel in agricultural and trucking equipment that support on-road harvest activities. The action will provide some federal and state fuel tax relief for farmers facing high diesel prices during harvest.

“Thank you to President Trump and Gov. Reynolds for taking action to provide temporary fuel tax relief for Iowa farmers during the busy harvest season,” said Secretary Naig. “Diesel is a major expense, especially at a time when farmers are facing tight margins, high input costs, and uncertainty in the farm economy. Allowing farmers expanded use of off-road diesel could lead to significant savings this fall, providing financial relief when they need it most.”

Beautiful Fall Harvest morning! Be careful everyone!
10/07/2026

Beautiful Fall Harvest morning! Be careful everyone!

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209 Centennial Drive Ste B
Cherokee, IA
51012

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Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

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(712) 225-6451

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