(Radio Iowa) – Iowa families who put up a live Christmas tree in their houses back on Thanksgiving weekend are likely ready for it to come down now, and instead of hauling it to the curb to go into a landfill, they might consider ways to repurpose it. Chip Murrow, an urban forestry program specialist with the Iowa D-N-R, says folks with acreages might be able to “tree-cycle” that evergreen back into the great outdoors, somewhere on their own property.

Smaller songbirds will like having a place to get out of the wind and to seek refuge from predators. Murrow says you can also decorate the tree outside.

An old Christmas tree that’s sunk in a farm pond could become an excellent fish habitat, but he cautions, it has to be under certain conditions.

For best results, he suggests sinking it with a cement block secured to the trunk, so it sits upright at the bottom of the pond. For Iowans who are crafty, you could trim the branches to make a fragrant sachet, wreath, or garland to enjoy in the weeks ahead.

Another option would be to find a local Boy Scout troop that could use the tree for outdoor firewood, though with the creosote, it should -not- be burned indoors in a fireplace. A final option, use the needles as an effective mulch on perennial plants, in your garden, and to keep weeds in check next spring.

(Radio Iowa) – Some farmers in Dickinson County who were enrolled in one of the U-S-D-A’s largest commodity support programs for the 2024 crop year believe they were significantly underpaid. Scott Titterington, who farms near Milford, says they’re holding a meeting next week in Spirit Lake.

The Agricultural Risk Coverage program provides payments when a farmer’s revenue for a specific crop falls below the historical average. Titterington says it appears A-R-C payments to farmers in neighboring Emmet and Kossuth Counties were around 90 dollars an acre.

Titterington says they’ve learned just over 98-thousand acres of Dickinson County farmland was enrolled in the ARC program in 2024. Based on the estimates for Emmet and Kossuth Counties — the U-S-D-A would have paid all the Dickinson County farmers who got A-R-C payments MILLIONS more.

The meeting to plot strategy will be held Tuesday, January 6th at 10 am in the Dickinson County Expo Building in Spirit Lake. If the weather doesn’t cooperate on Tuesday, Titterington says they’ll meet Wednesday at the same time and in the same place in Spirit Lake.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill sought by a farm chemical company facing tens of thousands of lawsuits in the U-S that allege Roundup causes cancer did not come up for a vote in the Iowa House in 2025, but House leaders say they’ll talk with fellow Republicans to see if there’s enough support for it to pass in 2026.

There are 67 Republicans in the Iowa House, well over the 51 votes required to pass a bill and House Speaker Pat Grassley says he understands some of his fellow Republicans oppose the bill. “At the same time, I would say as a farmer myself I would much rather be able to buy a product that’s manufactured here, especially here in the state of Iowa, than I would in some of our foreign companies completely owning the supply chain when it comes to those, so we have to be mindful of that as part of the conversation.”

Bayer’s plant in Muscatine makes about 70 percent of the Roundup sold in North America and the company has suggested that facility could close due to financial burden of lawsuits.

The bill would give liability protection from so-called “failure to warn” lawsuits as long the label of a pesticide or herbicide follows E-P-A guidelines. The agency says there’s no risk to human health if Roundup is used according to label instructions. Grassley and House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann are both farmers and Kaufmann says he’d prefer Roundup be made in Iowa rather than China. House Democratic Leader Brian Meyer says the bill is a disservice to Iowans who have been and could be harmed by the use of glyphosate (gl’EYE-foh’sayt) — the main ingredient in Roundup.*

The Iowa Senate has passed the bill and Governor Reynolds has indicated she’d sign it into law.

(Iowa DNR Conservation News; Des Moines, IA) – Iowa’s trumpeter swans attempted a modern-day record 158 nests in 2025, which is an increase of 17 percent over 2022. The nesting data is from the most recent statewide observation survey completed in December. In a news release, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) state waterfowl biologist Orrin Jones, says  “It’s a neat story about the restoration. We spent a lot of time and effort to get the population established and its really taking off right now.”

Recovery has taken time, but is a true modern-day conservation success story, he said. The restoration effort was supported by the Iowa DNR’s Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund; a constitutionally protected fund where hunting, fishing and trapping license fees are deposited and used, in part, to protect, restore, or manage fish and wildlife. The largest waterfowl in North America, trumpeter swans have come a long way since the 1930s, when conservation efforts began in order to protect small populations in Montana and Alaska.

A trumpeter swan with two cygnats on a Chickasaw County wetland. Photo courtesy of the Iowa DNR.

Native to Iowa, trumpeter swans were once as widely distributed as Canada geese, but had been extirpated by the early 1880s. Early and aggressive reintroduction efforts in the Midwest by Minnesota and Wisconsin, followed a few years later by Michigan, and then Iowa, sought to return these iconic waterfowl to their traditional place on the prairie wetlands.

Iowa began with a restoration plan in 1993, followed by the first release of four swans in 1994. The plan included monitoring the swans to evaluate reintroduction success. The DNR released a total of 1,218 swans, ending in 2022. Iowa’s first trumpeter swan nest in the modern era was in 1998, in Dubuque County, followed two years later by one in Winnebago County. Nesting attempts increased slowly following the growing number of released swans. After averaging in the mid-50s for nearly a decade, nest attempts jumped to more than 120 in 2020, followed by nearly 140 in 2022.

“Reintroduction has been successful and we continue to monitor the population as time goes on,” said Taylor Ballard, wildlife research technician with the Iowa DNR’s Clear Lake office. “We ask our staff to record any observations of swans – active nests, swans with a brood – let us know if they see a successful nest and the number of cygnets that nest has, which gives us our number of cygnets of per successful nest.”

Ballard said the active nests average 4.4 cygnets, or young swans, which is helping grow the local population. Of the 158 active nests, Ballard said 98 were known to be successful in hatching. Population surveys begin in mid- to late-April, with peak surveys from May to September. Iowa DNR staff, along with staff from local county conservation boards, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and private citizens check areas with preferred habitat or where nests have previously occurred.

The data is passed along to the Mississippi Flyway Council, who coordinates management with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The birds are doing best on the large semi-permanent wetlands in the prairie pothole region and their trend is continuing to expand in abundance, like we thought it would,” said Jones. “It takes time for swans to reach maturity but once they begin nesting they are productive and we have vacant habitat available for them.”

The Iowa DNR has captured and collared cygnets as part of a survival study. Swans live as a family unit with parents providing protection and teaching the young skills needed to survive. More than 70 percent of cygnets that fledge in September will survive to March. “Trumpeter swans are emblematic of healthy wetland systems, clean water – and are a way to tie a species to the habitat,” Jones said. “It’s a neat story about the swan restoration – and we’re seeing a similar response with the sandhill cranes – they’re expanding, too – and likely will increase until population reaches the carrying capacity of the habitat.”

Iowa swans, along with swans from Minnesota and Wisconsin, are part of the interior population of trumpeter swans. Some of these birds follow traditional winter migration to Missouri and Arkansas, while others will remain in Iowa, to be joined by swans from up north. The 2025 midwinter waterfowl survey recorded more than 4,700 swans in Iowa.

While the population has been increasing, threats do remain. Collisions with powerlines is a major problem, as is ingesting lead. In the last few years, avian influenza has claimed some swans, as well.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa dairy farmers have been able to pull out a small profit on their milk thanks to issues in other sectors of agriculture. Iowa State University Extension dairy expert Fred Hall says the drop in grain prices has been a positive for the industry.

A drop in cattle numbers has sent beef prices up, which Hall says has also helped bolster dairy producers. Dairy cows are usually bred to calve once a year, and Hall says selling some calves has brought dairies more income.

Halls says dairies can target the beef market for some of the yearly calves.

Hall says the numbers make it a good proposition for the dairy producers.

Hall says it is an unusual situation where the dairies are able to take advantage of some issues with other segments of agriculture to help make a small profit.

Cass County: Corn $4.14 Beans $10.17
Adair County: Corn $4.11 Beans $10.20
Adams County: Corn $4.11 Beans $10.16
Audubon County: Corn $4.13 Beans $10.19
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $4.17 Beans $10.17
Guthrie County: Corn $4.16 Beans $10.21
Montgomery County: Corn $4.16 Beans $10.19
Shelby County: Corn $4.17 Beans $10.17

Oats: $2.64 (same in all counties)

(Prices are per bushel; information is from the area Farm Service Agency [FSA] offices)

DALLAS COUNTY, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced Tuesday that the highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in a mixed-species backyard flock in Dallas County. The current outbreak of avian influenza has impacted nearly 185 million birds at backyard and commercial poultry farms since it began in 2022.

The Dallas County detection, which impacted a flock of 15 birds, according to an IDALS spokesperson, is the 10th detection in domestic birds in Iowa this year. The H5N1 strain of the bird flu has also been detected in wild, migratory birds, most recently in large numbers at several lakes in southwest Iowa.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and state departments of agriculture continue to urge producers to practice increased biosecurity to help prevent the spread of the flu. U.S. senators from Iowa and other agricultural states recently urged USDA to prioritize a vaccine strategy for the flu.

Producers who notice sudden increases in bird deaths, or symptoms like lethargy, swelling of the head, coughing and difficulty breathing in their flock should contact their veterinarians immediately.

The public health risk of HPAI remains low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cass County: Corn $4.16 Beans $10.19
Adair County: Corn $4.13 Beans $10.22
Adams County: Corn $4.13 Beans $10.18
Audubon County: Corn $4.15 Beans $10.21
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $4.19 Beans $10.19
Guthrie County: Corn $4.18 Beans $10.23
Montgomery County: Corn $4.18 Beans $10.21
Shelby County: Corn $4.19 Beans $10.19

Oats: $2.62 (same in all counties)

(Prices are per bushel; information is from the area Farm Service Agency [FSA] offices)

(Des Moines, IA – Iowa DNR) – Iowa state parks and forests invite you to join in on a First Day Hike.  More than 40 locations are offering either a guided hike with park staff or a suggested hike to explore on your own.  Kick off the new year outdoors, surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, and experience spectacular views, beautiful settings and the cultural treasures offered by Iowa’s state parks and forests.

Locally, First Day Hikes are being held at:

• Lake Anita State Park (Anita): Hikes ranging from 1/3 of a mile to 4 3/8 miles are available. We will start at the east end of the beach parking lot. We will start out as a group and split up depending on how long everyone wants to walk. Friends of Lake Anita will provide snacks and drinks.
• Prairie Rose State Park (Harlan): Hike the 2-mile grass path around the east side of Prairie Rose Lake. The hike is pretty easy, with just a couple of hills. The Friends of Prairie Rose State Park usually provides hot cocoa and popcorn following the hike.
• Spring Brook State Park (Guthrie Center): Celebrate 100 Years of Springbrook State Park. Join park staff for a 2-mile hike to the highest point in the park, stopping at geologically and historically significant sites along the way and looking for signs of wildlife activity. Warm up with hot chocolate and cookies afterwards! Please dress for weather. There may be areas with ice or snow on trails.
• Waubonsie State Park (Hamburg): Noon – shelter open for potluck/refreshments. Hike starts at 1:00 PM; Meeting Location:Wa-Shawtee Lodge; The Hike will be approximately two miles long on a moderate route through the woods and prairies of Waubonsie State Park and nearby Wildlife Management areas.  Park staff will select a route that best fits weather and snowpack conditions during the week of the hike.  Wildlife viewing and landscape overlooks are abundant on our hikes.  The Friends of Waubonsie will serve lunch from noon through the beginning of the hike, and Wa-Shawtee Lodge will remain open for an hour after the hike for participants to warm up. The trails are mostly compacted dirt, with some intermittent steep sections and rolling terrain.

Find a First Day Hike near you!

(Des Moines, IA) – Dec. 30, 2025 – Iowa farmers and other private landowners invested millions in conservation practices to help treat natural resource issues on their lands last year, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Officials with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service said Monday, through four major Farm Bill conservation programs offered in Iowa, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), Iowa farmers contracted with NRCS to address natural resource concerns such as soil erosion and water quality on about 258,000 private land acres in fiscal year 2025 (FY25).

Overall, NRCS obligated $75.3 million in conservation practice funding to Iowa farmers in FY25 through 1,337 Farm Bill program contracts. Farmers and other USDA customers can sign up for Farm Bill conservation programs on a continuous basis, and most are funded through three- to five-year contracts.

State Conservationist Jon Hubbert says Iowa farmers, contractors, agribusiness companies, and state and local government agencies should be congratulated for the work they accomplished alongside NRCS in 2025. “Iowa is unique in the way we partner with so many others to implement conservation plans, practices and programs,” he said. “It’s great to see the continued interest in conservation here in Iowa. Working together with Iowa landowners, we can help them meet their conservation goals.”

The most popular conservation practices in Iowa, by number of contracts with Iowa NRCS throughout 2025, include:

• Grazing Management
• Cover Crop
• Fence (to support grazing management)
• Brush Management
• Watering Facility (to support grazing management)

Program Breakdown

ACEP: NRCS helps landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect, restore, and enhance wetlands, grasslands, and working farms through conservation easements. During FY25, NRCS obligated about $6.9 million through three new easements that will cover 523 acres. Included in ACEP funding is more than $1 million in stewardship activities on existing easements, which could include prescribed burns, tree removal, or controlling invasive species. There are 1,722 federally funded easements in Iowa across 197,000 acres.

CSP: Through CSP, NRCS helps farmers build a customized plan to meet their conservation goals and needs. Iowa NRCS obligated $21 million through new and renewed CSP contracts during the past year to 320 landowners who signed five-year contracts, covering about 142,000 acres.

Statewide leaders in CSP:

• Jackson County led the state for the third consecutive year with 30 new and renewed CSP contracts, totaling 6,878 acres, with an obligation of nearly $1.5 million.
• Jones County was next with 24 contracts, covering 17,467 acres and an obligation of $2.6 million.
• Winneshiek County had the third most CSP contracts with 22, covering 6,638 acres, obligating more than $1 million.

EQIP: Iowa NRCS contracted about 43 percent of new federal conservation funding through EQIP – a voluntary program that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality, where farmers can choose from a conservation list developed at the county level to treat local resource issues. Through EQIP, NRCS obligated $32.2 million covering 65,658 acres through 467 contracts.

Statewide leaders in EQIP:

• Lucas County led the state with 18 new EQIP contracts that will help treat resource concerns on 2,553 acres at an obligation of nearly $1.4 million.
• Wapello County was second in Iowa with 16 contracts that will cover 5,450 acres for total obligation of nearly $1.7 million.
• Wayne County had the third most EQIP contracts with 15, covering 2,541 acres, obligating $708,978.

Statewide EQIP highlights:

• Through the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI), Iowa NRCS obligated more than $4.6 million, covering 15,840 acres through 50 new contracts. The goal of MRBI is for landowners to adopt practices that will minimize the contributions of nitrogen and phosphorus to surface waters within the Mississippi River basin.
• Iowa NRCS obligated more than $5 million through 276 program contracts, covering about 10,500 acres, to fund wildlife habitat practices statewide. Some of the practices include conservation cover, brush management, tree/shrub establishment, wetland restoration, and wildlife habitat planting.
• Through the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI), Iowa NRCS obligated nearly $1.5 million through 19 contracts covering 3,658 acres. Through NWQI, NRCS provides targeted funding to treat water quality problems in small watersheds.

RCPP: Iowa NRCS provided more than $15 million to Iowans in 2025 through RCPP projects that will treat resource concerns on more than 50,000 acres. NRCS assisted producers through 13 partnership agreements and 547 contracts. For the four RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangement (AFA) projects, a conservation partner directed the project, taking the lead in conservation planning and contracting.

Disaster Recovery

NRCS also helped several Iowa communities recover from recent flooding and damaging high winds through with assistance through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program. NRCS funding exceeded $1.4 million to assist the Cities of Pleasant Hill, Johnston, and Spencer, and Polk and Webster Counties by helping with debris clearing and removal and stream bank protection.

For more information, please visit nrcs.usda.gov or contact your local USDA Service Center. Detailed Iowa NRCS program results and information are available at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2025-12/2025At-A-Glance.pdf or https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/data-and-reports/rca-data-viewer.