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CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Iowa Agribusiness Network!
CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!
(Radio Iowa) – Three G-O-P members of a key committee say they plan to block state regulators from expanding their authority to turn over private property for wind energy developments. Some Iowa counties have passed local zoning ordinances restricting where wind turbines may be placed. Critics say those restrictions would be overruled by the proposed Iowa Utilities Board rules — because if the board approves a wind farm project, eminent domain authority could be used to convert private property for the public use of renewable energy generation. Senator Zach Whiting of Spirit Lake says he has a number of concerns about the dramatic expansion of eminent domain authority the Utilities Board appears to give itself.)
Private property rights and utility development have been a flash point for lawmakers from both parties for years. In 2006, then-Governor Tom Vilsack vetoed legislation that limited the power of local governments to seize private property for commercial development through the eminent domain process — and 87 percent of the Iowa legislature’s members voted to override that veto. A year ago, Governor Kim Reynolds said she favored local control and opposed statewide regulation of where wind turbines may be located.
(Radio Iowa/KJAN) – With low temperatures this (Monday) morning in the 40s and 50s across Iowa, it’s becoming clear that August could contain a radical shift from the extreme heat of July. State climatologist Justin Glisan says July wrapped up on Friday being much warmer and drier than normal. “Typically, we expect the temperature to be around 74 degrees, the average temperature for the state, and it’s looking like anywhere from two to three degrees above average, depending on where you are in the state,” Glisan says. “In terms of precipitation, the story of the month is drought conditions creeping into western Iowa.”
The month of July in Atlantic was warmer and drier than usual. Data for the month compiled at the KJAN Studios show Atlantic’s High for July was 88 degrees, or about 2 degrees warmer than normal. The average Low was nearly spot-on, 63. But the average rainfall, well, the bucket was very shallow last month. Normally we see around 4.62 inches. Last month, was only received 1.22 inches here at KJAN. During the month of August, Atlantic will typically see 3.88 inches of rain (but we know this year has been anything but “typical”). Our average High is normally 83 and the average Low is 72.
The latest surveys show more than half of Iowa is either in drought already or has very dry conditions, with the worst areas being in western Iowa and moving eastward. “Typically, we expect four-and-a-half inches of rainfall across the state and there are parts of the state that only received 25% of what they normally would get in July,” Glisan says. “There are pockets in west-central Iowa that are anywhere from three to four inches below average.” Coming out of the hotter, drier July, Glisan says August promises to be a cooler, wetter month. “That would be an absolute gift for our drought region. We have 22 counties that are currently in D-2 drought, which is severe drought,” Glisan says. “Cooler temperatures and more rainfall would help mitigate any kind of crop stress that we’re seeing out there but it would also help improve the drought conditions that we’re seeing.”
High temperatures for the week ahead are expected to be in the 70s and low 80s with mostly dry conditions in the forecast.
(Radio Iowa) – Three free, virtual workshops are planned over four days this week that are designed to connect beginning farmers with experienced farmers and landowners who are working toward farm succession. Sally Worley, executive director of Practical Farmers of Iowa, says this is the group’s third annual Next Generation Summit. “There are a lot of aspiring farmers out there but land is one of their biggest barriers,” Worley says. “At the same time, there are a lot of people retiring from farming who are trying to figure out what to do to leave a legacy for their land that matches their goals. This series of workshops is trying to get at both of those things.”
Farming is often billed as being one of the nation’s most difficult and dangerous jobs, yet many young people continue gravitating toward agriculture as a career. “Farming isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a lot of hard work, physically and mentally,” Worley says, “but farming is such a fulfilling career for people who are able to provide food to their communities and to care for the land.”
The first day of workshops is for farmland owners who are considering a transition, while the second day targets aspiring and beginning farmers to help them set goals, determine their farming purpose, and plan ways to acquire farmland. “A lot of people are seeking that kind of vocation,” Worley says. “It comes with a lot of challenges but it’s also not just a day job. It’s a passion for many people.”‘ The final workshop will zero in on networking opportunities to match up aspiring farmers and landowners. Worley says the aim is to connect all the generations that make farming possible and support those from the next generation. “This is our third year of doing this, but because of restrictions on in-person gatherings, we are doing this virtually, which brings with it some new opportunities including being able to bring in a speaker from Oregon,” Worley says. “We are super-excited about that and we have a lot of good, engaging things planned for these three days of workshops.”
The free workshops will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Pre-registration is required. Sign up here: practicalfarmers.org/next-generation-summit
(Radio Iowa) – A study of drinking water systems shows communities in Iowa and four other Midwestern states have legal but potentially worrying levels of nitrates. The Environmental Working Group found nitrate levels in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma are trending up. Report author Anne Schechinger says spikes can occur after heavy rains and she found nitrate problems are more frequent in smaller communities.
“Small systems are more likely to be rural and they’re more likely to be ground-water systems,” Schechinger says, “and a third point, these smaller systems are way less likely to have nitrate removal treatment systems.” Schechinger says proximity to farm fields is also a factor. The report analyzed water data from ten states and praised Hastings, Nebraska, for building a system that removes nitrates before they enter the drinking water supply. Hastings’ environmental director Marty Stange says the innovative system is working well.
“We’ve actually seen it clean up that area that we’re getting our water from,” Stange says. “It’s actually cleaned up slightly faster than what we anticipated.” Stange says preventing nitrates from getting to the water is far cheaper than building a system to remove the pollutant once it’s there. Elevated nitrate levels can cause blue baby syndrome and more recently have been associated with upticks in colorectal cancer and certain birth defects.
(By Amy Mayer, Iowa Public Radio)
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — One influential pork company has received the vast majority of payments from an Iowa program designed to support farmers who euthanized their hogs after the coronavirus devastated their industry. Newly released data shows that Christensen Farms has received $1.86 million from the Iowa Disposal Assistance Program. That’s 72% of the $2.6 million the program has paid to date. Christensen Farms is one of the nation’s largest family-owned pork producers, The Sleepy Eye, Minnesota-based company has received reimbursement payments for disposing of 46,599 euthanized hogs. The 15 other companies and farmers who have received payments reported euthanizing about 18,000 hogs combined.
Cass County ISU Extension officials today (Friday), released the names of Dog Show award winners from the 2020 Cass County Fair.
Award class or category Exhibitor’s name & Club (Parents) – Trophy Sponsor(s)
Other Fair Results can be found HERE
ORIENT – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says Iowans interested in the results of a DNR study to improve water quality in Orient Lake in Adair County can view a presentation on the Iowa DNR’s YouTube channel. Orient Lake is on the state’s list of impaired waters for high levels of algae, turbidity, and pH. The current study, or DNR water quality improvement plan, shows how these problems are caused by too much phosphorus in the lake. The problems impact recreation on the lake and aquatic life.
The plan explores the amounts and sources of phosphorus entering the lake and offers potential solutions to reduce those levels and work toward fixing the problem. The document is designed as a guide for local resource agencies, partners, stakeholders and residents to improve the lake. The presentation is available now at youtube.com/iowadnr through Aug. 31. The full document can be downloaded on the Iowa DNR’s website at the following: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/WaterQuality/WatershedImprovement/WatershedResearchData/WaterImprovementPlans/PublicMeetingsPlans.aspx.
Public comments on the plan must be submitted by Aug. 31 to the following:
E-mail: jeff.berckes@dnr.iowa.gov or Mail: Jeff Berckes, care of Iowa DNR, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, Iowa 50319.
After gathering Iowans’ comments, the DNR will forward the final plan, also called by its technical name of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval.
(Radio Iowa) – The new report from the U-S Drought Monitor shows more counties now showing dry conditions. The Iowa D-N-R’s Tim Hall says the negative outweighs the positive in the report. “We had a little bit of improvement in one part of the state — but mostly we had degradation or increasing drought in other parts of the state,” Hall says. He says the driest area continues to be in western Iowa. “It’s centered around Carroll, Greene, Guthrie and Audubon County and then in the partial counties around there,” Hall says. “Kind of that part of the state, there’s a little bit of D-two drought in Plymouth County up in northwest Iowa. So, those two areas together are the worst parts.”
Hall says the dry conditions have started to spread to the east. “Now there’s exceptional dryness as far east as Linn County, and then also along the river,” according to Hall. “So we’ve got about half the state, a little over half the state is shown in some form of dryness and drought.” Hall says the impact of the dry areas can also be seen in satellite images of the crops. “There’s a tool out there called VegDRI — which also comes from the drought monitor folks — and they’re actually looking at visual indications of stress in vegetation. And that VegDRI map lines up pretty closely with where we’ve seen the precipitation deficits,” Hall says.
He says the good news for the western areas that are dry is the impact right now isn’t hitting water supplies.”I think because of the exceptionally wet couple of years we had coming into this year we’re still doing okay on the groundwater side. Right now it’s primarily an agricultural surface water phenomenon,” he says. Hall says the precipitation deficit is a concern because we are soon going to be heading out of the wettest months of the year, and could be behind in groundwater going into the winter.
The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports Marcy Jo Dorsey has filed her candidacy papers for the Cass County Ag Extension Council. There are four positions available. Currently Marcy Jo Dorsey and Darrin Petty are the only persons that have filed for the Council. Candidates have until August 26th to file for the position on the General Election Ballot.
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