Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
It’s often said that family farms are the bedrock upon which Iowa is built.
Agriculture is the driving force of rural Iowa’s economy, and farm land is a precious gift that is passed from one generation to the next.
Farms that are kept in the same family through the generations are cherished in our state, and those that have been held in the same family for 100 years are honored as Century Farms.
This week there are 321 family farms being recognized as Century Farms during ceremonies at the Iowa State Fair. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will bestow the honors today on the Terrible’s/Channel 5 Stage.
An even higher honor, the Heritage Farm distinction, goes to farms that have been kept in the same family for 150 years. The Heritage Farm ceremonies will be held Thursday at the fair, where 87 Heritage Farms will be recognized.
The Century Farm program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, with additional sponsorship by Farm Bureau. The program began in 1976 as a part of the nation’s Bicentennial celebrations, and has continued its tradition of honoring more than 15,000 family farms in Iowa.
The Heritage Farm honor was added just last year, on the 30th anniversary of the Century Farm program.
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