IARN — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue Thursday announced a $3.1 billion rural electric infrastructure investment in 25 states. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing in 53 projects through the Electric Loan Program, benefitting 1.4 million rural residents and businesses across the country. The announcement is part of a record level of USDA electric infrastructure investments in one fiscal year. The department invested $6.3 billion in the Electric Loan Program in fiscal year 2020, up from $5.8 billion in 2019, also a record. USDA made loans to 119 utilities in 34 states across the country during fiscal year 2020, which ended on September 30. Those figures build upon the $3.7 billion invested in 2018. Read more
Three Iowa cooperatives receive funding to advance broadband services
IARN — “Broadband connectivity is not a luxury now, it is a necessity for today’s life,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said Wednesday at a Virtual Rural Broadband ReConnect Event. Read more
Naig, Pate Encourage Iowa FFA Members, Alumni to Help Staff Polling Locations on Election Day
IARN — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Secretary of State Paul Pate are encouraging Iowa FFA members and young alumni to take an active role in the 2020 election by helping to staff polling locations. Read more
Nominations open for Iowa Soybean Association Leadership Awards
IARN — Do you know a student passionate about supporting agriculture? How about a farmer dedicated to protecting natural resources? If so, now is the time to nominate deserving individuals for one of eight Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Leadership Awards. Read more
Ag Secretary Says Drought-Affected Northwest Iowa Farmers Can Apply for Federal Aid
Washington, DC — Farmers in a number of northwest Iowa counties can apply for federal disaster aid if they were affected by the drought. Read more
Emmetsburg POET Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Closed
Emmetsburg, Iowa — The “Project Liberty” plant in Emmetsburg, an ethanol plant designed to make fuel from corn cobs and stalks rather than kernels, has closed. Read more