DUNCOMBE, Iowa (AP) — After more than a century, a barn near the tiny northern Iowa community of Duncombe is getting a new home and a new look. Matt and Libby Mitchell acquired the barn built in 1915 and watched nervously Thursday as it was moved about a mile over fields to a new location. Matt Mitchell prepared a path over fields by driving a blade over the land and smoothing out ruts. He now plans to restore the barn, saying, “To tear it down or burn it would have been a tragedy.”

AMES, Iowa – With fall harvest mostly done and the holidays upon us, Iowans can now sit back, relax and take it easy. Well, sort of. Farmers spent the past few months focused on one primary thing: wrapping up a historically late harvest. Now their focus will turn to family gatherings, gift-giving and making plans for 2020.

Photo credit: Rymden/stock.adobe.com

Tammy Jacobs, hotlines coordinator with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, said December is typically a quiet month for calls made to Iowa Concern – the 24/7 hotline available to both farmers and non-farmers, rural and urban Iowans. But in another month or two, Jacobs said the calls and the questions will likely increase.

“What we usually see is a trend in January and February, as we enter tax season,” Jacobs said. “People realize how much they overspent at Christmas, they’re preparing to meet with their lender and they’re making plans for the next growing season.”

Iowa Concern provides access to an attorney for legal education, stress counselors, and information and referral services for a wide variety of topics. To reach Iowa Concern, call 800-447-1985; language interpretation services are available. Or, visit the website, https://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/, to live chat with a stress counselor one-on-one in a secure environment. Or email an expert regarding legal, finance, stress, or crisis and disaster issues.

On the website, visitors can also find additional information and publications related to finance, stress, crisis and disaster, and legal referrals. Jacobs said caller information is kept confidential, and the staff of Iowa Concern connects the caller with the kind of help and resources they need. “Each call just kind of depends on what that person is looking to do, and the level of stress they are experiencing,” Jacobs said.

Iowa Concern receives about 15-30 agriculture-related phone calls per month, according to Jacobs. ISU Extension and Outreach has offered the hotline since 1985.

Jacobs is coordinator for Iowa Concern and all Human Sciences Extension and Outreach hotlines at Iowa State. She also suggests visiting Human Sciences Extension and Outreach’s “Finding Answers Now” website, for additional information and resources on dealing with stress.

(Radio Iowa/Brownfield) — A northwest Iowa farmer who was at the White House earlier this week says he’s disappointed President Trump has failed to uphold the renewable fuels deal he agreed to in September. Kelly Nieuwenhuis, a farmer from Primghar, said “It is pretty upsetting to American farmers and rural America.”

Nieuwenhuis and four other Iowans met with Larry Kudlow, the president’s top economic advisor, on Tuesday — and Kudlow provided a briefing on the E-P-A’s final decision on the ethanol production mandate. “We knew right away that this wasn’t the deal that was promised,” Nieuwenhuis says. Nieuwenhuis was at the White House with representatives from the Iowa Corn Growers and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. Nieuwenhuis says the group made it clear to Kudlow the E-P-A’s 2020 biofuels blending requirements are “woefully inadequate.”

“He didn’t understand. He couldn’t figure out why we wouldn’t be happy with this deal,” Niewenhaus says, “and we just basically told — or I did — that, you know, for us to put the word trust and the EPA in the same sentence was not possible.” Nieuwenhuis says Senator Grassley set up the meeting with the president’s economic advisor, so the Iowans could make a last-minute pitch for changing the E-P-A’s plan for ethanol and biodiesel.

“We were firm with him, yet respectful,” Nieuwenhuis says. “…But you know this wasn’t the certainy of the deal that we had with the deal that they made with Senators Ernst, Grassley and Governor Reynolds and the ethanol industry.” Nieuwenhuis says it’s frustrating the president didn’t keep his promise. “Again we feel the oil industry took charge of the situation and pretty much forced the hand of our leaders and made then lean their way with the ruling,” Nieuwenhuis says.

Nieuwenhuis is chairman of the board of Siouxland Energy. The ethanol plant in Sioux Center shut down for a few weeks, but has been running this fall at about half its normal capacity.

(Additional reporting by Brownfield Network’s Ken Anderson)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some farm groups and farm-state lawmakers are expressing anger at the Trump administration over final ethanol rules that they say fail to uphold the president’s promises to the industry. The Environmental Protection Agency has released final renewable fuel standard rules for next year that do not include language President Donald Trump agreed to that would guarantee 15 billion gallons of ethanol is blended into the nation’s gasoline supply.

The EPA contends it’s fulfilling the promises. Industry groups say the language in the final rule is too vague and could allow EPA to miss the mandated ethanol requirements.

(Radio Iowa) — Leaders in Page County held two public hearings this week to gather residents’ comments on wind power, whether to allow more wind turbines to be built or to enact tighter regulations on the turbines. County Supervisor Chuck Morris says the purpose of the meetings is to find a way to balance property rights with economic opportunities. “Our intent in having an ordinance is to protect people,” Morris says. “I’m proud of that fact. Is it perfect? No, that’s why we’re debating here. How do we make this ordinance work best for everybody? It’s a tough issue. You have land rights that are important, whether that’s with a windmill or without a windmill.”

Morris pointed to other counties in the state which have no wind turbine ordinances. He says having something on the books promotes expansion of the industry while providing some sort of protection for property owners. “If you have an opportunity for some expansion in your economy and in your tax base, we’re not doing our job if we don’t take a reasonable look at it,” Morris says. “We very much appreciate the feedback. I wish that there was an answer that everybody is going to happy, but that’s not going to happen.”

Page County resident Rex Engstrand says if the county goes too far with setback regulations, wind energy companies will not invest the time or money to come there. “Any time you put ordinances in place,” Engstrand says, “you’re keeping companies from being able to come in — some for very good reasons — but you are limiting your tax base, you’re limiting your property owners the option to put windmills up.”

Resident Jane Stimson says one of the reasons she chooses to live in Page County is because of a lack of “visual pollution,” while adding wind turbines would negatively affect her view. “I appreciate being able to see the sunrise, the sunset and I’ve put trees in my yard so I could keep my view,” said Stimson. “I’ve got a pleasant ridge that I can pretend is a mountain ridge and to have windmills in that sight, would make me crazy.” Resident Galen Peery says he recently moved to Page County from Ida County, where about 150 windmills are located. “The biggest concern up there was the noise, the interference with televisions, if you’re just on an antenna,” Peery says. “We had a lady come in who had had one for several years. She said there was a crop reduction. The biggest complaint up there is that it messed up the scene of the outdoors.”

Robin Sunderman, who lives on a farm northwest of Clarinda, expressed concern over the decommissioning of wind turbines. She also outlined the dangers of turbines to the environment, as well as the impact on land values. “In my opinion, instead of having fields of dreams in Iowa,” Sunderman says, “we’re going to have fields of abandoned junk in the next 20 years.” Board members say any possible ordinance changes won’t take place until mid-January at the earliest.

STANTON, Iowa – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Montgomery County office will be offering two opportunities to attend the Private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course, led by Extension Field Agronomist, Aaron Saeugling. The first session is scheduled for January 7, 9:30 AM, at the Community Room in Stanton. The course will be offered again at 1:30 PM, also on January 7, at the Community Room in Stanton. Applicators do not need to preregister for the course in Montgomery County.

The course will run for approximately two and a half hours. The registration fee is $20. To obtain additional information about the CIC, contact your county extension office.  The course will fulfill 2019 recertification requirements for private pesticide applicators. Topics to be covered include safe handling and storage of pesticides; laws and regulations; personal protective equipment, and pests, pest management, and pesticides.
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(Radio Iowa) — Republican Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is joining with House Democrats Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer in working to revive national biodiesel tax credits. The tax credits would be extended five years under amendments being added to what are referred to as the year-end tax extenders legislative package. Grassley says, “The biodiesel industry supports over 60,000 jobs across America, including, of course, thousands of Iowans.”

The biodiesel tax credits were allowed to expire two years ago. Grassley says it’s one of several elements he’s pushed to add to the year-end legislation. “This will provide some long-sought certainty for producers and farmers,” Grassley says. “These individual victories, all bipartisan, will actually make a big difference in people’s lives.” Finkenauer released this statement: “While today is a good day for an industry that has been dealt so many unnecessary blows, we should have passed this earlier in the year so our biodiesel producers had the certainty they need to make investments and move the industry forward.”

Axne also put out a news release, saying: “As the Congress considers bills this week to extend and adjust tax provisions, we are determined to fight for the investments that will support our farmers, rural communities, and good-paying green jobs. At a time when Iowa farmers are facing hardship, Congress cannot ignore the importance of including these critical provisions.”

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department has received a donation of hockey gear from a youth hockey organization in Illinois. Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen told the Parks Board, Monday, that the Chicago Jets Hockey Club donated the gear, including pucks, sticks, skates and other items. The Club will donate additional hockey sticks this coming Spring. The Board signed a card/letter of Thanks for the generous donations.

Another donation for the Parks & Rec Department, this one in the form of cash, came from Brad Rasmussen. The funds were a combination of monies collected for his wife, who is a member of a local Birthday Club, and a woman whose tree was decorated by Bryant Rasmussen and his dad, Brad. Other proceeds came from the sale of a book Brad Rasmussen has written.

In other business, the Atlantic Parks and Rec Board approved the purchase of a snow plow blade for the Department’s 1/2-ton pickup. The basic blade with inside controls, will allow employees to stay warm in their truck while at the same time clearing the Bull Creek Pathway and the Schildberg Rec Area (SRA).

Speaking of the SRA, Rasmussen said the porta-potties have been removed. A waterless restroom is still open, and the bath house will re-open during warmer weather. Rasmussen said also, Parks Foreman Kyler Welter has been busy creating 10 raised garden beds for installation this Spring at the Mollett Park, on East 3rd Street Place. One of the beds will be maintained by the Parks and Rec Department, the others will be on a first-come first-served basis. The beds are wood with metal sheeting on the sides. They will eventually be filled with mulch and top soil in preparation for planting.

And, Rasmussen said they’re finalizing a New Year’s Resolution “Park Challenge.” He said “There’s so many things that we offer within our parks system,” (such as the SRA). The challenge will incorporate 25 things people can do, with one item coming from every park, almost like a Savenger Hunt. When all the elements are collected or recorded, Parks users would be eligible for $25 in Chamber Bucks. Additional details are forthcoming on the Challenge.

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board has a regular meeting set to take place 5:15-p.m. Monday (Dec. 16), in the Council’s Chambers, at City Hall. Among the Action items and/or New business on their agenda is: An update on the Schildberg Rec Area; Park signs and Kiosks, and Raised vegetable garden beds at Mollett Park on the east end of E. 3rd Street Place.

In his report to the Board, Parks Director Bryant Rasmussen is expected to talk about: The Festival of Trees; Trail Crossing Signs; Donations of Hockey gear, and a New Year’s Resolution Park Challenge.

(Radio Iowa) — The president of the Iowa Soybeans Association says he was a little surprised when the announcement was made this week that a deal had been reached on the U-S-Mexico-Canada-Agreement. Tim Bardole farms near Rippey and says it is good news — but past history dictates the celebration shouldn’t start just yet. “It’s one of those deals that until it’s done. I won’t believe it,”Bardole says.”We’ve heard a lot of promises over the last year and a half, on trade issues; it’s almost there, it’s almost there and then it’s not. But I really hope that everything goes kind of as planned at this point and get it done. It will be one of the stresses off agriculture’s back.”

Bardole says all farmers really want with trade agreements is open and free trade. “So without any artificial barriers, whether I be quotas or tariffs, taxes, if we don’t have that, the U-S. farmer is really the best in the world. That’s really the main thing, that we’re looking at with the U-S-M-C-A,” Bardole says.

Bardole is hopeful that the basics of the U-S-M-C-A will lead to an eventual resolution of the trade dispute with China. There were some reports Thursday that a deal with China is close to getting done.