Humboldt County Farm Bureau of Iowa

09/07/2026

🎉 Shirt Showdown at Cy-Hawk Rivalry Block Party-Humboldt, September 10!

It’s time to represent your team and bring the energy — Humboldt County Farm Bureau is turning up the fun at the Cy-Hawk Rivalry Block Party with a FREE T-shirt giveaway!

🏈 Choose your side:
America Needs Farmers (Iowa) or Farm Strong (ISU)

🌽 Think you know your ag facts? Prove it in our Ag Trivia Challenge starting at 4:00 PM — play, win, and score your favorite team tee (while supplies last)!

📍 Where: Downtown Humboldt
📅 When: September 10, starting at 4:00 PM
💪 Why: Because farming is fierce — and so is your game! See less

09/07/2026

Humboldt County Farm Bureau wishes everyone a happy Labor Day as we celebrate the hardworking individuals whose dedication, perseverance, and contributions help strengthen our communities, drive our economy, and support the success of our nation.

09/02/2026

Be right in the middle of the action when the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa Farm Bureau celebrate ANF (America Needs Farmers) Game Day on October 3! Play the ANF Game Day On-Field Experience for your chance to win 4 game tickets and sideline passes. https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/ANF/Contests/ANF-Game-Day-OnField-Experience

08/31/2026

🎉 Shirt Showdown at Cy-Hawk Rivalry Block Party – Humboldt, September 10!

It’s time to represent your team and bring the energy — Humboldt County Farm Bureau is turning up the fun at the Cy-Hawk Rivalry Block Party with a FREE T-shirt giveaway!

🏈 Choose your side:
America Needs Farmers (Iowa) or Farm Strong (ISU)

🌽 Think you know your ag facts? Prove it in our Ag Trivia Challenge starting at 4:00 PM — play, win, and score your favorite team tee (while supplies last)!

📍 Where: Downtown Humboldt
📅 When: September 10, starting at 4:00 PM
💪 Why: Because farming is fierce — and so is your game!

08/26/2026

Conduct Business with USDA Online

Want the convenience of conducting business with USDA online? Create your Login.gov account today. Then you can view, complete, certify, submit and track applications online for applicable programs.

Login.gov uses one account and password for secure, private access to participating government agencies, including the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

To create your Login.gov account, you’ll need:
• U.S. state or government issued photo ID (driver’s license or U.S. passport)
• Email address
• Secure password (at least 12 characters)
• Desktop or mobile device

Create Your Account
Follow the steps below to create your Login.gov account and tie it to your USDA customer record:
1. Create your Login.gov account at www.farmers.gov/account
2. Complete identity verification
3. Link your USDA customer record

Login.gov can verify your identity online using personal information you submit with an approved U.S. state or government issued photo ID. If you cannot verify your identity through the online process, visit the Palo Alto County FSA office in Emmetsburg to complete the verification process in person.

Linking your USDA Customer Record
If you’ve worked with FSA or NRCS in the past and have a USDA customer record, the system will attempt to automatically link your Login.gov account to your existing USDA customer record.

If you are new to working with USDA, you will need to have a USDA customer record created. This record is sometimes called a Business Partner ID, BPID, or Business Partner Customer Record. After you verify your identity online, you will be taken to a page to fill out and submit a form to begin that process.

If you run into issues linking your customer record, we may need to update existing forms or your contact information on file. Please reach out to the local FSA office for assistance.

Submitted by Darcy Maulsby

08/26/2026

Net Farm Income Drops 53%

Iowa’s agricultural economy is several years into a downturn, with net farm income falling 53% from 2022 to 2024.

Record-high input costs, depressed grain markets and trade uncertainty put mounting pressure on farmers, rural businesses and communities, according to a new joint study by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), Iowa State University (ISU) and the Iowa Bankers Association during Iowa Farm Bureau’s Economic Summit.

The study, 2026 Iowa Agricultural Outlook: The Pressure is Rising, finds that negative margins are increasing farmer financial vulnerability across the state. Iowa’s crop farmers are facing a third consecutive year in which costs are generally outpacing prices.

Corn and soybean production costs have increased 37% and 36%, respectively, since 2021, with the largest increases tied to machinery charges and seed, chemical and fertilizer expenses. Crop input costs are expected to remain uncomfortably high due to broader economic uncertainty and ongoing conflicts abroad, adding further pressure to already-tight margins.

“The clearest warning sign is a steady tightening across the farm economy with impacts felt well beyond the farm gate,” said Christopher Pudenz, Ph.D., Iowa Farm Bureau economics and research manager. “Agriculture remains one of Iowa’s largest economic drivers, accounting for roughly one-fifth of the state’s annual GDP, so a prolonged downturn can quietly weaken the workforce, erode the tax base and slow commerce across rural communities.”

The percent of financially vulnerable farms rose from 7.7% in December 2022 to 19% in December 2025. Since farmers rely on yearly operating notes to run their operations, this financial pressure leaves less room for weather, market or policy surprises.

Resilient Iowa farmland values continue to support farmer balance sheets, collateral positions and borrowing capacity. According to the 2025 ISU Land Value Survey, 40% of respondents expect Iowa land values to decline over the next year, while 82% expect land values to increase over a five-year timeframe, reflecting both near-term pressure and longer-term confidence in Iowa farmland.

Several Iowa livestock sectors have provided rare opportunities for positive returns, helping offset deeper losses in parts of the farm economy. The cattle market, in particular, has been one of the lone bright spots in Iowa agriculture, with record estimated monthly cattle feedlot returns in 2025.

Submitted by Darcy Maulsby

08/26/2026

Don’t miss your chance to be on the sidelines when the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa Farm Bureau celebrate ANF (America Needs Farmers) Game Day on October 3! Play the ANF Game Day On-Field Experience for your shot to win 4 game tickets and sideline passes.

Hawkeye fans, get in the game and onto the field by entering to win the ANF (America Needs Farmers) Game Day On-Field Experience!

08/26/2026

Join the Cy-Hawk Rivalry Block Party Sept. 10

College football season has arrived! Members of the Humboldt County Farm Bureau will be in downtown Humboldt on for the Cy-Hawk Rivalry Block Party on September 10, and you’re invited to join the fun.

This exciting event runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 10, just a few days before the big September 12 match-up between the Iowa State University Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City. The Humboldt County Farm Bureau will be offering the chance to win ANF (America Needs Farmers) and Farm Strong t-shirts, along with bright green string backpacks that say “I met a Farmer Today.” We only have 25 of them, so they will go fast!

Directors with the Humboldt County Farm Bureau board will be hosting ag trivia games for anyone who wants to try to win a shirt. The directors will also have some simple ag trivia questions for kids who want to win a backpack.

Come see us September 10 on Sumner Avenue. It’s a great opportunity to learn about agriculture, be part of a fun community tradition, and enjoy plenty of Cyclone versus Hawkeye fun!

Submitted by Darcy Maulsby

08/20/2026

Cordrays Win Showmanship Award at State Fair

Congratulations to Dr. Aubrey Cordray and her son, Hayes, who took the title of Grand Champion Showman during the Governor’s Charity Steer Show at the 2026 Iowa State Fair on August 15.

The Humboldt County Farm Bureau donated $500 to support the 2026 Governor’s Charity Steer Show. This popular event broke records this year, raising $572,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.

Hayes, 10, from Humboldt, exhibited his steer, Comet. “My mom was in the Governor’s Charity Steer Show in 2005, so I think it’s really cool we got to be part of this year’s event.”

Tyler Krug judged this year’s showmanship contest, which evaluates the partnership between the celebrity, the youth exhibitor, and the steer. “The Cordray’s steer, Comet, was presented to the nines,” noted a press release from the Governor’s Charity Steer Show.

Caring for Comet has taught Hayes responsibility, hard work, and dedication. “From feeding and chores before school, to working with Comet, after practices and games, I have enjoyed every part of raising him.”

The Governor’s Charity Steer Show brings together youth exhibitors, celebrity showmen, and sponsors from across Iowa to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. Following the show, the steers are auctioned off. Proceeds help provide lodging, comfort, and support for families who have children receiving medical care away from home.

“Comet and I were proud to represent the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA) and Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine,” Hayes said.

“My mom, Dr. Aubrey Cordray, who is the current IVMA President, served as the celebrity showman for our team, making this a special experience for our family.”

In addition to monetary donations, the Cordray family has also been collecting aluminum pop tabs, which help support Ronald McDonald House Charities through a recycling program.

Supporters of the 44th annual Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show continue to show up and make a positive difference in the lives of countless Iowans. Including this year’s donations, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show has surpassed $6.5 million in donations since its inception in 1983.

All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and many foreign countries.

Families from all 99 counties in Iowa have benefited from the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa.

The Governor’s Charity Steer Show, hosted by the Office of the Governor of Iowa, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council, showcases Iowa’s cattle industry and the caring nature of producers, young and old.

Congratulations to the Cordray family and all the participants who make the Governor’s Charity Steer Show so exceptional!

Submitted by Darcy Maulsby

08/12/2026

Humboldt 4-H Members Take Learning Beyond the Fairgrounds

While 4-H is known for its projects and fair exhibits, the program offers so much more. Humboldt County 4-H provides unique learning opportunities for local kids to try new things, meet new people, and explore new places.

This summer, sixth through eighth grade 4-H members from Humboldt, Pocahontas, Buena Vista, Hamilton, and Webster counties traveled to Kansas City for a Discovery Trip.

The group spent a day at Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun before taking a behind the scenes tour of Kauffman Stadium, where they enjoyed an up-close view of the field and explored the team dugout, interview room, press box, the Hall of Fame and more.

Through activities like this, youth gain confidence, discover new interests, and build skills that will benefit them long after their 4-H journey.

Submitted by Darcy Maulsby