Monsanto is predominately in the seed business, but the St. Louis-based company has dabbled in the data business, as well. Its Climate Corporation allows farmers to use cell phones and laptops to analyze hyper-local weather data and monitor weather trends. Farmers say the improved data service has h
Climate change will likely cause billions of dollars in damages to the agriculture industry, according to government reports. Yet, while agriculture is a climate change victim, it is also a culprit. Agriculture production sends large amount of nitrous oxide and methane into the atmosphere, two poten
Two decades ago, less than 10 percent of corn and soybean acres were planted with genetically engineered seeds. Last year, nearly every single acre of corn and soybean was planted with GMOs. U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows St. Louis-based seed company Monsanto has propelled that rapid incr
No set criteria exist yet to gauge whether or not a redesign of how Iowa delivers mental health treatment, which included the controversial closing of two mental health institutes June 30, will be as beneficial to Iowans as hoped, Gov. Terry Branstad said in an IowaWatch interview.
Highlights from the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting's package on GMOs and climate change. In the last 20 years, U.S. farmers have widely turned to genetically engineered seeds to help counter more prevalent pests and other climate change consequences. U.S. Department of Agriculture data o
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The largest privately held company in the United States will soon become a little smaller, as Minneapolis-based Cargill plans to sell its pork business to Brazilian meat producer JBS’ USA Pork division. The Wall Street Journal reported that the deal is worth $1.45 billion and includes two meat proce
The nexus for this story came when I was searching through Department of Labor foreign labor certifications. I came across 41 certifications for H-1B workers to go to work in Harlem, Mont. Harlem is a tiny town up on the Hi-Line, an area of Montana along the Canadian border that is basically the m
Agriculture is Iowa's top business, but it's also the state's most deadly. Yet, many farmers are opposed to further government regulations that would interfere with how farmers engage in safety at their workplace.
William Howard Taft's inaugural parade in March 1909 was canceled because of a snow storm, but the inaugural ball was held and a young Iowa woman was among the attendees. The young woman had just returned from touring Europe and performing on stages in London, Lucerne and Paris. But she also had a h
Fireworks have long been associated with the celebration of the Fourth of July. However, Iowa still holds a ban on most types of fireworks, not including some sparklers and snakes that have been legalized. How much do you know about the history of fireworks, both in Iowa and across the United States
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its “technology transfer” report last week. The report highlights how agriculture research has contributed to public good through new inventions, safety measures and other innovations. Those new inventions include a grape that turns into a raisin on the vi
