AMES, Iowa (RFD-TV) — Iowa’s agricultural leaders are emphasizing the state’s deep farming roots as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) moves forward with its reorganization plan. A delegation from the state is urging the department to relocate Agricultural Research Service (ARS) projects to Ames, Iowa, which already serves as a hub for agricultural research and innovation.
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to share why Ames is uniquely positioned to support expanded USDA operations. She highlighted the region’s existing infrastructure, noting that Ames currently has one of the largest concentrations of USDA facilities and employees outside Washington, D.C.
In her interview with RFD-TV News, Sen. Ernst also addressed the delay of a much-anticipated federal aid package and shared what she is hearing from Iowa’s producers as they navigate ongoing financial challenges and the uncertainty created by the government shutdown.
She also discussed her efforts to have phosphate added to the U.S. Critical Minerals List, which would help stabilize fertilizer markets. He offers a message of reassurance to farmers and ranchers during these uncertain times.
And in celebration of National 4-H Week, Ernst reflected on her own experience in 4-H and the program’s enduring impact on youth leadership in Iowa and across the nation.
In a landmark ruling delivered in late 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court significantly narrowed the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act.
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RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey speaks with Texas’s Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez about USMCA renegotiation and its impact on U.S.–Mexico agriculture trade.
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CoBank Knowledge Exchange’s Jeff Johnston shares the group’s positive perspective on expanding data centers into rural areas and weighs the risks and rewards for those communities.
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Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller joined us to discuss data center expansion, farmland preservation, rural economic impacts, and imminent cattle biosecurity concerns affecting agriculture today.
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The Pennsylvania Farm Show continues through Saturday, wrapping up another successful year of celebrating agriculture in the Commonwealth.
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The proposal signals a renewed push to offset tariff-driven losses, stabilize nutrition programs, and broaden eligibility for farm aid, though its path forward will depend on congressional negotiations.
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The application deadline is March 8, 2026. The 1890 National Scholars Program aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences.
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Wind repowering offers a rare opportunity to renegotiate outdated leases and improve long-term land income for landowners who act early.
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Rep. Erin Houchin of Indiana discusses how the Affordable Homes Act will benefit rural communities, and her broader efforts to improve access to affordable housing.
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