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(Atlantic) – Grow Another Row, a program started last year to encourage, support, and network local growers for food donation, is back in 2021 with plans to expand! Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh says grow Another Row Cass County is a Healthy Cass County campaign started in 2020 by a group of local growers to encourage residents to grow and share more food. Grow Another Row Cass County invites local farmers and gardeners to plant a few more rows of produce to share again this year.
Hoegh said expansion started with filling a dedicated coordinator role. This temporary position is made possible through AmeriCorps funding.
2021 Grow Another Row Coordinator Claire Smith.
New Grow Another Row Coordinator, Claire Smith, said “I am extremely excited to get started and I love the mission of this program.” Smith is currently a student at Northwest Missouri State University where she is majoring in agronomy with an emphasis in horticulture and a minor in adapted & recreational gardening. She said she has always loved gardening and has her own home garden where she grows a variety of flowers and vegetables such as petunias, zinnias, roses, marigolds, tomatoes, peppers, and more!
In high school, Claire was active in FFA and 4-H and showed in the Iowa State Fair FFA Floriculture show for four years.
All growers—large and small—are invited to share food with others as part of Grow Another Row. According to Brigham Hoegh, “Even just a few tomato plants can end up producing a lot more than a household can consume, so we encourage all growers to join us.” Sign up for the Grow Another Row newsletter by emailing Grow Another Row Coordinator Claire Smith at claires2@iastate.edu or visiting https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/content/grow-another-row-cass-county.
Not sure what to grow to share with others? According to ISU Extension, the 13 best produce donations are: tomatoes, winter squash, zucchini, potatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers, melons, broccoli, cabbage, sweet potatoes, carrots, and beans. The Grow Another Row leadership team requests additional potatoes, carrots, melons, and green beans in 2021 because these items were in highest demand last year. Grow Another Row Cass County 2021 donation sites are being
finalized and will be publicized at a later date, but Cass County food pantries are sure to be included in the line-up.
For information on Cass County food pantries, farmers markets, and other locally-driven food initiatives, follow the Cass
County Local Food Policy Council on Facebook @CassCountyLocalFood. Healthy Cass County is a community-focused volunteer network formed to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. Follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty (https://www.facebook.com/HealthyCassCounty/). Reach out to Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or call 712-249-5870 for more information.
Wilkinson & Oathoudt
Draper & King
Atlantic, IA. – The SW Valley student anglers of Joey Oathoudt and Owen Wilkinson of Corning, IA captured top spot in Powerade High School Series at the McDermott & Son Roofing Company SAF SWIFT bass tournament at Lake Anita on Saturday. The teams total of 5 fish weighing 7.51 pounds, gave them 2.74-pound margin victory over the second-place team of Drey Newell of Atlantic and Braden Smith of Atlantic who brought 5 bass to the stage weighing 4.77. Third went to Dylan Comes and Cooper Jipsen both from Atlantic with 1 bass, 4.38.
Cooper Jipsen – Big Fish
Emmett of Panora, IA and AJ Draper of Linden, IA scored the win in the Fairlire Yup Junior Series with 5 bass weighing 4.61 pounds. Second place went to Hunter Quist of Atlantic, IA., and Adien Smith, Elliot, IA hauled in 3 bass at 4.56 lbs., and rounding out the field in third place was the team of Jake Wailes of Wiota, IA and Brentyn Hoolver of Anita, IA their total was 5 bass 3.97 lbs.
Fishing conditions were tough and presented many challenges for the thirty-two student anglers, but the students launched their boats at 7:30am and navigated across 159-acre Lake Anita for seven in half hours on the hunt to put a 5 bass limit in the boat. At the official weigh-in there were a total of 35 were caught, and all bass were safely returned to the lake.
Cooper Jipsen from Atlantic earned the AM Cohron & Sons Big Fish of the tournament with his bass weighing in at 4.38 pounds.
Powerade High School Boat Series results from the McDermott & Son Roofing Company SAF SWIFT tournament at Lake Anita on Saturday.
1st – Joey Oathoudt, Corning, IA and Owen Wilkinson, Corning, IA, 5 bass, 7.51- Boat Captain- Bob Harris
2nd– Drey Newell, Atlantic, IA and Braden Smith, Atlantic, IA, 5 bass, 4.77 lbs., Boat Captain- Brendon Atkinson
3rd– Cooper Jipsen, Atlantic, IA and Braden Smith, Atlantic, IA, 1 bass, 4.38 lbs., Boat Captain- Dent Petty
4th Tie- Vicente Butcher, Corning, IA., and Conner Britten, Red Oak, IA., 1 bass, 1.20 lbs., Boat Captain- Jim Robinson- Villisca
4th Tie– Mason McCready, Macedonia, IA and Caden Forristall, Carson, IA, 1 bass, 1.20 lbs., Boat Captain- Eric McCready
6th– Korben Brunt, Anita, IA and Owen Hoover, Anita, IA, 1 bass, 1.04 lbs., Boat Captain- Butch Spence Elk Horn
7th– Jake Oathoudt, Corning, IA and Dakota Breaud, Corning, IA, 1 bass, .96 lbs., Boat Captain- Chuck Elmquist
8th– Colton Rudy, Atlantic, IA and Colin Rudy, Atlantic, IA, 0 bass, 0 lbs., Boat Captain- Chuck/Jill Rudy
Fairlire Yup Junior Boat Series results from the McDermott & Son Roofing Company SAF SWIFT tournament at Lake Anita on Saturday.
1st- Emmett King, Panora, IA., and AJ Draper, Linden, IA., 5 bass, 4.61 lbs., Boat Captain-Jeremy King
2nd– Hunter Quist, Atlantic, IA., and Adien Smith, Elliot, IA., 3 bass, 4.56 lbs., Boat Captain-Kyle/Braden Quist
3rd-Jake Wailes, Wiota, IA and Brentyn Hoover, Anita, IA,5 bass, 3.97 lbs. Boat Captain- Rob Clausen
4th–Cody Swank, Harlan, IA and Braxton Hass, Atlantic, IA, 5 bass, 3.46 lbs., Boat Captain- Don Switzer
5th: Grayson Molgaard, Atlantic, IA and Owen Miller, Atlantic, IA, 1 bass, 2.48 lbs., Boat Captain- Peter Molgaard
6th: Gavin Dougherty, Lewis, IA and Garrett Stetzel, Atlantic, IA, 1 bass, .96 lbs., Boat Captain- Koby Stetzel
7th: Letty McSorely, Carson, IA and Colton Krueger, Carson, IA, 0 bass, 0 lbs.,- Boat Captain- Adam Krueger
8th: Brody Hughes, Red Oak, IA and Bently Hughes, Red Oak, IA, 0 bass, 0 lbs., -Boat Captain- Bill Hughes
The next event for SWIFT will be Sunday May 2nd at Lake of Three Fires.
For complete details and updated information visit www.southwestiowafishingteam.teamapp.com.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow on SWIFT’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
WASHINGTON—During National Parks Week, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are pushing for support for the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA)—an affiliate of the National Park Service (NPS)—to ensure the organization can continue to preserve and tell the history of Iowa and American agriculture and its global significance.
“Iowa’s agriculture heritage is an instrumental part of our state and nation’s history and our prominence on the world stage. At the start of National Parks Week, I’m glad to team up with Senator Grassley to ensure the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area can continue to share the story of agriculture and highlight the rural communities that are and will continue to be the backbone of our country,” said Senator Ernst. “Iowa has a rich history of agriculture and rural traditions. Our National Heritage Area provides educational opportunities to folks in Iowa and tourists from around the country,” Grassley said. “Silos and Smokestacks is a great resource so that the next generation can learn about Iowa history.”
Background:
The Protecting the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area Act reauthorizes SSNHA through 2031. The Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area preserves and tells the story of American agriculture and its global significance through partnerships and activities that celebrate the land, people, and communities of the area. It is one of 49 federally designated heritage areas in the nation and is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service (NPS).
(Press Release from Sen. Ernst’s office)
(Radio Iowa) – A court challenge is expected quickly to what opponents are calling an “ag gag” law that won final Iowa legislative approval this week. Adam Mason, state policy director for Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, says the bill which criminalizes certain types of trespassing on agricultural properties is waiting on Governor Kim Reynolds’ signature. Mason says if she signs it into law, there will be lawsuits.
“Because this one specifically addresses photo and video evidence, we assume it to be unconstitutional and that was one of our arguments in fighting them,” Mason says. “We do anticipate a court challenge. The question is, who that will be coming from.” While I-C-C-I is considering its next step, Mason says he’s heard animal rights activist Matthew Johnson, who was arrested on trespassing charges at an Iowa pork operation, will likely be taking the issue to court. Mason says his group has multiple worries about the bill.
“Folks who have concerns, either about environmental violations at factory farms,” Mason says. “Or because this law is pretty broad, it could prevent workers inside packing plants or other food processing facilities from documenting workplace violations.” Mason fears this type of measure could have far-reaching impacts and it will take time for the various courts to unravel all of these surrounding issues.
“If folks see something wrong, they should be able to say something but this bill tries to turn that into a crime,” Mason says. “That’s a huge concern for us and it’s going to prevent folks from speaking out when they see either environmental violations or workplace violations.”
Under the bill, knowingly entering private property without the owner’s consent and taking soil and water samples or samples of an animal’s bodily fluids would become an aggravated misdemeanor on the first offense. It carries a maximum sentence of up to two years in prison. A second offense would be a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
(Radio Iowa) – A bill that criminalizes certain types of trespassing on agricultural properties has passed the Iowa legislature and now awaits Governor Kim Reynolds’ signature. Drew Mogler, the public policy director at the Iowa Pork Producers Association, says it creates new penalties for those found guilty of trespassing to set up surveillance equipment on someone else’s property to secretly capture images or video.
“It does have some important protections for not just our members but really anyone who has private property and that was really the basis of this bill,” Mogler says, “protecting private property rights for folks in the state of Iowa, to have some strong support from some of the business groups in the state as well.” Iowa legislators have been trying for years to enhance trespassing laws in response to undercover operations that target large-scale livestock operations. Mogler says the way the bill was written should help it withstand any possible lawsuits.
“We’ve had trespass laws on the books for quite some time in Iowa, it strengthens those,” Mogler says. “We really believe that should pass the court’s muster and shouldn’t be challenged from that standpoint.” Earlier measures were written as what critics called “ag gag” laws, which were thrown out, although some of those measures are still being argued in court. Mogler says trespassers need to be held accountable and this bill will ensure it happens.
“Producers deserve to be protected from folks who are trespassing on private property or breaking into their properties and trying to do harm,” Mogler says. “This bill will offer more protections for farmers for their private properties and also for other businesses across the state as well.” The measure passed the House on a 72-to-20 vote while the Senate approved it 35-to-11. The governor is expected to sign it into law.
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is co-sponsoring legislation to make a retroactive change in the federal Paycheck Protection Program for some farmers and small business owners. The P-P-P was created last spring and quickly ran out of money. A third round of funding was approved by Congress in December. “Currently, there’s a technicality with the PPP that’s preventing some Iowa farmers and self-employed small business owners from receiving their full PPP forgiveable loan,” Hinson says.
Hinson, a Republican from Marion, and Virginia Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, are co-sponsoring the bill. Hinson says a technicality had prevented some farmers and self-employed small business owners from using gross income rather than net profit to determine the size of their P-P-P loans.
“Basically it just fixes that disparity, allows the retroactivity and then allows them to recalculate to get the whole payment,” Hinson says, “regardless of what the loan status was before.” The National Federation of Independence Business has endorsed the legislation.
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne is calling on congressional leaders to include money for the renewable fuels industry in the infrastructure bill they’re crafting. President Biden’s American Jobs Act proposes spending 174 billion to promote development of electric vehicles and install charging stations. “We’ve also got our homegrown alternatives in clean biofuels that can be readily be put in place immediately,” Axne says, “much more quickly than we can move towards electric vehicles.”
Axne says she’s talked with U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about ensuring the biofuels sector gets included in the final package. There are more than 284 million registered vehicles in the U.S. — and fewer than half a percent of them run on electricity. Axne says investing now in biofuels infrastructure — like new fuel pumps that dispense higher blends of ethanol in gasoline– would have an immediate impact on air quality.
“We can get into markets more quickly,” Axne says. “We can increase the amount of ethanol used and automatically reduce our greenhouse gases and make sure we’re coming out of the gate with this bill actually making an impression from the beginning.” In a letter to six top House leaders, Axne cited recent Harvard University research that suggests ethanol’s carbon intensity score is nearly half that of gasoline and could be be even lower.
Members of the City of Atlantic’s Park and Recreation Board will meet 5:15-p.m. Monday (April 19), via Zoom. Action items and/or New Business during the meeting, will include:
In the Director’s Report, Atlantic Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen will discuss:
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig is dismissing a national environmental group’s report that cited ag run-off in ranking Iowa’s Raccoon River as one of the nation’s most-endangered rivers. “That so-called report was a bit of propaganda, I think. It was obviously a Washington, D.C based advocacy organization,” Naig says. “They can go out and say what they want to, but what they talked about related to Iowa is not based in fact. We’re moving in the right direction.”
The American Rivers report described the farm chemicals and manure that drain into the Raccoon River as a grave threat to using the river as a source for drinking water. Naig says there’s recently been an acceleration of the voluntary nutrient reduction strategy state officials unveiled in 2013 to promote rather than require conservation practices on Iowa farms. “We’ve got a long ways to go and I don’t sugar coat that at all…The strategy calls for a 45% reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus loss off of the Iowa landscape,” Naig says. “That’s a big number, not easily achieved. It’s going to time and focus, but the evidence is moving in the right direction.”
About two million acres of Iowa farmland is now planted with oats, rye and other so-called cover crops that hold soils in place. Naig says it took 15 years to reconstruct 100 wetlands and another 50 are currently under development. The number of filtration systems called “bioreactors” in Iowa will double after one project in Polk County is completed later this year. Meanwhile, the C-E-O of the drinking water system for half a million central Iowans says there will be a catastrophe if the state doesn’t find a way to more quickly reduce ag pollution in the Raccoon River.
Naig says the Des Moines Water Works is providing safe drinking water now and every indication is it will be able to do so in the future. “Last year, 2020 — a year unlike any other in terms of disruption to all of our lives, we set a record in terms of conservation adoption in the state of Iowa,” Naig says. “Even in that environment, more farmers, more landowners, more focus, more resources, more partners doing more on the ground than at any other time in our state’s history.”
Naig made his comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight (Friday) at 7:30 on Iowa P-B-S.
(Radio Iowa) – The challenges of the pandemic are reinforcing the importance of the trucking industry, especially in states like Iowa, where 18-wheelers move a host of commodities. Mitch Schulte, executive director of the Iowa State Dairy Association, says he’s hopeful the Iowa legislature will pass a bill this session allowing overweight milk tankers to travel on interstates instead of forcing them onto congested state and county roads.
“It’s more efficient for us,” Schulte says. “Instead of getting off the interstate, pulling into small towns and communities and stopping all the time, our semis can stay on that interstate and keep moving. It is safer if you can stay on the interstate rather than drive through residential areas.” As dairy producers work to be more sustainable, Schulte is calling on lawmakers to pass a measure allowing anaerobic digesters on dairy operations.
“We should be able to use that digester to help us be more environmentally friendly but also take up less of a footprint on the land,” Schulte says. “Because at the end of the day, we want to produce more milk and more products using less land and less water, and these digesters help us do that.” Schulte is urging the association’s members and supporters to contact legislators and weigh in on the digester legislation.
“I encourage you to reach out to your local politician, your local representative,” he says, “and let them know the importance of sustainabililty and utilizing technology such as anaerobic digesters out in the dairy community.” Schulte says dairy producers are also interested in seeing lawmakers approve legislation to expand broadband into underserved and unserved areas of the state.
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