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Gov. Reynolds extends until 11/14/21 weight limits on the transporting of grain

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines) Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Friday, extended a proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain. The proclamation that continues through November 14, 2021, allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage and stover to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight), without a permit – for the duration of the proclamation.

It applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

October is pork month

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – October is recognized as “Pork Month” and Iowa Pork Producers Association executive director Pat McGonegle points to the economic study they commissioned to show the impact of the pork industry on the state. “We do it with a third party so it kind of pulls some of the bias out of it…one of the key things that we found in it is the Iowa pork industry — both direct and indirect impact — equates to about 140-thousand jobs in the state of Iowa,” McGonegle says.

McGonegle says the direct and indirect economic impact is estimated at six BILLION dollars. And he says the pork industry provides a market for Iowa grain. “We’ll consume about 24 percent of the corn that’s produced in the state and about 22 or 23 percent of the soybeans that are produced are consumed on pig farms,” he says. Consumption of pork products has steadily increased during the past few decades, and according to McGonegle, one bright spot lies with the export of U-S pork products. He says Iowa exports about 26 percent of the hogs produced to 100 countries. “And it’s everything from pork chops to pig’s feet and everything in-between. And so, all of those things add value, not just to the producer — but to the entire network that it takes to bring pork products to consumers.”

McGonegle says whether the pork industry continues to expand within the state will depend on input costs, such as higher grain prices, and higher costs for building materials.

Ottumwa Deere plant ringed by 100 cheering strikers

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The John Deere plant in Ottumwa sat quiet and the parking lot was empty as its workers went on strike early this (Thursday) morning, and about a hundred people began picketing outside of the company’s gates. Some motorists stopped to give food and water to the workers while several more honked their horns as they passed by to show their support for the striking employees.

Trucks entered and left the factory throughout the morning. A cheer rose from the picket line as a truck did -not- enter the facility. A worker who did not want to be identified explained. “You see, there’s been truckers driving by being in solidarity with us and not crossing our picket line,” said the worker. “Some of them are. Some of them aren’t. We’re cheering them on and booing the ones that do.”

Deere employees in the Quad Cities. (WVIK photo via Radio Iowa)

In a statement, Brad Morris, Vice President of Labor Relations for Deere and Company says Deere is “determined to reach an agreement with the United Auto Workers that would put every employee in a better economic position and continue to make them the highest paid employees in the agriculture and construction industries.”

The statement from John Deere concluded by saying the timetable of the two sides coming to an agreement is unknown.

Iowa Climate Statement: We need to bolster electric grid to prep for extreme weather

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa needs targeted investments to strengthen and expand its electrical grid to prepare for extreme weather events brought on by climate change. That’s the recommendation from the latest Iowa Climate Statement being released by a coalition of more than 200 researchers. Iowa State University engineering professor Jim McCalley says the extensive power outages from last year’s derecho showed clear vulnerabilities in the state’s infrastructure.  “We need to reduce impact and increase speed of restoration and recovery during extreme events,” McCalley says. “This requires diversification in the ways that we supply power. It means, for example, deploying microgrids for loads providing critical services such as hospitals and grocery stores.”

Utility companies should be making investments now, he says, to bolster Iowa’s electric grid.  McCalley says, “The future is going to bring winds, extreme temperature evens, floods and droughts at a frequency and severity exceeding conditions for which much of this equipment was designed.” Fortifying the grid will also allow for more wind and solar development, which McCalley says is key to zeroing out emissions.  “The transmission capacity that we currently have is insufficient to build out the resources that we need to hit zero carbon,” McCalley says. “That’s not an opinion. It’s a fact.”

The authors of the Climate Statement are calling on residents and regulators to push utilities to make the investments.

On the web at https://iowaenvironmentalfocus.org/iowa-climate-statement/

(reporting by Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

Strike called at John Deere in Iowa & elsewhere

Ag/Outdoor

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Ankeny, Iowa/KCCI) —More than 10,000 Deere & Co. workers went on strike after negotiators couldn’t deliver a new agreement. KCCI says in a statement, The United Auto Workers said “members struck at midnight October 14, after the company failed to present an agreement that met our members’ demands and needs.” The vast majority of the union rejected a contract offer earlier this week that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others. Thirty-five years have passed since the last major Deere strike, but workers are emboldened to demand more this year after working long hours throughout the pandemic and because companies are facing worker shortages.

UNION DEMANDS:

The workers at the Ankeny, Iowa, plant are asking John Deere for a raise and better retirement benefits. John Deere is expected to post record profits this year. The average production worker at Deere made about $60,000 last year but could see up to $72,000 by the end of negotiations.

HARVEST IMPACT

Farmers say their future is uncertain as those John Deere workers go on strike. One Linn County farmer told KCRG the impact goes beyond workers, stockholders and the company. If they don’t have a part that’s usually in stock, the harvest season could come to a halt.

USDA to launch new insurance program for farmers who sell locally

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A is rolling out a new insurance option designed for producers with small farms who sell locally. It’s called the Micro Farm Policy and it simplifies record-keeping and covers post-production costs like washing and value-added programs. Iowa Farmers Union president Aaron Lehman (LAY-mun) sees this as a great option for beginning and small-to-medium-sized farmers. “For that type of farmer, there tends to be a lack of support mechanisms that are in place for more traditional farmers,” Lehman says, “and it’s a big barrier for our next generation of farmers and our farmers who want to connect with their local communities through growing local and regional food.”

Lehman says the Micro Farm Policy promises to fit well with producers who are looking to grow their operations in new directions. “It’s not just those who are new to farming,” Lehman says. “It’s for farmers who want to diversify their farm operation and branch into different operations. A modified whole-farm policy that is more accessible, is certainly a big part of it.” Lehman says a wide range of Iowa farmers can use this type of insurance program. “We have a lot of farmers who need the enhanced services that this might provide,” he says, “so we’ll see how the roll-out goes and how it comes from here.”

The Micro Farm Policy will be available beginning with the 2022 crop year through Whole Farm Revenue Protection.

Carbon dioxide pipeline proposal draws opponents at Iowa hearing

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 13th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A proposal to build what’s called the world’s largest carbon dioxide pipeline is drawing opposition from Iowa farmers and environmentalists. Summit Carbon Solutions plans to build 700 miles of pipeline across Iowa to capture carbon from ethanol plants and bury it deep underground in North Dakota.

Beth Richards’ family farms in Hardin County, which is in the proposed path, and she questions how landowners would benefit from the project.  “Why should landowners welcome encroachment on their land for a project that doesn’t pay direct dividends to them other than a vague promise that ethanol is good for corn prices,” Richards says. “And why isn’t rent going to be paid for the land or profits shared with farmers?” Summit officials say they see the project as a way to keep ethanol viable and secure a market for Iowa corn. In a public meeting Tuesday, Iowa resident John Norris said the project is a false solution to climate change.

“As much as the ethanol industry is important to Iowa, it is an industry that’s on the decline,” Norris says. “The next two decades we will see a continued decrease in the demand for ethanol. We need to start planning for what’s next.” Summit is in the process of holding public meetings in the 30 Iowa counties the pipeline would pass through. After the meetings are held, the company can petition state regulators for a permit.

(by Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

Bellevue man going to prison for mis-using cattle loan

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 13th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A Jackson County man who used a government cattle loan for his personal expenses will spend ten months in federal prison. Twenty-six-year-old Brian Robert Detwiler of Bellevue pleaded guilty to one count of conversion of property pledged to a farm credit agency.

In his plea agreement, he admits he got a 50-thousand dollar U-S-D-A loan to buy cattle and then used some of the money for work on his house, gambling, food, and alcohol. He did buy 35 head of cattle for 32-thousand dollars — then sold 22 head for a profit — and used the money in casinos and bars.

Cass County Extension Report 10-13-2021

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

October 13th, 2021 by Jim Field

w/Kate Olson.

Play

Local 24-Hour Rainfall Totals at 7:00 am on Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Ag/Outdoor, Weather

October 13th, 2021 by Jim Field

  • KJAN, Atlantic  .85″
  • 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .74″
  • Massena  .92″
  • Anita  .92″
  • Elk Horn  1.16″
  • Avoca  1.1″
  • Audubon  .85
  • Villisca  .51″
  • Corning  .62″
  • Bridgewater  .9″
  • Manning  .89″
  • Red Oak  .68″
  • Missouri Valley  .86″
  • Clarinda  .47″
  • Carroll  .65″
  • Creston  .73″