(Radio Iowa) – Local officials in about a third of Iowa counties have issued outdoor burning bans. National Weather Service meteorologist Rod Donovan says over the past week and a half the satellite data for Iowa shown lots of hot spots and radar has picked up smoke plumes from a lot of field fires.

“We actually had a pretty big fire just west of Colfax going across some grassland yesterday,” Donovan says.

It doesn’t take much to spark a fire in current conditions according to Donovan. “Part of the issue we’ve had across Iowa is really our abnormally short winter, at least abnormally dry and warm across the area,” Donovan says, “…not having a prolonged period of snow cover, a lack of precipitation.”

These conditions have extended the drought. Donovan says pastures, cropland and grassy areas enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program are “extremely combustible” right now.

Counties in western/southwest Iowa with a Burn Place in effect (as of March 3, 2024)

“It doesn’t take much for an ignition source to create hazardous fire weather conditions,” Donovan says, “warm, very dry, low humidities in addition to these very strong springtime winds that we get across the state.”

The forecast for Iowa indicates March temperatures are likely to be above normal. Donovan says to expect more red flag warnings from the National Weather Service until plants spring to life and fields start turning green.

(Radio Iowa) – For the earliest date on record, the ice has been declared officially out on Clear Lake.  Clear Lake Water Department Superintendent Adam Theiss made the “ice out” declaration on Sunday. It marks the earliest “ice out” date in history, beating the previous record of March 5th in 1931. There had been patches of ice observed on the lake in the last week, holding the ice out declaration back from being declared on an even earlier date.

Last year, the ice was declared officially out on April 5th. The latest Clear Lake has ever been declared “ice out” was April 28th in 1951. Clear Lake was officially declared iced in for the winter season on November 28th.

An early spring it could make things difficult for some of the state’s trees. D-N-R Forestor Tivon Feeley says conifer trees in particular may have some problems. He says wind and the ground that still a little bit frozen so roots can’t take up water leads to something called winter desiccation. Feeley says the symptoms may not appear until well into spring and then they are going to brown up. You will notice that the greenery turns brown and Feeley says the winter desiccation often kills the trees.

(Radio Iowa) – Forecasters predict Iowa will have another unseasonably warm weekend ahead, and one downside to the spring-like temperatures in the 60s and 70s is that creepy-crawly ticks will be on the move. Entomologist Tom Klubertanz says if you’ll be spending any time outdoors, especially hiking in the woods, wear insect repellent, and be sure to check yourself for ticks after you come back inside.

“It doesn’t even have to be that warm,” Klubertanz says. “Even in typical winters, if we get a warm spot into the 40s, it’s enough to get tick activity, but this is kind of extreme and the longer ticks are moving around, the more chance we’ve got of attracting them.” Ticks aren’t something Iowans would typically worry about in early March, but a warm winter means otherwise. Klubertanz says a longer tick season brings the threat of southern tick species migrating north.

Asian longhorn tick (ISU Extension photo)

“The two that come to my attention are the Lone Star tick and the Gulf Coast tick,” he says. “Both can transmit diseases, not Lyme disease, but other diseases.” There’s another tick to be watchful for, especially if you raise cattle or horses in Iowa. The Asian long-horned tick has been found in at least 19 states, including Missouri.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says there is a deal in the works to fund the federal government. Hinson talked about the deal during her weekly conference call with supporters. “An agreement in principle has been reached to fund the government and so I will keep you updated on that legislation we’re hopeful we’ll see it sometime this weekend,” Hinson says. The federal government’s fiscal year started October 1st, but Congress has not agreed on a budget for the year. The Farm Bill has been put off, but Hinson says it is not forgotten.

“I think it’s also important that we still prioritize the farm bill it’s why…. I think it was in December we sent a letter to Speaker Johnson urging him to still move forward and work on a farm bill our priority this week does need to be getting these bills done so we can complete the appropriations process and move on to the next one,” she says. Hinson also talked about the need to keep the pressure on the E-P-A to approve the year-round sale of E-15 gasoline.

“There are so many different elements of our economy that are dependent on this decision and delaying it is frankly unacceptable and irresponsible, so I will continue pushing for not only the waiver for this summer but going forward prompt responses from the E-P-A,” Hinson says. The E-P-A announced it would make E-15 available year-round for eight Midwest states starting in 2025. Hinson and the rest of the Iowa Congressional delegation sent a letter to the Biden administration calling for the ethanol-blended fuel to be allowed for this summer’s driving season.

w/Kate Olson.

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(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate has voted to establish fines for food processors that sell products in Iowa with labels suggesting food made with plant or insect based protein is a meat-based product. Senator Dawn Driscoll, of Washington, raises Angus cattle on her family farm near Williamsburg. “For far too long states like California have been legislating for us and today Iowa takes the stand and takes the offense for once in agriculture,” Driscoll said.

That’s a reference to rules on how big the living space for pigs, chickens and baby calves must be in order for products like veal, eggs and bacon to be sold in California. If the bill passed by the Iowa Senate becomes law, food processors could be fined as much as 10-thousand dollars for selling something labeled as meat in Iowa when it’s not.

“Lab grown products are emerging technology and the Fair Labels Act is an important first step for making sure that consumers understand the difference between lab grown or plant-based products and real beef, pork, turkey, lamb, goat and chickens raised by farmers and ranchers.” The bill would provide some latitude to marketers, however.

“A cell-cultivated, insect or plant protein product is permitted to use an identifiable meat term such as a drumstick or sausage if the label includes…terms such as…meatless, lab grown or plant based,” Driscoll said. The bill had included a ban on research at the state universities into the production or use of manufactured meat products, but that was removed. An addition to the bill calls for state officials to seek a waiver that would not allow food stamps or benefits for women with infants and young children to be used to buy manufactured meats.

“This is a preventative measure against an activist federal government that wants to see our children eat from a petri dish,” Driscoll said. Senator Tony Bisignano, a Democrat from Des Moines, says most Iowans can buy Beyond Meat or Impossible Burgers at the grocery store, but low income Iowans couldn’t if the bill becomes law. “Why are we denying them a choice? But this is food — food!” Bisignano said. “It’s for people to choose and eat and it’s not our decision, because they get assistance, to tell them what to eat.”

Despite those objections to a section in the bill, Bisignano and every other senator present voted for the total package. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports an open burning ban is now in place for Cass County (Effective 2-p.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2024). The ban prohibits open and controlled burning in Cass County, Iowa; including all incorporated city limits within the county. (See the proclamation here )

The current drought conditions present an increased risk for the potential of rapid fire spread. Controlled fires can quickly become uncontrollable. It has been determined that open burning constitutes a danger to life or property.

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris, grass/agricultural ground and set-asides or other items during the ban. Small recreational patio or camp fires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fire place of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fire place is prohibited.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban. The ban will remain in place until environmental conditions improve.

Any questions regarding this burn ban should be directed to your local Fire Chief.