News

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Food Innovation and Business Hub, a resource that helps Iowa entrepreneurs develop successful food businesses, will host a monthly “Lunch and Learn” webinar series in 2026 to support current and aspiring Iowa food entrepreneurs. The webinars are offered at no cost and open to all.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Farm, Food and Enterprise Development program will host a webinar titled, “Becoming an Employer of Choice: What Today’s Workforce Values and Strategies for Attracting and Keeping Employees in Agricultural and Food Systems Settings,” on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Small-scale producers, homesteaders, hobby and beginning farmers can access new resources available through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Taste the first fruits of Iowa State University's new apple crop at an upcoming open house on Sept. 13, from noon to 2 p.m., at the ISU Horticulture Research Station.

The Farm, Food and Enterprise Development program at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a webinar on Oct. 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. The webinar, titled “Level Up Your Farm: Unlock Profitability with Digital Tools,” will be held in partnership with Big Data in a Box.

Hannah Hansen has joined the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Farm, Food and Enterprise Development team as a food safety extension specialist. Hansen began her role in early May of this year and has over a decade of food safety and quality assurance experience.

Producers who are raising small ruminants can gain valuable insights and practical knowledge by participating in the 2025 Small Ruminant Webinar Series. This educational series takes place on the fourth Thursday of each month through April and features expert speakers from the field.

Many small food processing businesses start in their operators’ home-based kitchens. For those wishing to expand beyond their home, the next step may be to utilize a shared-use kitchen facility. Small food processing businesses can learn about shared-use kitchens during an upcoming workshop at Iowa State University.

Iowa Learning Farms will host a series of monarch and pollinator habitat workshops in February and March. Farmers, landowners and urban residents are welcome to attend these free workshops that include a complimentary meal.

The Iowa Tourism Office and Choose Iowa have partnered with the Iowa Restaurant Association to launch a seasonal farm-to-table dinner series, celebrating the connection between Iowa’s agricultural diversity and its culinary talent.