Autumn arrives Saturday but many Iowa farmers are already starting the fall harvest, and motorists in rural areas will need to share the roads with large, slow-moving farm equipment for the next several weeks. Franklin County Sheriff Aaron Dodd says he’s already spotted drivers taking big chances when they shouldn’t, like trying to pass tractors on a hill.

Such risky behavior might result in a collision, or at least a ticket.

Distractions are also causing crashes, and Dodd says people need to put down the number-one distraction — their smartphones — while driving.

From 2017 through June 30th, 2022, the Iowa Department of Transportation reports 30 people died in crashes involving farm equipment in the state. This is National Farm Safety and Health Week.

Today:  Sunny with a high near 79.  East southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
Tonight:  A slight chance of showers.  Increasing clouds with a low around 59.  East wind around 10 mph.
Friday:  Cloudy, with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 7:00 am and 1:00 pm, then gradually becoming mostly sunny with a high near 77.  East wind 5 to 15 mph with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday:  Showers and possibly a thunderstorm.  High near 79. Breezy with a south southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday:  A 40 percent chance of showers.  Mostly sunny with a high near 75.

• KJAN, Atlantic  1.64″
• 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .5″
• Atlantic Airport  .98″
• Massena  1.96″
• Lewis  2.1″
• Lyman  2″
• Marne  .35″
• Exira  .85″
• Anita  .92″
• Wiota  1.31″
• Adair  .52″
• Audubon  .64″
• Bridgewater  1.6″
• Carroll  1.3″
• Corning  .11″
• Manning  .79″
• Guthrie Center  1.65″
• Creston  1.05″

w/Kate Olson.

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Many of Iowa’s trees are struggling in the long-running drought. Joe Herring, a district forester with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says some insects are causing problems with trees, and not just the emerald ash borer.

Herring says fall colors should be coming into view soon, starting with a species of small tree or bush found along roadsides, called sumac (SOO-mack).

During some drought years, the reds, yellows and oranges of fall appear more vibrantly on several species of trees in particular.

The D-N-R says the peak of fall color should be during the second week of October for the northern part of the state, and the second through the fourth weeks of October in southern Iowa.

Wednesday:  Mostly sunny with a high near 81.  South wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday Night:  Mostly clear with a low around 55.  Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday:  Mostly sunny with a high near 78.  East southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.

Friday:  A chance of showers and thunderstorms.  Mostly cloudy with a high near 76.

Saturday:  A chance of showers.  Mostly cloudy with a high near 78.  Breezy.

Sunday:  A chance of showers.  Mostly sunny with a high near 74.

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa lawmaker is suggesting the Iowa Utilities Board lacks the authority to grant Summit Carbon Solutions permission to seize property along its proposed pipeline route from unwilling landowners. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says eminent domain authority is reserved for projects that have a clear public use and public benefit.

Holt, who is chairman of the Iowa House Judiciary Committee, says he’s not opposed to pipeline projects that developers argue would benefit farmers by making corn-based ethanol carbon neutral.

Holt was one of two Republican lawmakers who testified today (Tuesday) at the Iowa Utilities Board hearing reviewing Summit’s application for a permit to build and maintain a carbon pipeline in Iowa. Senator Sandy Salmon, a Republican from Janesville, says Summit’s request to seize about a third of its route across Iowa is breathtaking.

Salmon says private property rights are essential for prosperity and must be preserved.

(Radio Iowa) – The head of the Iowa Utilities Board says there’s a limit to the questions that can be asked by attorneys for landowners who don’t want the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline on their property. The Utilities Board hearing on Summit’s application to build the pipeline is in its fifth week. Board chairman Erik Helland is citing a district court ruling about a previous pipeline hearing — and he says it gives the board authority to limit cross examination of witnesses that is repetitive.

Helland said “…We have clear authority to limit unduly repetitious testimony.” Bret Dubinsky, an attorney for the company, says not everyone is going to get the last word on every point that’s raised during the hearing.

Brian Jorde (JOR-dee), an attorney for landowners, objects.

Pipeline opponents had planned to have the director of the Science and Environmental Health Network testify today (Tuesday) through an online platform, but the Utilities Board recently ruled all those who testify have to do so in person. David Skilling of Algona took the stand this (Tuesday) morning air his objections to having the pipeline on his property. He’s concerned about a rupture and a lagging emergency response.

Another landowner testified Summit had moved its proposed route on his property in response to his suggestions, but moved it back when he did not agree to sign an easement giving the company access to his property.

Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny with a high near 84. South wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Increasing clouds with a low around 61. South wind 8 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny with a high near 79. South wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny with a high near 79.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy with a high near 77. Breezy.

Monday’s high was 83 and this morning’s low was 42 degrees.  We had just a trace of rain in the last 24 hours.  This day last year the high was 87 and the low 60.  The record high is 95 degrees set in 1948.  The record low is 33 set in 1896 and matched in 1938.  Sunrise this morning is 7:04 am, sunset this evening is at 7:23 pm.  Tomorrow’s sunrise is at 7:05 am.

(Radio Iowa) – The ongoing drought continues to cause flow issues on some Iowa rivers. D-N-R Conservation and Recreation Division administrator, Pete Hildreth, says the West Nishnabotna River is too low to allow pumping at the main marsh for the Riverton Wildlife Area.

He says another area of the wildlife area has been able to get water pumped in.

He says that marsh area is four inches below normal, but that have had enough water for the teal hunting season. Hildreth says they hope to eventually get more water in the other marsh.

Hildreth made his comments during the recent Natural Resources Commission meeting, and says there are other areas that are also dealing with low water issues.