IARN — The USDA says milk production in the 24 major milk-producing states totaled 16.8 billion pounds in February. That’s down 1.3 percent from February of 2020. However, production was 2.3 percent above last year after adjusting for the leap year. January revised production was 18.4 billion pounds, up 2.6 percent from January of last year. The January revision represents an increase of 150 million pounds, or .8 percent, from last month’s preliminary production estimate. Read more
Gov. Reynolds proclaims April as ‘Meat on the Table Month’
IARN — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on Friday proclaimed April as “Meat on the Table Month,” encouraging Iowans to support the livestock industry through meat consumption and purchases. Read more
Japan hikes tariffs on U.S. beef imports
IARN — Japan has temporarily set higher tariffs on U.S. beef imports.
Joe Schuele with the U.S. Meat Export Federation says U.S. beef exports to Japan have been very strong of late, which set off a safeguard trigger that implements a higher tariff rate for 30 days. Read more
Drought Persists And Could Last Into Summer
Northwest Iowa — Hydrologists predict an “average” flood risk in much of the Missouri River Basin this spring, in large part due to dry conditions, as much of the region is experiencing moderate to severe drought. Read more
U.S. House Aims To Help Rural Health Care Systems With RUSH Act
Washington, D.C. — Health care systems in rural Iowa are struggling, especially after a year of the pandemic, and an effort is underway in Congress to find a fix. Read more
Iowans can now apply for 2021 hemp licenses online
IARN — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has launched a new database that allows Iowans to apply for or renew their hemp licenses online for the 2021 growing season. Applicants can find the link to register at iowaagriculture.gov/hemp. The deadline to apply for the 2021 growing season has been extended to May 1.
The hemp online licensing system is the latest in a series of technology investments by the Iowa Department of Agriculture to make it faster and easier for Iowans to obtain their annual licenses.
“The Department is committed to investing in new technologies, like this online hemp licensing system, to continue modernizing our processes. It also allows the Department to provide better customer service to Iowans applying for or renewing their hemp licenses,” said Secretary Naig.
The new online system also offers benefits for law enforcement officials. Hemp licenses and certificates of analysis (COA) will include a QR code to make it easy for law enforcement to scan and determine the authenticity of the documents quickly.
Individuals who are interested in growing, selling, or transporting hemp or hemp seed in Iowa must obtain an annual license. For detailed instructions on how to apply for a hemp license, visit iowaagriculture.gov/hemp.
The commercial hemp production program does not license cannabidiol (CBD) products for human consumption, extraction or processing in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals regulates Consumable Hemp Products. Additional information for retailers and processors is available at dia.iowa.gov.
Growers are advised to do their research and confirm there is a viable, profitable market for commercial hemp production before they make an investment in seed and equipment. For more information about the state’s hemp program, contact the program administrator Robin Pruisner at Robin.Pruisner@Iowaagriculture.gov.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network
Image source: Wikimedia Commons