(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Engineer’s Office posted on social media, Friday, that a weight limit embargo on county gravel roads is in effect until further notice. The embargo means the weight limit for vehicles traveling on gravel roads, cannot exceed 10-tons. That includes school buses, which are limited to travel on hard surface roads only, until the embargo is lifted.

It was placed into effect due to the soft road conditions resulting from the rapid freezing and unfreezing of gravel road beds with the recent weather.

The weight embargo on Shelby County gravel roads will remain in effect until conditions improve and the embargo is rescinded.

Cass County: Corn $4.18 Beans $9.57
Adair County: Corn $4.15 Beans $9.60
Adams County: Corn $4.15 Beans $9.56
Audubon County: Corn $4.17 Beans $9.59
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $4.21 Beans $9.57
Guthrie County: Corn $4.20 Beans $9.61
Montgomery County: Corn $4.20 Beans $9.59
Shelby County: Corn $4.21 Beans $9.57

Oats: $3.16 (same in all counties)

(Iowa News Service) – A new report by the group Food and Water Watch says egg companies are exploiting the bird flu outbreak for profit in Iowa. Data show egg prices in the Midwest were already sharply higher long before the latest wave of avian flu.  Some 75% of egg-laying hens are raised on almost 350 factory farms in the U.S. – each housing about 850,000 birds. Now over $5 a dozen, egg prices in Iowa grocery stores are nearly twice what they were two years ago.

Rebecca Wolf, senior food policy analyst with Food and Water Watch, said highly consolidated corporate egg producers are using the outbreak and their market control to drive the numbers still higher – even though egg production costs have remained nearly flat. “Prices rising before the bird flu outbreak, and now an astronomical impact with the actual, real impacts of the bird flu,” said Wolf, “which is a classic case of what we say is price-gouging consumers, so really taking advantage of that market control.”

Farm for growing broiler chickens to the age of one and a half months

Iowa raises more egg-laying hens on factory farms than any other state, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Iowa has lost nearly 30 million birds in the current avian flu outbreak. As the nation’s leader in raising egg-laying hens, Wolf said Iowa’s consolidation makes the industry fragile and highly sensitive to any disruption. She claimed operators designed it that way.

“So, if one birds is sick in one of those 300-some facilities, which is what we’re seeing,” said Wolf, “then all of those birds, in this case, have been culled for the bird flu.” Chickens are more susceptible to disease in cramped confinements, and concentrated manure also threatens air and groundwater quality.

Industry operators say they’re trying to address potential environmental pollution while meeting consumer demand for high-quality poultry.

DES MOINES, Iowa (March 8, 2025) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) in a mixed species backyard flock in Dallas County, Iowa. This is Iowa’s fifth detection of H5N1 HPAI within domestic birds in 2025.

About H5N1 HPAI

H5N1 HPAI is a viral disease that affects both wild and domestic bird populations. H5N1 HPAI can travel in wild birds without those birds appearing sick, but is often fatal to domestic bird populations, including chickens and turkeys. H5N1 HPAI can also impact dairy cattle, and 13 cases were detected in Iowa dairy herds in June of 2024. With supportive care, dairy herds recover with limited, or no mortality associated with the disease.

Heightened Biosecurity 

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is strongly encouraging Iowa poultry producers and dairy farmers to bolster their biosecurity practices and protocols to protect their flocks and herds. In addition, the Department has numerous biosecurity resources for poultry producers and dairy and livestock farmers to reference on its website.

Suspected Cases in Poultry 

If poultry producers or those with backyard birds suspect signs of H5N1 HPAI, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

Clinical signs of H5N1 HPAI in birds may include: 

• Sudden increase in bird deaths without any clinical signs
• Lethargy and/or lack of energy and appetite
• Decrease in egg production
• Soft, thin-shelled and/or misshapen eggs
• Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks
• Purple/blue discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs
• Difficulty breathing
• Coughing, sneezing, and/or nasal discharge (runny nose)
• Stumbling and/or falling down
• Diarrhea

Food Safety 

It remains safe to enjoy eggs and poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always properly handle and cook eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165˚F.

Public Health 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to believe the threat to the general public remains low. Any questions related to public health should be directed to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Wild and Migratory Birds

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asks those who find five or more sick or dead flocking birds within a week to report their findings to their local wildlife biologist or state conservation officer. Do not approach or bring home wild or migratory birds that appear sick or are deceased.

List of Confirmed Cases

As H5N1 HPAI detections are confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, those cases are added to tracking websites located on the USDA APHIS website.

(Shelby, Iowa)  – A clean-up day is planned for Sunday, April 6th, 2025 at Carstens 1880 Farmstead near Shelby.  With upcoming events planned for the summer season, members of Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc. and interested community volunteers are invited to join in this effort to spruce up the farmstead grounds. Clean-up day will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Carsten’s 1880 Farmstead President Terry Torneten says “Winter is behind us so we can get to the farm now. We would appreciate everyone’s help to get the place cleaned up.” Jobs that can be done during clean-up day include raking leaves, picking up small limbs and sticks, trimming trees, minor repairs to the buildings, and dusting off displays that have been in storage since last year.

Carstens 1880 Farmstead is located at 32409 380th St, Shelby, just south of I-80 exit 34. For more information on clean-up day call,402-699-6941.

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Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc., a non-profit group of local volunteers, oversees a working farm museum exhibit located between Minden and Shelby, Iowa in Pottawattamie County.  The farmstead is the home of Carstens Farm Days, which is held the first weekend after Labor Day each September.  The farm is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  For more information visit the web site: www.carstensfarm.com

DES MOINES— Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Saturday), signed an extension of the proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer, and manure.

The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through April 7, 2025. The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), manure (dry and liquid), and distillers grains to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.

This proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

WEST DES MOINES, IA – Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) producer member Elite Octane, an ethanol plant near Atlantic, today (Friday, March 7th) celebrated producing its 1 billionth gallon. Since the plant began operating on July 1, 2018, it has processed over 300 million bushels of corn from area farmers. IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw congratulated Elite Octane, “for reaching the one-billion-gallon milestone.” Shaw said “Not only does this milestone celebrate the plant, but it celebrates the impact Elite Octane has on the local community, area farmers, and consumers across the nation. This is a testament to ethanol’s role in American energy dominance while providing consumers with a cleaner-burning, cost-savings solution at the pump.”

With its 53 employees, Elite Octane has paid more than $1.6 billion to local corn farmers since commencing operations in 2018, nearly all funds received within 60 miles of Atlantic, Iowa. The over 300 million bushels of corn were processed into more than just ethanol.

Elite Octane, Atlantic Iowa (photo from the company’s website)

Elite Octane also produced more than 2 million tons of high protein animal feed and over 300 million pounds of corn oil as well. Additionally, 50 percent of all the water used in the ethanol production process is recycled water from the City of Atlantic that would otherwise be discharged down the river.

(Des Moines, Iowa/Iowa Capital Dispatch) – The Iowa House Judiciary Committee advanced bills Thursday to block hazardous liquid pipelines carrying carbon dioxide from the use of eminent domain.  Two bills also advanced granting rights to intervene in Iowa Utilities Commission proceedings, which GOP lawmakers have done against the case of the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project.

House Study Bill 287 specifies that the “construction of hazardous liquid pipelines for the transportation or transmission of liquefied carbon dioxide” does not constitute a public use for the purpose of condemning agricultural land.  The bill would apply to any condemnation proceedings made on or after its enactment. Committee members voted to advance HSB 287. A companion bill in the Senate, Senate File 92, has not had any scheduled hearings and will likely be “dead” at the end of the funnel week.

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a similar bill into law Thursday morning, that effectively bans the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines. South Dakota is also on the proposed route for the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project, which would transport sequestered carbon dioxide from biofuel refineries to underground storage in North Dakota. Rhoden said the new law is not meant to “kill” the project in South Dakota, but should be taken as “an opportunity for a needed reset.”

Summit Carbon Solutions said in a statement the news is “very unfortunate” but “the project moves forward in states that support investment and innovation.” House File 491 would also restrict hazardous liquid pipelines from the right of eminent domain, by adjusting the definition of a common carrier.

Under the bill, a hazardous liquid pipeline would have to establish “clear and convincing evidence” that it transports a commodity used by an individual consumer, or a commodity for one or more shippers not affiliated with the carrier who will also not sell the hazardous liquid to the carrier.

Rep. Charley Thomson, said the bill “corrects a problem that emerged because of the Summit pipeline docket hearings in front of the Iowa Utilities Commission.”  Summit’s status as a common carrier has been a subject in several lawsuits, including one in which the Iowa Supreme Court reiterated that the company meets the requirements of a pipeline under Iowa Code.

The bill advanced 20-1, and Thomson said there will be an amendment on the floor to clarify that the bill does not apply to railroads.

(Radio Iowa) -South Dakota’s governor signed a bill banning the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines today (Thursday). Sierra Club of Iowa Attorney Wally Taylor says that should stop Summit Carbon from building its carbon pipeline in Iowa.  I think as a practical matter, it does. I mean legally, summit could still get a permit in South Dakota, and if they did, that would allow them to go ahead and construct in Iowa,” Taylor says.

The Iowa Utilities Commission approved a permit for the Iowa portion of the Summit pipeline on the condition they get permits in the Dakotas before they start construction. Taylor says eminent domain is needed to build in South Dakota. “Because, as I understand it, they have a lot of people there who have not assigned easements, and they would have to get eminent domain, and now they can’t do that. So I think, as a practical matter, it may very well stop the project,” he says.

Taylor says their focus continues to be on getting Iowa lawmakers to block the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines here. “There have been several eminent domain bills that have come out of the Iowa House, but they get stopped by Senate leadership. This may change the dynamics a little bit in the Senate, and hopefully we could get a bill through the Senate this year,” Taylor says. Taylor can’t says how likely it is Iowa lawmakers will pass such a bill. “It’s hard to know, but it certainly looks like we’ve got a better shot this year,” Taylor says.

Landowners opposed to carbon pipelines and the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter are holding a Carbon Pipeline Opposition Rally at the Capitol on Tuesday to call on the Iowa Senate to pass a pipeline bill. A spokesperson for Summit Carbon Solutions issued this statement:

“It’s very unfortunate that, despite our approvals in Iowa, North Dakota, and Minnesota, South Dakota changed the rules in the middle of the game. This kind of regulatory uncertainty creates real challenges-not just for our project, but for the ethanol plants in South Dakota that now face a competitive disadvantage compared to their counterparts in neighboring states. While this presents obstacles, our project moves forward in states that support investment and innovation, and we will have more news on that soon.”