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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has allowed a lawsuit challenging Iowa’s management of fertilizer and hog farm pollution in rivers and streams to move forward, handing a significant victory to environmental and community activist groups challenging the state’s voluntary farm pollution regulations. Judge Robert Hanson says in a ruling filed Wednesday that Iowa Citizens For Community Improvement and Food & Water Watch may proceed to trial in their effort to prove the state isn’t doing enough to clean up the Raccoon River, a drinking water source for 500,000 central Iowa customers of Des Moines Water Works.
The lawsuit claims the state has violated the rights of citizens to clean water for recreational and drinking water uses. It asks the court to order mandatory limits on nitrogen and phosphorous pollution and for a moratorium on new and expanding hog confinement facilities. A spokesman for the Iowa attorney general’s office says the state is reviewing the ruling and considering next steps. A spokesman for Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she will not comment on the decision.
Iowa News Service/DES MOINES, Iowa – The U.S. Department of Agriculture soon will release new regulations that livestock and poultry producers hope will better protect them from what they see as unfair competition in the highly consolidated meatpacking industry. The Packers and Stockyards Act was enacted by Congress nearly 100 years ago, but some experts say it hasn’t been effectively enforced. Joe Maxwell, executive director of the Organization for Competitive Markets, said small and mid-size producers need rules to help level the playing field with the large-scale meatpacking companies. 
“Congress acted in 2008, in the Farm Bill of 2008, and said, ‘USDA, you have to clarify these undue preference and these issues,'” he said, “and here we are, 11 years later, still trying to get the protections that Congress mandated.” Maxwell said four U.S,. companies control 82% of the beef market, 68% of pork and 60% of the poultry market, allowing them to keep farmers’ profits below the cost of production – and even to retaliate by refusing to buy their product.
A public comment period will begin after the proposed regulations are released by the USDA. Under the current rules, said Anna Johnson, senior policy associate with the Center for Rural Affairs, farmers face an insurmountable challenge if they go to court against a meatpacking company they believe hasn’t compensated them fairly for their livestock or poultry. “In order for the producer to prove that they were harmed under the contract,” she said, “they actually have to show that the company’s actions harmed not only them and their operation, but also harmed competition broadly for the whole sector, which is generally an impossible standard.”
Incomes for farmers have slumped in the past five years, while the costs of feed, seed, fertilizer, fuel and machinery have increased – and tariffs on ag exports have created more difficulties. The Department of Commerce has said personal income for farmers dropped in the first quarter of this year by the largest rate in three years.
ANITA, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa DNR report the water level of Lake Anita in Cass County will be lowered five feet for a seawall replacement project. This may limit access to Lake Anita this fall. The gate will be closed and the lake allowed to refill as construction allows. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources plans to extend the boat ramps to allow for boating access after the drawdown is complete. All other facilities at Lake Anita State Park will remain open.
AMES, IOWA – In an on-going effort to build future leadership for both the Iowa cattle industry and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, ICA is taking applications for the 2020 Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program. The application deadline is November 1, 2019 and can be downloaded from the ICA website, www.iacattlemen.org. Matt Deppe, CEO of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, says “With all of the issues facing agriculture today, it’s more important than ever that we equip young cattlemen and women with the knowledge and skills needed to lead our industry into the future. The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program will help participants better understand the industry and work towards solutions to the problems their generation will face.”
Those selected for the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) will meet six times in the coming year on January 8-9, 2020, February 18-19, 2020, May 28-29, 2020, August 6-7, 2020, November 5-6, 2020 and December 3-4, 2020. They will tour beef production facilities, learn about trending cattle issues, enhance their leadership and communication skills, and play an active role in the legislative process. The program is free to all participants.
The application for YCLP asks potential participants to explain why they are interested in participating in the program, as well as explaining their goals and giving their vision for the future of the cattle industry. Preference will be given to current ICA members. If you have questions about the program, or would like an application mailed to you, contact Adair Lents at adair@iacattlemen.org, or call 515-296-2266.
YCLP is sponsored by ICA with funding provided by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation and members of the ICA President’s Council.
ARNOLDS PARK, Iowa – Sept. 10, 2019 – Today (Tuesday), the Iowa Transportation Commission approved $1,500,000 for four State Recreational Trails Program projects. The State Recreational Trails Program was created in 1988 with the purpose of developing and maintaining recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both motorized and non-motorized trail users. This funding is available to cities, counties, state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations through an annual application-based program.
Among the projects approved for funding is the Raccoon River Valley Trail to High Trestle Trail Connector – Phase II Construction Project (Dallas County Conservation Board), in the amount of $ 392,610.
(Radio Iowa) — Iowa’s secretary of agriculture says the U-S-DA disaster relief package unveiled Monday includes money for southwest Iowa farmers who had stored grain destroyed by this spring’s flooding. According to state officials, farmers in Fremont, Mills and Pottawattamie Counties lost nearly 11 MILLION dollars worth of corn and soybeans when Missouri River floodwaters swamped their grain bins. In some cases, the submerged grain swelled as it spoiled and the walls of the bins ruptured.
Officials estimate more than 11-and-a-half MILLION dollars worth of damage was done to 418 Iowa grain bins this spring. Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says Iowa farmers have sustained significant losses from spring weather events. He says the U-S-D-A payments for stored grain that was ruined are welcome relief. The U-S-D-A is also preparing bonus payments for some farmers who could not get their flooded fields planted this spring.
A USDA news release indicates stored-grain payments will be based on 75 percent of the crop’s 2018 value, on the assumption that the grain was harvested last year release. Farmers can begin signing up for the federal disaster aid this Wednesday, September 11, 2019. A news release from Naig’s office included these additional details about a separate batch of USDA payments: “Producers who filed flooding or excess moisture-related prevented planting insurance claims in the calendar year 2019 will receive a supplemental disaster “bonus” payment equal to 10 percent of their prevented planting indemnity. An additional 5 percent prevent plant supplemental disaster bonus payment will be provided to those who purchased harvest price option coverage.”
DES MOINES, Iowa (Sept. 9, 2019) — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Conditions report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly from April through November. “Near seasonal temperatures along with the pattern of dry conditions continued across most of the state last week,” said Secretary Naig. “With four percent of the corn and 15 percent of the soybeans nearing maturity, farmers are starting to prepare equipment for harvest.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s site at nass.usda.gov.
Crop Report
Most of Iowa experienced cooler than normal temperatures and below normal precipitation during the week ending September 8, 2019, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Fieldwork activities included harvesting hay and seed corn, chopping corn silage, seeding cover crops and preparing machinery for corn for grain and soybean harvest.
Topsoil moisture condition was rated 5 percent very short, 26 percent short, 68 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Areas in 28 counties were rated as D1 moderate drought according to the September 3, 2019, U.S. Drought Monitor due to the persistent lack of rain in parts of Iowa. Subsoil moisture condition was rated 5 percent very short, 24 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.
Ninety-one percent of the corn crop was in or beyond the dough stage, 2 weeks behind last year and 12 days behind the five-year average. Sixty percent of the crop reached the dented stage, 2 weeks behind last year and 9 days behind average. Four percent of corn had reached maturity, 11 days behind average. Corn condition rated 63 percent good to excellent.
Ninety-four percent of the soybean crop has started setting pods, 18 days behind last year and nearly 2 weeks behind average. Fifteen percent of the crop has begun coloring, 12 days behind last year and 9 days behind average. Soybean condition rated 61 percent good to excellent.
The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 76 percent, nearly 1 week behind average. Pasture condition declined from the previous week to 42 percent good to excellent. There were no livestock issues to report from this past week.
Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Drier than normal conditions prevailed across most of Iowa during the first week of September; precipitation deficits were generally under three-quarters of an inch across the state with only the southwest corner of Iowa reporting above average totals. Temperatures were generally seasonable with departures of one to two degrees above and below average in parts of western and eastern Iowa, respectively. The statewide average temperature was 66.8 degrees, 1.8 degrees below normal.
The rest of Sunday (1st) was uneventful across Iowa with high temperatures reaching the mid to upper 70s under cloudy skies. Overnight lows into Monday (2nd) dipped into the mid-60s. Partly sunny skies and a southerly wind helped boost temperatures into the low 80s on Labor Day.
Shortly after midnight on Tuesday (3rd) thunderstorms, some of which were strong, formed in northeastern Iowa and quickly moved into Illinois. Additional showers and thunderstorms moved through Iowa during the late morning and afternoon hours, bringing measurable rain across the state’s northern half. The highest rain totals were reported in northeastern Iowa with Lansing and Waukon (Allamakee County) observing 1.53 inches and 1.34 inches, respectively.
Wednesday (4th) was a cool and mostly sunny day across Iowa. Highs were in the low 70s, up to 14 degrees below average at certain locations. The statewide average high was 74 degrees, five degrees below normal.
Thursday (5th) started off cool and sunny with comfortable conditions into the early afternoon before a low pressure center over Minnesota pulled a warm front through Iowa. The arrival of the front brought warm and humid conditions through the evening hours before a cold front cleared the state into Friday (6th) morning. Winds shifted into a northerly direction under sunny skies. High temperatures peaked in the upper 70s and lower 80s.
Saturday (7th) began mostly clear until showers moved through the state in the afternoon hours. Thunderstorms formed in southern Iowa during the nighttime hours and lingered into Sunday (8th) morning. Rainfall totals at 7 a.m. were highest in southwestern Iowa with Shenandoah (Page County) reporting 2.56 inches; over ten stations reported totals above one inch with the statewide average rainfall of 0.41 inches.
Weekly rainfall totals ranged from no accumulation at multiple locations to 2.56 inches in Shenandoah (Page County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.50 inches while the normal is 0.84 inches. The week’s high temperature of 92 degrees was reported on the 3rd in Donnellson (Lee County), 11 degrees above average. Elkader (Clayton County) and Manchester (Delaware County) reported the week’s low temperature of 45 degrees on the 9th, on average seven degrees below normal.
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Minnesota company plans to break ground Wednesday on a northern Iowa facility for growing tomatoes. The North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation says the $35 million Bushel Boy Farms facility in Mason City will bring about 50 jobs to northern Iowa. The first harvest from the 50-acre operation is expected in December 2020.
Bushel Boy is based on Owatonna, Minnesota.
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