Longtime Iowa Farm Columnist Alan Guebert Retires After 33 Years of 'Farm and Food File'

After 33 years of chronicling the intersection of agriculture, policy, and rural life, Alan Guebert has written his final Farm and Food File column. The veteran journalist, who spent 45 years in full-time journalism and nearly 60 years if you count his early days milking cows, signed off with the traditional journalistic symbol '-30-' to mark the end.

Guebert's journey began not in a newsroom but in a dairy barn. Working for his father at 50 cents an hour, he later studied agricultural economics before a single ag journalism class changed his trajectory. Within 18 months, he was a staff editor for an agricultural publication in Iowa. Over the decades, he produced hundreds of magazine stories, more than 1,775 newspaper columns, and roughly 1.5 million words.

A Career Rooted in Iowa's Agricultural Heartland

Guebert's work resonated deeply with Iowa farmers and ranchers, who rely on clear, fact-based reporting on trade policy, commodity prices, and rural economics. His columns often challenged Washington's approach to farm policy while championing the values of hard work, independence, and community that define Iowa's agricultural sector.

In his final column, Guebert credited three essential ingredients for his success: his family, the newspaper editors who carried his column, and the readers themselves. 'We may write the first draft of history, but you change history with ideas, opinions, and votes,' he wrote.

What's Next for the Farm and Food File Author?

While the column is ending, Guebert is not retiring from journalism entirely. He has established a presence on Substack (substack.com/@alanguebert) and will keep his email account at agcomm@farmandfoodfile.com for correspondence. He plans to take what he calls 'a right smart amount of time' to rest, read, and travel.

Guebert's departure leaves a void in agricultural journalism, especially for Iowa readers who valued his independent voice and deep knowledge of farm policy. His work will be missed, but his legacy of clear, principled reporting on the issues that matter most to rural America endures.