(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa D-N-R says surveys show ospreys, and peregrine falcons are doing well. The birds were almost wiped out in North America in the Mid-20th Century from pesticide use. D-N-R wildlife research specialist Riggs Wilson says the migratory raptors were re-introduced to the state starting in the late 1980’s and 90’s. “That allowed us to get these populations established in the state as nesting populations. And then now that they’re fairly established, they’re kind of doing their own thing and doing well,” he says. The D-N-R has been monitoring osprey nests during the spring and summer with the help of volunteers who collect and share data.

“That continued monitoring allows us to know where they’re nesting in the state, and if there’s any big fluctuations in their nesting,” Wilson says. Osprey nests are largely concentrated in the Des Moines metro, Spirit Lake area and corridor between Waterloo and Iowa City.  “The big takeaways with Ospreys are that their population is doing well. We actually saw a record number of osprey nests monitored in 2025, which is really exciting,” Wilson says.

There were nearly 60 osprey fledglings reported in surveys, while the number of young peregrine falcons held steady. Most of the peregrine falcon nests are near the Mississippi River.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has released a number of detailed plans this week that she’s asking legislators to pass — but she does not plan to present her own bill to resolve the stalemate over property rights and the proposed carbon pipeline.  “I didn’t introduce anything because I knew both chambers were working on something,” Reynolds said. A House bill already eligible for debate as soon as next week would completely ban the use of eminent domain for the project. The Senate’s Republican leader has proposed giving Summit Carbon Solutions some leeway to redraw the pipeline route to avoid land owned by people who will not sign voluntary easements.

Reynolds says she and the G-O-P leaders in the House and Senate are discussing what’s next.”We all three are talking to see what that looks like. That’s the first step in trying to find resolution,” Reynolds said. “…It’s early, so I’m going to do what I always do. I’m not going to interject, except we’re keeping everybody in the loop as we move forward so there’s no surprises.” The Republican-led House has passed a handful of bills over the past five years to establish new regulations and restrictions on the pipeline project. Last spring was the first time one of those bills passed the Senate and was sent to the governor.

Last June, Reynolds said that bill would have impacted public utility projects, too, and she voted it.

Cass County: Corn $3.99 Beans $10.01
Adair County: Corn $3.96 Beans $10.04
Adams County: Corn $3.96 Beans $10.00
Audubon County: Corn $3.98 Beans $10.03
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $4.02 Beans $10.01
Guthrie County: Corn $4.01 Beans $10.05
Montgomery County: Corn $4.01 Beans $10.03
Shelby County: Corn $4.02 Beans $10.01

Oats: $2.50 (same in all counties)

(Prices are per bushel; information is from the area Farm Service Agency [FSA] offices)

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa business owners were in Washington, D-C this week to tell senators about the difficulties facing the agricultural economy. Jay Funke is the sales manager at Del Clay Farm Equipment in Edgewood in northeast Iowa. Funke said low commodity prices are affecting sales in the region.

Anaheim, California – January 15, 2026 – Farm Bureau members from all 50 states and Puerto Rico gathered at the 107th American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Annual Convention this week in Anaheim, California to set the organization’s national policy direction for 2026 and recognize and celebrate the achievements of state Farm Bureaus.  Several Iowa policies were adopted, including greater flexibility for producers participating in carbon markets.

During the convention’s general session, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) was presented the Pinnacle Award, the highest honor a state Farm Bureau can be awarded for program and member achievement.  IFBF earned awards of Excellence in all four program areas for outstanding member programs and exceeding its membership goal in 2025.  The four program areas include: Advocacy, Coalitions and Partnerships, Engagement and Outreach, and Leadership and Business Development.

“Earning the AFBF Pinnacle Award is a tremendous honor for our organization and is a great source of pride for our members,” said Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson.  “The prestigious award is a testament to the strength of our grassroots organization and the value provided to our members through innovative programs and resources.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins delivered a keynote speech to members highlighting USDA’s support for farmers and opportunities ahead.  Rollins highlighted efforts over the past year to reduce the agricultural trade deficit and grow trade markets, expanded markets for E15 and biofuels and continued efforts to reduce surging input costs.

Former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and lifelong supporter of agriculture, Bill Northey, was posthumously honored with AFBF’s Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.  For decades, Northey worked for farmers and ranchers across Iowa and the country. He was elected as the Iowa secretary of agriculture three times – in 2006, 2010 and 2014 – before being tapped by President Donald Trump to be under secretary for farm production and conservation at USDA. He held that post until 2021 and became the CEO of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa in May 2022.  Northey passed away in February 2024 at the age of 64 leaving behind a legacy of dedicated service to agriculture.

Following his passing, Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson commented on Northey’s life.

“It is impossible to completely describe Bill’s impact on agriculture,” said Johnson. “It didn’t matter if we were talking about the latest heavy-hitting agriculture issue or tractors or family; Bill was always an intensive listener, and I never saw him distracted by what was happening in the background or who walked into the room. When talking with Bill, Bill was talking with you.”

Keaton Keitzer of Des Moines County represented IFBF on the national stage during the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Discussion Meet competition. The YF&R Discussion Meet simulates a committee meeting with active discussion and participation.  Participants are evaluated on their ability to exchange ideas and information on a predetermined topic about agriculture and food production today.  Keitzer qualified for the competition by placing first in IFBF’s Young Farmer Discussion Meet held during the IFBF Annual Meeting in December.

Along with Johnson, Iowa’s other voting delegates to the 2026 AFBF policy session were: IFBF Vice President Brian Feldpausch of Grundy County; District 5 director Allen Burt of Marshall County; Randy Dreher of Audubon County; Laura Cunningham of Floyd County; Brent Koller of Lee County; Nate Hofmann of Linn County; Michael Johnson of Page County and Cordt Holub of Tama County.

Members attended workshops, panels and keynotes covering an array of topics, including opportunities and challenges on the horizon for agriculture, ag policy impact, new technology and innovation, strategies for managing farm succession planning, farmer perspectives on mental health and more.

State Farm Bureaus will gather again for the 2027 AFBF Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, January 8-12.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is celebrating the signing of a bill she co-sponsored that overturns an Obama era restriction against serving whole milk in schools. “Now Iowans can have access to whole or two percent milk, which gives us the full nutritional benefits of milk,” Ernst says. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law Wednesday.

“I’m ‘udderly’ thrilled that choice has been made available for our Iowa schools,” she says.

Ernst says the change will help the U-S dairy industry.

Cass County: Corn $4.05 Beans $10.03
Adair County: Corn $4.02 Beans $10.06
Adams County: Corn $4.02 Beans $10.02
Audubon County: Corn $4.04 Beans $10.05
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $4.08 Beans $10.03
Guthrie County: Corn $4.07 Beans $10.07
Montgomery County: Corn $4.07 Beans $10.05
Shelby County: Corn $4.08 Beans $10.03

Oats: $2.52 (same in all counties)

(Prices are per bushel; information is from the area Farm Service Agency [FSA] offices)

(Radio Iowa) – A bill on the fast track in the Iowa House would ban the use of eminent domain to seize property along the proposed Summit Carbon pipeline route. The bill cleared a House committee on a 19-to-two vote yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon and is eligible of debate in the full House next week. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says House members have been trying for five years to find a way to protect property owners who don’t want the pipeline on their land.

“This year the language is as simple as it can be,” Holt said. “No eminent domain for CO2 pipelines in Iowa.” Representative Ross Wilburg, a Democrat from Ames backed the bill in committee, but he says there’s been no signal this approach will break through the statehouse impasse — or that the governor would sign it into law. “The conditions haven’t changed on this,” Wilburn said.

Holt says he, along with what appears to be a majority of House members, are ready to take a stand and pass the bill. “The House does not control the Senate and the governor, but what we do is do what is right and we move forward,” Holt said, “And who knows what dynamics might change based upon the actions that we take.”

The top Republican in the Senate is proposing an alternative that would let Summit re-chart the path of its pipeline, to go around landowners who haven’t signed voluntary easements. Holt says that’s a non-starter because Summit could still use eminent domain in some circumstances.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill that would ban the use of eminent domain for pipelines carrying carbon dioxide has cleared an Iowa House subcommittee. The bill is similar to a South Dakoka law and would not allow Summit Carbon Solutions to use the government’s eminent domain authority to seize land along the pipeline route. Kathy Carter owns land in Floyd County along the proposed pipeline route and doesn’t want it on her property. “I have had this black cloud hanging over my head for five years,” Carter said. “I’m tired of it.” Mike Henning owns Greene County farmland along the Raccoon River. “It’s important that those of us that don’t want to have a pipeline on our property have the opportunity to say, ‘No,'” Henning said.

The Iowa Corn Growers Association is on the record opposing the bill and says by capturing carbon from Iowa ethanol plants, that ethanol can be sold in markets that require zero-carbon fuels. Brittany Lumley, a lobbyist for Summit, says the carbon the company captures from Iowa ethanol plants can also be used to recover underground oil. “There are hundreds of billions of dollars of oil in Wyoming and trillions in North Dakota that will never be recovered without our carbon product,” Lumley said. “Truly this pipeline will eventually become an integral part of this nation’s security strategy, giving more access to oil which is essential for everybody’s everyday lives.” Jake Ketzner, a lobbyist for Summit, says the bill would kill the company’s project.

“Summit Carbon is focused on signing voluntary easement agreements and moving off landowners who do not want us,” Ketzner says. “We support widening the corridor to allow for route adjustments to make this possible and significantly reduce any need for eminent domain.” That’s a description of the bill Senate Republican Leader Mike Klimesh says would be a way to end the years’ long debate over the pipeline. Representative Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison, says that Senate bill will not protect all landowners. “Because under their proposal eminent domain can still be used for the CO2 pipeline project,” Holt said. Holt says that’s why a complete ban on the use of eminent domain for carbon pipeline is advancing in the House.