Farmers and exhibitors at last week’s Iowa Ag Expo in Des Moines were upbeat despite smaller crowds and equipment displays scaled back as compared to previous years. The expo, formerly known as the Iowa Power Farming Show, was the first major indoor ag show to be held in the Midwest since the COVID-19 pandemic began last spring. 

Northern Iowa farmer Matt Bormann said he came to check out workbenches and lighting for his shop, while his brother, Pete, was looking at vertical tillage equipment. A couple soybean draper heads also caught their eye, as did an exhibitor featuring drones used to spray crops.

“It looks like we’re getting back to a little bit of ...