DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 18, 2021 – Organic producers and handlers can now apply for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds to assist with the cost of receiving or maintaining organic certification. Applications for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) are due Nov. 1, 2021.

“USDA is here to help all producers, including those who grow our nation’s organic food and fiber. Many farmers have told us that cost was a barrier to their ability to get an organic certification,” said Bob Wegand, Acting State Executive Director for the Iowa Farm Service Agency (FSA). “By assisting with the costs, this program can help organic farmers get their certification along with the benefits that come with it.”

OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products for the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic certification under the USDA’s National Organic Program. Eligible producers include any certified producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent during the 2021 and any subsequent program year. Producers can be reimbursed for expenses made between Oct. 1, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2021 including application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, travel expenses for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments and postage.

For 2021, OCCSP will reimburse 50% of a certified operation’s allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $500 for each of the following categories (or “scopes”):

• crops
• wild crops
• livestock
• processing/handling
• State organic program fees.

Organic farmers and ranchers may apply through an FSA county office or a participating state agency.

This funding will be complemented by an additional $20 million for organic and transitioning producers through the Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. More information on that funding will be available in the coming weeks.

More Information

To learn more about organic certification cost share, please visit the OCCSP webpage, visit usda.gov/organic, or contact your local USDA Service Center.

In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit http://www.usda.gov.

Montgomery County residents interested in running for their City Council or School Board can soon begin filing papers to place their name on the November 2, 2021, ballot.
Candidates will need to file a nomination petition and an affidavit of candidacy to get their name on the ballot. Those documents need to be filed with the Auditor’s office for a seat with the city or with the school secretary for a seat on the school board.
Candidates can begin filing those papers with those officials on August 23. The petitions are due to those officials before 5:00 p.m. on September 16.
Potential candidates in Montgomery County for city councils and school boards may be surprised how few signatures they will need to place their name on the ballot for this upcoming election. “We have some city and school seats that only require collecting 10 signatures to get on the ballot,” said Montgomery County Auditor & Commissioner of Elections Stephanie Burke. “I know the first roadblock for those thinking about running is collecting signatures on the nomination papers. However, I think that people might be surprised by how few they need to collect.”
The following are the races with signature requirements that will appear on the November 2 ballot:
• Red Oak Mayor – 25
• Red Oak Council Ward 2 – 25
• Red Oak Council at-large – 25
• Elliott Mayor – 10
• Elliott Council (3 at-large) – 10
• Grant Mayor – 5
• Grant Council (5 at-large) – 5
• Villisca Mayor – 10
• Villisca Council (2 at-large) – 10
• Stanton Council (3 at-large) – 10
• Coburg Mayor – 5
• Coburg Council (2 at-large) – 5
• Red Oak School District (3 at-large) – 48
• Stanton School District (3 at-large) – 10
• Villisca School District (2 at-large) – 15
• Southwestern Community College (District #1, #3, #5 and #6) – 50
Burke said interested candidates will find useful information at https://sos.iowa.gov/ or at
www.montgomerycountyia.gov. Forms can be printed from those websites. Candidates may also pick up
the required paperwork at the Auditor’s Office located in the Courthouse. For more information about the
2021 City/School Election, contact the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office at 712-623-5127.

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst announced on Wednesday that she will be making a stop in Cass County next week as part of her 99 county tour. Ernst will host the Cass County Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, August 24th at 2:00 p.m. at the Griswold Community Building in Griswold.

Senator Ernst said she looks forward to hearing from constituents in the area about the issues most important to them. This event is open to the public. The Griswold Community Building is located at 603 2nd Street in Griswold.

From Left to Right: Addison, Harper, and Lincoln Kite

Cass Health held their quarterly Siblings Class on August 10, 2021.  Each participant learned to swaddle, change a diaper and hold a baby.

All of the newly minted “Big Brothers” and “Big Sisters” received a teddy bear and an official certificate.

The next Siblings Class will be held on November 2^nd, 2021, those interested can contact Cass Health OB Department at 712-250-8862.

ATLANTIC- The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) has awarded accreditation to the laboratory at Cass Health based on the results of a recent on-site inspection as part of the CAP’s Accreditation Programs.

Cass Health Laboratory Director, Mitch Whiley, MLS (ASCP)CM was advised of this national recognition and congratulated for the excellence of the services being provided. The Cass Health Laboratory is one of more than 8,000 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide.

“We are very proud to achieve this accreditation,” said Mitch. “Our mission is to provide a superior experience to our patients, and for us, that means that we have to hold ourselves accountable to the highest levels of patient satisfaction, accuracy, and efficiency. It is vital that the data we provide to our providers and patients is precise and timely. This accreditation helps validate that we’re living up to that mission.”

The U.S. federal government recognizes the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program as being equal-to or more-stringent-than the government’s own inspection program.

During the CAP accreditation process, designed to ensure the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients, inspectors examine the laboratory’s records and quality control procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program, records, and overall management.

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds declared today, August 18th, as “Solar Day in Iowa.” To celebrate, solar industry leaders and supporters gathered today for “Solar Day at the Iowa State Fair” for a live reading of the Governor’s proclamation by Lt. Governor Adam Gregg.

“Iowa leads the country in renewable energy development, which creates jobs, grows our rural communities and supports a robust economy,” said Lt. Governor Adam Gregg. “Today, we celebrate the role solar energy has played in this energy innovation. With solar projects in all of Iowa’s 99 counties and nearly 1,000 Iowans employed in the industry, the future looks bright.”

The Governor’s proclamation reads:

• Whereas, Iowa is a world leader for the production, development and technology of renewable energy. These industries create jobs in Iowa and grow the state’s economy.
• Whereas, Iowa ranks 16^th among U.S. states in technical potential for solar energy production, ahead of states such as Florida and Georgia, and has the potential to add enough solar to meet the state’s electric needs more than 150 times over.
• Whereas, Solar energy has become an important option for Iowa farmers, businesses and homeowners to manage their energy future.
• Whereas, Solar energy benefits both rural and urban Iowa, with solar installations in all of Iowa’s 99 counties. 
• Whereas, Iowa’s solar industry employs nearly 800 people and nearly 100 businesses involved in the supply chain.  
• Whereas, More than $568 million has been invested in solar in Iowa, growing local economies.
• Now, Therefore, I, Kim Reynolds, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim August 18, 2021 as SOLAR DAY in the state of Iowa. 

“Solar has been a true success story in our state. This technology has become an economic engine that is powering our communities and economy,” said Troy Van Beek, board member of the Iowa Solar Energy Trade Association.

Solar benefits both rural and urban Iowa with solar projects in all of Iowa’s 99 counties.

“Solar energy provides a drought-proof revenue stream for Iowa farmers that’s needed now more than ever. Land leases for solar projects enable farmers to preserve and enhance our natural resources for generations to come,” said Ray Gaesser, Chair of the Iowa Conservative Energy Forum. “Today we are celebrating the sun, but we also celebrate all forms of energy from our farms, including wind energy, ethanol, biodiesel, biogas and more.”