DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced the extension of a disaster proclamation for Sioux and Taylor Counties effective immediately through January 14, 2024. The USDA has confirmed positive cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in both counties.

The proclamation – issued Friday (today) – allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites.

The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is blasting a United Nations organization for calling on citizens in the United States and other developed countries to eat less meat. The recommendation comes from the U-N’s Food and Agricultural Organization, which Hinson says it headed by a member of the Chinese Communist Party.

Hinson is co-sponsoring a resolution in the U-S House to condemn the U-N report, which also recommends that developing countries increase livestock production to improve the diets of their citizens. The report suggests reducing greenhouse gas emissions requires a reduction in excessive meat consumption in the world’s richest nations.

Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says it appears the United Nations can call on Americans to eat less meat, but they cannot condemn Hamas for atrocities in Israel.

The United Nations report suggests livestock production accounts for a third of greenhouse gas emissions and 40 percent of methane. Hinson and Nebraska Congressman Mike Flood are co-sponsoring the resolution pushing back on the U-N report. Flood and Hinson say meat is one of the most efficient ways to deliver protein and reducing meat consumption in the U-S would shatter the world’s food security.

(Atlantic, Iowa) — Produce in the Park’s Christmas Market 2023 takes place December 23rd at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, in Atlantic. The event will be held from Noon until 3-p.m. Organizers say this holiday market offers local and handmade foods and crafts, with local favorite Pim’s Thai being on site for lunch needs.

Produce in the Park is accepting vendor applications for Christmas Market, and additional holiday markets planned for winter and spring 2024. Vendor applications can be found online at www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com; printed copies of the application are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 50022). Produce in the Park seeks vendors selling handmade or homegrown products, including local foods, as well as beauty products, candles, crafts, art, and decorations.

Christmas Market 2023 is sponsored by Cass Health, Gregg Young of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust, Meyer & Gross Real Estate, Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Atlantic.

For the latest information on Christmas Market and all Produce in the Park markets, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/).

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative’s Double Up Food Bucks program has launched new digital technology to simplify participation for users. The program has transitioned from single-use redeemable paper currency to an online system centered on the new reloadable Double Up Food Bucks Card. The new cards will be usable at all participating Double Up Food Bucks locations.

Double Up Food Bucks is a supplemental SNAP benefit program run by the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative that helps low-income Iowans bring home more fruits and vegetables, while also supporting local farmers. Program participants can double the value of federal SNAP benefits at participating farmers markets, co-ops, and grocery stores including Hy-Vee and Fareway locations around the state when purchasing fresh produce. “As we continue to combat food insecurity in Iowa, it’s important to make sure families have nutritious meals that include fresh produce,” said Elisa Sloss, Senior Vice President, Hy-Vee. “By modernizing the redemption process, the program is easier to use and ensures that those enrolled receive all the benefits they are eligible for.”

“Fareway is proud to partner with the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables and enhance the functionality of the DUFB program,” said Jake Moran, Chief Financial Officer of Fareway Stores Inc.

Prior to the release of the new technology, the Double Up Food Bucks program was available through paper currency. The new technology replaces the paper currency with a reusable plastic card. The Double Up Food Bucks card allows SNAP users to spend and save their bucks and removes the risk of losing or destroying paper currency. Users can sign up for a Double Up Food Bucks card at participating sites by shopping for fruits and vegetables with their SNAP/EBT card and asking their cashier about Double Up Food Bucks.

The Double Up Food Bucks Iowa program is made possible by donations from sponsors including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Alliant Energy, Bank of America, Farmers Mutual Hail, Iowa Total Care, Max & Helen Guernsey Foundation, United Way of Central Iowa, and the Nelson Family Foundation.

To learn more about Double Up Food Bucks and to find participating locations, visit www.DoubleUpIowa.com

(Radio Iowa) – A spokesman for the Iowa DNR says hunters are on pace for a good season harvest as the end of the second deer gun season approaches Sunday. Pete Hildreth talked about the numbers at the Natural Resources Commission meeting today.

“Just under 80,000 deer have been reported through our harvest reporting system,” Hildreth says. The DNR report shows hunters in Clayton County have taken the most deer thus far at 3,390, followed by Allamakee County at 2,589. No other counties have topped 2,000 deer taken, but a few are very close, including Winnesheik 1,943, Jackson, 1,941, Warren 1,814, Madison 1,888, and Dubuque 1,881.

(Iowa DNR photo)

“So based on this year’s harvest, we’re right on track for our typical annual harvest of 100 to 110-thousand deer statewide,” Hildreth says. He says the only downside is three hunting accidents last weekend. “That does serve as a reminder for hunters to review safety measures before heading out. Overall, there have been 12 hunting incidences and again sadly two fatalities across all hunting seasons this fall,” he says.

There were two separate deer hunting incidents that involved shooting at deer that were running between two hunters and one hunter was struck by a wayward shot from another in their party. The other incident involved a self-inflicted injury due to what the DNR calls “carelessly handling a firearm and lack of muzzle control.”

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are being encouraged to make plans to spend some time on New Year’s Day in the state’s great outdoors by taking part in any of two dozen First Day Hikes, hosted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Sherry Arntzen, chief of the D-N-R’s State Parks, Forests, and Preserves Bureau, says this is the 13th year the state’s offered these free, brisk treks on trails through state parks and forests on January 1st.

“We have nearly 20 state parks that are participating in staff-led or friends group-led hikes,” Arntzen says. “We do have some other parks that have self-guided hike opportunities that you can do at any time on January 1st, so we’re really excited to be able to offer this again.” The rationale is, if folks start off their new year getting out and into nature, being physical, soaking in some sunshine and fresh air, maybe it’ll be the beginning of a healthy habit.

“First Day Hikes are a great way for everybody to get outside, get some exercise, enjoy our wonderful natural resources that we have,” Arntzen says, “and it’s a great way to welcome in the new year with family and maybe even meet a new friend or two.” Some of the hikes will include wildlife viewing opportunities and hot beverages and snacks afterwards. The hikes will average one to two miles, or longer, depending on the location.

“We do have a number of wonderful vistas or scenic views on our trail system,” Arntzen says, “so if we have guided hikes there, they’ll talk a little bit about it. They’ll talk about the resource and of course, it’s always a treat to see the different kinds of wildlife: birds, deer, turkey, that you’ll see when you go on the hikes.”

The hikes on January 1st of 2024 will also mark the start of the 100th anniversary years for two Iowa state parks: Ledges and Pilot Knob. Find details about each hike at the website: www.iowadnr.gov/firstdayhikes

Here’s the list of parks with events:

• Backbone State Park
• Bellevue State Park
• Cedar Rock State Park
• Dolliver Memorial State Park
• Elk Rock State Park
• Gull Point State Park
• Honey Creek State Park
• Lacey-Keosauqua State Park
• Lake Anita State Park
• Lake Darling State Park
• Lake Wapello State Park
• Ledges State Park
• Maquoketa Caves State Park
• Mines of Spain State Recreation Area
• Palisades-Kepler State Park
• Pikes Peak State Park
• Pilot Knob State Park
• Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area
• Prairie Rose State Park
• Shimek State Forest
• Springbrook State Park
• Waubonsie State Park
• Wildcat Den State Park
• Yellow River State Forest

(Radio Iowa) – A couple of donations will allow the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to build out a wildlife tracking system across the state. D-N-R Avian Ecologist, Anna Buckardt Thomas, says the system called Motus is a series of antennae stations and tracking tags that emit a radio signal. “And if they go by a station that’s listening on that same frequency, that station can detect those wildlife. And so we can build a really large scale understanding of movements of these wildlife,” she says.

There are currently 18 stations in Iowa and the 120-thousand dollars in donations will allow them to expand that by 20 stations to create a corridor from east to west across the center of the state. “And then stations bordering the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. And so that way, we’ll be able to understand bird movement along those major river corridors and that movement as well,” Thomas says. “And then, because we’ll have that fence through the middle of the state, we’re likely to detect pretty much any tagged wildlife that would come to Iowa.”

The tags are put on smaller migratory birds and insects like butterflies and dragonflies. The tags vary in size based on what’s being tagged, and that also dictates how long its battery will last. “For something like an insect, that tag lasts maybe a handful of weeks or a month. And for something like a small bird, it might last six months in a large bird, you might get a tag that can last over a year,” she says.

Motus tower station at the Iowa DNR’s Black Hawk Unit office, near Early. Photo courtesy of the Iowa DNR.

Thomas says different groups tag different species based on what they want to research, and she says there is always some sort of tagging going on. She says the stations all over the western hemisphere and Iowa provide a variety of information that the D-N-R can review. “So if we can learn about particular pathways or particular habitats that are really important for these migratory species, we can help inform our conservation and management of those areas,” Thomas says.  The information is also available to the public at the website motus.org.

“And you can explore a map of all the existing stations, you can click on a station and learn about what animals have flown by or moved by and then detected by that station,” she says. “You can look up what species of wildlife are being tagged on the system. You can look up a specific tagging project if you’re aware of it, though. There’s a lot of really cool data to explore.”  Thomas says you can also build maps of individual birds or collections of birds to see where they’re being detected as they move during migration periods.

The D-N-R hopes to add the additional sites in the next five years.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – You’re invited to join Cass County Conservation Department Staff at Atlantic’s Schildberg Recreation Area- Lake number 4, on Saturday, January 6, 2024 for “Soiree with the Swans.” Conservation Dept. Staff will be giving ten-minute presentations regarding the Trumpeter Swans every half-hour, beginning at 11-a.m., with the last one presented at 2-p.m.

There will also be time to view the swans through spotting scopes and witness random swan feeding sessions. Hot chocolate, cookies, and other snacks will be provided free of charge with donations being accepted (for swan care).

The Schildberg Recreation Area is located on the northwest edge of Atlantic, Lake 4 is on the north side of Highway 83. Atlantic is celebrating 24 winters of the Trumpeter Swans wintering here.

This event is not to be missed! IF THE WEATHER IS “BAD” OR THE SWANS ARE NOT AT THE PARK…the program will be at the Atlantic Public Library from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. with hot chocolate, cookies, and other snacks available. The event is being sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board, Atlantic Parks and Recreation, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

w/Kate Olson.

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(Des Moines, Iowa; USDA News) — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) obligated a record $85.8 million in conservation practice funding to Iowa farmers in fiscal year 2023, through 1,628 conservation program contracts that will help treat natural resource concerns such as soil erosion and water quality on 386,736 acres. Conservation program contracts typically run three to five years, depending on the program. The obligated funds are nearly $3 million more than the prior record of $83 million in fiscal year 2021, and $16 million more than the prior five-year average.

IRA Funding
NRCS State Conservationist Jon Hubbert says a major reason for the increase in conservation funding is the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which helped NRCS provide $18.6 million to Iowa farmers in 2023. Hubbert says the IRA offers unprecedented funding for several existing programs. “We are using IRA funds to provide direct climate mitigation benefits to Iowa landowners and expanding access to NRCS assistance to increase conservation on Iowa’s private lands,” he said.

IRA funding is targeted to support climate-smart agriculture mitigation and help farmers build resilience in their operations. Examples of eligible practices include cover crops, no-till farming, nutrient management, prescribed grazing, and tree planting. “Many of the conservation efforts Iowa producers are adopting through IRA offer stacked benefits,” said Hubbert. “They are also benefitting soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat and protecting other resource concerns.”

Hubbert says IRA funding will increase over the next few years. “This is a great opportunity for Iowa landowners to address resource concerns on their farms,” he said. “The support for voluntary conservation at the local and national level has never been greater.”

WelchBakehouse – Iowa farmers like Jon Bakehouse (right) of Mills County are utilizing USDA-NRCS conservation programs to diversify their operations while simultaneously protecting and enhancing their natural resources, such as soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat.

Program Breakdown
NRCS provides conservation funding through four primary programs authorized through the Farm Bill: Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). 

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): CSP helps farmers build a customized plan to meet their conservation goals and needs. Iowa NRCS obligated about $22.2 million through new and renewed CSP contracts during the past year to 557 Iowa landowners who signed five-year CSP contracts to treat natural resource concerns on their land. The CSP contracts will cover 267,103 acres.

Statewide leaders in CSP:

• Jackson County led the state with 33 CSP contracts, totaling 13,443 acres, with an obligation of $961,870.
• Winneshiek County was next with 28 contracts, covering 6,637 acres and an obligation of $612,449.
• Clayton County had the third most contracts with 25, covering 4,323 acres, obligating $518,590.
  

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): NRCS contracted about 45 percent of new federal conservation funding in Iowa through EQIP – a voluntary program that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality, where farmers can choose from a conservation practice list developed at the county level to treat local resource issues. Through EQIP, NRCS obligated $39.1 million covering 93,717 acres through 840 contracts. For the second consecutive year, cover crops, brush management, prescribed grazing, and no-till were the most adopted practices by Iowa farmers.

Statewide EQIP highlights:

• Through the IRA Soil Health Initiative, Iowa NRCS obligated $3.86 million for cover crops on 16,658 acres through 59 contracts.
• Through the Northern Bobwhite Quail Initiative, Iowa NRCS obligated $143,285 in 35 southern Iowa counties by implementing practices like conservation cover, brush management, and tree and shrub establishment to benefit the northern bobwhite quail and other wildlife.
• Through Source Water Protection (SWP), Iowa NRCS staff obligated $2.5 million for select practices that address groundwater and surface water source protection. The 30 new contracts will help protect source water on nearly 9,000 acres.

 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP): Iowa NRCS provided more than $10.5 million to Iowa farmers in 2023 through RCPP projects that will help treat natural resource concerns on more than 24,000 acres. NRCS assisted producers through eight RCPP partnership agreements and 207 contracts. RCPP promotes coordination between NRCS and its partners through agreements and program contracts. The eight RCPP projects in Iowa focus primarily on improving water quality and soil health.

Easements: Through ACEP, NRCS helps landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect, restore, and enhance wetlands, grasslands, and working farms through conservation easements. Overall, there are 1,722 conservation easements in Iowa covering 198,407 acres. During fiscal year 2023, Iowa NRCS obligated $14 million by helping landowners to place agricultural land into 12 new conservation easements. They include:

• IRA-Wetland Reserve Easements: Six landowners contracted with NRCS to place 892 acres into new wetland easements through IRA. NRCS paid $9.6 million for land acquisition and restoration on those six easements.
• ACEP-Wetland Reserve Easements: Four landowners contracted with NRCS to place 339 acres into new wetland easements through ACEP. NRCS paid $4.1 million for land acquisition and restoration for the four easements.
• ACEP-Agricultural Land Easements: Two Iowa producers enrolled their farms into easements to protect the agricultural use and conservation values of their working farms. The easement area for the two farms is 375 acres, totaling $243,000.

Iowa NRCS staff also obligated $13.7 million to historically underserved producers through 278 contracts, covering 30,295 acres. Historically underserved producers include beginning farmers, military veterans, limited resource producers, and socially disadvantaged farmers. NRCS staff wrote 12,753 conservation plans during fiscal year 2023, which covers more than one million acres. Conservation plans help producers target and address natural resource concerns such as soil erosion, water quality, and wildlife habitat, in addition to addressing climate change and improving soil health.

For more detailed Iowa NRCS program results and information, go to https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/2023At-A-Glance.pdf.