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Ag Secretary says process starting to get more propane moving

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 22nd, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — State Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has announced an alternative dispute resolution process with propane distributors. Naig says that could help ease the shipping issues created by the late harvest and cold weather. “They will start dispute resolution next week — which gets the shippers and the pipelines together. And we hope that will yield some increased supply as we head into the next week and into the following week,” according to Naig.

He says the late October the demand for propane in Iowa was three times higher than it normally is, and the demand hasn’t eased a lot. “Anything that we can do to put more propane in these pipelines will absolutely help resolve that,” Naig says. “We are very hopeful. It won’t be an immediate solution — but we are heading in the right direction and we appreciate the work that our governor and our senators and FERC to bring some resolution to this.”

The nationwide supply of propane has been good — but Naig and others say the issue has been getting enough shipped to Iowa as the demand dramatically increased.

Some Iowa farmers back crop buffer law to protect water

Ag/Outdoor

November 22nd, 2019 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s farmer-dominated conservation districts are calling for a state ban on planting crops within 30 feet of streams to improve water quality, but the state’s top agricultural official opposes the idea. The Gazette reports that the Conservation Districts of Iowa isn’t the first group to push for a buffer law, but it’s the first time a group made up mainly of farmers and retired farmers has advocated for something more stringent than voluntary action.

Dennis Carney, the group’s president, says he sees a growing realization that current policies aren’t achieving the desired results. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says he opposes a buffer strip requirement because more regulation runs counter to his agency’s philosophy. He questions whether the conservation district reflects the views of most Iowa farmers.

Land-applied manure flowed into Taylor County stream

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 21st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

LENOX – Responding to a complaint about manure application, Iowa DNR staff found manure running into a stream about four miles south of Lenox Thursday morning. Manure was flowing from multiple locations into an unnamed tributary of the East River. Staff collected water samples for analysis, but did not see any dead fish in the stream.

DNR staff learned manure from the Utah North facility was applied by Larabee Applicators Wednesday evening prior to rainfall.  Manure reached the stream due to improper injection. Kristi Burg of the DNR’s Atlantic field office, said “We know the weather and field conditions have been challenging this fall, but I’d like to remind people to check the weather forecast before land applying manure to reduce the potential for runoff.”

DNR will consider appropriate enforcement. As a reminder, manure spills and releases must be reported to the DNR field offices or called in to the spill line at 515-725-8694 within 6 hours of occurrence or discovery.

Men charged with killing a trumpeter swan

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 21st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Three men are charged with illegally shooting a trumpeter swan at the Cedar Bottoms Wildlife Management Area in Muscatine County. Conservation officer, Derrick Slutts, says he investigated after getting a tip that the swan had been shot Sunday. “I was able to collect some evidence at the scene — shell casings and what not — which led me to a potential suspect. We went and interviewed the suspect and he confessed that he believed the swan was a snow goose and his two other friends had believed the same,” Slutts says. Twenty-seven-year-old Austin McMillan of West Branch, 26-year-old Daniel Solorio-Oldenburg of Cedar Rapids and 28-year-old Mitchell Kesterson of Van Horne were each charged with one count of attempt to take wildlife and one count of abandonment of wildlife. The men were hunting ducks and Slutts says it’s mistake that should not have happened.

“They should be able to distinctly know the difference between a snow goose and a trumpeter swan. A trumpeter swan can be upwards of eight to ten feet wingspan — where a snow goose is only going to be maybe that five feet range at max. And a majority of them are only three to four foot wingspan,” according to Sluttes. “There’s a large size difference.” He says it’s a reminder to hunters to remain calm and see the target before shooting during any type of hunt. “It’s important to know what your target is in front of you before you pull that trigger,” he says. “You just need to wait and make sure you properly identify that target. Once you determine it’s a snow goose or not a snow goose, you pull that trigger — and don’t get too excited just thinking that there’s birds coming at you.” Slutts says they recovered the swan and have a use for it.

He says they are going to try and get it mounted and have offered it to county conservation boards to use for educational purposes. Trumpeter swans were very common in Iowa around the time the state was being settled, but they vanished over the decades due to excessive hunting. Conservationists began working to restore the swans in Iowa in the 1990s. Slutts says there aren’t as many trumpeter swans out there as other species of birds — but hunters need to be aware they do fly in the same areas.

Iowa biodiesel leaders urge Congress to pass promised tax credits

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 21st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Officials with Iowa’s biodiesel industry are in Washington D-C this week, pushing members of Congress for promised extensions of tax credits. For two years, biodiesel plants have operated under the promise that tax credits will be renewed, but Congress hasn’t passed the necessary bills for 2018 or 2019. Western Iowa Energy President Bradley Wilson says the industry can only hold on for so long.  Wilson says, “Quite frankly, if they do not do ’18 and ’19, you’ve already seen some plant closings but it’s nothing like you’re gonna see next year if they don’t take care of it this year.”

Wilson says meetings this week with Democrats and Republicans in both chambers were positive. He’s looking for a bill yet this year that includes tax credits for 2018, ’19 and ’20. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley met with some of the biodiesel industry leaders and recognizes they need the promised legislation. Grassley offered one biodiesel plant’s math as an example. “Without the tax credit, there’s a $5-million loss. With the tax credit, there’s a $5-million profit, so that’s a $10-million swing,” Grassley says. “If we don’t get this done it’s probably going to be shuttered.”

Grassley says that would eliminate 30 jobs. Several biodiesel plants have already been forced to close this year. Traditional and cellulosic ethanol producers have also reduced production and laid off workers.

(Reporting by Amy Mayer, Iowa Public Radio)

Local 24-Hour Rainfall Totals ending at 7:00 am on Thursday, November 21

Ag/Outdoor, Weather

November 21st, 2019 by Jim Field

  • KJAN, Atlantic  .39″
  • Massena  .61″
  • Elk Horn  .39″
  • Creston  .46″
  • Shenandoah  .25″
  • Carroll  .51″
  • Red Oak  .49″
  • Denison  .5″
  • Corning  .39″

 

Thanksgiving is a week away, will your turkey be Iowa grown?

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 21st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — One week from now, families across Iowa will be gathering at the table to enjoy the taste of turkey — and in many cases, the bird will have been raised and processed in Iowa. Gretta Irwin, executive director of the Iowa Turkey Federation, says Iowa is the nation’s seventh largest producer of turkeys and the fifth largest processor. Irwin says shoppers are finding great deals on the big birds. “Some stores are running specials where if you buy a ham, you get a free turkey,” Irwin says. “Pricing for a good frozen turkey is still a really great value. Fresh turkeys are still a wonderful price as well.” Iowa turkey producers have faced economic challenges over the past year — and longer — given slumping sales due to an oversupply.

“A lot of that had to do with our trade barrier that we have had with China and recently it was announced that it has been resolved,” Irwin says. “That trade barrier had been in place since 2015 when we had avian influenza, so we’ve spent the last four years trying to reopen our second-largest trading partner for turkey.” There’s optimism, Irwin says, that there will be a significant strengthening of the market in the year ahead. For Iowans who are cooking turkeys next week, there is sometimes anxiety about having the time to get a frozen turkey thoroughly thawed.

“If you’re in a rush and the turkey is still frozen or partially frozen, that is perfectly okay. The turkey does not need to be 100% thawed to go into the oven,” Irwin says. “I’ve even gone to the grocery store, bought a fully frozen turkey, removed it from the packaging, salt, peppered and seasoned it, put it in my roaster pan and put it in the oven.” It’s important to note, a fully thawed turkey might take three hours to cook while a frozen turkey might need four-and-a-half hours, depending on the size. Find more tips at: www.iowaturkey.org

USDA Report 11-21-2019

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

November 21st, 2019 by Jim Field

w/Max Dirks.

Play

Adair County Supervisors vote to restrict, end wind farm development

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — The Board of Supervisors in Adair County have voted to limit development of wind farms. Following a public hearing Tuesday at the Adair County Board of Supervisors meeting, and a waiving of the second and third readings, the supervisors approved an amendment to the Wind Energy Ordinance 31B. The amendment caps the number of commercial wind turbines or wind farms erected within the boundaries of Adair County at a total of no more than 535. Adair County currently has 532 turbines completed or under construction.

Their action comes after neighboring Union County earlier this year passed its ordinance allowing the construction of wind farms to start within the county. At the October 3rd meeting, the Adair County supervisors approved Wind Energy Conversion Property ordinance No. 31A which refers to setbacks. The ordinance defined the non-participating landowner, participating landowner and occupied building as well as made the set back from the nearest occupied building located on anon-participating landowner’s property a distance of not less than 2,000 feet.

Healthy Cass County to Offer Holiday Wellness Stop at Harvest Market

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 20th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Holidays are associated with good food, family, and festivities, but they can also bring winter blues, loneliness, cabin fever, and other challenges to those working to maintain healthy diets, limit alcohol consumption or manage difficult family dynamics.

Healthy Cass County logo

Healthy Cass County encourages all residents of Cass County to make time for personal wellness over the holidays, and in that spirit the group will have a Holiday Wellness Stop at Harvest Market. Harvest Market will be held this coming Monday, November 25, at the Cass County Community Center on the fairgrounds in Atlantic from 3:00-7:00 PM.

The Healthy Cass County Holiday Wellness Stop will provide resources promoting ways to eat well, move more, and feel better over the holidays. Participating organizations include:

  • The Nishna Valley Family YMCA, which will have free class coupons and member special coupons, and will be doing a drawing for a free 3-month Y membership.
  • Senior Life Solutions, a program of Cass County Health System, will be providing information on Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons, and sharing ways to combat winter blues.
  • Shift ATL will be promoting their Thanksgiving morning Turkey Trot. The Turkey Trot will be held at 8:00 am on Thursday, November 28. Athletes of all ages and abilities are invited to enjoy 5k or 1-mile routes. Costumes, strollers, dogs (if friendly, vaccinated, and on leashes), and cheering squads are welcome! For more information and to register, visit: getmeregistered.com/AtlanticTurkeyTrot.
  • Cass County Conservation will bring snowshoes and fliers on outdoor winter events and activities.
  • Zion Recovery Services will be providing information and resources for those struggling with substance abuse or close to someone who is struggling.
  • Cass County Public Health will be handing out walking maps for all communities in Cass County, and promoting 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count, a statewide health initiative promoting the importance of eating 5 fruits/vegetables, 2 hours or less of screen time, 1 hour or more of physical activity, and 0 sugary drinks each day.
  • Cass County Extension will be sharing information on healthy holiday recipes, and resources to encourage good physical and mental health during the holiday season. You can sign up to win a Spend Smart. Eat Smart. gift basket featuring a 2020 calendar and recipe book full of healthy low cost family meal ideas!

Healthy Cass County reminds all residents and visitors to Cass County, to take the Produce in the Park Survey. Those who complete the survey by November 24th will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 gift card to Harvest Market (contest entry not required to participate in survey). The survey is part of a Healthy Cass County initiative to ensure Produce in the Park is meeting the needs of the community. Whether or not you have visited Produce in the Park your feedback is valued. The survey can be found at the Atlantic Public Library and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce or online through www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com or directly at https://forms.gle/9bVkA5Ej12bQvQnX6. Your responses will guide decisions for Produce in the Park in 2020.

Healthy Cass County is a community-focused network of organizations and individuals working to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. For more information or to join visit https://www.atlanticiowa.com/relocate/health-wellness-2/healthy-cass-county/ or contact Brigham Hoegh, Cass County Wellness Program Coordinator at 712-249-5870, of by email at bhoegh@iastate.edu.