CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Iowa Agribusiness Network!
CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!
CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Iowa Agribusiness Network!
CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!
(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she is working with fellow Republican Senator Chuck Grassley to address one specific issue facing farmers hit hard by flooding. “One of the major concerns I am hearing from farmers across the state is the stored grain that has gone to ruin,” Ernst explains. She says their proposal is to give farmers some compensation for that damaged grain. Ernst says they are moving forward on an amendment that would cover stored grain in the U-S-D-A disaster coverage. She says right now the coverage is only for crops that have been planted and are flooded.
Ernst says she is also working on some tax help for Iowa and Nebraskans in the counties declared major federal disaster areas. Ernst says some of the benefits include waiving penalties so people could withdraw from their I-R-A, and providing incentives for employers to keep employees on the payroll during tough times. Ernst talked about the issues during her weekly conference call with reporters.
The Shelby County Board of Supervisors Chair and County Engineer Brandon Burmeister have re-activated a 10-ton secondary granular road embargo. This means all granular surfaced roads within Shelby County are embargoed to 10-ton vehicles/loads until further notice. Shelby County Engineer Brandon Burmeister says the uncharacteristicly wet weather pattern has prompted the embargo.
(Radio Iowa) — Congresswoman Cindy Axne has introduced a bill that would make a federal tax credit for cellulosic or “advanced” biofuels permanent. “It was a $1.01 per gallon tax credit for producers that expired (at the end of 2017),” Axne said. “I am re-establishing that tax credit so that our farmers can be supported, we can create more jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”
Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, represents Iowa’s third congressional district. She says reviving the tax credit will support more innovation in developing so-called “advanced biofuels” made from things like corn stalks and husks. “Really using that waste of plant material, and animal waste as well, to create energy from it,” Axne said. The biofuel industry has been hit by E-P-A waivers that have reduced the amount of biofuel production required under the Renewable Fuels Standard and Axne says this tax credit would help advanced biofuels producers recover. “Anything that helps our farmers and our ag community, as we all know in Iowa, helps all of us in this country,” Axne said. “I’m hoping that we’ll be able to get this through. I’m feeling pretty good about it.”
Republican Chuck Grassley is sponsoring a bill in the U.S. Senate that would extend the 39 federal tax credits, including this per gallon tax credit for advanced biofuel producers.
Officials with the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency report shortly before 4-p.m. Monday, the Red Oak Fire Department and other first responders were paged to United Farmers Cooperative in Red Oak for a man that was trapped up to his waist in grain.
Photo via MCEMA Facebook page
EMA Coordinator Brian Hamman said without the specialized equipment that had been purchased and donated by many donors, the rescue would have been challenging and difficult to say the least. The subject was extricated and able to walk out under his own will and was taken to MCMH for further evaluation.
Hamman added that “While we all train for the worst and hope we never have to use certain equipment and our training, it’s a blessing when we have a positive outcome.”
Spring is in the air, and plans are underway for gardening projects in Cass County. Local groups planning community gardening, beautification or education programs will again be eligible for assistance from the Cass County Master Gardeners. The group is offering grant money to be used in the 2019 growing season, to encourage gardening to grow food for education or donation, and/or improve local communities.
The money may also be used for gardening education purposes. The Cass County Master Gardener Memorial Grants are offered in remembrance of the many years of service to the community provided by long-time Master Gardener volunteers who have passed.
Any Cass County not-for-profit group may apply. Schools, churches, libraries, 4-H clubs, Scouts, or other organizations/individuals working to improving their communities can apply for money to begin or improve gardens or landscaping for community benefit, or to provide education for their members or the public.
To ensure the money is helping a wide variety of community organizations, those who were funded by 2018 grants will not be eligible to apply in 2018. Each grant has a maximum value of $300. Applications must include plans for teamwork and sustainability. Consideration for the environment is also an important factor in selection.
Applications must be received by Wednesday, April 24 for consideration. They may be submitted by mail or email. Grant recipients will be informed of their selection by May 6. For more information, or with questions, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132, email keolson@iastate.edu, or stop by the Extension Office at 805 W. 10th St in Atlantic. You may also contact Master Gardener Donna Reimers. Application forms can be picked up at the Extension Office, or printed from the Cass County Extension website- www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.
The Master Gardener program trains volunteers to develop their knowledge and skills in horticulture. These volunteers then give back to their communities through gardening service and education. The program is available in all 50 states and Canada through land grant university Extension programs such as Iowa State University Extension. Education courses are available throughout Iowa on a regular basis. For more information on the program, contact Cass County Extension Program Coordinator Kate Olson, at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu.
(Radio Iowa) — As floodwaters slowly fall in many parts of the state, Iowa farmers are getting back onto their properties to survey the damage and to prepare for spring planting, if possible. Iowa State University Extension farm management field specialist Steve Johnson says farmers who had grain in bins will need to see if that grain got wet. “When we saw a lot of this water inundate a lot of grain being held in on-farm storage, that corn, those soybeans, those are adulterated crops,” Johnson says. “Those can’t be fed. Those can’t be shipped into the system.”
Growers need to be aware that federal crop insurance doesn’t cover grain that’s been soaked by floodwaters. “It’ll have to be covered under some sort of a farm policy. They’re not covered by crop insurance because those bushels were already harvested,” Johnson says. “Here in Iowa, the Department of Natural Resources is involved and they have places where farmers can go with that adulterated crop.”
The adulterated or lesser quality grain won’t necessarily need to be thrown out, but it shouldn’t be used as feed for cattle, hogs or chickens. “You better be careful about feeding any of this adulterated crops that were in storage,” Johnson says. “Just a real caution because that can really trigger other issues regarding livestock and livestock health.” Johnson says producers who need information on resources to deal with grain damage can go to the ISU Extension website: www.extension.iastate.edu.
(Radio Iowa) — Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar visited flooded areas of southwest and northwest Iowa this weekend, emphasizing the need to improve flood protection measures and make “climate smart” infrastructure choices. Klobuchar has unveiled a TRILLION dollar plan to improve the nation’s infrastructure. It includes expanding rural broadband service and Klobuchar went to the Farmer Mutual Telephone Company office in Stanton to meet with local officials and business owners. “Kids that grow up in rural Iowa — and southwest Iowa — should be able to live here,” Klobuchar said. “And the only way you can do that these days is if you have the internet.”
Klobuchar made the same point Saturday during an appearance at the “Heartland Forum” in Storm Lake. Klobuchar says there are a host of issues Democrats can and should address that are important to rural America. “There is rural housing. There is rural child caare and there is, of course, this connectivity and broadband, then this issue of monopolies and anti-trust,” Klobuchar said. “When you talk to people who live in the rural areas, they’ll often mention the Farm Bill, but they’ll talk about a whole lot of other things.”
Klobuchar proposes repealing some Trump-era tax cuts to invest in critical infrastructure. She says Americans — no matter where they live — care about upgrades to municipal water supplies and inland waterways as well as mass transit and rural broadband. “I think people want to be able to get out of traffic jams. I think a lot of people would like to work at home more, no matter where they live,” Klobuchar said. “I think that people want to get on subways that aren’t broken down and it’s just a fundamental bread-and-butter issue.”
Three other presidential candidates — Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, former Maryland Congressman John Delaney and former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro — also appeared at the ag-issues forum in Storm Lake Saturday.
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