DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — A lawsuit against the Biden administration seeking the year-round sale of E15 gasoline has now ended.

The suit, brought about by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, was ended due to the EPA’s new rule allowing drivers in eight states in the Midwest to have E15 all year. The rule goes into effect in April 2025, and ends a ban during the summer, on sales of gasoline with 15% ethanol. Representatives of the biofuels industry, Mid-States governors, and farming groups have sought an end to the rule for years. Bird said the win is long overdue.

Meanwhile, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds released a statement on the lawsuit ending.

“As governor of the nation’s top ethanol producing state, it is my responsibility to ensure our hard-working farmers have access to every market available. I appreciate Attorney General Bird joining this fight to provide Americans cheaper, cleaner burning E15 year-round. While ending this lawsuit is a victory against the Biden Administration and their attack on American Energy Independence, there is still more work to be done. The Biden Administration’s delay of year-round E-15 for 2024 not only hurts American consumers, but also Iowa producers. I will continue to push the EPA to expand the market for Iowa biofuels.”

w/Kate Olson.

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(Radio Iowa) – A House committee has approved a bill that outlines a new legal avenue for landowners who don’t want a carbon pipeline to run through their property. Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton says it’s the fifth time the House has introduced a bill to address the ability of developers to gain eminent domain authority to seize ground from unwilling property owners.

“To the landowners that are here today, I will not stop fighting for you. House Republicans will not stop fighting for you and I think you’ll see House Democrats will not stop fighting for you,” Kaufmann said. ” This is a bipartisan issue….and this is now a live round for the rest of the session.” The bill would give the Polk County District Court authority to review claims from landowners OR developers about whether eminent domain authority may be used for any project — including the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions Pipeline. Representative Chuck Isenhart  of Dubuque says he’s not sure the Iowa Utilities Board will make a clear determination on whether Summit’s pipeline is a public necessity and, therefore, may use eminent domain. “I think the courts are ultimately are going to be the place where that happens,” Isenhart says, “so why don’t we get about that sooner rather than later?”

The bill cleared the House Ways and Means Committee on a 24-to-zero vote. It’s now eligible for House debate. Earlier this year the House passed a different bill about carbon pipelines, but it never came up in the senate before last week’s deadline for action on the bill.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa D-N-R has already been keeping an eye on water temperatures for their urban trout stocking program, and now they are facing potential problems stocking the trout’s natural habitat. Northeast Iowa Fisheries Supervisor, Mike Siepker, says his team is cautious about when and where they’ll be stocking more than 300-thousand fish in area streams. “This is kind of uncharted territory. We’ve had droughts in the past, but for staff that are here now this is kind of a new thing where we’re dealing with these low stream conditions and what could potentially be a really warm summer,” as he says.

Trout thrive in cooler water. Many of the D-N-R’s hatcheries in the region rely on groundwater reserves, which are also low and could also be a problem.  “They’re spring-fed flows that feed the hatcheries, so we’ve already had discussions at the hatcheries that if the droughts continue, how will we adjust our practices at the hatchery to take advantage of the water that we have,” Siepker says.

Siepker says one of solutions is staggering the 18-month hatching and growth window across multiple sites, which would ultimately use less water. They D-N-R also stocks one to two-thousand trout in nine different lakes around the state as a way to introduce people to trout fishing. They are watching the water temperatures in those lakes, as lower water levels and unseasonably high temperatures could warm the lakes up.

Jim Field visits with Kelsey Beschorner about Atlantic preparations for the RAGBRAI visit this summer.

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(Atlantic, Iowa; March 17, 2024) – Produce in the Park’s Spring Celebration Market will be held the day before Easter, Saturday, March 30, from 12 PM – 3 PM at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA. Food truck Amos Fabulous Foods will be on site, and the YMCA will set up free activities for kids. There is no cost to enter the market at the YMCA.

Vendors at this year’s Spring Celebration Market will be selling a variety of local foods–from fresh produce and meat, to fresh breads and desserts. Craft vendors will be selling wood products, decorations such as handmade gnomes, crocheted items, candles, and more.

Spring Celebration Market 2024 is sponsored by Cass Health, Gregg Young of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust, Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Atlantic.

For the latest information on Spring Celebration Market and all Produce in the Park markets visit
www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Cass County (IA) ISU Extension, say the Cass County 4-H Endowment committee would like to thank everyone who attended or donated to the Cass County 4-H Endowment during the Pancake Supper and Silent Auction on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Over 550 plates of pancakes were flipped by the Pancake Man.  There were 25 silent auction items donated by community members and businesses, in addition to all 11 Cass County 4-H Clubs collecting items or donations. Many also donated directly to the Cass County 4-H Endowment fund, which can be done at any time of the year.

Total net proceeds from pancakes, direct donations, and the silent auction was over $5,500.00. This is a record-setting amount raised at the Pancake Supper in recent years. Thank you to all who ate, donated, or bid on the silent auction items to help make that happen!

Proceeds from the 4-H Pancake Supper directly benefit the Cass County 4-H Program. All funds raised go to the Cass County 4-H Endowment. The 4-H Program Development Fee is $40 per youth each year to enroll. Instead of having individual 4-H’ers and families take on that expense, the Cass County Extension Council and the 4-H Endowment Fund picks up that cost for all members, making 4-H free to join in Cass County. The Cass County 4-H Endowment also offers grants for youth to attend 4-H camps or conferences outside of Cass County, encouraging them to take their 4-H experience to the next level. Scholarships are also awarded to graduating senior 4-Hers and funds help support programs in the county like STEM education and Clover Kids.

Donations to the Cass County 4-H Endowment Fund can be made at anytime of the year. If you missed the pancake supper, stop in the office at 805 W 10^th Street in Atlantic for details on how to donate. Donations can also be made on the Iowa 4-H Foundation website, by selecting Cass County to receive your direct donation at https://www.iowa4hfoundation.org/make-a-difference/ways-to-give. Learn more about the 4-H program in Cass County by visiting www.extension.iastate.edu/cass or calling the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Produce in the Park (PIP), in Atlantic, announced today (Friday), the hiring of a new Market Manager, Maria Miller. Miller will oversee the coordination and marketing of Produce in the Park as well as four holiday off season markets. PIP Board President Bailey Smith says “We’re so thrilled to welcome Maria to the Produce in the Park family. The market has grown substantially over the last five years and we’re eager to see what ideas Maria has to enhance the market, while helping to create the same fun atmosphere patrons have come to know and love.”

Miller was born and raised in Omaha and recently moved to Atlantic in 2022 with her family. Produce in the Park was one of the first community events she visited and is one of the reasons she fell in love with the Atlantic community. She loved how welcoming vendors were, the family friendly atmosphere and the investment the market makes to the community. Maria Miller says she is “Excited to be able to contribute to the tradition of Produce in the Park and serve the community. My husband and I…” she says, “…started a garden and quickly realized the hard work it takes to see a good harvest. [And] While my gardening skills may not be stellar, it’s helped me recognize how essential it is to eat seasonally and support local producers.”

Produce in the Park is a weekly Thursday evening (4:30-6:30 PM) farmer’s market in the Atlantic City Park from June 6th – October 10th. Vendor applications can be found online at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com; printed copies are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St., Atlantic). Produce in the Park seeks vendors selling handmade or homegrown products, including local foods, as well as beauty products, candles, crafts, art and decorations.

New Produce In the Park Market Mgr. Maria Miller & family (photo submitted)

Join Produce In the Park on Saturday, March 30th, and find all your Easter goodies at the Spring Celebration Market. The celebration will be at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA from 12 PM – 3 PM and feature produce, baked goods, crafts and more. For the latest information, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIA).

The Spring Celebration Market is sponsored by Cass Health, Gregg Young of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust, Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Atlantic.

(Toronto, ON and Oakland, IA)  March 12, 2024 – Iowa farmer Seth Watkins together with Cara Morgan at Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), have collaborated to bring ALUS, the leading agriculture-based ecosystem service program, to Southwest Iowa. Southwest Iowa will be the first ALUS community in the United States. ALUS is a Canadian charitable organization delivering the only turnkey farmer-led community-based program that rewards farmers for creating, restoring, managing and maintaining nature-based projects on their lands. There are currently 38 ALUS communities across Canada. The program will engage Southwest Iowa farmers and ranchers to produce net new nature and ecosystem services, while addressing rural environmental challenges related to soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat.

RC&D Executive Director Cara Marker-Morgan says “Producers in Iowa currently have access to many great cost-share opportunities. We are excited to bring ALUS to the region to both compliment as well as fill any gaps of these current programs. ALUS works alongside these opportunities to support the long-term management and maintenance of projects by providing on-going annual payments, but also by creating and supporting social networks within rural farming communities that facilitate knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning. With support from ALUS SWI, local farmers and ranchers will be able to generate permanent, positive environmental benefits for their farms and the surrounding community.”

Iowa is one of the top ten agricultural and cattle producing states in the US. Most of Iowa’s agricultural land was tallgrass prairie prior to settlement. Only 0.1% of Iowa’s prairie remain and most of the remnants are found in western Iowa. Creating tallgrass prairie along field edges and on marginal agricultural land, as well as incorporating prairie management into cattle grazing practices, is one of the areas ALUS SWI will focus their efforts.

Seth Watkins, of Pinhook Farms, says “Adding tallgrass prairie to the working landscape can help address some of the environmental challenges we have in Iowa, like soil erosion and nutrient run-off. Prairie grasses have deep roots that hold soils in place, prevent weed encroachment and filter nutrients and pesticides from water runoff. They’re resilient to drought and poor soil conditions and provide habitat for a variety of wildlife, like pollinators, beneficial insects and birds. This is one of the regenerative agriculture practices that can help farmers and ranchers build longevity into their operations while producing environmental benefits.”

ALUS communities work directly with farmers and ranchers to create, manage and maintain new acres of nature that best suit their farm operation and address local environmental challenges. This includes grassland restoration, but also projects like wetland restoration, tree and shrub planting (e.g., riparian buffers, windbreaks, buffer strips) and on-field regenerative agriculture practices, like modified grazing. New acres of nature are created on marginal land or field edges leaving productive land in production.

Bryan Gilvesy, CEO, of ALUS, says “ALUS has been a principles-based program from the very beginning. We believe in working at the grassroots community level to create solutions to local environmental problems. Our program was designed to be integrated alongside other funding mechanisms, such as government programs and grants, and to provide farmers and ranchers with a one-stop shop to access the knowledge, resources and funding they need to maximize the environmental potential of their marginal lands while maintaining farm productivity. We’re excited to launch the first ALUS community in the US in such a vibrant and critical agricultural region as Southwest Iowa.”

The launch of ALUS SWI is generously supported and funded in part by Builders Initiative and the Iowa West Foundation.

About ALUS

ALUS is a charitable organization that envisions a future where all farmers and ranchers produce ecosystem services from nature-based solutions alongside food and fibre to help solve the crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. Through its turn-key farmer-led, community-delivered program, ALUS supports more than 330 community leaders across 38 ALUS communities in helping over 1,600 farmers and ranchers build and actively manage 46,000+ acres of nature-based projects. These projects, like wetlands, grasslands and tree and shrub plantings, help capture carbon, keep lakes, rivers and streams clean, provide food and shelter for wildlife, and better prepare communities for extreme weather events like flood and drought.

ALUS also helps governments, businesses and philanthropic foundations invest in Nature & Climate Solutions on agricultural land to generate positive environmental, economic and social outcomes in the communities where they operate—one acre at a time.

Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development’s mission is “To collaboratively develop and lead community, conservation, and cultural initiatives to improve our quality of life in rural western Iowa.” Our goals include ensuring healthy natural resources that meet the needs of agriculture, industry, private use, and recreational facilities; promoting and enhancing art, culture and historic resources in rural communities; and working on projects that fill gaps in community services to benefit people of southwest Iowa. Golden Hills was organized under and financially supported by the USDA NRCS in 1981. When USDA operational funding ended in 2011, ongoing work has been as a private non-profit. We have a twenty-three year history of successful conservation and development projects throughout the region. The official Golden Hills footprint is twelve Southwest Iowa counties but much of our projects extend beyond these counties throughout the western part of Iowa.

Jim Field visits with Cass County Conservation Board Executive Director Micah Lee about the “Intro to Turkey Hunting” program Saturday, March 16 at 10:00 am at the Outdoor Classroom Shelter near Massena.

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