Molly Hunter/IowaWatch, Author at Investigate Midwest

High-Grade Cropland Gives Way To Urban Growth In Iowa – At Least Where There’s Growth

by Molly Hunter/IowaWatch November 15, 2018January 23, 2023 Why you can trust Investigate Midwest

Urban expansion, at least in the few areas where Iowa cities are growing, is eating up some of the state’s best farmland. In Ankeny, a central Iowa suburb of Des Moines that a May U.S. Census Bureau report ranked as the nation’s fourth fastest-growing large city from July 2016 to July 2017, much of the land being developed for housing is high quality soil for raising crops, an Iowa State University agronomy department survey shows.

Earl Canfield moves an oats bin to the grinder on his farm.

Environment, Government

When Being A Family Farm Doesn’t Mean Squat In The Government’s Eyes

by Molly Hunter/IowaWatch September 16, 2018April 11, 2025 Why you can trust Investigate Midwest

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