ATLANTIC—Officials with the Iowa DNR said Monday (Today), that following a producer’s report on Oct. 4th, DNR staff investigated a manure spill about seven miles northwest of Atlantic.

DNR staff found that an unknown amount of manure had overflowed a pit at the Dennis Kuehl hog operation prior to their site visit Friday afternoon. The manure flowed into an underground tile line, then into an unnamed tributary to Camp Creek.

DNR staff did not see any fish in the stream. The producer is moving the animals to prevent further overflows. He plans to pump out and land apply manure from the pit. DNR will monitor cleanup and consider appropriate enforcement action.

The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources said today (Monday), ruby-throated Hummingbirds are headed south for the winter. Hummingbird migration in Iowa usually lasts from late August to early October. This year, hummingbirds are still being reported throughout the state in the second week of October. Many of the birds we’re seeing now bred north of Iowa and are working their way to their wintering areas in Mexico and Central America. So, when is the right time to take down hummingbird feeders? And can feeding them stop the hummers from migrating when they should?

View an animated map of their migration here: https://ebird.org/science/status-and-trends/rthhum/abundance-map-weekly?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Hummingbirds, like other species, need to build up body fat in order to make their large migration flights, so refueling locations like backyard feeders are important. One of the triggers for birds to migrate is day length, and regardless of food availability they will migrate as the days grow shorter. The best thing to do is to keep hummingbird feeders up for at least 10 days after you see your last hummingbird to make sure and provide food for any migrating stragglers.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The union representing workers at pork processing plants has sued the federal government to challenge new rules finalized in September that allow companies to set line speeds and turn more food safety tasks over to company employees. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and local unions in Minnesota, Iowa and Kansas have joined with nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen to file the lawsuit in federal court in Minnesota.

The lawsuit alleges that the new rules announced in September by the U.S. Department of Agriculture violate the Administrative Procedure Act because it is not backed by reasoned decision-making and should be set aside. A USDA spokeswoman says the agency does not comment on pending litigation.

(Radio Iowa) — The duck season is set to open this weekend and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports that access to several of their popular public wildlife management areas have been cut off by floodwater. D-N-R wildlife biologist Matt Dollison says parts of the Riverton area’s Jensen Tract south of County Road J-46 are blocked due to flooding. “The boat ramp there, and the walk-in parking lot that’s very popular — both of those have been cut off by floodwater,” Dollison says “The road is closed there due to water coming in through a previous levee blowout on the south end of that area. So, that’s kind of a new one.” Many other areas are also blocked by Missouri River flood water.

“Including the M.U. Payne Wildlife Management Area, the Auldon Bar Wildlife Management Area, Copeland Bend and Forney Lake and Noddleman Island,” he says. “Several of the roads that go to those are currently still underwater also. I guess people just need to be aware as they head out for the duck opener this Saturday there could be limited access. They might want to get out maybe beforehand and ensure they can get where they want to go.” Dollison anticipates a slight reduction in the number of hunters coming into the area. “The main area at Riverton north of the highway is our most popular area,” Dollison says, “and it’s currently still accessible–both by boats at the boat ramp, and by walk-in hunters. I’m sure we’re still have quite a few hunters going there. People can still walk in basically anywhere they can get on the other parts of the areas.”

Dollison says the flooding isn’t good for people — but it could be a boost for ducks and other waterfowl. “Waterfowl use water — so having a bunch more water around–especially these flooded, weedy crop fields that weren’t able to be planted and that sort of thing–those are going to be great areas for the waterfowl to use. There’s going to be a lot of migratory habitat for ducks and geese with all this water. So, they’ll be good that way,” Dollison says. “But, it will probably spread the birds out quite a bit more than usual.” Likewise, Dollison doesn’t believe the flooding will significantly impact the area’s deer population. He believes most of the deer herds along the Missouri River have relocated to other areas, such as the Loess Hills.

(Radio Iowa) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler released the details today (Friday) of the Trump administration’s agreement on how much ethanol will be blended with gasoline.Wheeler says the agreement for what’s know as the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) will address concerns about blending exceptions given small oil refineries. “By averaging the last three years of what the small refinery program takes and propose going that much higher than 15 BILLION gallons — so at the end of the day we net out at least15 BILLION gallons or higher. So that the corn farmers, the ethanol producers have the certainty that they need,” Wheeler says. Around 30 ethanol and biodiesel plants nationwide have either temporarily or permanently shut down in recent weeks — including four plants in Iowa — because of the uncertainty caused by the waivers. Wheeler says this plan should help them.

“For next year we are putting a projection for the small refinery program into the requirements on the refinery side for what they have to blend,” Wheeler says, “and that way at the end of the day for 2020 we will have at least 15 BILLION gallons of corn ethanol.” Wheeler says there are other things happening that will also help ethanol producers. “We also continue to export more ethanol as well. So the export market is growing — we did the E-15 earlier this year — which is going to allow higher blends of ethanol to be sold nationwide,”Wheeler says.

Iowa’s elected officials who harshly criticized Wheeler following the granting of the refinery waivers, responded positively to today’s announcement. Senator Chuck Grassley is praising the plan which Grassley says will “fix” the agency’s exemption process and help corn and soybean growers. Grassley, a Republican and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, says the president is “fighting for the farmer.” Grassley says, “President Trump delivered for Iowa, the farmers, the biofuel producers, and in the end, helping the entire country to be more environmentally good.” The solution outlined today (Friday) by the Trump administration is exactly how the R-F-S, is meant to function, according to Grassley.

“Since taking office, President Trump has listened to the concerns of farmers and biofuel producers,” Grassley says. “Now, he delivered a victory that will ensure the integrity of the R-F-S is maintained for years to come.” While the R-F-S mandates that certain amounts of ethanol need to be blended into gasoline, the Trump administration granted 85 waivers to refineries, freeing them of the ethanol requirement. Grassley says the plan will “fix E-P-A’s exemption process and help farmers and biofuels producers going forward.” “You can grant all the waivers you want to grant but the law provides for adding back in gallons lost,” Grassley says. “So, basically, that’s what this does.” The R-F-S requires 15-billion gallons of corn-based ethanol be blended into gasoline starting in 2020, but the waivers allowed refineries to refuse some four-billion gallons. Grassley says he’s satisfied with the new plan. “I’m not going to make any decisions until we know what EPA is going to put on paper,” Grassley says. “Fifteen-billion gallons is 15-billion gallons. What they do on waivers doesn’t make much difference, as long as we get what we were promised.”

Iowa’s other U-S Senator Joni Ernst issued the following statement following today’s announcement: “This is great news for Iowa and rural America. President Trump is following through on his commitment to our nation’s hardworking farmers and biofuels producers. The RFS is essential to the livelihoods of folks across our state, which is why I’ve been fighting tirelessly on behalf of Iowa’s farmers and producers every step of the way and making Iowans’ voices heard throughout this process. Our message was clear: uphold the RFS-15 billion means 15 billion. The president heard that message and has acted on it. The steps outlined today by the administration will help increase demand for our biofuels, provide certainty for farmers and producers for years to come, and ensure that EPA is implementing the RFS as it was written.”

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig issued this statement: “This is welcome news for Iowa’s farmers and the renewable fuels industry. President Trump listened to our producers’ concerns and took action to address them. This is what happens when farmers, biofuels producers and government leaders work together to make our voices heard. We are grateful to President Trump for directing EPA to uphold the intent of the Renewable Fuel Standard, and we look forward to working with EPA and USDA to implement today’s announcement. As the number one producer of ethanol and biodiesel in the country, Iowa is proud to lead the nation in reducing our dependence on foreign oil. We will continue to work to restore and build demand for these critical markets for Iowa agriculture.”

(Radio Iowa) — State officials have frozen tax incentives for a Sioux City pork processing plant due to an investigation of alleged mistreatment of foreigners recruited to work at the plant. Governor Kim Reynolds says Seaboard Truiump Foods was awarded 16-and-a-half MILLION dollars in tax credits and sales tax breaks for the Sioux City facility which opened in 2017. “We’ve put a hold on any of the state incentive payments that have been awarded to the company,” Reynolds says.

Micronesia’s government asked the U.S. government to investigate after dozens of people who moved from Micronesia to take jobs in Sioux City accused recruiters of misleading them about the work. The workers also have complained they’ve been verbally and physically harassed inside the plant. “We are going to hold and not allocate any of the incentives until the investigation is finalized and we understand if that took place and how they are reacting to the allegations that they are accused of,” Reynolds said.

Seaboard Triumph released a written statement to The Sioux City Journal, saying “many of the allegations are untrue.” Company officials indicated they are working with local, state and federal authorities as well as the union that represents workers to address any labor violations at the plant. A document posted online by Micronesia’s government indicates workers are accusing Seaboard Triumph of issuing false Social Security numbers and seizing their passports.

Seaboard Triumph is conducting its own investigation of the recruiting firm it has used in Micronesia.

(Radio Iowa) — Nearly 400 farmers and ranchers gathered in Omaha Wednesday for a rally to protest low cattle prices and high profits for beef processors. Organizers say meat packers are manipulating the cattle markets and the Trump Administration must take action. Chris Petersen, a hog farmer from Clear Lake, was among those who spoke.

“Fight like hell! It’s our culture. It’s our future. Do the consumers of this country want corporate controlled agriculture feeding them or family-farm agriculture?” Petersen says there are few independent pork producers like him left after packers started owning the hog barns and the pigs inside — and hiring farmers to do the work.

“Don’t let that happen to your cattle guys. Don’t,” Peterson said. “They done it the chickens. They done it to the pigs. Now they’re after the cattle.” Another speaker compared the cattle market to “fantasy football” — saying cattle prices aren’t real. Rally-goers also are pressing the Trump Administration to reinstate “country-of-origin” labeling so consumers know if they’re buying beef from U-S producers or beef that’s been shipped in from another country.

According to the latest federal data, there were roughly 25-thousand cattle operations in Iowa in 2017. And on January 1st of THIS YEAR, there were nearly four million head of cattle on feed or in the pasture.

(Reporting by Ken Anderson of Brownfield Ag News)

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa game officials and deer hunters are taking extra precautions this season in the wake of an emerging threat of a chronic fatal disease affecting deer. The Telegraph Herald reports that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources plans to collect as many deer samples in northeastern Iowa as it can this hunting season to test for chronic wasting disease after the first case in Dubuque County was confirmed in January. Samples also will be collected from surrounding eastern Iowa counties.

The disease attacks the brains of deer and elk and is always fatal. No human cases have ever been recorded, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises people to not eat meat from infected animals. The disease has become increasingly prevalent in parts of the Midwest, including Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The Shelby County Conservation Board is hosting an Iowa Fur Harvester Education Workshop on Saturday October 12th from 8am to noon, at the Nishna Bend Recreation Area Nature Learning Center. The Board invites you to come learn about trapping from veteran instructors. Some of the topics covered:

*History and heritage of the fur trade
*Biology and management of Iowa furbearers
*Wildlife regulations and their purpose
*Ethics and responsibility
*Fur harvesting equipment & hands on instruction
*The basics of harvesting Iowa Furbearers
*Marketing Furbearers
*Public relations
*The basics of outdoor safety and survival

All ages are welcome! To register for the event please follow this link: https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/148660

(Radio Iowa) – The wealthiest Iowan has reportedly made a significant addition to his wealth. Forbes magazine shows only one Iowan on its list of the 400 richest Americans, Harry Stine, who founded Stine Seed in the 1950s. A year ago, Forbes listed Stine’s net worth at $3.8 billion, but in the latest list, shows him at $5-billion. He’s risen on the list from the 179th wealthiest American to number 131. The increase in his worth is attributed to a new line of weed-resistant soybeans. Stine is 77 and still lives on the family farm in Adel.