Atlantic, IA – Cass County Extension is partnering with the SWISH (Southwest Iowa Soil Health) group to host an educational event focused on soil health for area farmers and ag professionals. The second Annual Southwest Iowa Winter Soil Health Conference will be held at the Cass County Community Center, located at 805 West 10^th Street in Atlantic, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm on Wednesday, March 5^th.

The conference will feature soil health experts and farmers from across Iowa sharing their boots-in-the field experience on making conservation practices work on their farms. A meal will be served over the lunch hour. This event is free to attend and open to the public; pre-registration is required by February 26 for meal and materials.  Registration can be done by phone or email to ruth.blomquist@usda.gov or 319-541-2969. Registration is also available online using the attached QR code or via the link on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

The morning session will kick off with NRCS State Soil Health Specialist, Hillary Olson talking about the efficacy of the soil health principles. Hillary will dive into soil health testing and discuss whether tests can measure differences in the soil due to management. Heartland Cooperative Conservation Manager and Nuffield Scholar, Ruth McCabe, will present her thoughts and experiences from an international study on conservation practice adoption. Following Ruth, Warren County farmer Aaron White will discuss practices he’s implemented to improve efficiency and soil health in his corn, soybean and cattle operation, and his goal of building a resilient farm for future generations.

The conference keynote presentation will be given by Brian Dougherty with Understanding Ag.  A dedicated educator and regenerative ag consultant, Brian will focus his session on using a systems approach to building soil biology and improving farm resiliency and profitability. The day will conclude with a panel of local farmers sharing their on-farm experiences in making conservation practices work on their farms and building soil health for increased farm resilience.

This field day is organized by the SWISH group; a volunteer group of farmers, ISU Extension and Outreach staff, NRCS staff, IDALS staff, and industry partners who are passionate about soil health and committed to increasing soil health awareness and adoption across southwest Iowa. This field day is made possible with support from many organizations, including Iowa SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education), ISU Extension and Outreach in Cass County, Iowa Soybean Association, Dakota Bio, Midwest Soil Restore, Iowa Ag Water Alliance, Green Cover Seed, Ducks Unlimited and several southwest Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

For more information about the event, contact local extension field agronomist Aaron Saeugling at clonz5@iastate.edu, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

QR Code to registration Form:

(Radio Iowa) – The D-N-R building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds known for its large tanks displaying the various fish species from across the state is getting a new interactive display. D-N-R spokesperson Tammie Krausman says the new feature is called the Conservation Discovery Area. “We’re going to kind of give a loose interpretation of a cave, kind of representing Maquoketa Caves. And it’s going to be interactive, where anyone can go in it. We might have some like creatures in there, some bats, maybe some different things that you can feel and learn,” she says. The inside feature will also have a tower designed into it that’s modeled after the one at Pilot Knobb State Park. Krausman says another feature will be an in-floor river.

“We are looking at doing a little bit of, kind of colored concrete, and maybe some kind of walk over areas where you can look in and kind of experience what Iowa’s waterways look like, and the type of kind of fish and creatures that live in there, again, to kind of think about the stuff that you maybe don’t really think about live in our rivers. And so how can we kind of get that really close to you, and especially for all those kiddos,” Krausman says. They had various outdoor displays in the 100 years the building has been on the fairgrounds, and an archery area has been one of the more recent popular attractions. Krausman says the new feature will fit in well with what they have now.

“Yeah, we want to keep trying to bring the elements that the state has, like the fisheries, the, you know, ability to try out some recreational archery or air rifle shooting,” she says. “And now one of the things that we can do is try to bring some really cool, iconic park things into the State Fair, hopefully get people to engage with that a little bit and get curious enough that maybe they want to go out and explore to the state parks in Iowa.” Krausman says it’s hard to nail down exactly how many visitors the D-N-R building gets during the entire run of the State Fair. “We know that we have visitors from nearly every single county in the state, and we know that we have visitors from several other states and sometimes other countries. We have seen, during a pretty solid day, a weekday, that 11-thousand people came into our building in the like a two to three hour period.”

The Natural Resource Commission approved the project at its monthly meeting and Krausman says they hope to have it done sometime in July. “We are really hoping it’ll be ready for this year’s fair. So we’re excited. Last year we unveiled the courtyard and the range and the stage, and now we’re hoping to kind of complete our phase with this big inside interactive display,” she says. The N-R-C approved a contract with Austincrete of Newton for nearly 125-thousand dollars to build the display. Krausman says the money comes from a 500-thousand dollar special legislative appropriation that was made to fund the update at the D-N-R building.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Here’s one last reminder from KJAN about an upcoming Iowa Department of Natural Resources town hall-style meeting. Locally, the meeting will take place on Monday, at 6:30-p.m., in Glenwood, at the Southwest Iowa Sportsman’s Club, at 22896 Jamett Road. DNR Wildlife biologist Matt Dollison talks about the opportunity for you to discuss with DNR staff matters affecting the hunting season.

Dollision says there will be AN information presentation on the past hunting season, and more.

Afterward, they’ll talk about the proposed rule changes, how the hunting season went, and comments from sportsmen on what they think could be improved.

Dollison says last year, there were at least 40 people in attendance at the local town hall meeting The meetings are open to the public. Comments collected from these public meetings will be considered along with other related comments received by the Iowa DNR prior to proposing changes to hunting rules and regulations. Proposed rules will be presented to the Natural Resource Commission during a regular public meeting for consideration and additional public comment.

(Des Moines, Iowa; Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Three bills sponsored by state Rep. Charley Thomson, who has been a vocal opponent of carbon sequestration pipelines in Iowa, advanced from House subcommittee hearings, Thursday. The bills dealt with eminent domain, permit length for a pipeline carrying liquefied carbon dioxide and the office of the consumer advocate. Each bill received unanimous approval. The legislation was part of a slew of bills introduced last week aimed at the Iowa Utilities Commission, eminent domain and the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project. Thomson said House File 239 is an attempt to “fix” some of the problems caused by the government realignment bill passed in 2023, which moved the Office of the Consumer Advocate from an independent office to a division under the attorney general’s office.

The consumer advocate, as its name implies, advocates for members of the public in utility cases, like the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project. Jess Mazour, who spoke on behalf of the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club in favor of the bill, said prior to the restructuring of the office, the consumer advocate would file notices that it had reviewed the documents submitted by Summit in its permit application, and it would request further documentation from the company. Mazour said since the restructure of the office, the consumer advocate has been “almost absent” from the process. The former consumer advocate left the office after the restructure and said it made the office subject to political persuasion. Under the new bill, the consumer advocate would be appointed by the governor, instead of the attorney general, would give regular reports to the secretary of agriculture, auditor of the state and state treasurer and head the Office of the Consumer Advocate which would once again be independent.

While much of the conversation on the bill centered on the advocate’s role in the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline permit, Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, said increased oversight from the OCA also would be helpful to protect Iowans in mobile homes from private equity firms who are “price gouging.” House File 242 would allow Iowa landowners to seek declaratory judgment, or a legally binding explanation of their rights, from a district court if their property were subject to an eminent domain claim in an application before the Iowa Utilities Commission. Opponents of the bill said it would lengthen the time and the cost of pipeline projects in the state. Proponents, including the Sierra Club Iowa chapter, landowners and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa said the bill would help to correct the “shoddy track record, regarding due process” by the IUC.

Opponents of a proposed carbon sequestration pipeline gather for a rally outside of the Iowa Capitol on Oct. 8, 2024. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

A spokesperson for Summit Carbon Solutions said in a statement the regulators in Iowa, North Dakota and Minnesota have “affirmed the project’s safety, economic advantages, and importance for energy independence” with their approval of the projects. “We have signed easements with more than 1,200 Iowa landowners and have adjusted the route based on feedback from stakeholders and regulatory agencies,” the statement said. “These actions ensure the project responds to concerns, secures the future of ethanol, and opens pathways to low-carbon markets.” The Iowa Utilities Commission granted Summit Carbon Solutions the use of eminent domain for its carbon sequestration pipeline project that would run through Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota. Per the permit, construction on the project may not begin until the company has secured a permit in South Dakota, which is still pending.

House File 238 also advanced unanimously and would limit permits to liquefied carbon dioxide pipelines to 25 years and prohibit the IUC from renewing those permits. Nate Hohnstein opposed the bill on behalf of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, noting that pipelines were the safest method of transportation for liquified carbon dioxide. Supporters of the bill said they wish it went further and restricted the use of eminent domain on agricultural land.

Each of the House files have matching bills introduced and assigned to subcommittees in the Senate, Senate File 229, SF 226, and SF 225.

DES MOINES— Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Thursday) authorized a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista County, Iowa effective immediately through March 15, 2025. The USDA has confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock.

This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites.

The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.

(Radio Iowa) – Deere and Company is reporting its worldwide sales and revenue fell 30 percent during the last three months. John May, Deere and Company’s C-E-O, says the company’s customers are facing uncertain market conditions, but he’s seeing compelling evidence the company is positioned to successfully navigate the current environment. Deere has reduced its workforce to slow production at plants in Iowa and elsewhere.

Over the last quarter, Deere saw sales slippage for not only its farm machinery, but for John Deere lawn mowers and its equipment for the construction and forestry industries.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A newly formed Aquatics Committee in Atlantic held their second meeting, today (Tuesday, Feb. 10). The  Committee is comprised to a YMCA Board member, the YMCA executive director, YMCA aquatics designee, Atlantic Park and Recreation Department Coordinator, a representative from Park and Recreation Advisory, a city council representative, and two other community leaders with a passion for aquatics.

Members of committee include: Dan Haynes, Ali Pieken, Jodie Hogue, Chelsie Rush, Jeff Christensen, Emily Kennedy, Chelsie Huddleson and Alliison Knox-Westmeyer.

Picture order- Left to right, going around the table clockwise
Chelsie Rush, Chelsie Huddleson, Allison Knox-Westmeyer, Jodie Hogue, Jeff Christensen, Ali Pieken, Emily Kennedy and Dan Haynes. (photo courtesy Ali Pieken).

The General purpose of the Committee is to provide a structure for a formal vision and direction in matters pertaining to aquatics for the community of Atlantic, including:

• A review Atlantic aquatic facilities
• Providing a detailed list of upgrades, repairs, maintenance items to be reviewed by the YMCA and Parks and Recreation Advisory commission.
• Research and present potential options and upgrades on aquatics issues.
• Provide updates to the YMCA board and Parks and Recreation Commission as needed.

The Atlantic Aquatics committee held their first meeting on January 15th. The committee completed an on site pool walk through February 6th to evaluate needed improvements for the 2025 season. Aquatics Committee spokesperson Ali Pieken said “Some of the many things discussed at (Tuesday’s) meeting included: signage for Splash Pad restrooms; a new door for concession stand; process through the state for adding additional features to the pool; membership sales; pool hours of operation, marketing and more.”

Pieken said “The committee is dedicated to provide a structure for a formal vision, direction and progression in matters pertaining to aquatics for the community of Atlantic.”

(Des Moines, Iowa) [submitted by Montgomery County resident Jan Norris ] – On Monday, a bipartisan cohort of more than 30 landowners and farmers from across Iowa met with Senator Charles Grassley to express their frustration with Summit Carbon Solution’s proposed carbon pipeline. The hazardous liquid pipeline would traverse over 1,000 miles of Iowa farmland and require the use of eminent domain for nearly 1,000 properties. Landowners and farmers claim the project is only viable due to the government subsidies available to the carbon capture industry and urged Senator Grassley to abolish a key subsidy known as the 45Q tax credit.

As the longest serving U.S. Senator currently in Congress, constituents impacted by the carbon capture industry believe Senator Grassley can influence a change in policy to end incentives that encourage the construction of unnecessary carbon pipelines. Senator Grassley, as a member of both the Senate Budget and Senate Finance Committees, has the ability to protect the land and livelihoods of Iowa farmers by recommending 45Q be cut during the budget reconciliation process currently taking place.

During the short meeting, Bremer County farmer, Ted Junker, told Senator Grassley, “Republicans, Democrats, Independents, we’ve all come together to fight this carbon capture scam. Nearly 80% of Iowans are opposed to using eminent domain for carbon pipelines. This isn’t a red or blue issue. It’s a common sense issue. Destroying our cropland is not how we support agriculture. Giving our tax dollars to shareholders in foreign countries is not how we support agriculture. Allowing a company to monopolize the ethanol industry is not how we support agriculture. Stand by farmers and cut 45Q during the budget reconciliation process.”

Senator Grassley did not provide a firm position on the request. Impacted constituents hope to follow up with the senator when they are in Washington D.C. next month.

(Radio Iowa) – About 100 people gathered at the statehouse Monday to rally against a bill that would grant some liability protection to pesticide and herbicide manufacturers. The bill cleared the Iowa Senate last year and is getting a rehearing this year. It would forbid lawsuits based on the lack of a warning about potential health risks if the product’s label complies with current federal regulations. Nancy Huisinga worked as a hospice nurse in Wright County for 20 years.

“Do we make chemical manufacturers be responsible for all cancer in the state? No. Do we stand up for people who have an illiness related to manufactured carcinogens and protect their right to take the manufacturer to court for damages? Absolutely, of course we do,” she said, to cheers.

Huisinga and others mentioned that Iowa is the only state where the cancer rate is rising. Rich Gradoville, a retired school teacher, taught at schools in New Sharon, Dyersville and the Des Moines area. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer two years ago. “What our legislators should be doing is working on bills that lower the risk for Iowans rather than working on bills that help the chemical companies protect themselves,” Grandoville said, to cheers. Dan Valentine of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement says the bill will make it harder for Iowans who’ve been harmed to seek justice in court.

“These multi-billion dollar companies doesn’t deserve another legal shield,” Valentine said. “That’s why I’m here. Fighting to protect our communities, our kids and our grandkids, so let’s let our voices be heard.”

A top Republican in the Iowa Senate says individuals who’ve been harmed should be able to file lawsuits to recover damages, but Senate President Amy Sinclair says the bill would impede money-grabbing class action lawsuits targeting ag chemical companies that have followed the law.

(Griswold, Iowa) – An upcoming Agriculture Legislative Forum will be held on February 22nd at 9:00am at the Griswold Public Library. For more information, see the flyer below: