The farm bill is an important investment in our hardworking farmers and producers, the competitiveness of American agriculture, and the strength of our economy. From trade, energy, and conservation to crop insurance, rural development, and access to affordable credit, every title of the farm bill touches a critical component for agriculture and our rural communities.

Before the manufactured outrage over the White House and Easter upsets you, please be informed.

The White House Easter Egg Roll is a sponsored event and the sponsor set the rules about 45 years ago that excludes weapons, marijuana leaves, etc. along with religious symbols, among other depictions, on eggs.

One should not jump to conclusions, but it is a good assumption that history wasn't Randy Feenstra's favorite course. It is logical to expect this when you read his diatribe about Democrats "responsibility for the growth of our national debt.” Most of our national debt accumulated during Republican administrations. For starters, Reagan tripled it.

Have you heard this one? A guy is seated in an airplane that is going to Detroit. The woman, sitting next to him, sees that this guy looks a little worried and asks, “Is this your first flight?” The man responds, “No, I flown many times.” “Why do you look so troubled?” The guy said, “My company is moving me to Detroit.” It’s difficult to market a place like Detroit.

OK, as we recognized the entrance into Jerusalem, tortuous betrayal, subsequent death on the cross and resurrection which serves as a promise of forgiveness of sins and life everlasting … I had a couple of strange thoughts pop into my head.

This past week was extremely busy with debate as well as advancing the governor’s appointees out of standing committees. I am also in the process of reviewing the appropriation budget bills that relate to the total state budget, and more specifically, the Administration and Regulations appropriations for state departments and agencies. These bills are being worked on and will be going to the floor soon for debate and passage.

He is risen! So proclaims Bishop Robert Barron, as well as all who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior! Since Palm Sunday, a full week ago, we have journeyed with Jesus during the week of his passion and death. I have felt blessed to have participated in the Wednesday noon meals and devotions series during Lent, sponsored by Spencer churches. Holy Thursday was a Last Supper meal and service at Faith Lutheran Church.

On Monday, March 25, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship issued a press release in which Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the announcement made by the United States Department of Agriculture regarding the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas: “Our team is actively monitoring this evolving situation regarding the news that dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influ

Make some room in your garden or containers for the new All-America Selections 2024 National award-winning plants. These winning varieties are tested in trial gardens across the United States and Canada. Volunteer judges rate entries based on their improved performance, flavor, disease resistance and other unique qualities related to their performance in gardens and containers.

You have to hand it to Windy. When Alphonse “Windy” Wilson chooses to speak, it is a bombastic sampling of creativity. Windy has yet to find a word he can’t make better through his own unique methods.

Well, what got him fired up the other day was a meeting of the ladies of the garden club down at the nursery. Windy’s been helping Dewey with his manure business on the one day a week he spends helping others. Today wasn’t a helper day, but he couldn’t pass up the audience.

Read Across Iowa is a special event held throughout the month of March to help motivate children to read. The 2024 theme was food science.

One of the books highlighted in this year’s Read Across Iowa event was “My Family's Dairy Farm” by Katie Olthoff. In this book, a boy takes the reader on a tour of his family's dairy farm. The farm shown in the book is Jones Dairy in Milford.

In the sequel to 2021’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” — and the fourth installment in Ghostbusters cannon (the largely SNL female reboot a few years ago which included original cast Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson in non-Ghostbuster cameos doesn’t count) — is big on laughs while reverting back to the familiar formula which made Ivan Reitman’s 1984 original such a fan favorite.

If you think you’ve seen changes in the wildlife in Iowa and the Upper Midwest over the past several decades, you have some pretty good company.

“Iowa’s Changing Wildlife: Three Decades of Change and Loss” by James J. Dinsmore and Stephen J. Dinsmore tells the story of how various species have come and gone from Iowa’s landscape, with a special focus on the past 30 years.

Iowans have immense pride regarding girls and women’s sports. Iowa was the first state to sanction high school girls’ athletics. Its six-player girls basketball tournament was a tough ticket when other states were throwing private parties for parents and students at their events.

If you have ever wondered, “Who exactly is Jesus?” you’re not alone. In fact, this is the type of question that the Gospels seek to answer by highlighting various parts of Jesus’s life. Throughout his life, all of Judea was asking this question. If you were to ask that question to ten different people, you would have likely gotten ten different opinions. Some said that Jesus was John the Baptist.