DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today (Monday) commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service.  The report is released weekly from April through October. Northey said “The hot and humid weather created stress for both crops and livestock last week, particularly in areas that have missed the recent rains.  South central Iowa in very dry, with over 90 percent of top soil short or very short of moisture.”

The weekly report is also available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov or on USDA’s site at www.nass.usda.gov/ia.  The report summary follows here:

CROP REPORT: Above normal temperatures were accompanied by widely varying rainfall and some severe weather during the week ending July 23, 2017, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities for the week included hauling grain, applying herbicides and insecticides, cultivating, and haying.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 20 percent very short, 32 percent short, 45 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Over 90 percent of south central Iowa’s topsoil falls into the short to very short moisture level categories, while 99 percent of northeast Iowa’s topsoil falls into the adequate to surplus categories. Subsoil moisture levels rated 14 percent very short, 32 percent short, 52 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Seventy-four percent of Iowa’s corn crop has reached the silking stage, 4 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the 5-year average. Corn conditions deteriorated slightly to 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Nearly three-quarters of the soybean crop was blooming, with 30 percent of soybeans setting pods, 1 day ahead of average. Soybean condition also dropped slightly with 62 percent rated good to excellent. Oats coloring reached 89 percent, one week behind last year. Forty-one percent of oats for grain or seed have been harvested, 4 days behind last year. Oat condition rated 71 percent good to excellent. Crops were described as suffering from heat stress and lack of moisture across much of the state.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 90 percent complete and third cutting reached 8 percent, 5 days behind average. Hay condition rated 61 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition continued to decline with just 41 percent good to excellent. High temperatures and humidity were reported to cause normal summer heat stress to livestock, with some reports of heat-related deaths. 

IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY by Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship: 

It was a hot and humid week across Iowa with exceptionally variable rainfall. Major flooding occurred over parts of northeast Iowa where torrential rains fell Friday and Friday night (21st) while parts of the moderate drought area in south central Iowa received no rain at all. For the most part the heavier rains fell in what were already the wetter portions of the state. However, portions of the moderate drought area, roughly along U.S. Highway 30 from Crawford to Tama counties, saw some significant rain on Thursday (20th) night. Weekly rain totals varied from none at Murray, Osceola, Chariton and Allerton to 10.12 inches at Ionia in Chickasaw County. Rain totals thus far in July vary from only 0.16 inches at Sioux Rapids and Cherokee to 13.88 inches at Guttenberg. The Guttenberg July total is the highest for any month at that location among 86 years of record while the Cherokee and Sioux Rapids totals would be new record lows for July if no more rain were to fall before the end of the month. Some of the rain was accompanied by severe weather with the most damaging storms occurring across 15 north central and northeast counties, roughly north of an Estherville to Dubuque line, on Tuesday afternoon and evening with widespread high winds of 50 to 70 mph and a few tornadoes. Meanwhile hot weather prevailed with the temperature reaching 95 degrees somewhere in the state each day of the reporting week. The hottest weather was concentrated across southern Iowa with temperatures for the week averaging from two to three degrees above normal across the northeast one-third of the state and five to nine degrees above normal across the southwest. Highest temperatures were 101 degree readings at Ottumwa on Thursday (20th) and Des Moines on Friday (21st). These were the highest temperatures recorded in Iowa since September 9, 2013. The combination of heat and humidity produced a heat index (how hot the air ‘feels’) of 117 degrees at Clarinda on Thursday and at Harlan on Friday. Temperatures moderated over the weekend with Sheldon recording a morning low of 52 degrees on Sunday (24th). The statewide average temperature was 5.3 degrees above normal while rain averaged 1.42 inches compared to a normal of 0.99 inches for the week.

SCHALLER, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa trucking company linked to the deadly case of immigrant smuggling in Texas has a history of safety and tax violations and financial problems. Records show that Pyle Transportation Inc. failed to pay federal employment and trucking taxes for years, faced lawsuits over unpaid wages owed to drivers, and has been ordered to pay penalties for violations of federal safety rules.

The IRS and others who say the company owes them money have often found no assets to garnish. The company and its driver insist they know nothing about how dozens of immigrants became packed inside the trailer of its 18-wheeler found in the searing heat outside a San Antonio Walmart over the weekend. Ten of those passengers died and more than 15 others were hospitalized with extreme dehydration.

The driver, James Matthew Bradley Jr., faces a federal human smuggling charge that carries the possibility of the death penalty.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A coalition of 11 states has filed a legal challenge to the Trump administration’s decision to delay new chemical plant safety rules from taking effect for at least two years. The group led by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a petition for review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The states say Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt exceeded his legal authority by delaying the new Accidental Release Prevention Requirements until 2019.

The Obama-era regulations are aimed at preventing explosions, fires and poisonous gas releases at more than 12,000 chemical facilities across the country.

In addition to New York, the other states joining the lawsuit are Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office reports a burn ban request has been approved for Crawford County. The request was made by Steve Ulmer, a member of the Crawford County Board of Supervisors, on behalf of the fire departments within the County. The ban on open burning went into effect July 20th, and will remain in place until further notice. Currently, conditions are too dry to allow open burning, which would pose a danger to life and/or property.

Other counties having been approved for a ban on open burning include, Buena Vista, Plymouth and Wapello. Under state law, local officials can ask the State Fire Marshal to establish bans on open burning “during periods of extremely dry conditions.” Those caught violating the bans can be charged with a simple misdemeanor.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three men were arrested over the past week, on warrants. Today (Monday), 36-year old Jason Lee Rankins, of Omaha, was arrested at around 7:30-a.m. at the Mills County Courthouse, for being a Fugitive from Justice. He was being held in the Mills County Jail, without bond.

On Friday, 33-year old Justin Christopher Sneed, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. He too, was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond.

And, on Thursday of last week, 23-year old Tyler Allen Dittus, of Carson, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail on a warrant for Contempt of Court. No bond was set.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports two women were arrested on separate charges last week. 24-year old Samantha Martinez, of Des Moines, was taken into custody July 20th for OWI/2nd offense following a traffic stop on I-80 westbound, near Stuart. And, on July 21st, 25-year old Heather Linn Armstrong, of Stuart, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Both women were later released by the magistrate on their own recognizance.

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) – A man suspected of bank robberies in five states has pleaded not guilty to unrelated charges in Nebraska. Station KNOP reports that Richard Gathercole entered the pleas Monday in Dawson County District Court to two counts of possessing stolen firearms and one of theft or receiving stolen property. A trial starting date of Aug. 12 was set.

Authorities believe Gathercole is the man they call “the AK-47 bandit,” who’s robbed banks in California, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska and Washington. Nebraska court documents say Gathercole was arrested June 20 at a gas station near Lexington, Nebraska. A sheriff’s deputy had spotted a pickup truck there that Kansas authorities had reported stolen by a man who’d fired at but missed a state trooper.

Sheriff’s officials in Taylor County say a Missouri woman faces numerous charges following a pursuit early this (Monday) morning. Kelsey Dawn Amos, of St Joseph, Missouri, is currently charged with Felony Eluding following an incident that took place at around 2:05-a.m., when a Clarinda Police Officer tried to stop a 1998 Mitsubishi Montero, driven by Amos.

A chase ensued, with Clarinda Police pursuing the vehicle South of Clarinda on Highway 71 into Missouri. Nodaway County, Missouri Sheriff’s Deputies and Maryville, MO., Police joined in on the pursuit east bound on County Road JJ, to Hopkins. A Nodaway County Deputy was able too successfully deploy spike strips deflating the front passengers side tire out on the vehicle. From Hopkins, the vehicle went north bound on Highway 148, into Bedford. From Bedford, the pursuit went west on Highway 2 before stopping near Diamond Avenue.

Suspect vehicle with shredded tires (Taylor County S/O photo)

A search of the suspect and vehicle were conducted, with the result being the discovery of cocaine, methamphetamine and currency. A male passenger in the vehicle was transported to Clarinda Regional medical center for conditions related to illegal drug activities. An investigation into the incident continues, with additional charges against Amos and passenger likely to be filed at a later date.

Authorities from Clarinda PD, Page County Sheriff, Nodaway County Sheriff, Maryville PD, Taylor County Sheriff and Adams County Sheriff assisted in the pursuit.

The Iowa State Patrol is warning motorists that troopers are getting creative in efforts to enforce the state’s new distracted driving law. Trooper Alex Dinkla says drivers should think twice about picking up their cell phone, even if they don’t see a marked state patrol vehicle in the area. Troopers in each district are coming up with ways to disguise themselves in order to catch drivers breaking the new law. “In eastern Iowa, they’re doing an effort with an undercover RV…so troopers will be riding in the motor home and looking out the window as they head down the interstate, looking for those violations,” Dinkla said. “We might have a trooper sitting on a bulldozer in a construction zone area.”

The Iowa State Patrol is also getting help from DNR officers in their marked DNR trucks. They’re calling troopers if they spot texting drivers. According to Dinkla, these initiatives are all about increasing safety on Iowa’s roads. “That is ultimately our goal whenever we’re out enforcing these violations – we are trying to reduce accidents and reduce fatality accidents,” Dinkla said.

Motorists are often on the lookout for marked law enforcement vehicles so they can quickly put their phone down until the uniformed officers are no longer in sight. Dinkla is hoping the threat of an undercover or disguised officer will encourage motorists to keep their focus on the road at all times. “If they think about that device and they’re going to grab that device, they might think twice about it, because they never know where an officer might be looking from,” Dinkla said.

The state law, which took effect July 1, makes text and app use a primary offense, meaning police can pull over and ticket a driver who is spotted texting or checking email with their phone. The fine for a texting-while-driving ticket is $30.

(Radio Iowa)

Democrats in the Iowa Senate warn about 11-thousand Iowa kids are in danger of being uninsured because their families may be unable to buy individual insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act’s exchange next year. Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, is calling on Republican Governor Kim Reynolds to approve a stop-gap plan for the parents who to get insurance for those 11-thousand children. “They shouldn’t have to worry about wrapping their kid in a bubble wrap for 2018 because they can’t get health insurance and they can’t afford to have their kid break an arm on the playground,” Petersen says. “It’s just simply wrong. We need answers.”

Petersen’s proposal would let those parents buy private insurance through the state-run HAWK-I (HAWK-eye) program. The program currently subsidizes insurance for about 60-thousand children who live in a household where the yearly income is at or below three-hundred percent of the poverty line. Petersen says federal bureaucrats would have to grants Iowa a waiver to implement the stop-gap proposal she’s offering for 11-thousand more Iowa kids. “Families’ financial security depends on answers,” Petersen says. “Congress is not coming up with solutions.”

Medica is the only insurance company that plans to offer individual insurance policies on the state’s Affordable Care Act exchange in 2018 and the company has warned premiums will jump 43 percent. Iowa’s insurance commissioner has offered a plan that might lessen the premium hike, but federal officials have to provide a waiver for his proposal, too.

(Radio Iowa)