October 10 Iowa Economic Round-up: ‘The Iowa Agriculture Economy is in Tough Shape’

Iowa’s economy has been ranked the worst in the country. President Trump’s own Bureau of Labor Statistics puts Iowa 49th in economic growth and 48th in personal income growth. Even Republicans concede Iowa is in a “recessionary economy.” Leaders at the Federal Reserve have warned that Iowa’s economy is particularly vulnerable to Republican tariffs and ongoing trade disputes. 

“The Iowa agriculture economy is in tough shape,” said Steve Kuiper, vice president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, this week. “Farmers are farming at a loss. Lenders are very, very anxious right now.”

Here’s what else Iowans have been reading in the news this week: 

Manufacturing in Iowa ‘not hitting on all cylinders’ 

Iowa manufacturing exports down 9.2 percent, $900 million for year

Iowa state revenue fell 8.1 percent in fiscal year 2025, nonpartisan agency report finds

Iowa soybean farmers face $1.5 billion blow as China stops soybean imports

As farmers face falling incomes, are land prices next?

Tariffs, drought and disease put pressure on Iowa’s farm economy

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