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CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!
(Iowa News Service) – A new report from the National Wildlife Federation warns that the effects of climate change in the Quad Cities, along the Iowa-Illinois border, will be severe. But researchers got the public involved in studying to find ways to head off some of the most pressing concerns. The report says climate change means a warmer, wetter future for the Quad Cities, which straddle the Mississippi River in Iowa and Illinois. But rather than repeat what experts have already been saying about drastic flooding along the Big Muddy, Prairie Rivers Network River Health and Resiliency Organizer Nina Struss said researchers and Quad Cities residents brainstormed solutions to tackle the effects of climate change.
“Flooding and flash flooding were the top concerns,” said Struss. “Extreme heat was also a big concern, as well as drought and other extreme weather events.” Researchers combined that information with hard science at the University of Illinois to create 3D models depicting what climate-induced flooding along the Mississippi could look like in the future. The survey also asked people to identify which geographical areas and populations are most at risk from the effects of climate change, and worked with the community on solutions to mitigate some of them.
Struss said this research proposes what are known as nature-based solutions to combat the effects of climate change – restoring, preserving and even expanding existing ecosystems, like wetlands and tree canopies. But creating more eco-friendly infrastructure, too. “Can we work to maybe have our pavements that we’re putting in be more permeable, so that they can absorb that water and have that higher water-holding capacity?” said Struss. “Can we focus on areas to plant more native plants that have stronger root systems, versus ones that have shorter root systems, to help with that water-holding capacity?”
Struss said this research isn’t a one-off. It will continue to change, she said, as the climate changes, the needs become more clear, and the effects more drastic. She said progress in addressing climate change relies on more research, education and funding.
(Radio Iowa) – If you were to try counting all of the trees on the University of Iowa campus on this Earth Day (Monday), you’d need to be able to count to eight-thousand. The man who leads the team that cares for them all realizes he’s one of the lucky people who’s found the perfect job for himself. U-I arborist Andy Dahl says he’s been planting and caring for trees since he was five years old. “I used to pick up acorns and put them in my pocket and plant them all over, or mow around the baby oak trees coming up in my parents’ yard,” Dahl says, laughing. “My dad would get so angry that I was leaving those, missing big swaths of grass to let the trees grow, so yeah, my love of trees started at an early age.”
The U-I has been named a Tree Campus USA for the 15th straight year, in large part because of those eight-thousand trees which cover an astounding 350 different species. “I’m big into diversity, so the more species of trees you have, the less chance you have of something like Dutch elm disease or emerald ash borer coming in and wiping out wide swaths of trees,” Dahl says, “so we try and plant a wide diversity of trees to avoid that.” The list of trees on the Iowa City campus includes an apple tree that was grafted from one planted by Johnny Appleseed, and a horse chestnut tree grown from the one that symbolized hope for Anne Frank as she hid from the Nazis during World War Two. One of Dahl’s campus favorites is the giant American elm on the Pentacrest, just outside Schaeffer Hall.
“It’s a former state champion and it dates back to the 1870s,” Dahl says. “It is very, very large. Now in 1998, we lost about 30 feet of height in it from the straight line winds, but it’s still hanging on. I think it’s beautiful. Others think it has character with the scars over the years from the storms.” That’s the only tree on campus that’s being treated chemically in order to prevent the scourge of Dutch elm disease. Several campus tree plantings are planned as part of Earth Day celebrations, while Dahl and some co-workers will be on the Pentacrest at 10:30 A-M, handing out 100 whorled milkweed plants to students and anyone else.
“We’re going to give them away in little cups, so people can grow them on their windowsill until later,” Dahl says, “or they can do what we call guerrilla planting: if you see a spot in the ditch, on a railroad track or something, you can plant that to benefit these native pollinators.” He says the whorled milkweed species will grow to two or three feet in height with white flowers. It’s native to Iowa and is vital for insects like bees and butterflies, especially monarchs.
(Radio Iowa) – The chair of the Federal Trade Commission was in Iowa this weekend to hear concerns about consolidation in the fertilizer industry with the sale of a fertilizer plant in southeast Iowa. A Koch Industries subsidiary is buying the plant, but the sale is being reviewed by the F-T-C — and the agency could try to block the acquisition over competitiveness issues. During an Iowa Farmers Union forum, Ankeny farmer LaVon Griffieon said it’s harder for farmers to make money and stay in business when a handful of companies control equipment, seeds and supplies like fertilizer.
“This just keeps happening and happening in every aspect and so we really need to pay attention to what we’re doing to the heartland.” After the forum, F-T-C chair Lina Khan said she understands the concerns given that the state invested millions in incentives to get the plant up and running as a competitor to Koch.
“The goal being to have another company in the market to have some competition. The idea that now within a few years that competition that everybody invested in might go away seems troubling to a lot of people and I can understand that.” Khan says if the F-T-C decides to intervene it will file a lawsuit to stop the purchase from being finalized. A judge would make the final decision.
In a statement, a Koch Fertilizer spokesperson said the company is confident the deal will go through after the F-T-C hears from more customers and completes its analysis.
The raw ground beef items were produced on March 28, 2024. The products have a “Use/Freeze by” date of April 22, 2024, and packaging date of “032824.” The list of products that are subject to the public health alert can be found here. The labels for these products can be found on the FSIS website [view labels].
The products subject to the public health alert bear establishment number “EST. 960A” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to food service institutions and retail locations nationwide.
The problem was discovered by the establishment while conducting an inventory of product that was on hold because it was found positive for E. coli O157:H7. The company notified FSIS that they inadvertently used a portion of the contaminated beef to produce ground beef products that they subsequently shipped into commerce.
There have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2–8 days (3–4 days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.
FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ and food service institutions’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and food service institutions are urged not to serve these products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart.
Consumers and members of the media with questions about the public health alert can contact Gina Adami, Greater Omaha Packing Co., Inc. Representative, at 402-575-4702 or gadami@gmail.com.
Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.
(Oakland, Iowa) – The East Pottawattamie County Extension office will host a free, one-hour learning session for private well owners on May 7, 2024. The program will help attendees understand their well’s water quality and connect them to resources to manage their well.
Did you know that Iowa has a unique funding source for free or low-cost annual testing of private wells? Or that some water pollutants are odorless, tasteless and will not be removed by boiling water? If you’re curious about the answers to these questions, then take advantage of the upcoming learning session which will detail how to test your well and who can help, common contaminants, and factors that affect well water quality.
The program will be taught by Catherine DeLong, Water Quality Program Manager for ISU Extension and Outreach. According to DeLong, “About 230,000 Iowans rely on private wells as their home’s main water source, yet many do not know they should be testing once a year and that Iowa has a unique funding source to help cover the cost of testing.”
The free program will take place on May 7, 2024 from 6:00pm – 7:00pm at the Oakland Community Building located at 614 Dr Van Zee Road, in Oakland. Pre-registration is requested; to RSVP contact the East Pottawattamie County Extension office by phone (712-482-6449) or email (reannh@iastate.edu).
(Atlantic,Iowa) – Cass County Conservation Department Director Micah Lee, Tuesday morning, updated the County Board of Supervisors on projects and activities, as part of his Quarterly Report. Micah said at Cold Springs State Park near Lewis…
Additional work on the shelter at the park is planned for later this Spring and Summer to make it more user friendly, with roof work likely sometime in the next fiscal year. He said the shower house is currently open. At the Nodaway Wildlife Area near Massena, the Conservation Department continues to work on removing dead Ash Trees …
Work on draining and dredging the pond near the Outdoor Classroom outside of Massena, has resulted in additional depth, for an average gain of seven-to-five-feet, and the removal of invasive fish species, with the goal of restocking it as soon as there is enough water for the fish to survive.
They’re also taking care of some scrub brush in the area. Naturalist Lora Kanning, Lee said, presented 113 program over the past Quarter, with 1,941 people taking part in the programs.
Currently, crews are working on mowing and getting various campgrounds in the County open, and taken care of.
DES MOINES, Iowa – World Migratory Bird Day will be celebrated May 11, 2024, and again on October 12, 2024, aligning generally with migration patterns.
The state of Iowa is located within the Mississippi Flyway, the longest overland flyway in North America. The Mississippi Flyway is a critically important route for migratory birds as they migrate north in spring and south in the fall, with the wetlands and forests along the Mississippi River being important for many species of migratory songbirds in particular. Waterfowl and other wetland birds also heavily use the wetlands in the central and northern Prairie Pothole Region of Iowa, which are essential for both migratory stopover habitat as well as breeding habitat for hundreds of species of birds.
As Peter Rea, supervisory park ranger with DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge explains, “Refuges and wildlife areas throughout Iowa, such as DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, provide critical habitat for migratory birds to rest, feed and recuperate on their long migration journeys. For many, these places act more like a rest stop as they continue their migration northward, while for some it’s their ultimate destination for the spring and summer nesting season.” “During this time of year, it’s important to minimize disturbance so other visitors can appreciate the tremendous diversity of birds that we can see throughout the state,” continued Rea.
Federal law protects migratory birds. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) prohibits the taking (including killing, wounding, capturing, selling, trading, transporting, importing, and exporting) of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization of the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 16 U.S.C. §§ 703, 707(a). The list of federally protected migratory birds is comprehensive and includes many of the birds residing in or migrating through Iowa, including Canada geese. Refer to the Federal Code of Regulations for more information. The penalties for violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are a term of imprisonment of up to 6 months, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.
Additional federal statutes that protect migratory birds include:
“Birders and other wildlife enthusiasts can be helpful advocates in reducing wildlife crime. Knowing the laws that protect birds and other wildlife, and speaking up can make a big difference,” said Christopher Aldrich, Special Agent in Charge, Midwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“Preservation and protection of wildlife and endangered species go hand in hand with the high quality of life here in the State of Iowa. Knowing these laws and reducing wildlife crime helps everyone continue to enjoy what makes Iowa a great place to live,” said Richard Westphal, United States Attorney.
If you believe you have information related to a wildlife crime that violates federal law, please reach out to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. You can also contact the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Iowa by telephone at 515-473-9300 or email at usaias.fedbirds@usdoj.gov.
If you spot an injured bird, state licensed wildlife rehabilitators can aid the bird. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources maintains a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators at the following links:
Thank you for caring about the wildlife in your community. Remember to observe wildlife from a safe distance. If a young animal isn’t visibly injured, its parents are likely nearby and still caring for it. Be sure to give young animals plenty of space to avoid spooking the parents.
Learn more about what to do if you find a baby bird, injured or orphaned wildlife.
(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowa farmers are firing up their tractors for the first time this spring, and one expert suggests before you plant the first seed, make sure your equipment, your body, and your mind are ready for the season ahead. Dr. Kimberly Lansing, a family medicine physician with Gundersen Health System, says do a thorough check of your heavy equipment to make sure it’s safe to operate after sitting dormant for the winter. “Even if you checked it in the fall, you want to make sure that some family of raccoons didn’t move into your machine shed and rearrange your hydraulics,” Lansing says. “So, going over everything right before you get out in the field, making sure your finisher’s ready to go, and your equipment’s all functional is probably one of the most important things.”
Farming ranks as one of the nation’s most dangerous professions, and Lansing says all tractors should have rollover protection systems, as many farmers who have to be rushed to the emergency room had an accident with a tractor. “Typically, equipment-related injuries, equipment, motor vehicles, including ATVs, tractors and motor vehicles are among the largest things that bring people in,” Lansing says. “We see the most injuries in these areas between April and September, which of course, corresponds to the time when most farmers are out in the field and active.”
Farming can be a very strenuous profession, placing extreme demands on the body. “Of course, you want to have yourself in as good a condition as you keep your equipment,” she says. “So, making sure you do get adequate sleep, because if you’re sleepy behind the wheel, bad things happen. Also, making sure you’re in condition to do what you’re doing. People that work on farms may have other health problems, and you need to be really careful and cautious about what your own limitations are.” Farmers are considered the toughest of the tough, but Lansing says if you’re having a physical problem, don’t shrug it off for later, as there may not -be- a later.
Photo courtesy of the Iowa State University Extension
“You definitely should not ignore warning signs just because you’re busy. I literally once had somebody who said they were calving and couldn’t come in with chest pain and they got in and they were having an active heart attack,” Lansing says. “Fortunately, he survived but your own health and being there for your family is more important.” Farmers are considered one of Iowa’s most vulnerable populations for mental health struggles, and rural suicide deaths are two times higher than the state’s city and metro areas. Lansing encourages farmers to look after one another.
“Farmers are very observant because they need to be in order to keep their farms running,” she says. “You’ve got to look for that animal that’s starting to look sick, or, ‘Oh, the weather’s going to do this,’ but being somebody who will go out and grab an extra cup of coffee and bring it to their neighbor and say, ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ Just checking in with them and seeing how they’re doing is probably a nice first step.”
Gundersen Health System has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.
(Radio Iowa) – The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors has unanimously adopted an ordinance that would require a proposed carbon pipeline to be at least 16-hundred feet outside of cities in the northwest Iowa county. Buffer zones also would be required around homes, schools, medical facilities and public parks. Bonnie Ewalt, of Milford, says the ordinance is needed to protect the health and safety of Dickinson County residents.
“Summit drew up the route for this hazardous CO2 pipeline without any regard for topography or proximity to high risk areas,” Ewalt said. Summit Carbon Solutions has proposed a pipeline through Iowa and four other states, to ship liquefied carbon to underground storage in North Dakota. Scott O’Konek, a Minnesota-based project manager for Summit, says ordinances like this could stymie development of the pipeline and harm the ethanol plants that plan to connect to it.
“The whole project is up to 57 plants and this ordinance has the ability to take that competitiveness away from Green Plains Superior.” Green Plains Superior is an ethanol plant located in Dickinson county. Summit has sued five other counties with ordinances similar to the one in Dickinson County.
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