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CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Iowa Agribusiness Network!
CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!
The income tax returns Iowans are filing provide some insight into the health of Iowa’s economy. Legislative Services Agency analyst Jeff Robinson says “So far this tax return season individual income tax returns for tax year 2015 are showing good wage growth,” he says, “but growth in unearned income such as interest, dividends and capital gains is negative, while reported farm income is down significantly.”
Robinson has reviewed overall tax payments to the state over the past nine months. “Year to date revenue growth is 2.3 percent through March and that is in line with current budget expectations for the year.” Eighty-eight percent of that growth is in income tax payments to the state. Sales tax payments to the state are up, but not quite as much as experts had predicted.
(Radio Iowa)
The second annual “Women Gaining Ground” conference will take place Sat., April 30th, in Glenwood. According to officials with the ISU Extension Service, the day will be jam-packed with fun and informative opportunities. Participants are invited to arrive between 8-and 9- a.m. to check in, browse vendor booths, and enjoy a famous Donut Stop donut, fresh fruit and coffee bar.
At 9-a.m., Laurie Guest will take the stage for her presentation, Life in the Espresso Lane.” With a mix of fun and wisdom, she will share behaviors that can change our accelerated lives and teach us how to manage our mental caffeine and find contentment even during stressful times. Laurie is the author of “Wrapped In Stillness” and blogs at www.solutionsarebrewing.com..
Following the Keynote Speaker, the first breakout session will be held and participants will be invited to choose one of the following:
The second break-out session will begin at 11:30 and will feature topics that include:
Participants will be treated to a hearty lasagna lunch. During the lunch hour, there will be time to visit the vendor booths and socialize. There will also be drawings for door prizes and a $100 Early Bird Cash Prize.
The final session of the day will feature topics that include:
The day’s activities will conclude around 2:30 or 3:00-p.m. Vendor applications are still be accepting for the event. Download the form at www.extension.iastate.edu/fremont .
Registration forms are available at www.extension.iastate.edu/montgomery or by visiting the Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/womenlandlegacywgg/.
Register by April 8th to take advantage of Early Bird discounts and for a chance to win $100 CASH! The final registration deadline is April 21st. For more information, call Iowa State University Extension & Outreach—Montgomery County at (712) 623-2592.
The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) says the Fire Danger rating in the County will remain MODERATE this week, but Operations Officer Jason Wickizer says you should keep in mind “This time of year we can go from Moderate to Extreme in less than 24 hours. Sunday was an excellent example where we had Moderate conditions that due to wind, temperature, and humidity changed rapidly to a Red Flag or Extreme condition.”
Continue to notify the EMA if you have any planned large burns, and conduct burns during the early morning or late evening hours when possible.
The director of environmental programs for the Iowa Soybean Association says Iowa’s water quality issues have reached a “tipping point.” “We have to have strong soils. We have to have cleaner water. Our jobs and economy in this state depend on those things,” according to Roger Wolf, with the Soybean Association. A host of different ideas are percolating in the legislature for financing water quality projects.
They range from redirecting the “check-off” dollars farmers send to commodity groups when selling grain and livestock to using some state gambling taxes on water quality rather than state government infrastructure. Wolf says cleaning up Iowa’s water should be a “shared responsibility.” Jan Glendening, The Natural Conservancy’s state director, says it will take four BILLION dollars to address the problem.
“We have had significant water quality issues and natural resource issues for years here in Iowa,” Glendening says, “and it’s something we need to invest in.” On Friday, Iowa Environmental Council executive director Ralph Rosenberg floated the idea of collecting a “clean water fee” on every bottle of water sold in the state — to raise money for water quality projects.
“It’s urgent now. We don’t want to have a Flint,” Rosenberg says. “We want to be proud of our rivers and lakes. We want to be proud of our waters and that’s what’s urgent about it. And if it means we have to raise some taxes, then I think the public will support that as well.” Rosenberg, Glendening and Wolf all appeared on Iowa Public Television this weekend to discuss the issue.
(Radio Iowa)
Shelby County 4-H has received a $2,500 donation from America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund and directed by local farmer Craig Weber of rural Elk Horn. Officials with the Shelby County Extension Service say the donation will help the organization provide positive youth development opportunities through the 4-H program.
When asked why he chose Shelby County 4-H Weber stated he “I just wanted it to go back to the kids.” Mary Taggs, Extension Educator with ISU Extension & Outreach; Shelby County would like to thank Monsanto and Craig Weber for their generous contribution to the Shelby County 4-H program. Taggs says “Donations such as this are imperative to the growth of our program. In a time when more and more parents are working outside of the home, there is an increased need for youth to participate in positive youth development programs such as 4-H. The goals of 4-H are to create productive citizens, outstanding communicators, effective leaders and successful learners.”
For six years, America’s Farmers Grow Communities has collaborated with farmers to donate over $22 million to more than 8,000 community organizations across rural America. Winning farmers will direct donations to nonprofits to help fight rural hunger, purchase life saving fire and EMS equipment, support ag youth leadership programs, buy much needed classroom resources, and so much more.
America’s Farmers Grow Communities partners with farmers to support local nonprofit causes that positively impact farming communities across rural America. Grow Communities is one program in the America’s Farmers community outreach effort, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. Other programs include America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders, which encourages rural youth to remain in agriculture and provides $1,500 college scholarships to high school and college students pursuing ag-related degrees and America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, which works with farmers to nominate rural school districts to compete for $10,000 and $25,000 math and science grants.
For more information, visit www.AmericasFarmers.com.
The grassland/field fire danger index in Shelby County has been downgraded from High to “Moderate” for at least the next few days. Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says the recent moisture and humidity has allowed the area to “green up” as is normally the case in the Spring.
And, even though the danger of controlled burns spreading beyond the intended area
is reduced for the time being, Seivert asks anyone who is planning to conduct a large controlled burn to contact the EMA. Doing so will reduce the number of dispatches to the area Volunteer Fire Departments for controlled burns that may be perceived as being out of control by concerned citizens.
Firefighters from Atlantic were called to the scene of a tractor fire Tuesday evening, north of town. The tractor was burning near some anhydrous tanks when the call came in at around 5:58-p.m. from FSC, located at 54464 Olive Street.
Authorities say after FSC employees completed fueling the tractor that was hooked to an anhydrous tank, a worker started the tractor and began to pull away from the fuel tank when the fire started. Employees quickly disconnected the tractor from the tank before fire fighters arrived. Firefighters were quickly able to extinguish the blaze.
No injuries were reported.
(Photo’s courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Agency)
State tax credits will soon be available to Iowa companies that make new products from what’s left over after ethanol and biodiesel are made from “biomass” like corn and soybeans. Governor Terry Branstad supports the concept and the Iowa House gave it final legislative approval Monday afternoon. Representative Mary Ann Hanusa, a Republican from Council Bluffs, says “This bill incentivizes new start-up companies in Iowa and other ventures to take the biomass feedstocks currently produced in Iowa and manufacture these new building block chemicals.”
Bill backers envision companies developing new products from the starches, sugars and oils that are the left-overs of biofuel production. “The federal Department of Energy has identified approximately 30 chemicals which provide that greatest market potential,” Hanusa says. The bill is “made to order” for Iowa, according to Hanusa, because the state leads the country in biofuel production.
“This bill will create new opportunities for research and development and has the potential for creating new businesses and new product lines,” Hanusa says. “…This legislation will open new horizons in industry, economic development and education across Iowa.” Companies that develop new products from biofuel production left-overs will apply to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for the tax credits.
The bill calls for a 10 million dollar cap on these tax credits each year. The 10 million will come from the Economic Development Authority’s already existing 170 million dollar account for a series of refundable state tax credits.
(Radio Iowa)
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