(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra says confirmed cases of bird flu among poultry and dairy cattle in northwest Iowa are a crisis — and another reason congress needs to pass the Farm Bill this year. “There’s a lot of dollars in for avian influenza and African swine fever. These are massive things,” Feenstra says, “and if African swine fever would ever hit Iowa, it would be catastrophic to start euthanizing our hogs.”

Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s fourth congressional district, says 25 million birds in Iowa have been impacted by avian influenza. African Swine Fever, which is fatal to hogs, has not been detected in the United States.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Seven Veterans on a cross country bicycle trek made their way through Atlantic, Monday, to show how outdoor therapy is beneficial to mental health, and to help veterans transition from their wartime experiences through long distance outdoor expeditions. Warrior Expeditions is a non-profit organization that recognizes the therapeutic value of long-distance outdoor journeys and offers veterans long-distances hikes, bike rides, and canoeing expeditions.

For multiple years, the biking experience has been a cross-country ride that follows the Great American Rail-Trail route across the United States. While the Great American Rail-Trail is yet to be completed, the planned route includes Cass County.

Seven veterans are participating in this year’s biking expedition, and on June 10 Callie Leaver and Allen Megginson biked from Coon Rapids to Atlantic. They rode the T-Bone Trail to its Dunbar Road Trailhead a few miles north of Atlantic where the trail currently ends. From there, they jumped on gravel roads to finish their ride to Sunnyside Park, their camping location for the night. Callie and Allen started their journey in Washington D.C. on May 8, and are biking approximately 50 miles a day. They expect to complete the 3850-mile cross-country journey in about 12-15 weeks.

Veterans Callie Leaver (L) and Allen Megginson (R) pause for a photo just north of Atlantic. (Photo courtesy Ciara Hoegh)

Warrior Expeditions outfits veterans with all the gear they will need for their expeditions, and Callie and Allen are carrying all the gear they will need for the ride with them on their bikes. When asked what they would share with area residents, Callie was sure to note that Iowa has the most beautiful bike trails and that Iowa drivers have been very friendly when sharing the road. She appreciates that truckers have slowed down for them.

For more information on Warrior Expeditions, and to follow Callie and Allen’s ride across the U.S., visit Warrior Expeditions on Facebook at www.facebook.com/warriorhike.

The Great American Rail Trail is an initiative of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit organization founded in 1986 whose mission is to build a nation connected by trails. For more information on the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the Great American Rail Trail, visit www.railstotrails.org.

Nishna Valley Trails is a tax-exempt local nonprofit that promotes the development of recreational trails and cycling. People who support these causes are welcome to join the group by contacting President Dave Chase at 712-249-3059.

A map of Cass County trails, including information on trail type, ADA accessibility, and restrooms, can be found at https://www.atlanticiowa.com/experience/cass-county-trails-map-2/. Printed copies of the Cass County Trails Map can be picked up at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 5002

Jim Field visits with Atlantic Ward 4 Councilman Shawn Sarsfield to follow-up on a meeting held last week with area residents.

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(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University researchers have created a test to detect a disease that could threaten the state’s pork industry, although it has not been found in the U-S. The test can identify Japanese encephalitis virus, or J-E-V, which is spread by mosquitoes and is related to West Nile and Zika. Rahul Nelli, at I-S-U’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, says most cases of J-E-V in pigs result in mild symptoms, but an outbreak could be very costly.

“The economic losses could be around $600-million for the pork production,” Nelli says, “so that’s a significant impact on our pork industry in Iowa.” Nelli, who led I-S-U’s development of the test, says J-E-V can also be a health threat to humans and other animals, including water birds and horses. The virus is present in Southeast Asia and spread to Australia in 2022. Nelli says the test will identify the virus in samples from pigs, or it can be used to tell when it is spreading in the environment.  “Basically, if you have a mosquito population,” he says, “you can collect mosquitos and collect their DNA and screen whether there is J-E-V around your farm.”

Nelli made his comments on the Iowa Public Radio program “River to River.”

(Radio Iowa) – A petition to manage nitrate pollution in northeast Iowa’s Driftless Area is trying to follow the successful approach in Minnesota to implementing federal Clean Water Act protections. Iowa Environmental Council attorney Mike Schmidt says the Iowa petition to the E-P-A will be modeled after Minnesota because of geological similarities. “Minnesota issues permits, or issues a general permit, covering more than 12-hundred facilities. Iowa has even more concentrated animal feeding operations, but fewer than 200 of those with permits under the Clean Water Act,” he says. Schmidt says water quality challenges associated with the Driftless Area go beyond state lines.

The facts of the Minnesota case are extremely similar to Iowa because it’s the same geologic formation,” Schmidt says. “Southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa, the Driftless Area and the Karst terrain do not follow a political boundary, it is a geological formation.”

Part of the E-P-A’s protections would include assistance for the region’s private well owners in danger of nitrate pollution. The I-E-C petitioned the E-P-A unsuccessfully for those protections for northeast Iowa in 2022.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Friday, issued a statement in response to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship requesting resources from the United States Department of Agriculture and announcing additional response measures: 

“Earlier today Secretary Naig informed me about the plan to test dairy cows in areas where cases of HPAI have been confirmed in poultry flocks. I appreciate his and the department’s proactive response. Because Iowa farmers produce 10 percent of the nation’s food supply, protecting the health of our livestock is one of our highest priorities.

 “Additionally, last week I sent a letter to Sec. Vilsack urging the USDA to prioritize and expedite the approval process for animal vaccines designed to combat diseases threatening the agriculture industry. I will continue to advocate for these vaccines to help prevent and control future disease outbreaks.” 

You can find the full press release from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship here.  

You can find Gov. Reynolds letter to Sec. Vilsack here.  

(Radio Iowa) – The same strain of bird flu has recently hit a flock of laying hens in Sioux County and dairy cattle in O’Brien County. Iowa State University Extension veterinarian Dr. Phillip Jardon says Iowa is the 11th state where bird flu has been reported among dairy cattle.

Bird flu has been reported in 24 herds of dairy cattle in Michigan and one in Ohio. Jardon says biosecurity issues are key, as investigators believe a poultry flock in Michigan struck by bird flu may have been infected by an employee who also worked at a dairy operation.

So far, bird flu has been confirmed in over 80 U-S dairy cattle herds. Jardon says the impact may reach dairy cattle shows at county and state fairs.

Jardon grew up on a small dairy farm in southwest Iowa. He got his medical degree from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. Last July, Jardon joined Iowa State University Extension as a dairy specialist after working 11 years as a technical consultant to a company that produces vaccines and medicines for pets and livestock.

Volunteers, Atlantic Parks & Rec Personnel & Trees Forever Representatives gather gather to plant trees at the Schildberg Recreation Area Campground in Atlantic, Iowa (6-7-2024)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A little more than a dozen volunteers and Parks and Rec personnel gathered at the Schildberg Recreation Area RV campgrounds this (Friday) morning, in Atlantic, to help plant a variety of 32 trees. Local Trees Forever representative Dolly Bergmann, said Alliant Energy provided funding for the project in the form of a $3,000 grant.

Trees Forever also made the trees available through a grant. Bergmann said City employees did some prep work before today’s (Friday’s) tree planting.

She informed the volunteers (and for that matter, anyone who wishes to plant trees on their own property), of the right and wrong ways to plant a tree.

Schildberg RV Park playground

RV’s fill the camping pads at the Schildberg Rec Area RV Park (6-7-24)

Schildberg Campground Shelter House

She advised putting three-to four-inches of mulch for each tree, but not right up against it. “Leave a little doughnut hole around [the tree].” City employees will water and eventually place stakes and protective barriers around the trees to keep the deer away. The RV Pads at the Schildberg Campground were mostly full this (Friday) morning, with campers taking advantage of the Schildberg Recreational Trail, the fire pits, playground and shelter-house amenities. (Ric Hanson – Photos)

(Radio Iowa)  – An analysis released by the Sierra Club and landowners who object to the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline suggests the project will require drawing well over three BILLION gallons of water from Iowa’s aquifers each year. Jess Mazour is the conservation coordinator for the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club.  “This is not a good use of our public water supply,” Mazour says. “We need to ensure we have water for generations to come and not squander it on a private company.”

Mazour says ethanol plants already use a significant amount of water and the pipeline would be an even bigger drain on Iowa’s water supply. “We have no idea how much water is below us underground,” Mazour says. “…Our bottom line is we need Iowa to take a long, hard look and study our aquifers and we need to deny water for carbon capture and storage for any company.”

Jess Mazour of the Sierra Club’s Iowa Chapter speaking during an online news conference June 6, 2024.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has already granted Summit a permit to withdraw up to 55 million gallons of water each year from a new well near an ethanol plant in Chickasaw County. Wally Taylor, the attorney for the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club, says the agency has been handing out water use permits like candy, without considering the impact on groundwater resources.

“The DNR sees its role as serving its customers and the customer is the applicant for a permit,” he says. “In fact, they used to call that portion of the DNR the Environmental Protection Division. Now it’s the Environmental Services Division. That tells you all you need to know.”

According to federal reports, it takes between 10 and 17 liters of water to produce ethanol. More water would be required at each ethanol plant site to cool carbon so it can be compressed, liquefied and pushed through a pipeline. More than half of Iowa’s corn crop is used to produce ethanol. Summit and corn growers who support the project say the pipeline is crucial to the survival of the ethanol industry, as more consumers demand fuel that has a low or no carbon footprint.

Summit’s pipeline would sequester carbon from 57 Midwest ethanol plants, including 30 in Iowa.