(Radio Iowa) – North America’s first commercial-scale “green ammonia” field trial is underway in Boone. Landus Cooperative partnered with the company Talusag to produce farm fertilizer using solar energy, air and water. Hiro Iwanaga is C-E-O of the start-up. “Traditional ammonia depends on, depends on a global supply chain that’s costly, that’s unreliable, that’s carbon intensive. We manufacture closer to where the product is used. We cut down risk while giving farmers a stable, more predictable source of one of the most critical inputs,” he says. Landus vice president for strategic initiatives, Brian Crowe, says the process reworks the entire system.

“We’re not only changing how fertilizer is produced, but where it’s made, how it gets to our growers,” Crowe says. He says the system in Boone can produce around one ton per day, but a larger scale model being built in Eagle Grove will produce twenty times more.

Earlier this month, Landus applied green ammonia to corn field trial plots on-site and will compare results with control strips throughout the growing season. The partners hope to have green ammonia commercially available next year.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Master Gardeners have a busy month planned in May! On Saturday May 10, the group will host their annual Spring Plant Sale on the Cass County Fairgrounds. A few weeks later, on Wednesday May 21, the annual Master Gardener Bus Trip will leave from the fairgrounds for a day of education, garden exploration and plant nursery shopping. Any interested member of the public is invited to both events to help kick off the start of the gardening season!

The Plant Sale begins at 8 AM on May 10, and will be held in the front parking lot of the Cass County Community Center on the fairgrounds at 805 W 10th Street in Atlantic. The event promises to have a wide variety of perennials available for gardeners to add to their landscape this year, as well as lawn tools, décor, and gardening books. Interested gardeners are encouraged to arrive early for best selection. The sale closes around 10 AM or when most plants are sold out. All items will be sold for a free will offering, with all proceeds used to support Master Gardener community grants, scholarships, and other projects around the county. A resource table with information on spring gardening topics and local projects will also be available.

For the annual spring sale, the Cass County Master Gardeners offer a variety of perennial plants from their own gardens, as well as plants dug from gardens in the local area. Plants expected on the sale so far include daylilies, grape hyacinth, sedum, ferns, hosta, columbine, walking onions, mukdenia, and a variety of houseplants and succulents. Others may be added closer to sale day. Community members are welcome to donate plants to this event, and members may even help you dig! If you are dividing perennials in your yard this spring and have extra plants to donate, please call in advance and make arrangements to drop off donated plants before the date of the plant sale. The Atlantic FFA chapter and horticulture students will also be set up at the plant sale again this year, offering tomatoes, peppers and flowering annuals for sale. All FFA plants will be sold at a separate booth and individually priced. Information will also be available on student plant sales from other Cass County schools.

The annual Bus Trip on May 21 features a full day of garden visits, educational activities, and a chance to explore and shop specialty plant nurseries. The trip heads east this year, and includes stops near Lorimor, Cumming and Norwalk in central Iowa. The bus departs the fairgrounds in Atlantic at 8 AM and returns around 6 PM. The trip is coordinated by the Cass County Master Gardeners, but is open to everyone. Registration closes on May 15, or when the bus is full. Registrations are taken on a first-come basis, so register soon and be sure to reserve your spot on the bus! The cost is $65 for the day, which includes transportation, a meal and snacks. Registration forms are available at the Cass County Extension office, and can also be found on the Cass County Extension website at www.exension.iastate.edu/cass. A full itinerary is on each registration form.

The goal of the Master Gardener program is to provide local community service and education in horticulture.  The Cass County Master Gardeners utilize funds raised from their annual spring and fall plant sales for community projects across the county, include maintaining community garden spaces, providing education programs to youth and adults, and providing financial support to local horticulture projects and scholarship opportunities. Other upcoming events from the Master Gardeners include a local garden walk on June 22 and the fall plant sale on September 13. Master Gardeners will also be providing education to community members at events throughout the summer.

For more information about the plant sale, bus trip, and other Master Gardener activities in Cass County, please call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, or email Cass County Extension Director and Master Gardener Coordinator Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu.  In addition, you are invited to follow the Cass County Master Gardeners at their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CassCoMG or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/master-gardener-program to keep up with local events and tips for gardening and learn more about becoming a Master Gardener in Iowa!

CEDAR COUNTY, Iowa (Iowa Capital Dispatch) – A Cedar County farmer is suing a manufacturer of wind turbines, alleging three turbine fires scattered debris over hundreds of acres of land, damaging his crops. Alan Weets of Mechanicsville is suing the Chicago-based company Nordex USA, which does business as Acciona Windpower North America and Anchor Wind, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Weets alleges that in 2010, he entered into an agreement with Acciona that gave the company an easement on his property for the installation of two wind turbines. Acciona, the lawsuit claims, was aware of “serious problems” with the turbines that it installed on Weets’ property but failed to repair or replace them in order to render them safe.

In March 2023, one of the turbines caught fire and spread debris across 160 acres of Weets’ land, the lawsuit alleges. The damage allegedly resulted in Weets having to restrict that section of the property to grain production rather than forage and fodder for livestock feed. In May 2024, a second turbine on Weets’ property allegedly caught fire, spreading additional debris across the land. Over the next several months, according to the lawsuit, Weets grew frustrated with a perceived lack of progress by Acciona contractors, who used farm-type equipment in an effort to clean up the property. “The crews created additional debris-damage issues arising from further destruction of plastics and fiberglass pieces, making pieces that were smaller and more difficult to pick up from the foil,” the lawsuit alleges.

In August 2024, the second wind turbine allegedly caught fire again, causing one of the massive blades to fall to the ground. Weets claims that shortly thereafter, the Cedar County Co-Operative informed him it would not accept any grain from him that was contaminated by turbine debris. In all, 230 acres of land were allegedly contaminated by the debris. Weets alleges that although he and Acciona never agreed on the cost or extent of the damages, the company issued him a check for $230,000 as compensation. The two sides have yet to come to terms on that issue, the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for alleged negligence, breach of contract, and consumer fraud. Nordex media representatives did not immediately respond Wednesday to requests for comment.

(Photo by Perry Beeman/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

A 2014 study by Imperial College London, the University of Edinburg,h and SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden found that fires in wind turbines were occurring 10 times more often than were reported. At that time, the wind-power industry was reporting about 11 fires per year, while researchers determined that there were closer to 117 such fires annually among the 200,000 turbines examined. In 2023, a report from the Caithness Windfarm Information Forum identified 3,287 reported wind-turbine accidents, worldwide, between 2000 to March 2023 — an average of 143 accidents per year. Fires accounted for 14% of those accidents, just behind blade failure, which accounted for 15% of the accidents.

The most common cause of wind turbine fires is a lightning strike, although mechanical and electrical failures are also contributing factors.

(Stanton, Iowa) – Montgomery County resident Jan Norris reports a “Carbon [capture] Pipeline Opposition Meeting” will be held April 28th, in Stanton. The meetings that are being held around the state, are hosted by the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club, Iowa Easement Team, and landowners who may be impacted by the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline and the possible use of Eminent Domain to acquire land for the pipeline to cross. Organizers say the meetings are intended to educate communities about carbon capture pipelines, and prepare affected landowners for Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) proceedings.

On Monday, April 28th, local landowners and issue experts will provide an overview of the proposed pipeline projects, the latest updates from across the five-state pipeline footprint, and action steps to prepare for pending permit proceedings.

The meeting will be held at the Stanton Viking Center (501 Elliott St., Stanton, IA), beginning at 6:30-p.m., Monday (April 28th).

Thousands of dedicated volunteers in Iowa selflessly contribute their time and effort to enhance their communities. Cass County Extension works with over 100 adult volunteers in various roles, committees, and capacities each year. As we celebrate National Volunteer Week in late April, we want to say Thank You to all who contribute to and support Cass County Extension programs. From Youth programming in 4-H to Master Gardener activities, to keeping the fairgrounds updated and fair running. We could not provide half of the opportunities we offer to the community without these volunteers working behind the scenes all year long.

If you are interested about learning more about Cass County Extension programs or how you can get involved with one or more of these opportunities, contact the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, email xcass@iastate.edu or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass for program details and upcoming events.

Elected extension council members contribute immeasurably to the effectiveness of Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach by helping to develop and implement local programs and secure needed resources. Council member input ensures that a planned sequence of educational experiences addresses county needs. Every county in Iowa has an elected Extension Council- made up of 9 local residents who help determine budget and program priorities and manage local tax dollars for maximum benefit to their local communities.

Cass County Extension Council members include Chad Becker, JJ Bierbaum, Marcy Dorsey, Tony Orstad, Jeb Peck, Brad Pellett, Sue Riggs, Todd Weppler and Dave York.

Iowa 4-H Youth Development is the premier youth development program of ISU Extension and Outreach. Providing research-based education to K-12 youth, Iowa 4-H focuses on Healthy Living, STEM, Leadership and Civic Engagement, and Communication and the Arts. Iowa 4-H builds upon more than a century of experience in positive youth development partnering with youth to help them find their passion.

4-H and Clover Kid Leaders receive recognition for years of service to the Cass County 4-H Program at the 2024 County 4-H Awards Convention. Toni Rieck, Terri Hansen, Carrie Ohms, Diane Brahms.

Clover Kid Leaders include Kristen Alexander, Sarah Becker, Jessica Delage, Terri Hansen, Kaitlynn Walter, Braedi Wickard and Katie York. 4-H Club Leaders include Jess Barber, Diane Brahms, Carolyn Bruck, Carrie Harrison, Eva Jensen, Melissa Johnson, Jerry McCrory, Holly Oathoudt, Lea Anne Peterson, Darrin Petty, Troy Retallic, Toni Rieck, Jill Rudy, Crystal Schroder, Ashley Skow, Aubrey Stuart, Jenae Waters, Brittney Weirich, Amanda Will, Molly Wise, Dave York, Kristy York, and Hillary Zellmer. Club Volunteers include TJ Barber, Rio Johnson, Chuck Rudy, Logan Skow, and Kara Victor.

The Iowa 4-H Foundation offers County 4-H Programs the opportunity to hold an endowment fund as a way for donors to give locally and to invest in the long-term success of local 4-H Programs. County endowments can identify and prioritize investment in 4-H Programs that will have the greatest impact locally while growing for the future. The Cass County 4-H Endowment Committee hosts an annual Pancake Supper fundraising event in the spring and an annual online giving campaign in the fall. They use funds to support youth participating in 4-H opportunities and events that take them beyond Cass County, scholarships to graduates, and covering the $45 program development fee for 4-H members annual enrollment to be in 4-H.

Cass County 4-H Endowment Committee members include Stacie Euken, Jon Johnson, Lisa Woodward, Jenea Waters and Dave York. The 4-H Youth Action Committee is an active volunteer group of youth and adults that works in cooperation with Youth Program Specialists and County Extension Staff to provide leadership to the county 4-H program. The Youth Action Committee works to meet the developmental and educational needs of youth and is responsible for programming integrity. They provide county-wide workshops and opportunities including Fall Fest, Officer Training, various project workshops, and help develop and enforce the Cass County 4-H Participation Policy Guidelines for all members.

4-H Youth Action Committee members include Jeff Anderson, Shane DeBord, Melissa Johnson, Carrie Ohms, Tony Orstad, Ashley Skow, and Kristy York, along with high school 4-H Youth members.

Cass County also has a large group of active Master Gardeners that meet monthly to plan projects such as community garden spaces, food donation projects, educational activities, local project grants and community beautification efforts. The goal of the Master Gardener program is to support horticulture education and community service. Cass County Master Gardeners provide many hours of volunteer service and gardening education within their local communities. To raise funds for these activities, the group annually holds a spring and fall plant sale fundraiser.

Master Gardeners include Lori Anderson, Marla Anstey, Michelle Behrends, Catherine Booth, LaVon Eblem, Theresa Hansen, Carolyn Hartman, Jane Hayes-Johnk, Kolton Hewlett, Ciara Hoegh, Connie Jones, Judy Kennedy, Dottie Krogh, Alan Ladd, Sue Liston, Donna Reimers, Janice Steffen, Kay Stork, Mary Strong, Todd Turner, Karen Mailander, Vicki Nordskog, Kristy Pellett, and Brad Rassmussen.

Certified community volunteers prepare taxes with computer software and help with special tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or Disabled. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free and accurate income tax assistance to qualifying low-to-moderate income individuals and working families, older adults, limited English speakers, and persons with a disability each spring. Vita Tax Prep Volunteers include Lori Rassmussen, and Connie Petersen.

The Cass County Grounds Committee oversees the fair grounds and the Cass County Community Building. They manage the grounds mowing and maintenance all year long while also setting up, cleaning, and managing rentals hosted in the Cass County Community Center throughout the year.

Cass County Grounds Committee members include Scot Bailey, Curt Behrends, Clint Freund, Paul Gade, Mike Henderson, Dennis Jipsen, Rick Larsen, Mike McDermott, Steve Myers, Dan Olsen, Stephen Ritter, Derek Sanny, Glen Sonntag, Nathan Steffen, Dave Williamson, Alan Zellmer and Greg Zellmer.

The Cass County Fairboard is a volunteer group that plans and hosts the annual Cass County Fair. Throughout the year they work to coordinate entertainment, plan food stand menus, review rules, coordinate with volunteer Fair Superintendents, and ensure youth and the local community have a fun and safe fair experience. The Fairboard works cooperatively with the Cass County Grounds Committee as they take over the fairgrounds for only one week of the year.

Fairboard members include Trevor Becker, Cutis Bierbaum, Natalie Bierbaum, Shane DeBord, Liz Denney, Mike Dreager, Eric Hansen, Paul Hocamp, Jon Johnson, Mike Jacobsen, Stephen Ritter, Cory Scholl, Grant Stuart, Wayne Victor and Drew Williams.

Fair Superintendents help the Cass County Fairboard with management and delegation of fair departments. Superintendents work cooperatively with FFA Advisors and the Cass County 4-H program to ensure youth have opportunities to learn and grow within their department. Superintendents are responsible for overseeing individual department rules, contest materials, committee helpers and planning/assisting with department needs throughout the year and all during fair week.

Fair Superintendents include Jeff Anderson, Whitney Baxter, Jackie Brokaw, Jordan Dailey, Liz Denney, Marcy Dorsey, Ashley Freund, Marjorie Frisbie, Melissa Johnson, Layne Kinney, Melissa Lingk, Tracy Marshall, Ann McCurdy, Dexter McDermott, Eric Miller, Kat Niemann, Holly Oathoudt, Darrin Petty, Justin Retallic, Troy Retallic, Hannah Richter, Haley Schmidt, Chris Scholl, Kara Victor, Duane Weirich, Julie Williamson, Molly Wise and Katie York.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Adair County held a public hearing this (Wednesday) morning in Greenfield, with regard to proposed plans by Agriland FS, to expand their anhydrous ammonia storage facilities and the relocation of anhydrous ammonia tanks. Agriland representatives were on-hand to provide a brief summary of the project, which is located at 1706 160th Street, near Casey.

Having not heard any oral, nor received any written objections, the Supervisors approved the expansion plan as presented. They also approved a request from Weed Commissioner Nathan Jensen, for publication of a Notice of Weed Destruction. During Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman’s portion of the agenda, the Board passed a resolution setting a public hearing to vacate a portion of Lewis Avenue. The road was established as a straight throughway in 1879, but was relocated about a dozen years later.

The easement is for road purposes, and since it is not being used for that purpose, Kauffman said it should be vacated and quick-claim deed it back to the Baudler family and then obtain an easement, “Plus a little extra.” The Board approved setting the date for a public hearing as May 21st, at 9:05-a.m. Kauffman then presented his weekly report on Adair County Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities.

The Adair County Supervisors discussed the Medical Examiner’s fee, with regard to mileage. The rate has not been updated for about 13-years, according to Auditor Mandy Berg. The Board’s consensus was a fee of $200 plus mileage, is appropriate considering what other counties are paying. The new rate is effective as of July 1, 2025.

They acknowledged receipt of a Manure Management Plan Update from Prestage Farms. And, the Board approved signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Decatur County, for Mental Health Advocate services. They also approved a Child Abuse Prevention Grant drawdown, in the amount of $990.40.

The same MOU was approved for other counties in the area that are part of the mental health advocate consortium.

(Radio Iowa) – South Dakota regulators say there’s too much uncertainty surrounding the Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed pipeline route in South Dakota and they’ve denied the company’s application to build and operate the pipeline in their state. A spokesperson for the company says Summit will reduce the scope of its pipeline route in South Dakota and reapply. Kristie Fiegen is a member of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.

“The current route, in my view, is not viable,” Fiegen said. “Summit Carbon pipeline needs to come back and they need to go back to the drawing board and develop a route and submit a route that will comply with the laws.” South Dakota recently passed a law that does not allow Summit to use eminent domain authority to seize land from South Dakotans who don’t want the pipeline on their property. This is the second time South Dakota regulators have rejected a pipeline application from Summit. “At this point, we really don’t know the route,” Fiegen said. “We don’t know the timeframes. We don’t know their plan.”

A spokesperson for Summit said the decision is disappointing, but the company is committed to the project and will retool and refile its application in South Dakota. The IOWA Utilities Commission granted Summit a permit last year, but construction cannot begin until the company obtains permits from the other states along the pipeline route.