Many of Iowa’s trees are struggling in the long-running drought. Joe Herring, a district forester with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says some insects are causing problems with trees, and not just the emerald ash borer.

Herring says fall colors should be coming into view soon, starting with a species of small tree or bush found along roadsides, called sumac (SOO-mack).

During some drought years, the reds, yellows and oranges of fall appear more vibrantly on several species of trees in particular.

The D-N-R says the peak of fall color should be during the second week of October for the northern part of the state, and the second through the fourth weeks of October in southern Iowa.

Wednesday:  Mostly sunny with a high near 81.  South wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday Night:  Mostly clear with a low around 55.  Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday:  Mostly sunny with a high near 78.  East southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.

Friday:  A chance of showers and thunderstorms.  Mostly cloudy with a high near 76.

Saturday:  A chance of showers.  Mostly cloudy with a high near 78.  Breezy.

Sunday:  A chance of showers.  Mostly sunny with a high near 74.

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa lawmaker is suggesting the Iowa Utilities Board lacks the authority to grant Summit Carbon Solutions permission to seize property along its proposed pipeline route from unwilling landowners. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says eminent domain authority is reserved for projects that have a clear public use and public benefit.

Holt, who is chairman of the Iowa House Judiciary Committee, says he’s not opposed to pipeline projects that developers argue would benefit farmers by making corn-based ethanol carbon neutral.

Holt was one of two Republican lawmakers who testified today (Tuesday) at the Iowa Utilities Board hearing reviewing Summit’s application for a permit to build and maintain a carbon pipeline in Iowa. Senator Sandy Salmon, a Republican from Janesville, says Summit’s request to seize about a third of its route across Iowa is breathtaking.

Salmon says private property rights are essential for prosperity and must be preserved.

(Radio Iowa) – The head of the Iowa Utilities Board says there’s a limit to the questions that can be asked by attorneys for landowners who don’t want the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline on their property. The Utilities Board hearing on Summit’s application to build the pipeline is in its fifth week. Board chairman Erik Helland is citing a district court ruling about a previous pipeline hearing — and he says it gives the board authority to limit cross examination of witnesses that is repetitive.

Helland said “…We have clear authority to limit unduly repetitious testimony.” Bret Dubinsky, an attorney for the company, says not everyone is going to get the last word on every point that’s raised during the hearing.

Brian Jorde (JOR-dee), an attorney for landowners, objects.

Pipeline opponents had planned to have the director of the Science and Environmental Health Network testify today (Tuesday) through an online platform, but the Utilities Board recently ruled all those who testify have to do so in person. David Skilling of Algona took the stand this (Tuesday) morning air his objections to having the pipeline on his property. He’s concerned about a rupture and a lagging emergency response.

Another landowner testified Summit had moved its proposed route on his property in response to his suggestions, but moved it back when he did not agree to sign an easement giving the company access to his property.

Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny with a high near 84. South wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Increasing clouds with a low around 61. South wind 8 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny with a high near 79. South wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny with a high near 79.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy with a high near 77. Breezy.

Monday’s high was 83 and this morning’s low was 42 degrees.  We had just a trace of rain in the last 24 hours.  This day last year the high was 87 and the low 60.  The record high is 95 degrees set in 1948.  The record low is 33 set in 1896 and matched in 1938.  Sunrise this morning is 7:04 am, sunset this evening is at 7:23 pm.  Tomorrow’s sunrise is at 7:05 am.

(Radio Iowa) – The ongoing drought continues to cause flow issues on some Iowa rivers. D-N-R Conservation and Recreation Division administrator, Pete Hildreth, says the West Nishnabotna River is too low to allow pumping at the main marsh for the Riverton Wildlife Area.

He says another area of the wildlife area has been able to get water pumped in.

He says that marsh area is four inches below normal, but that have had enough water for the teal hunting season. Hildreth says they hope to eventually get more water in the other marsh.

Hildreth made his comments during the recent Natural Resources Commission meeting, and says there are other areas that are also dealing with low water issues.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  Produce in the Park (PIP) is a weekly farmers market and community gathering held every Thursday evening from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM in the Atlantic City Park, now through October 12th. This week (Sept. 21st), local musician Jenna Nau will be providing live music and Amos Fabulous Foods food truck will be on site from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM. Numerous vendors will be in attendance offering a variety of products including baked goods, produce, sweet treats and crafts.

This week you can look forward to the following vendors:

Aubrey’s Bows: assortment of bows including new fall bow collections
Bridgewater Farms: wide assortment of produce including sweet potatoes
Brun Ko Farms: honey, radishes, peppers, sweet snacking peppers, 5, 10 & 20 lb boxes of heirloom slicing tomatoes, onions, garlic & jalapenos and leeks
CK3 Farms: wide assortment of produce including watermelon
Harrisdale Farmstead: assortment of produce including grapes
Imagine Garden Gifts: unique garden gifts including antique, vintage, and repurposed planters.
Kringleman: assorted Danish pastries
Neighborhood Bakehouse: sourdough, baguettes, sandwich bread & mini chocolate baguettes
Noble Provisions: homegrown ribeyes, beef snacks (jerky, summer sausage, beef sticks), beef brats, patties, pork brats, Italian sausage, & ground pork
Piper’s Brae: aronia berries, aronia jam and eggs
Ray’s Wood Turnings
Sue’s Country Garden: assortment of plants, produce, baked goods & jams/jellies
Ter-Bear Honey: home raised raw packaged honey
The 11th Acre: wide assortment of produce, baked goods, cottage foods & crafts
Windy Hill Compost

Featured kids activities will be bounce houses, provided by the Nishna Valley Family YMCA and yard games. Zion Recovery, PIP September sponsor, will have numerous agencies at the park as well as activities for kids to enjoy.

All vendors accept cash, with many accepting credit cards and Venmo. All qualifying food vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as food stamps) with all fresh produce vendors accepting Double Up Food Bucks–coupons given for SNAP/EBT purchases of fresh produce.

For updates and information on Produce in the Park or how to sign up to participate, visit www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com. ‘Like’ or ‘follow’ Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/).

Produce in the Park is sponsored by: First Whitney Bank & Trust, Cass Health, Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Gregg Young of Atlantic, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Atlantic.

Iowa ranks first in the country for tractor rollover deaths, and a rebate being offered through a University of Iowa program aims to make farmers safer. Brandi Janssen is director of the U-I-based I-CASH, the Iowa Center for Agricultural Safety and Health. A properly-maintained tractor can be a workhorse across several generations of farmers, and Janssen says the older machines are more deadly in rollovers as they lack ROPS, or rollover protection systems.

A ROPS is a metal bar or frame that attaches to the tractor. In a rollover, the ROPS — when used with a seatbelt — prevents the operator from being crushed under the machine. Sadly, many Iowa farmers don’t shell out the money to retrofit their tractors.

Adding ROPS to a tractor may cost between 15- and 25-hundred dollars, but Janssen says a rebate is being offered that erases a large portion of that cost.

There is a waiting list for the ROPS rebates in Iowa, but Janssen encourages every owner of large farm equipment to sign up, as it’s a life-saver.

This is National Farm Safety week. For information about the rebate, visit “ROPSr4u.org” or call (877) 767-7748.

Today:  Sunny with a high near 81. Breezy, with a light south southeast wind becoming south 15 to 20 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Tonight:  A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms with a low around 60. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday:  Mostly sunny with a high near 83. South wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny with a high near 78. South southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday:  Mostly sunny with a high near 78.