Arlen Foster’s entire South Dakota farm operation hinges on an isolated dot — a 0.8-acre depression seasonally holding up to 8.5” of water. USDA claims the 0.8-acre spot is a wetland, but Foster counters it's manmade and attributable to snowmelt from an adjacent shelterbelt planted by his father. If Foster dares drain the 0.8-acre spot, he faces the total loss of USDA loans, payment programs and crop insurance subsidies as well as the possibility of repaying benefits previously received.
“No matter what your opinion is about climate smart farming or the government initiatives and industry incentives out there, they are potentially an avenue to square up some revenue income,” says Ken Ferrie.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture says it euthanized roughly 1.3 million chickens after Pure Prairie Poultry said in late September it could no longer afford to buy feed for the company’s flock across 14 Iowa farms.
The PORK Podcast welcomes Caleb Bacon, ISU football player, and Kevin Hall, Iowa Pork Producers Association’s communications director, to discuss pork, football and community.
