It was maybe a happy coincidence last week that while I was following the news about Trump’s soybean deal with China that I also happened to tune into the Iowa Farmers Union (IFU) weekly “lunch and learn” on Facebook. Amid so much uncertainty, not just for farmers but all of us in rural ...
It’s been a while since I’ve issued a Legislative Newsletter. It’s been a busy summer. As Fall arrives, I am beginning to work on legislation for next session along with the usual constituent work. Of course, there are also the hot issues that arise at any time of the year, and I am ...
I am a 5th generation graduate of what is now the East Marshall School District. I returned to my hometown after college and teaching out of state for several years and have been paying taxes in the district for 35+ years. This letter is written as an alum, a current district taxpayer, a ...
Leading up to last year’s election, then candidate Donald Trump campaigned heavily on deporting immigrants on a massive scale. It’s something he’s followed through on, regularly claiming that his Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency would target “the worst of the worst.” ...
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a lifelong family farmer and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, accepted Growth Energy’s 2025 “Fueling Growth Award” for his efforts to support biofuel production. “Homegrown biofuels are good, good, good. They’re good for lowering prices, good ...
Sean Roberts is no stranger to wind energy. Since the mid-1980s, he has overseen the construction of more than 4,000 wind turbines across the United States and around the world. His latest initiative, the Salt Creek Wind project in Iowa, continues to build on that legacy. Last year, Salt Creek ...
Iowa’s statewide pheasant population is at a 20-year high, and state wildlife experts are forecasting a banner year for hunters. “The mild winter really put us over the top this year,” said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural ...
Many rural Coloradans, especially in agricultural communities, feel looked down on by their urban counterparts. One cattle rancher I spoke to put it plainly. “It’s an attitude … we are the idiots … we are the dumb farmers … we don’t really matter.” The sentiment is also ...
It’s summer and school-aged children are home for break. More meals eaten at home means food purchasing budgets are stretched. For eligible families, Healthy Kids Iowa (HKI), a summer feeding program, is Iowa’s answer to meeting those needs. The South Tama County Food Pantry located on ...
Volunteer firefighters are the backbone of Iowa’s emergency response system, especially in rural areas. As the state faces a growing crisis in recruitment and retention, it’s time to take a closer look at the current state of Iowa’s volunteer fire service and why support is urgently ...