The warmer weather this winter has been beneficial for many construction companies, which have been able to get a head start on spring projects. The Iowa Department of Transportation recently approved a bevy of road projects to begin ahead of schedule, according to KCCI.

Texan farmers suffered through a drought of record proportions last year, and the recent estimates place the total crop and livestock loss at roughly $7.2 billion in revenue, according to the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

The term "start-up," typically brings to mind small computer and software development companies or other businesses based in traditional office space. However, The Wall Street Journal reports that the fastest-growing new companies are not in the tech industry, but construction.

PLEASANTON, Calif. (March 22, 2012) — IronPlanet® (www.ironplanet.com), a leading online marketplace for used heavy equipment, announced record annual sales in 2011, with gross merchandise volume (GMV) exceeding $568 million, an increase of 15 percent over 2010.

York Bridge Concepts has announced the completion of a 520-foot Timber Bridge on Bald Head Island in North Carolina. Efforts to build the bridge began in 2005, but due to an extensive permitting process, permission to build was not granted until 2008, followed by the sharp economic downturn. Construction finally began in December of 2011 and was completed in early March 2012.

High prices for crops and overall good yields are leading to a boom time for the agricultural industry, and farmers are reaping the benefits, reports The Kansas City Star.

Last year's drought has caused a record amount of damage in Texas, resulting in record crop insurance payments and overall losses for the farmers affected by the dry spell.

The extremely mild weather this winter is having an effect on many outdoor industries, and farmers in regions that didn't have an especially cold winter are growing concerned about early blooms.

The Jena Band of Choctaw Indians has been lobbying state officials to build a casino in central Louisiana for more than a decade, and the group was recently approved to go ahead with construction on the new gaming facility.

The University of Illinois is considering two new construction projects that could be good news for contractors within the state, reports The News-Gazette.