WASHINGTON DC (August 23, 2023) — The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced $72.9 million awarded to 55 states and territories through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The grant program provides funding to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and support specialty-crop growers through marketing, education, and research.

DES MOINES, IOWA (August 2, 2023) — The animal-protection organization Animal Outlook has released documents, newly-obtained under Iowa’s Open Records Law, which advocates say show that a controversial method of mass-killing farmed animals caused even more suffering than previously believed, due to sloppy use of the method.

CLIVE, IOWA (June 14, 2023) — The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) named Zoey Dinkla as its producer education director. Dinkla will be responsible for developing informational material for Iowa pig farmers, administering pork quality-improvement programs, and working with key stakeholder groups such as Iowa Farm Animal Care and the Iowa Pork Industry Center.

ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (May 10, 2023) — In celebration of the Quad City Botanical Center’s 25th year anniversary on June 20, we are excited to announce a special cactus exhibit on display now through July 30, featuring cacti from the collection of Allen Dieter, one of the founding members of the Quad City Botanical Center.