Warm Welcomes – Winter 2026

Warm Welcomes - Winter 2026

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Welcome to Winter!

We are half-way through March, which officially means spring and warmer weather will be here before we know it. Farmers, like many of us, are waiting in anticipation for the season ahead and are preparing for planting.

In Iowa, corn is king! That's right, we are number one when it comes to corn production in the U.S. and if Iowa was its own country, we would rank number 4! You might be thinking, where does all this corn go? Corn is in more items than you think; over 4,000 everyday products contain corn. From the cosmetics you use each morning to the diapers you use for your children and even the corn-fed meat you serve at dinnertime, corn really is everything!

This edition of Warm Welcomes from the Farm is full of corn-fed protein because Iowa corn farmers are proud partners of all the livestock producers here in our state! We can all agree on one thing; corn-fed protein is a great way to fuel your every day! Support local farmers by fueling up with Unleaded 88 and buying corn-fed meat, dairy and eggs at your local grocery store!

Thank you for subscribing to Warm Welcomes from the Farm. We hope you enjoy this protein-packed edition!

Corn-fed Photo Collage

From corn to steak. Perfectly marbled, juicy steaks. You can thank corn for that. All cattle start on a diet of grass, but "corn-fed beef" means the animals transition to a grain-based diet, which increases the fat-to-muscle ratio, creating a more flavorful, juicier steak.

Learn more about the 4,000 other uses of corn here.

Recipes

A protein-packed plate might be the real secret to powering through the day. These recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner help keep you full, satisfied and fueled from morning to night.

Hungry for more corn-inspired meals? Visit our website to find even more ways to fuel your day with corn-fed protein!

Power-Up with Protein

By Rachel Sweeney

You've likely seen or heard about the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030, featuring the inverted pyramid and simple message: eat real food. The goal is to prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods - protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats and whole grains. Let's look at one of the nutrients that has gotten a lot of attention, protein.

Prioritize protein foods at every meal is the message associated with the current guidelines. Why might you ask? Protein not only serves an important role in various functions in our body (think building blocks for hormones, immune defense and maintaining our muscles and bones), it also helps us feel full, which can aid in weight management.

Protein from animal sources (think meat, poultry, seafood, eggs and dairy) provide certain benefits, such as being complete proteins. Complete proteins contain all the building blocks for protein that our bodies cannot make on their own, and we must obtain from food (referred to as essential amino acids). Additionally, protein from animal sources provide high bioavailability (ability of a substance to be absorbed and used by the body) of nutrients that many Americans under consume; vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, heme iron, zinc and choline.

In Iowa, we are fortunate to have many of these high-quality animal proteins raised right in our backyard! Iowa ranks number one in the nation for producing hogs and eggs, fourth in beef cattle, seventh in turkey production, and eleventh in dairy production. Iowa also ranks number one in corn production, and 15% of Iowa corn (370 million bushels) goes into livestock feed. In livestock feeding, one bushel of corn converts to about 8 pounds of beef, 15.6 pounds of pork, or 21.6 pounds of chicken.

While you enjoy dinner tonight with your high-quality animal protein of choice, think about the farmer(s) who helped get that to your plate - both through the corn raised (and consumed) by the animal and the farmer who raised the animal.

Family Fun

Enjoy some family fun with this Eggshell Garden activity from the Iowa Egg Council! After enjoying a breakfast of protein-packed eggs, be sure to save the shells for this activity. Turn leftover eggshells into tiny planters and watch your garden grow right at home!

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