The months-long drought may soon impact fall allergy sufferers in Iowa. Agronomist Robert Hartzler, at Iowa State University, says the weather has a direct impact on pollen counts that trigger allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny noses and red, teary eyes. Hartzler says any time we don’t get rain for a while, it allows the pollen to be released in the atmosphere and it hangs around for a longer period of time. Ragweed is native to Iowa, but Hartzler says it traditionally hasn’t grown very well among row crops. He says those plants are now adapting to Iowa’s cornfields and they’re becoming more widespread. Hartzler says it may get worse in future years.

“There is some evidence that with climate change, the ragweeds are better adapted to the warmer temperatures than other plants, so there is some evidence to suggest that pollen counts could increase in the future because of the increasing temperatures we’re expected to see,” Hartzler says. Relief for allergy sufferers isn’t likely until the first frost. He says there’s been enough rain for weeds to grow, but not enough to knock down the pollen. “Rainfall is excellent at washing (pollen) out of the air, it also saturates ragweed flowers so pollen can’t be released,” Hartzler says. “Rain does help the weeds grow, but we’ve got enough moisture in most of the state to allow the weeds to do well.”

He says the amount of pollen in the air has also been boosted by higher temperatures this year. “They’re higher earlier in the year because of the summer we’ve had,” Hartzler says. “The ragweed started growing earlier because of the warm temperatures in the spring. So we have high counts earlier this year than typical.” It may be just the beginning. Hartzler says there’s evidence global warming may be promoting ragweed growth.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Christmas trees in Iowa and other Midwestern states could become the newest victims of this year’s drought. The hot and dry summer took a harsh toll on tree seedlings. When the newly planted trees are ready for harvest by 2019, the selection could be sickly and sagging. Growers have also reported losses in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Boone County tree farmer Jesse Randall told The Des Moines Register, that the supply will tighten in upcoming years. But growers and foresters say this year’s crop, planted in 2005, will be as diverse as usual. Randall says the drought was especially hard on fir trees, which are popular among buyers because of their silvery evergreen hues and rich aromas.

Shelby County Emergency Management Director Bob Seivert says the Fire Danger situation is very dangerous, and no open burning of any kind is permitted. Farm and harvest operators should take extra precautions, according to Seivert, so that the spread of fire can be controlled, and you will know that extra help is on the way if it is needed.

Seivert says fire extinguishers should be in every combine, and tractors equipped with plows should be standing-by, ready to build a fire break. The local fire danger signs will remain in the EXTREME category in Shelby County until further notice, and Red Flag Warnings are expected to be issued for this afternoon and Tuesday, as strong southerly winds, low humidity and dry field conditions are able to create explosive fire growth.

The City Council in Audubon this evening, is expected to act on approving the purchase of General Obligation loan notes totaling $1.585-million. The combination G.O. Capital loan and G.O. Refunding Capital loans will be used to improve the swimming pool, and for airport resurfacing and water tower/water treatment plant repair projects.

The Council will also act on approving the route for the September 28th Homecoming Parade, and other matters. The meeting begins at 7-p.m. in the Audubon City Hall.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was seriously injured Sunday afternoon, after a car rear-ended a pickup pulling a trailer. Officials says the driver of the car, 35-year old Chad Newberg, of New Market, was transported by LifeNet helicopter to the Nebraska Medical Center following the crash. A report on his condition is not currently available.

The accident happened at around 4-p.m. west of Highway 2 near J Avenue, northwest of Yorktown. Authorities say 63-year old Terry James Dammann, of Clarinda, was legally parked on the shoulder of Highway 2, sitting his vehicle and making a phone call, when a 2000 Mercury Cougar car driven by Newberg plowed into a trailer being pulled by Damman’s 2012 Ford F-150. The trailer was hauling a golf cart, which was destroyed in the crash.

Dammann suffered non-life threatening injuries during the accident. He was transported by Shenandoah EMS to the Shenandoah Medical Center. Newberg’s car was totaled in the crash. The damage to Damman’s vehicle, trailer and golf cart amounted to $8,500. The accident remains under investigation, and charges are pending.

Officials with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach looking to hear from Iowans about how Iowa State in partnership with counties can best serve citizens, is holding a town hall meeting today (Monday), in Atlantic. The meeting begins at 10:30-a.m. in the Cass County ISU Extension and Outreach Office, located at 805 West 10th Street (next to the Cass County Community Center). It’s one of five such meetings scheduled to occur around the state.  The other meetings will take place in Ames, Storm Lake, Oskaloosa and Waterloo.

Cathann Kress, ISU Extension and Outreach vice president, and Terry Maloy, Iowa Association of County Extension Councils executive director, will participate in the conversations with Iowans. Kress says they want to gather feedback about what they’re doing well, where they need to improve, and what needs to be addressed.  She says  “All Iowans – citizens, community leaders, decision makers, partners, staff and extension council members – are welcome” to attend the meetings.

For more information about the town hall meetings or specific locations, please contact the Guthrie County Extension and Outreach Office at 641-747-2276.

A Council Bluffs man died during a motorcycle accident Saturday, near Underwood. According to Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker,  38-year-old Joshua Suhr, who was not wearing a helmet, died Sunday, after being flown by helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha. The accident happened at around 6:20 p.m. Saturday near Pott. County Road L-34 and Sumac Road.Wintesses told authorities two southbound motorcycles traveling on L-34 passed them at a high rate of speed. Suhr, who was on one of the cycles, apparently wasn’t able to negotiate the curve near Sumac Road, and lost control of the vehicle.

A Red Oak man was arrested Sunday afternoon on a Possession of Controlled Substance/Marijuana, charge. Officials with the Red Oak Police Department report 50-year-old Anthony Ambrose Hill was taken into custody in the 800 block of North Broadway Street, in Red Oak. Hill was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 cash bond pending an appearance before the magistrate.

During their second face-to-face debate, Republican Congressman Steve King and his Democratic challenger, Christie Vilsack, disagreed over the size and scope of the federal food stamp program. King argued the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP is being abused by recipients. “We had a fellow that bailed himself out of jail with his EBT card, his Electronic Benefits Transfer card. e have tattoo parlors that in neon lights advertise that they’ll tattoo you and you can pay for it with your Food Stamp card,” King said. “Now we have to do something about this.”

Vilsack defended the food stamp program, citing recent statistics indicating hunger among children had increased by four percent in Iowa. “We have a moral obligation to make sure that we take care of people,” Vilsack said. “But the most important thing about SNAP is that…14 cents of every dollar for SNAP goes into the pocket of a farmer.” King favors cutting the food stamp program by 16-billion dollars over the next five years and he accuses Democrats of trying to “grow the dependency class” by expanding the food stamp program.  “We’ve watched the numbers of people on food stamps go from 19 million up to at least 44.7 and maybe as many as 47 million people in just a few years and we’re watching the Department of Agriculture spend millions of dollars to advertise to get more people to sign up for food stamps,” King said. “Now that doesn’t demonstrate, necessarily, a need. Wants are not necessarily needs.”

Vilsack’s husband, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, runs the U.S. Ag Department that administers the food stamp program.
“Ninety-three percent of the people who get SNAP payments are senior citizens, they’re children who are hungry and they’re working poor,” Vilsack said. “So I’d like to know, Congressman King, which of those people you want to refuse SNAP payments to.” King offered this response: “Nobody in this room believes that 93 percent of the food stamps go to senior citizens unless you redefine senior citizens,” King said, getting applause from his supporters in the crowd and boos from Vilsack’s. “So we saw a lot of this on Thursday night. There’s nothing to rebut and I’d be happy to answer the next question asked from a panelist.”

King and Vilsack met in their first debate last Thursday. Saturday’s event was held at the Clay County Fair in Spencer before a live audience. The start of the debate was delayed until after the conclusion of the Iowa/Iowa State football game.

(Radio Iowa)

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