Contrary to widely held views that the global food crisis has affected Nigeria, the minister of agriculture and water resources, Dr. Abba Sayyadi Ruma, has said the disaster is far from the nation's shores. He said that Nigeria does not

WAPELLO — Nestled between two flooded rivers, the Iowa and Mississippi, conditions were ideal for Warren Kemper to start planting on May 1.

DAYTON --- A.J. Blair is in a good mood today. "I think we're behind where we normally would be, but we're doing better than most people this spring," Blair says.

WEST BRANCH --- John Black called planting progress and conditions "barely fit."

Gave him back to the dirt from which he came. Earlier his family and neighbors walk by, Looking at memories of a simple man's life. A table of photos, toy tractors and cards, Telling the story of life on the

ALBIA --- Paul Belzer has seen farmers being busy this spring.

It's one thing to hear Northeast Iowa farmer Mark Mueller talk about the saturated conditions that are idling planters in much of the state when fields should be bustling.

STATE CENTER --- As a fifth-generation farmer, Kelly Biensen faced a hard decision in choosing to tear down his family's old farmhouse in favor of a new home.

ALBIA --- When Junior Gardner started working in an office, he was not as comfortable as being on his farm. So, he moved part of the farm into his office.

For decades, travelers have used Highway 30 as a gateway to the east and west.

Although another one-week extension of the 2002 farm bill was approved by Congress last week, the expectation of lawmakers and farm leaders was that the new 2008 farm bill would be law by Memorial Day.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is calling for public comments at the request of Texas Gov. Rick Perry to reduce the national Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) by half.

Ghana has become the latest country in West Africa to announce it is struggling to manage its national budget in the face of spiraling world prices for fuel and food.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today that it is concerned by conditions in Ethiopia and that the situation will deteriorate further without an immediate infusion of resources to carry out life-saving interventions.

CLARION --- Gary Woodley walks across the field, mud clinging to his boots with every step.

EMMETSBURG --- Jim Stillman turns to watch his brother pull the planter across a field just outside of this Palo Alto County town.

PERCIVAL --- David Lueth started planting corn April 19. Nearly two weeks later, he's still planting corn.

EARLING --- Once conditions were right, Denny Kenkel says he didn't waste much time getting into the field.