Drones are beginning to play a role in Iowa agriculture, particularly for crop monitoring and pesticide application, but most farmers remain uncertain about the technology’s advantages and limitations, according to results from the 2025 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, an annual survey of Iowa farmers conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. more

Farmers, crop consultants, retailers and others looking to leverage drone technology for their business are invited to attend the second annual Spray Drone Essentials Workshop, hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the ISU Digital Ag Innovation Lab. The workshop will be held on June 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alliant Energy Ag Innovation Lab in Ames. more

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s annual Stateline Dairy and Ag Outlook Seminar will be held on Wednesday, June 10, at Empty Nest Winery, 1352 Apple Road, Waukon. The seminar aims to assist agricultural lenders and farm financial advisers in helping farmers manage risk and understand market outlooks. more

The 15th annual Iowa Swine Day is set for Thursday, June 25, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. Hosted by the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University, Iowa Swine Day is a one-day conference focused on topics vital to the U.S. pork industry. more

A second push for a natural gas power plant in rural Scott County began Monday when representatives with Central Iowa Power Cooperative and neighbors opposed to the project sparred in a hearing before a state utility commissioner. more

As machine learning and artificial intelligence programs have advanced over the past decade, Iowa State University researchers — alongside national and international colleagues — have likewise expanded efforts to use those tools in aiding farmers with finding solutions to their pest problems and in teaching the next generation how to go even further. more

Swine producers have new resources available from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to mitigate summer heat stress. “Heat Stress in Swine Production: Breeding Herd Considerations” and “Heat Stress in Swine Production: Basic Research” are available for download from the ISU Extension Store. more

People new to crop scouting, as well as those wanting to refresh their knowledge and skills, are invited to the 2026 Crop Scout School. Attendees may choose from two dates and locations this year: more

As farmers prepare to go back into the fields, they’ll be driving their equipment again, too. That means tractors on roadways. more

Olivia Sippy, agriculture education teacher at Wilton High School, doesn’t have a classroom. more

Farm equipment such as tractors, combines, grain carts and self-propelled sprayers have become larger and heavier in recent years, and concern about soil compaction and its impacts on crop yields has increased apace. The 2025 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, surveyed 945 farmers and found that they are increasingly concerned about soil compaction and that their views on management approaches are changing over time. more

Corn farmers in the U.S. are bracing for even higher fertilizer prices as conflict in the Middle East impacts the globally traded commodity, according to leaders with the National Corn Growers Association. more

Whether it be on stage behind the microphone or behind the scenes making sure all items, bids, and payments are accounted for, a live auction requires plenty of people to keep it running smoothly and successfully. more

Individuals interested in starting or expanding a home-based food business are invited to attend a Cottage Food Law Presentation on Thursday, April 9, at the Scott County Extension Office. more

With the arrival of spring, there will soon be a flurry of outdoor activity. But animals aren’t the only lumbering beasts awakening. more

While most apiarists start beekeeping as a hobby, the practice could offer some family farms a diversified stream of revenue. more

Farmers and those living in rural parts of the country are affected by mental health issues, and statistically, die by suicide at higher rates than other segments of the population. more

Farmers, rural landowners and natural resource professionals can attend the in-field and hands-on Windbreak School on Wednesday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville. The workshop is hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and aims to provide the knowledge and skills needed to effectively plan, implement, maintain and renovate windbreaks. Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. more

An annual report from the Iowa Cancer Registry on the state’s cancer rates showed lower rates of different cancers among the agricultural community than the state in general, though an expert in the cancer data says more up-to-date information needs to be gathered to know how farmers today could be impacted by pesticides and the like down the line. more

As urban agriculture continues to grow across Iowa and the United States, farmers operating in cities and suburban areas face unique opportunities and challenges. To support these producers, the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Urban Agriculture Program has released a new series of publications covering key topics that influence urban farm success. more