I know several farmers market vendors who donate vegetables left over after markets to food pantries. Now, these charitable farmers can be rewarded for their good deeds through a new program. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey, announced the following this week: FARMERS DONATING FOOD ELIGIBLE FOR TAX CREDIT
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Tag: Bill Northey
Iowa moves from third to second in the n...
Iowa is moving up in the agricultural world. Preliminary U.S. Census data shows the state has seen increases in ag production and the value of crops and livestock sold, surpassing Texas, Illinois and California in those three categories. Here is more from Iowa Secretary of State Bill Northey’s office:
Applications accepted for Iowa Century a...
Iowa farms that reach a milestone of 100 or 150 years under the same family can qualify for a special honor. The Century (100-year) and Heritage (150-year) Farm Program recognizes those achievements during an award ceremony at the Iowa State Fair. Our family farm in rural Chelsea received the honor a few years ago, making […]
Where to find Iowa-grown Christmas trees...
If you need help and direction finding an Iowa-grown tree for Christmas, the Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Association offers an excellent resource on its website. I found four tree farms that I didn’t know about previously in our area, just by typing in my zip code into the group’s “Find a Farm” link. Iowa Secretary […]
What to do with a bumper crop of apples?...
Iowa orchards went from a deficit last year to a bumper crop of apples this year. State Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey, offers sound advice on visiting an Iowa apple orchard this fall, along with a mouth-watering apple recipe, passed along from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship:
Monsanto lobbyist hired for Iowa agricul...
The following is from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship: DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that Mike Naig has been hired as the new Deputy Secretary for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. He will start with the Department on September 4. “Mike will be […]
Iowa moving back to dry mode
After the over-abundance of precipitation earlier this season, I’m amazed that my rain barrel is already running dry. I’m told Ames received a good drenching of rain on Sunday and I had hoped it would make its way to Cedar Rapids. Didn’t happen. Now, I’m keeping my fingers crossed, along with other gardeners, that those […]
Wet, cool weather delaying farmers; Iowa...
It was nice to see the sun today, after what has been an unusually wet and cool spring. That wet weather is keeping farmers out of their fields, as the following reports from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service show:
Iowa’s fruit and vegetable crops predict
Good news for our state’s vegetable farmers, for farmers markets and for you! Though cool weather has slowed some early spring produce, timely rains and no late killing frost bode well for Iowa’s fruit and vegetable crops. You can find full details about Eastern Iowa farmers markets on the Homegrown list and read on for […]
Favorite day of the year: Iowa Heritage ...
In speaking with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey last week, he mentioned that his favorite day of the year happens during the Iowa State Fair. That’s when Northey has the honor of recognizing Iowa farms that have been in families for generations as part of the Century and Heritage Farm program.