IARN — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants industry groups to give input on where the future of U.S. biofuel policy is heading after the current phase finishes in 2022. This is a new opportunity for the oil, corn, and biofuel industries to reshape the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the source of a bitter dispute between the industries for more than ten years. Under the regulation, the EPA will have discretion over the annual mandated biofuel blending volumes from 2023 forward, taking over that responsibility from Congress. Read more
Be on the Lookout: New Form Required for Some NRCS Customers
Des Moines, Iowa — If you are a producer or landowner who participates in USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation programs, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) may be reaching out by mail with information about a form you’ll need to fill out. Read more
Iowa Dairy Producers Ask Help With Transportation, Sustainability
Statewide Iowa — The challenges of the pandemic are reinforcing the importance of the trucking industry, especially in states like Iowa, where 18-wheelers move a host of commodities. Mitch Schulte, executive director of the Iowa State Dairy Association, says he’s hopeful the Iowa legislature will pass a bill this session allowing overweight milk tankers to travel on interstates instead of forcing them onto congested state and county roads. Read more
Nominations open for 2021 Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin
IARN — The breaded pork tenderloin is a sense of pride for many Iowans, and their appetite for perfection is once again needed to find the state’s juiciest, most flavorful sandwich. Read more
New FCC app tests rural broadband speeds
IARN — A new app from the Federal Communications Commission encourages members of the public to help test broadband speeds across the country. Read more
Trade missions go virtual for Iowa officials
IARN — Iowa officials have had to conduct trade missions virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more