(Des Moines, Iowa) – The nation’s largest recreational boating safety event of the year, National Safe Boating Week, takes place May 21–27, and serves as a reminder to boaters to keep safety front and center all season long. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers three tips for boaters to be safety heroes on the water.

1. The best life jacket is the one you will wear, meaning one that’s comfortable. There are many lightweight inflatable life jackets that fit the bill. Check the jacket’s label to ensure it’s approved for your type of boating. If the kids are visiting, don’t be tempted to put a child in an ill-fitting adult life jacket.
2. Boating safety reports indicate that operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and alcohol rank as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents. Focus on eliminating these factors by putting down the cellphone, practicing using S.C.A.N. procedures to avoid distracted boating, taking a free boating safety course, slowing down, and driving more defensively, especially in congested boating areas. Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, so save the celebration for after the boat is safely tied up for the night. Boat operators also need to recognize they are responsible for the safety of their guests, including inebriated ones.
3. Remember to wear an engine cutoff switch if your boat is less than 26-feet, traveling on plane or above displacement speed. Engine cutoff switches can prevent boat strike injuries after an operator has been ejected from the vessel or displaced from the helm.

What Is SCAN?

SCAN: Search, Concentrate, Analyze, and Negotiate. This is something every attentive skipper does continually, and probably without thinking about it, while underway. Simply put, “scanning” is looking from side to side – and behind you – for boats, people, and objects on the water that may pose a risk of collision. Repeat whenever you’re underway.

Search the area all around your craft. This is a 360-degree examination of everything around your boat. Distances away will close or open depending on your speed or the speed of the observed boat or object. The faster you’re operating, the farther out you’ll need to search.

Concentrate on what you’re seeing. Is it a boat? What type? What is it doing? What is its relative speed? Is it a stationary object? Drifting or anchored? Things can happen fast out there, so these are questions you must consider while you look at the various observed boats or objects.

Analyze what you’re watching. Is it closing in on your position or going away from you? Remember, if the object you’re observing is getting closer to you and its relative position to you is not changing, it is on a collision course. Never assume you’re seen by other boat operators, who may or may not be distracted. Determine this by the way and direction they’re operating. Analyze how far away the boat or object is and how fast it is closing the distance between you and it.

Negotiate. What are you going to do? Slow down, turn away from the boat or object, and head in a different direction? Remember the Navigation Rules. Learn the proper action to take while meeting head on, crossing, or overtaking another boat.

(Radio Iowa) – Portions of Red Haw State Park will reopen today (Friday), more than two months after a deadly tornado swept through Lucas County and the Chariton area, destroying much of the park’s infrastructure and foliage. Park manager Bonnie Friend says the March 5th twister killed a man who was camping at the park and storm damage to the park itself was significant. “We lost probably 75% of the campground as well as we lost all five docks, three shelters and the storage building,” Friend says. “So over this time since March 5th, we’ve had amazing progress.” The National Weather Service says the E-F-3 tornado that hit the park was on the ground more than 16 miles, with peak winds of 138 miles an hour.

(Pics from the Red Haw State Park fundraising page)

Friend says her park crew, as well as D-N-R staffers from elsewhere around the state, have worked long hours to clear hundreds of downed trees. “We’ve also had a volunteer day where we had 229 people from across Iowa help us to clean the north side of any metal or debris, limbs, etcetera,” Friend says. “Then, an amazing disaster group by the name of Team Rubicon came in April for three days and what we were able to accomplish was just mind boggling.” Parts of the park will be opening this morning, including day use areas, the beach for swimming, and one boat ramp. Friend hopes to get a kayak launch put in place next week, too.

“We’ve been able to make the north side of the park safe for the public to visit, but the south side, all the trails, the campground and all the shelters are still closed,” Friend says. “We still have a tremendous amount of debris and trees to take care of in order to make it safe on the south side.” No dollar estimate is being released on what it’s taken to get the park partly restored and Friend says it’ll be well into summer, perhaps fall, before the rest of the property can reopen.

“There’s just so many unknown variables and so many things to take care of, and then there’s supply and demand issues as well,” Friend says. “I haven’t really been given a time. I just know that it’ll be at least three to four months just to remove trees that are broken and dangerous before we can even look about moving forward as far as repair.” A GoFundMe page is raising money to help with clean-up, repair and reforestation. (https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-tornado-cleanup-of-red-haw-state-park)

Checks can also be sent to the DNR at Red Haw State Park, 24550 US Highway 34, Chariton, IA 50049. For updates, visit the Iowa DNR’s Alerts and Closure page: www.iowadnr.gov/parkclosures

(Radio Iowa) – The State Agriculture Department announced today (Thursday) that bird flu restrictions have been lifted for three commercial poultry sites in Franklin, Hamilton, and Humboldt County. The Iowa Turkey Federation’s Gretta Irwin says this is the start of a recovery.

“This shows that the farms have completed their sampling and the infected premises no longer have the virus on the farms. It is a step in the right direction to get back into full production,” Irwin says. Bird flu restrictions had kept poultry and poultry products from being moved in or out of a farm with an outbreak of avian flu. Farmers at those sites will now be able to bring turkeys and chickens back to their barns and get back to production. Irwin says the process has been faster than recovery from bird flu seven years ago.

“I really attribute that to better plans, better communication, and better preparation by the farmers,” Irwin says. Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig (like egg) says this is a key step. “It’s a notable event in the outbreak because of course for the first time since the beginning of March we have been able to lift quarantines on some of the infected premises,” he says. Naig says the three sites completed several tasks to get their restrictions lifted.

“Disposing and cleaning and disinfecting and they have tested negative for the virus in their buildings and so they have been released from quarantine — which means they can restock and get on with business,” Naig says. “So, there’s a lot of work left to do to finish cleaning up the remaining sites.”

There were 19 confirmed outbreaks across the state. Niag says the thought early on the spread of the bird flu was caused by migrating birds. “The evidence supports the fact that these have been wild bird independent introductions, which is different than 2015,” according to Naig, “Where Yes, it was carried by wild birds. But then, as we got into that outbreak, it was moving from farm movement between farms. And we really haven’t seen that. Certainly not to the extent that we did in 2015. That’s a testament to the biosecurity that our poultry producers have been implementing on their farms.”

The site in Franklin County raises young chickens, the one in Humboldt County riases breeding chickens, and commercial turkeys are raised at the site in Hamilton County where the restrictions were lifted. More than 13 million birds in Iowa have died from the latest round of virus or have been killed to stop its spread.

Anita, Iowa – Iowans interested in the results of a DNR study to improve water quality in Lake Anita in Cass County can view a presentation on the Iowa DNR’s YouTube channel. Lake Anita is on the state’s list of impaired waters for high levels of algae. 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 June 20. 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.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Farm Credit Administration (FCA) finished-up a two-day Midwest Farm Tour swing though Minnesota and Iowa, Wednesday, with a stop at Lindeman Tractor, in Atlantic. FCA Board Chairman and CEO Glen Smith, from Atlantic, said the tour was meant to get the two busloads of several dozen FCA employees, out to meet the people they serve.

Bob Lindeman talked about the history of the family business, which his father started in 1914, and shared stories about the rural hardships of the 1930’s and the 1980’s. Glen Smith said it’s critical for his staff to understand how important local businesses like Lindeman Tractor are, to the economy.

Smith is using the trip to help promote the Young, Beginning and Small Farmers and Ranchers lending program through the Farm Credit System.

(Radio Iowa) – A new report details the economic benefits of a proposed pedestrian and bike trail running from Washington D-C to Washington state, including an Iowa segment stretching from the Mississippi River to the Missouri. Kevin Belanger, project manager of the Great American Rail-Trail, says the ambitious effort could generate a major financial boost for the communities and states it serves. “Trails are super popular now especially during and since the pandemic,” Belanger says. “We’ve seen an incredible trail use increase and that number hasn’t come back down, so we’re seeing a lot of excitement about using trails in your local area but also doing long-distance trips as well.”

A study estimates the full trail could generate more than 229-million dollars in visitor spending every year, along with 104-million in labor income and nearly 23-million in new tax revenue. Iowa already boasts many hundreds of miles of walking and biking trails, but this proposed river-to-river route would run 465-miles through the state’s midsection, from Davenport to Council Bluffs. “There’s already 250 completed miles on the ground in Iowa and that’s about 53% of the route complete in Iowa,” Belanger says. “Completing more of that will see the full economic benefits. We’re projecting about $14.3-million in new annual visitor spending in Iowa once this trail is completed.”

The cross-country trail has the potential to bring visitors, businesses, jobs and spending to communities along its 37-hundred-mile route, he says, though it may be many years before it’s finished. “We’re projecting at least a couple of decades for full completion, but new trail comes on every year so people can go out and explore the segments that are already completed,” Belanger says. “Hundreds of miles, for instance, between Pittsburgh and Washington D.C., you’ve got 350 already connected miles and we’re working on making long-distance trips possible before this is completed.”

In recent weeks, a new pedestrian and cycling trail opened on the Interstate 74 bridge connecting Bettendorf, Iowa and Moline, Illinois. It includes an observation deck and a giant glass “oculus” window at the bridge’s midpoint over the Mississippi River. That new addition would provide Great American Rail-Trail users another option for crossing the waterway.  “So right now, as you enter into Iowa from Illinois, you’re crossing at the Quad Cities there and we have mapped out on the Government or Arsenal Bridge that people can travel over,” Belanger says. “It’s an amazingly interesting bridge from a railroad perspective. So people can still cross that or if they’re looking to see the new shiny, exciting object on I-74, people can travel across that bridge, too.”

Here’s a full list of the Iowa trails that would be incorporated into the effort:
• Government/Arsenal Bridge
• Mississippi River Trail/Riverfront Trail
• Running River Trail System
• Kent Stein to Deep Lakes Park Trail
• Hoover Nature Trail
• Cedar Valley Nature Trail
• Gilbert Drive Trail
• Evansdale Nature Trail
• River Forest Road Trail/Cedar River Levee Trail
• Cedar Valley Lakes Trail
• South Riverside Trail
• Cedar Prairie Trail
• Sergeant Road Trail
• Pioneer Trail
• Iowa River Trail
• Linn Creek Recreational Trail
• Iowa 330/US 30 Trail
• Heart of Iowa Nature Trail
• High Trestle Trail
• Raccoon River Valley Trail
• T-Bone Trail
• Railroad Highway Trail
• Valley View Trail
• Lake Manawa Trail
• Veterans Memorial Trail
• Western Historic Trails Center Link
• Iowa Riverfront Trail
• Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

https://www.railstotrails.org/greatamericanrailtrail/

• KJAN, Atlantic  .45″
• 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .21″
• Massena  .37″
• Bridgewater  .3″
• Audubon  .34″
• Corning  .75″
• Avoca  .4″
• Neola  1.64″
• Oakland  1.5″
• Manning  .85″
• Guthrie Center  .19″
• Missouri Valley  .61″
• Villisca  1″
• Red Oak  .78″
• Clarinda  1.03″
• Carroll  1.3″
• Council Bluffs  1.88″
• Logan  2.44″

(Corning, Iowa) – Adams County ISU Extension and Outreach Summer Intern Haley Hart reports “AgSafety4u” is an online course designed for youth, 14 and 15 years of age who are seeking employment and must be certified to drive or operate tractors and machinery for hire. This program can be used for the classroom portion of the Hazardous Occupations Order for Agriculture (HOOA) safety certification program.

Extension Offices in Adams, Ringgold, Taylor and Union County are partnering with the Southwest Valley Ag Ed Program to provide the additional hands-on training that is required for issuing a US DOL certificate. Participants must complete the training online prior to attending the driving event on June 4.

Visit https://ag-safety.extension.org/ and scroll down to find the “Online Safety Course” option. You will receive a certificate upon completion of the course; you must bring it with you to the driving day.

Cost: The online certificate course costs $10/person, and must be paid online before completing the course. There is no additional cost to attend the drive date.

Details: Driving to Complete US DOL requirements: Saturday, June 4 2022, from 8-a.m. to Noon at the Lenox Rodeo Grounds, 205 E. Iowa Street, Lenox IA. Registration deadline: Tuesday, May 31st. Contact a County Extension office listed below for the driving day. No late registrations will be accepted, due to scheduling.

Sponsored by:

• Adams County Extension & Outreach, (641)-322-3184
• Ringgold County Ext. & Outreach, (641)-464-3333
• Taylor County E & O, (712)-523-2137
• Union County E & O, (641)-782-8426
• Southwest Valley Agricultural Education program.

(Radio Iowa) [UPDATED] – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that will significantly expand the number of Iowa gas stations that sell E-15 — fuel that has a 15 percent ethanol blend. “This historic bill makes Iowa the first state in the nation to adopt an E15 standard, setting the stage for the single largest expansion of biofuels in our state’s history,” Reynolds said, adding a whoop as the crowd around her applauded.

Stations that sell less than 300-thousand gallons of gasoline annually or have older tanks and pumping systems that are not compatible with ethanol can apply for waivers — but the rest will have to start selling E-15 by 2026. The law also requires most retailers that sell diesel to start selling B-20 — diesel with 20 percent of a soybean-based additive. Reynolds signed the bill on a farm near Prairie City.

Representatives of the biofuels industry and farm groups as well as several legislators were there. “For well over a year we’ve been working on different versions of this bill,” Reynolds said, “and the final product is truly a statement to the idea that good faith discussion, negotiation and compromise can pay off in a big way.” Reynolds says rather than electric vehicles, biofuels offer energy independence and security for the United States.

“Biofuels account for $4 billion of Iowa’s GDP and supports tens of thousands of jobs in our state. It powers our economy and fuels the world and this position of global leadership means this reverberates far beyond our borders,” Reynolds says. “When we talk, people listen and we’ve never spoke more loudly and more clearly than we are today.” Will Cannon, a district director in the Iowa Corn Growers Association, hosted the event at the century farm where he’s grown crops for the past 20 years.

“As a farmer here in the state of Iowa, this bill means a lot to me,” Cannon said. “Ethanol means a lot to me…Ethanol is one of those markets that helps to get good prices so someone like me has an opportunity to farm.” The law requires any gas stations that are built after January 1st of 2023 to sell E-15 immediately. The plan also includes additional state grants for stations that install blender pumps and equipment that can handle higher concentrations of ethanol and biodiesel. Tax credits for fuel retailers are in the legislation and it also doubles the biodiesel production tax credit.

“It makes needed improvements to our renewable fuels infrastructure program and, honestly, it couldn’t have come at a better time,” Reynolds said. “Iowans are anxious for alternatives.” The price of E-15 is about 10 cents less per gallon — sometimes lower in rural areas. E-15 is often identified at “Unleaded 88” on a pump — and someone from the Iowa Corn Growers Association brought cookies to the event that were decorated with the number 88.

(Radio Iowa) – Farmers finally got a chance to spend some extended time pulling their planters last week. The U-S-D-A reports dry warm weather gave farmers five days suitable for fieldwork and they made use of them. Corn planting advanced from 14 percent to 57 percent completed. Soybean planting went from seven percent in the ground to thirty-four percent. Corn and soybean planting are both still two weeks behind last year’s progress. Beans are a full two weeks behind the average planting schedule and corn is nine days behind.