(written by Mark Moran; Iowa News Service) – Despite the elimination of a handful of alternative energy tax incentives in the new federal budget, Iowa corn farmers will benefit from one that was extended.

Tax breaks and rebates encouraging investment in solar and wind power in Iowa were eliminated in the federal spending plan. However, the Trump administration extended an incentive enabling farmers in Iowa to produce more corn. The Hawkeye State is the nation’s top corn producer, much of which is used to produce ethanol.

Chris Bliley, senior vice president of regulatory affairs for the biofuel trade organization Growth Energy, said grain-based fuels burn cleaner and are more environmentally friendly.

“The credit actually goes for production of lower carbon fuels that are used for transportation,” Bliley explained. “It includes on-road fuels as well as sustainable aviation fuel. And so, the lower in carbon, the higher the credit.”

The Trump administration has made efforts to extract more fossil fuels, which it said will move the U.S. toward energy independence.

Lawmakers in Iowa and neighboring Midwest states have introduced their own tax incentives for biodegradable jet fuel, which Bliley noted will create economic benefits for ag producers.

“To remain competitive, plants in Iowa and Nebraska and throughout the Midwest are investing in some of these key projects to lower their carbon intensity,” Bliley observed.

The commercial airline industry is aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to the International Air Transport Association, which could continue to benefit Iowa farmers who provide corn for ethanol production.

(Atlantic, Iowa/Cass County ISU Extension) – The 4-H motto is “To make the best better.” One way 4-H members fulfill that motto is by participating in conference judging at the Cass County Fair. All members who exhibit at the fair are awarded ribbons based on conversations with judges, but how can this make the best 4-H member better? Discussions on goals, accomplishments and lessons learned, in a one-on-one setting with trained judges, can help the 4-H’ers grow as exhibitors and individuals.

Throughout fair week, over forty judges will work with 4-H and FFA members during each evaluation process, whether in the show ring, at communication contests, or during static exhibit judging, to help members learn more about themselves and their exhibits. Life skills are emphasized in recognizing 4-H and FFA members who have reached their goals.

All contestants and exhibits are evaluated based on a set of judging criteria, and ribbons are awarded as purple, lavender, blue, red or white to the participants. Ribbon colors are assigned based on the learning of each exhibitor, as well as the quality of the final product.

In all competitions, exhibits are judged based on learning done and expectations met. In some contests, participants also compete against their fellow exhibitors for a placing or rank. During static exhibit judging, participants are competing only against themselves and their ability to present a quality exhibit that is the result of a goal, a plan, and the learning that took place in creating it.

During conference judging, youth have the unique opportunity to talk with a judge face-to-face, explain their project goals and learning, and walk away with the knowledge gained from that judge’s expertise and questions as well. This allows the 4-Her to get immediate feedback from the judge, as well as explain why the project, exhibit or activity was important to them and what was learned.

Fair may only be a once-a-year event for many people, but for local 4-H, Clover Kid, and FFA members, it is a chance to showcase skills and projects they have been working on for the past year. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to view exhibits in the Community Center and tour the livestock barns to see the variety of projects local 4-H, Clover Kid, and FFA members have been working on throughout the year.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are sometimes bugged by bugs, and if you come across a creepy crawler you’ve never seen before, the experts can likely identify it at the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State University. Zach Schumm, an insect diagnostician at the clinic, says there’s been concern this summer with very small critters called springtails.

Iowa’s had plenty of rainy days interspersed with hot, dry days, and that can sometimes prompt springtails to find a way to invade our homes.

Iowans who plan to be spending time outdoors over the coming weeks might be wise to heed a few words of Schumm’s advice.

And if you’ve been nibbled by a flying pest that was out for blood, he notes there are 57 species of mosquitoes in Iowa.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has issued its weekly Swimming Advisory for state beaches/lakes. This week 12 public beaches have advisories for E.coli readings above the acceptable limit for swimming. In southwest Iowa, swimming is not recommended at Lake Manawa Beach in Pottawattamie County, and at the Lake of Three Fires State Park, in Bedford.

Swimming advisories have also been posted for the following:

• Backbone Beach
• Beeds Lake Beach
• Black Hawk Beach
• Blue Lake Beach
• Lake Ahquabi Beach
• Lake Darling Beach
• Nine Eagles Beach
• Pine Lake South Beach
• Pleasant Creek Beach
• Union Grove Beach

(Radio Iowa) – The continued rains created another improvement in this week’s U-S Drought Monitor report, with 88 percent of the state showing NO drought conditions. The D-N-R Jessica Reese McIntyre keeps track of the numbers and says “There is still about 25 percent of the state that’s abnormally dry and about two percent of the state that’s in moderate drought.” she says. Iowa had broken out of a three-year drought just about this time last year, and then the new year started out dry and never got better. “Going into the spring while we were getting rain, we weren’t getting a whole lot to kind of overcompensate for that and then just the overall deficit that we have still coming out of that drought,” she says. June started the turnaround that continued into July. McIntyre says northwest Iowa has probably seen one of the biggest turnarounds after seeing a big section of severe drought.

“Seeing them completely remove all of the moderate drought designation really is encouraging, especially for that area, because you know, they’ve just kind of been battered with drier weather compared to the rest of the state,” she says. “And southwest Iowa kind of continues in a very similar dry pattern.” McIntyre issued a “drought watch” for that southwest areas. She says things are a lot better as we head into the last half of July compared to where we were in January. “Most of the state I don’t have any concern as far as drought or abnormally dry conditions. But again, I’ll just can’t kind of keep my eye on that southwest corner and even in the southeast portion of the state, there’s a little bit of moderate drought, so I’ll be keeping my eye on those,” McIntyre says.

She says continued wet condition through July could clear the drought all the way out of the state.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Queen of the 2025 Audubon County Fair received her crown Wednesday evening from last year’s Queen, Michelle Brooks. The winner for this year’s title is Emily Foran.

She’s a member of the LeRoy Leaders 4-H Club. Emily says being a member of 4-H is a family tradition.

She’s also involved in FFA.

Emily Foran says she has a lot of Static Exhibits at the Audubon County Fair, but she really loves participating with her dog, in the dog show.

2025 Audubon County Fair Queen Emily Foran (Left), and Runner-Up Olivia Carter (Photo via the Audubon County Fair Facebook page)

Emily says she will be attending Colorado State University this Fall, to Major in Business Marketing, with a Minor in Spanish. She hopes to work in International Business when she graduates from college.

Runner-up for the title of Queen, was Olivia Carter. Her parents are Ann and Jerry Carter. Olivia has two younger brothers. She said the Audubon County Fair has been a big part of her life, having shown everything except pigs. Her favorite animal to show is her horse.

She started leasing a horse when she was in 4th grade. She got her own horses last year, and another this year right before her birthday. She also showed chickens and and cows. She received a couple of purple ribbons for the chickens. Olivia is a member of the Bunkhouse Gang 4-H Club, and a graduate of the Audubon High School. She’s interested in studying agriculture when she attends college.

The candidate finalists were treated to a catered meal at the Audubon Agri-Hall, on July 11th.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – All year 4-H, FFA, and Clover Kid members are working hard to develop their talents both in and out of the ring. From practicing showmanship, to keeping their animals healthy, members are dedicated to their livestock projects. Throughout the fair week they have opportunities to show off their hard work from the past year. With events like the Pet Show, Livestock Judging, the Clover Kid Animal Show, and many more. Livestock events run from Thursday afternoon on July 24^th with the Horse Show and end with the Livestock Sale on Tuesday July 29^th. Many animals will be housed in the barns the entirety of fair so make sure to go check them out or join us during the shows to see all the hard work the youth exhibitors have put in towards their exhibit! See the schedule below with times and places that livestock events will be taking place.

Livestock Schedule

Thursday, July 24th

• 2:00pm- Horse timed events – horse arena

Friday, July 25th

• 8:00am- Rabbit Show – indoor show ring
• 9:00am- Horse Halter Show – horse arena
• 11:00am- Dog Show – outdoor show ring
• 3:30pm- Livestock Judging Contest – outdoor show ring

Saturday, July 26th

• 8:00am- Sheep Show – outdoor show ring
• 10:00am- Pet Show – Community Center
• 11:00am- Goat Show – outdoor show ring
• 3:00pm- Clover Kid Animal Show – outdoor show ring

Sunday, July 27th

• 7:30am- Swine Show – indoor show ring
• 10:00am- Poultry Show – poultry barn
• 5:30pm- Cow/Calf Show & Feeder Calf Show – outdoor show ring
• 6:30pm- Horse Fun Show – horse arena

Monday, July 28th

• 8:00am- Beef Show – outdoor show ring
• 5:45pm- Parade of Champions – outdoor show ring
• 7:00pm- Grand Champion Beef Selection – outdoor show ring

Tuesday, July 29th

• 8:00am- Livestock Sale – indoor show ring

(Iowa DNR News) – Rivers across Iowa are swollen and swift with recent heavy rainfall. Some rivers are already dangerously high at or near flood stage, and more rivers could rise fast with chances of rain forecast later this week. “All paddlers, even experienced paddlers, should stay off of rain swollen rivers,” said Todd Robertson, paddling instructor and Outreach Coordinator for Rivers Programs at the Iowa DNR. “If a river level is at the top or out of its bank, don’t try to paddle on it.”

Always know your river conditions before you go paddling. For the latest river conditions, visit the USGS site at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/current or contact your local county conservation board for updates. “Swollen rivers are super powerful with unpredictable current and tons of wood or branch piles coming downstream that can pull a paddler under or pin them underwater,” said Robertson. “These deadly hazards are usually found on outside river bends where currents are strongest, but can be found anywhere on rivers including at the base of bridge piers.”

Large fallen cottonwood trees are a dangerous hazard on the South Skunk River Water Trail immediately downstream of Lincoln Way in Ames. Photo credit: Rick Dietz

Check the Iowa DNR’s interactive paddler’s map for updates on real-time hazards like downed trees and log jams, strainers and bridge construction. Pay attention to the dam warning signs and know where dams are located before you head out on the water. Bridge construction projects across Iowa could close some sections of rivers this summer.

“Water trails across Iowa are impassable with large fallen trees including the South Skunk River Water Trail immediately downstream of Lincoln Way in Ames,”warns John Wenck, Water Trails Coordinator at the Iowa DNR.