A group of landowners, lawmakers, and environmentalists are speaking out after the Iowa Utilities Board announced it would move the hearing on the proposed Summit Carbon pipeline from October to August. Anna Ryon, a former attorney with the Iowa Office of Consumer Advocate, says the landowner testimony was moved to first in the hearing along with the change in the date.

Ryon spoke during a conference call hosted by the Sierra Club, and says the new schedule puts the issue on the fast track and will make it tough for landowners to find the help they need.

Ryon says landowners are forced to sort of defend their land against eminent domain before actually hearing the pipeline company’s case.

State Representative Helena (Huh-lay-na) Hayes, a Republican from Mahaska County, says the House did pass a bill 73-20 that did several things, including requiring 90 percent voluntary easements before the I-U-B could grant the eminent domain for pipelines.

The Iowa Senate failed to pass the bill and it didn’t make it out of the session. Hayes says lawmakers who supported the bill plan are drafting a letter to send to state regulators in response to the hearing change.

She says representatives in the Iowa House know there are thousands of people who have not signed on to pipeline easements and she says as a lawmaker she would love to see another session to have more conversations about it. Hayes says this issue goes beyond Iowa, and everyone should keep the big picture in mind.

The Sierra Club’s Jessica Mazour says they are calling for the hearing to be delayed. She says they are concerned that with two new members on the Utilities Board, the new members are unaware of past processes and the detailed work that goes into this decision-making process.
Summit Carbon Solutions released this statement in response:
“Summit Carbon Solutions appreciates the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) establishing a procedural schedule where the public comment and hearing for our project begins in August, with a final permit decision expected to be issued prior the end of the year. This will enable Summit and the farming community to coordinate planting, facilitating construction within a single crop year.   To date, Summit has signed more than 2,000 easement agreements with Iowa landowners accounting for 475 miles of our proposed project route in the state. We look forward to continuing to work with Iowa landowners, plus our 13 ethanol plant partners across Iowa, to advance our project through the regulatory process and support the region’s most important industries – agriculture and ethanol. “

Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa says she and the Michigan Democrat who’s chairwoman of the Senate Ag Committee are calling for creation of a public database of U-S agland owned by foreigners and it would set the stage for forced divestment of real estate owned by foreign entities.

Ernst says the proposal also would strengthen federal oversight and rejection of foreign investment in the ag sector of the U-S economy.

According to the U-S-D-A, 37 million acres of U-S farmland is under foreign ownership –384-thousand of those acres are owned by China. Iowa law forbids any foreign entity from owning more than 320 acres.

Other members of the House and Senate called for an outright ban on foreign ownership of U-S farmland. Ernst says the bipartisan proposal she’s working on would give the U-S-D-A authority to review the national security implications of Chinese companies doing business on American soil and block suspect deals.

China forbids foreigners from purchasing real estate in China.

The five-year framework for federal farm and food assistance programs expires September 30th, but development of the 2023 Farm Bill was delayed by this spring’s debt deal negotiations. Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn, a Republican Bondurant, is a member of the House Ag Committee.

He says the committee has an aggressive timeline to advance the Farm Bill in early September, so a House vote could follow.

Five years ago, lawmakers temporarily extended programs covered in the 2018 Farm Bill for a couple of months until negotiations were completed in December. For the 2023 Farm Bill, Nunn says he’s indicated to the House Ag Committee chair that rural development, federal crop insurance and conserving natural resources are priorities for Iowans.

Some lawmakers from both parties say they’ll press to exclude high income farming operations from federal crop insurance. And some House Republicans have indicated they’ll press for stricter work requirements for food stamps, or SNAP, than were included in the debt deal.

Nunn says he’s collaborating with like-minded House Republicans as well as House Democrats who represent rural districts in Illinois and North Carolina on Farm Bill priorities. Nunn represents Iowa’s third congressional district, which includes Ottumwa on the southeast corner and half of Shenandoah on the southwest, as well as Atlantic, Guthrie Center and the Des Moines metro.

Crops are starting to show signs of stress brought on by the drought. Iowa Sate University Extension field agronomist, Angie Rieck Hinz sees it in the corn in her north-central Iowa area.

The bean crop is also impacted.

Hinz says some areas in her region are short four to five inches of soil moisture needed to produce a healthy crop.

Hinz says they need some rain soon to keep the crop conditions from getting worse.

(Cedar Rapids, Iowa) – The Atlantic FFA Horse Judging team competed Tuesday (June 13) in the annual Iowa FFA Horse Career Development Event held at Kirkwood Community College. Members of the team included: Kayedance Sturm, Rylee Harlan, and Lily Willrich.

Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller says this year 33 chapters participated in this year’s Career Development Event designed to provide the student an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of Equine Science. The 112 individual contestants evaluated halter and performance classes. They also answered questions over the classes and gave oral reasons to explain their placings. A written examination was included along with a team problem solving competition.

When asked about their favorite part of the contest Lily Willrich said, “My favorite part of the competition was learning how so many different things, builds, and movements to look at in a horse. Especially what someone like a professional judge looks at in a horse. I also really enjoyed meeting people from all over Iowa.” Kayedance Sturm commented that her favorite part was getting to talk to other people after having to be quiet for 6 hours during the competition.” When asked what her favorite part of the day was, Rylee Harlan said, “Making new friends and getting to see and learn about all the different horses’.

Horse Judging Team -from Left to right:
Kayedance Sturm, Rylee Harlan Lily Willrich. (Photo courtesy Eric Miller)

Sturm led the Atlantic team placing 32nd, Harlan was second with a 36 and Willrich rounded out the scores by placing 62nd out of 112 individuals. Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller said, “I was extremely happy with the team’s performance. These FFA members are just beginning their FFA career as incoming freshmen. They placed 9th as a team in Questions and Reasons so their future is bright.” (click on the photo to enlarge) >>>

(Lewis, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board (CCCB) has several, upcoming events. On June 24th, there will be Stand-up Paddleboard demonstrations at the Cold Springs Park beach. There are limited spots available on the 24th, so place call 712-769-2372, to reserve your place for either the 1-p.m. or 2:30-p.m. demonstration and a chance to try out a paddleboard for yourself. Te program will be canceled if there is unsafe weather. There is no charge. The only requirements are that participants weigh LESS than 250-pounds, children must be 16-years of age or older, and participants should bring a life jacket. If you cannot bring a life jacket, one will be provided for you.

Conservation officials say Stand Up Paddleboarding is the fastest growing sport in the paddling community, not only across the country, but especially here in land-locked areas like Iowa. It’s fun, healthy as a total body work-out and offers a unique perspective when it comes to being on the water.

The Conservation Board will host a “Movie in the Park” campground program, June 30th, at 9:30-p.m. The featured movie is “Minions: Rise of Gru.” The movie will be shown at the Campground Shelter at Cold Springs Park. There is no charge to attend, and you do not have to be a registered camper in order to attend the movie. In the event of rain, the movie will be rescheduled.

And finally, the Cass County Conservation Board will hold a “Gourmet S’mores Charcuterie” program, at 7-p.m., on July 1st. That also takes place at the Cold Springs Park campground shelter, near Lewis. Learn how to make Gourmet S’more desserts over a fire. Please bring your own place settings for samples. A suggested free-will donation of 5-dollars per person will help to defer the cost of supplies for the program. And again, you do not have to be a registered camper to attend this event.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Master Gardener group says they are excited to host a tour of four private gardens in the Atlantic area, on Sunday afternoon June 25, 2023. The tour will feature both town and country garden spaces for participants to explore at their leisure and gain inspiration for their own garden spaces while enjoying a variety of garden styles and designs. Gardens will be open for touring between 2-and 6-p.m., and may be visited in any order. Tickets should be presented at each location for admission, and for each garden visited participants will earn an entry to win a planter by Imagine Gifts and Greenhouse.

Highlights from featured gardens included wooded and shade gardens, landscaped garden paths, garden ponds and streams, fairy and gnome garden décor, customized berms, themed garden areas, gazebos and seating areas, pollinator gardens, perennial beds and more! Follow the Cass County Master Gardeners on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CassCoMG for sneak peeks of featured garden spaces leading up to the day of the tour.

The tour is coordinated by the Cass County Master Gardeners, but is open to everyone interested in touring and learning about gardening. Tickets for the tour are $10 each, with all proceeds going to support master gardener projects and scholarships. Tickets are available now for purchase at the Cass County Extension office, and a registration form can also be found on the Cass County Extension website at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. A map of the tour locations and description of each garden is on each ticket purchased. Additional tickets may be purchased at any of the four locations on the day of the event.

Other upcoming events from the Cass County Master Gardeners include educational activities at the Produce in the Park Market and other summer events, and their annual Fall Plant Sale on Saturday September 9th. For more information about Master Gardener activities in Cass County, visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/master-gardener-program, call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, or email Cass County Extension Director and Master Gardener Coordinator Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu.  In addition, you are invited to follow the Cass County Master Gardeners at their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CassCoMG to keep up with local events and tips for gardening

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic FFA Adviser Eric Miller reports the Atlantic FFA Chapter placed 11th after competing in the annual Iowa FFA Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Event. The competition was held June 8th at Iowa State University, in Ames. Members of the place team included: DJ Shepperd, Alex Keiser, Wyatt Simons and Charli Goff.

FFA teams including 119 individuals from 34 chapters participated in this year’s Career Development Event designed to provide the student an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of Agricultural Mechanics & Technology. Activities included demonstration of skills, problem solving, and knowledge application in agricultural machinery equipment, metals and welding, structures, environmental and natural resources, and electrical systems.

During the Ag Mechanics welding division the members of Atlantic placed 2nd. Individually Shepperd placed 25th, Keiser placed 40th, Simons placed 45th and Goff placed 69th. Shepperd commented “It was sad that this was one of my last experiences in FFA, but definitely one of my favorites. Yet another reason to join FFA.”

The Iowa FFA Agricultural Mechanics & Technology Career Development Event was made possible with support from Titan Machinery through the Iowa FFA Foundation. The Agricultural Mechanics & Technology Career Development Event was hosted by the Iowa State University Ag 450 Farm and was coordinated and conducted by Mr. Jon Davis and the Agricultural Education & Studies Department at Iowa State University in Ames. The Association of General Contractors of Iowa provided lunch for all participants and staff.

(Grimes, Iowa) – An official with the Iowa FFA Association says each year, the Southwest district and Iowa FFA officers plan and facilitate Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conferences for FFA members in the Southwest district. Association Executive Director Scott Johnson, says Atlantic welcomed 169 members from 28 FFA chapters attended from all over the Southwest district on June 5th.

While in Atlantic, district and state officers lead four interactive workshops for FFA Chapter leaders, many of which are officers, for the annual COLT Conference. The workshops facilitated were local FFA Chapter program focused in the areas of advocating for the agriculture industry, connecting with stakeholders, recruiting for the local chapter, and working as a cohesive team. FFA leaders also received training relative to their specific officer duties within the local chapter. Atlantic Chapter Vice President Lola Comes said “Every activity in FFA is preparing me for the future; even a few hours at COLT training has been beneficial. Networking in agriculture is important and this opportunity helped me interact with others and grow as a leader.”

Iowa FFA President, Holly Schmitt, said “COLT conference provides a chance for FFA members to learn more about their responsibility as a local leader and is a conference for members to meet and connect with state, district and other chapter officers.”

Back row, Left-to-right: Colton Rudy, Roth DenBeste, Wyatt Simons & Lily Johnson; Front row, L-to-R: Claire Pellett, Charli Goof & Lola Comes. (Photo courtesy Scott Johnson)

COLT conference programming is designed as a two-year rotation of local leaders training. The focus areas of next year’s program include agriculture literacy, time management, professionalism, and self-confidence. The goal is to engage FFA members in learning about the tools that would allow them to be successful in anything they are part of through high school and beyond.

COLT conference is made possible with support from Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance of Iowa through the Iowa FFA Foundation

(Radio Iowa) – A southeast Iowa biodiesel plant is shutting down. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports managers of the W-2 Fuel biodiesel plant in Crawfordsville have notified the state that the plant is closing. The biodiesel refinery shut down back in 2019, but production resumed in mid-2021. The federal tax credit for biodiesel production is worth a dollar per gallon, but the debt deal congress and the president just agreed to will end the credit on December 31st of next year.

W-2 Fuel needed to buy new equipment to test for carbon emissions from its southeast Iowa plant, but company executives say the investment probably wouldn’t pay off if congress lets the biodiesel credit end. There are 10 other plants in Iowa producing biodiesel