For more than 600 Iowa farmers, strategic tree plantings have done far more than improve curb appeal—they’ve helped protect livestock farms, reduce odors, manage snow, and strengthen relationships with neighbors. Through the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers’ Green Farmstead Partner Program, more than 80,000 trees have been planted across the state since 2009, giving livestock farmers access to free on-site consultations and customized planting plans developed by professional nursery and landscaping experts.

A new survey from the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF) found Iowa FFA students remain optimistic about agriculture’s future, with 90% reporting a positive or very positive outlook for the industry in Iowa.

Sophomore, Layne Vaske, in the Cedar Rapids Prairie FFA Chapter explained that she is “optimistic about the future of agriculture in Iowa because of what [she has] seen in [her] classes and clubs.”

 Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2026 Photo Contest! Enjoy the winning photo gallery here and see more on our Facebook page!

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Forage Crunch Fuels Push to Make CRP Acres Easier to Graze

A lack of available forage land is pushing some cattle groups to look for ways to make existing Conservation Reserve Program acres easier for producers to graze, a shift that could give ranchers room to expand a historically small cattle herd.

Some state livestock groups, including the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Kansas Livestock Association, want to enable producers to graze more CRP land amid a scarcity of available forage, and to better incentivize landowners to let them.

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Secretary Naig Expands Streamside Buffer Pilot Project to Include Greater Des Moines Watershed

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the expansion of the Streamside Buffer Pilot Project to include farmers and landowners living in all 22 counties in the Greater Des Moines Watershed. The expansion is part of the Greater Des Moines Watershed Program, a targeted initiative to accelerate and scale up the use of conservation practices in counties upstream from the Des Moines metro to improve water quality. Funding for the project expansion is provided by the Farm to Faucet water quality package signed into law on June 1.

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