(Radio Iowa) – The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has used a trip to Iowa to announce changes in federal regulations for vehicles that run on diesel.

For a couple of decades tractors, trucks and other diesel-powered vehicles have had systems that inject a fluid into the exhaust to reduce nitrous oxide emissions, but sensors immediately slow down and even stall the engine when that fluid runs out. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said it means diesel equipment shuts down unnecessarily, “which has led to so much in lost money for Iowa farmers and truckers and so much more.”

Under new EPA guidelines, diesel truck manufacturers are to change the technology by the 2027 model year so vehicles that run out of that emission-related fluid won’t have sudden power losses.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin speaks during stop at Nevada, Iowa, business. (RI photo)

Zeldin is reluctant to talk about another fuel-related issue — the EPA’s proposed ethanol and biodiesel production levels for the next two years. “A lot of people were happy with the numbers we came out with and that was a strong, early sign, however understanding that every single decision that I make — whether I say yes or no — is going to result in a lawsuit from whoever’s on the opposite side I’m going to be very clear: I’m not prejudging the result of this rule making,” Zeldin said. “We’re going through the public comment period and we’re looking to make the right decision on the other end.”

The end of the October is when the EPA is tentatively scheduled to announce the final ethanol and biodiesel production rules for 2026 and 2027. Senator Joni Ernst, who hosted Zeldin on his trip to Iowa, said the EPA’s proposed 8% jump in biofuels obligations is an exciting prospect. “I’ve heard from so many of our farmers across Iowa, the biofuels producers,” Ernst said. “They are really glad that EPA and President Trump have been supportive.”

Ernst and Zeldin spoke with reporters after spending time at the State Fair, speaking at a forum in Ames for entrepreneurs and touring Mid-States Companies in Nevada. The head of the Small Business Administration was also on the trip.

(Radio Iowa) – An expert on insects says it’s been a great summer in Iowa for mosquitoes, and a lousy summer for people who are getting nipped by the flying pests. Entomologist Lyric Bartholomay says mosquitoes are thriving in Iowa and all across the Midwest due to heavy rains and hot weather, which may also bring a rise in insect-borne diseases like West Nile virus. “In a situation like this year where we’re experiencing record rainfall and record high temperatures, it becomes kind of a perfect storm for mosquitoes to have ample places to lay their eggs and for their immatures to develop,” Bartholomay says. “I think we’re heading into what could be a serious West Nile virus year with a lot of cases.”

Mosquito-USDA-photo

She says climate changes could be leading to a rise in cases of various diseases carried by mosquitoes, as seasonal changes are impacting mosquito activity. “Maybe folks have noticed, too, that the last date of frost is coming later and maybe the threat of frost in the spring is wearing away sooner,” Bartholomay says, “and so in many parts of the country, mosquito season is just lasting longer.” Bartholomay says there are a variety of ways to try and control mosquito populations, including eliminating anything with standing water in your yard which might become a mosquito hatchery. Plus, there are several effective chemicals.

“For immature stages, we have an arsenal of controls that includes all kinds of microbials, things like hormone mimics that disrupt how they grow, and then more traditional insecticides,” she says. “For adults, we have a few kinds of insecticides that can be used either from a backpack fogger or a truck or an airplane.”

She notes, a community’s capacity to use those tools depends on its investment in controlling the insects. Bartholomay is an entomology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

(Radio Iowa) – The latest U-S-D-A crop report shows 57 percent of the corn crop is rated good and 29 percent is rated excellent. Sixty percent of the soybeans are rated in good condition and 21 percent are rated excellent. During an interview at the Iowa State Fair, Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says most of the state’s crops survived the recent derecho and other storms. “This time of year of course it can be very damaging, to a corn crop in particular when winds come like that. By and large, aside from those relatively isolated severe weather incidents, we’ve had a pretty good year by comparison. Many, many more tornadoes last year,” he says.

Naig says they are still trying to determine the extent of the crop damage. “We don’t have a total amount just yet, but there will be damage, there is crop damage in some parts of the state,” Naig says. He says the storms are the biggest wild card in farming. “Weather is one of those things that is so impactful — in fact the most impactful on your operation, ” Naig says, “and it’s one of those things they can’t control. In fact, they’ve got no control over it.”

Naig says after five years of drought it is has been good to see timely rains this year for the growing season.

Cass County: Corn $3.71 Beans $9.29
Adair County: Corn $3.68 Beans $9.32
Adams County: Corn $3.68 Beans $9.28
Audubon County: Corn $3.70 Beans $9.31
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $3.74 Beans $9.29
Guthrie County: Corn $3.73 Beans $9.33
Montgomery County: Corn $3.73 Beans $9.31
Shelby County: Corn $3.74 Beans $9.29

Oats: $2.71 (same in all counties)

(Prices are per bushel; information is from the area Farm Service Agency [FSA] offices)

AMES, Iowa – Officials with Iowa’s cattle industry say the 43rd annual Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show continues to make an impact, raising $569,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. Including this year’s donations, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer has surpassed $6 million in donations since its inception in 1983. All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. Those three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and many foreign countries. Families from all 99 counties in Iowa have benefited from the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa.

Officials say the event, hosted this past weekend by the Office of the Governor of Iowa, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council, is another example of the care the beef cattle industry has for our state, rural communities, and those in need. The 43rd Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show was held on August 9th in the Livestock Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair. Winners in four categories were recognized in the show ring – Community Hero, Grand Champion Showman, People’s Choice, and Judge’s Grand Champion. This year’s event hosted 25 sponsored steers, shown by their youth exhibitor and a local celebrity.

The Community Hero Award – which recognizes the youth exhibitor who goes above and beyond collecting non-monetary donations and creating awareness for the event – was presented to Merritt Moss, of Hull. Merritt collected over three carloads of nonperishable items for the Ronald McDonald House Charities and had a phenomenal online presence to promote the Governor’s Charity Steer Show and Iowa’s cattle industry. Merritt was sponsored by the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Siouxland.

The showmanship contest focused on the partnership between the celebrity presenter, the youth exhibitor, and the steer. The judges said it was not an easy decision, but in the end, Dr. Dan Grooms and Matt Elbert, along with “Trice,” the steer, took the title of Grand Champion Showman. A fan favorite, the People’s Choice Award went to Tucker Freimuth and Ralph Lents, the president of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. Their steer, “Burt Reynolds,” edged out the competition. Tucker, who is from Lytton, Iowa, and his team were sponsored by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. Finally, the most prestigious award of the show, the Judge’s Grand Champion award went to Brenna Thie from Mediapolis, Iowa, and her steer, “Jimmy,” along with celebrity presenter, Jeff Angelo.

A live auction was conducted after the show to raise funds through the sale of each steer and additional value-added items donated by industry supporters and celebrities. Those funds were added to the donations received by each youth participant, resulting in a $569,000 going to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board will hold a “Breakfast with the Birds” Program this Saturday, in Atlantic. The program will be held at Sunnyside Park, Camblin’s Addition Shelter on August 16th, beginning at 9-a.m. Free will donations are welcome!

Cassie Wendl, Educator at S.O.A.R. (Saving Our Avian Resources), will show and discuss several of her permanently injured birds, and will hopefully have one that is fully recovered and ready to release back into the wild. Please help the CCCB support raptors and education by attending the event this weekend.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Thursday evening during Produce In the Park, you can enjoy a free Country concert by Brad Morgan. The concert held in the downtown Atlantic City Park, is presented by Rolling Hills Bank. While you’re listening to the music, you can shop the more than 25 vendors, who will be offering fresh produce, local meats, farm-fresh eggs, honey, baked goods, arts and crafts, and more.

Brad Morgan will be performing at Produce in the Park August 14

Food trucks include Tikka Talk (Indian), Firehouse Family Food (BBQ), and Lucky Wife Wine Slushies. Extra activities include putt-putt, frisbee golf, and kids’ crafts. Visiting community organizations including: Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services, Healthy Cass County, Atlantic Lions Club, Atlantic Disc Golf Club, and more.

Organizers want to thank PIP’s August Sponsors: Zion, Gregg Young Chevrolet of Atlantic, City of Atlantic, 1st Whitney Bank, Cass Health, Cass County Tourism, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, and Nishna Valley Family YMCA. For more information and to apply to be a vendor at our farmers markets visit https://www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com 

(Radio Iowa) – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says Iowa may be a destination for U-S-D-A jobs being moved out of Washington D-C. “We are working to save billions of dollars to most of the headquarters of USDA out of Washington and closer to the people. The first round of announcements included North Carolina, Colorado, Utah, Missouri, and Indianapolis,” Rollins said. “No Iowa, but there are more announcements coming.”

Rollins says there are a lot of U-S-D-A employees in Iowa already. The U-S-D-A has “Service Centers” in Iowa’s 99 counties for the operations of the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resource Conservation Service and U-S-D-A Rural Development. Ames is home to the National Centers for Animal Health, a 523-acre campus with 93 buildings. About 90 percent of U-S-D-A employees work in offices around the country. About 46-hundred are currently based in Washington.

“Listen, I love the USDA buildings in Washington. They are beautiful. They are right on the National Mall. It’s inspiring to walk up every day, but but do we really need three massive buildings for USDA on the National Mall?” Rollins asks. “One of the buildings has 6000 offices and only about 800 to 900 people actually come to work there on a good day.”

U-S Ag Sec Brooke Rollins with Atlantic’s Glen Smith on her right. Smith was announced as Rollins’ nominee as USDA Undersecretary of Rural Development. (Radio Iowa photo)

Rollins made her comments during a news conference at the Iowa State Fair, where (As KJAN reported Saturday) she announced President Trump is nominating Glen Smith of Atlantic to serve as U-S-D-A Undersecretary of Rural Development. “Glen served as chairman of the Farm Credit Administration during President Trump’s first term and will continue to be an incredible leader and a resolute voice for farmers here in Iowa and across the country in this new role.”

(As KJAN also reported) Rollins also announced the U-S-D-A is making a 152 MILLION dollar investment in 19 rural development projects in Iowa.”This unprecedented, coordinated rural development project will help boost the rural economies, develop rural infrastructure and encourage private investments,” Rollins said.

The Guthrie County Hospital is getting a 37-million dollar U-S-D-A loan to expand and renovate the facility. Four Rural Electric Coops are getting U-S-D-A loans for projects. U-S-D-A grants are going to 11 Iowa cities and two rural water systems to improve wastewater and drinking water utilities. And Halbur, a Carroll County town with about 230 residents, is getting half a million dollar loan from the U-S-D-A for street improvements.