CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Iowa Agribusiness Network!
CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!
CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Iowa Agribusiness Network!
CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!
Dairy producers in Iowa and across the country are getting some help from the USDA. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says revenues for dairy producers have dropped 35 percent over the past two years and that’s led to a surplus of cheese which is at its highest level in 30 years. “So, in an effort to try to provide help and assistance and to complement the work that we’ve done with the Margin Protection Program, we’re announcing a purchase of about 11 million pounds of cheese that will be used for food banks and pantries to help families who are struggling financially with their food assistance and food help,” Vilsack said.
photo courtesy of traveliowa.com
The purchase is valued at $20 million and should help the market “a bit,” according to Vilsack. The 11 million pound purchase is far less than the amounts recommended by the National Milk Producers Federation and the American Farm Bureau. “This is at the end of the fiscal year. We don’t have as much flexibility in the program, obviously, because we’ve already made commitments to purchase various other products throughout the year that are faced with a similar set of challenges and circumstances as our dairy producers are,” Vilsack explained.
In addition to the cheese purchase, Vilsack has extended the deadline for signup for the Margin Protection Program. Instead of having until September 30, dairy producers now have until December 16. Iowa ranks 7th in the country for cheese production. Wisconsin and California are by far the top two cheese producing states in the U.S.
(Radio IA/Brownfield Ag News)
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Utilities Board has ordered a Texas company to refrain from building a pipeline on 15 landowners’ properties until Monday to give the board time to review legal issues involving a lawsuit. The board issued an order Wednesday requiring Dakota Access to provide detailed information about the progress of construction in Iowa and the cost the company will incur if it is required to work around the parcels.
The landowners’ lawsuit challenges the board’s authority to allow eminent domain for a privately owned pipeline project. That suit has not come before a court yet, and the board will hear arguments Thursday on the landowners’ motion to halt construction until that happens. The $3.8 billion pipeline will pass through Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota and South Dakota, and has been met with weeks of protests in North Dakota.
A proposed 150-million gallon per year ethanol plant in Atlantic is still millions of dollars away from becoming a reality. Mark Wedemyer, with the Cass County Board of Supervisors said today Wednesday, that a meeting was held Monday night in Oakland for potential investors in the Ohio-based Farmers Energy Cardinal plant. Wedemeyer said the needs to raise about $15-million more dollars before construction can begin. He said there is a meeting next Monday night at the Atlantic Airport to try and generate more investor interest.
In January, the Iowa Economic Development Authority approved tax benefits in the form of $4.25-million in sales tax refunds for the project that promises to create 49 jobs.
Wedemyer said they’re making pretty good progress on plans for the plant, but there are some sticking points as far as the railroad is concerned, with regard to the rate the company will pay for transportation of Dried Distillers Grain (DDG) and Ethanol the plant will produce. Snyder and Associates Engineer Tim Teig told the Board of Supervisor’s negotiations are underway to resolve the transportation issue.
Wedemeyer said Atlantic is in a good position geographically, to make transportation of those products to both coasts. The proposed ethanol plant will be designed and built by Minnesota-based Fagen, Incorporated. Once constructed, it will be one of the State’s largest. Snyder’s Tim Teig said even with their investment goal still out of reach, officials are anxious to get some work done, because they are confident the plant will become a reality.
He says there’s some early activity with regard to getting side tracks for storage of numerous railcars Fagan purchased. The land has been purchased the needed land and have a contractor lined-up to start grading. The project will require additional crossings of the railroad tracks, north of the existing crossing.
The plans have been submitted to the County Engineer and Snyder and Associates for review, to make sure there are no conflicts with the road design for future paving of the road by the County. To that end, the Board approved giving the firm authorization to assist in the coordination, planning and review of various improvements necessary for the plant, that may impact the Glacier and Echo Road paving projects.
The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee Tuesday evening voted to recommend the Atlantic City Council order a resident who is keeping a pot bellied pig on their rental property, to remove the animal as required by City Code. Their decision came in a brief meeting, during which a neighbor complained about the smell and a terrible problem with flies attracted by the animal.
Rebecca Sponsler, who lives next door to the property in the 800 block of Chestnut Street, told the Committee the animal doesn’t look like a pot bellied pig. Instead, she said it looks a like a farm pig.
Rebecca Sponsler
She said also she has “A huge fly problem,” to the extent that they are “Killing hundreds a day,” at her home. She also said when the wind carries a horrible smell when it shifts toward her home. Sponsler said she doesn’t want it next door to her anymore. Sponsler also said she can’t sell her house because prospective buyers are turned-off by the smell and appearance of the adjacent property.
Atlantic Animal Control Officer Kris Erickson said they have received other complaints about the animal and the property itself. The Committee said the owner of the pig could approach the City Council about a permit to keep the animal, but the Committee will recommend against issuing that permit, per City Code, which states “It is unlawful for a person to keep livestock within the City except by written consent of the Council or except in compliance with the City’s Zoning Ordinances.”
Livestock is defined in the City Code, as “An animal belonging to the bovine, caprine, equine, ovine or porcine species…” as defined in the Code of Iowa.
Community Protection Committee (Foreground: Councilpersons Dana Halder and Ashley Hayes); background: City Admin. John Lund, Animal Control Officer Kris Erickson; right – Councilman Chris Jimerson.
The owner of the pig did not appear at Tuesday evening’s meeting at City Hall to offer comment about the animal or address the neighbors’ concerns.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports the DNR plans to begin de-watering Three-Mile Lake in Union County, starting August 29th, in preparation for the fish renovation planned for the third week in September. The fish renovation will eradicate the yellow bass and common carp that have contributed to the declining water quality and sportfish quality in the lake. The DNR will begin restocking this fall after the renovation is complete.
The lake will be lowered up to 17 feet from normal pool for the fish renovation. Users should expect low water levels during the Labor Day holiday weekend. Access to some boat ramps may be limited due to the low water level. Boaters should use extreme caution as potential hazards such as tree stumps, cedar tree brushpiles, and underwater reefs may be at or near the water’s surface.
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — John Deere has announced more layoffs at two eastern Iowa plants. Company spokesman Ken Golden said Monday that 115 workers in Waterloo will be laid off effective Sept 23 and 30 in Davenport effective Sept. 30.
UAW Local 838 shop chairman Tim Niedert told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that the layoffs came as no surprise. On Friday the Moline, Illinois-based company announced its 10th consecutive quarter of year-over-year earnings declines, citing continuing downturns in the agriculture sector.
Golden says about 870 people are working at the Davenport plant and about 2,930 at the Waterloo plant. Those figures don’t reflect the layoffs. He says the Waterloo plant makes larger farm tractors. The Davenport plant makes construction and forestry equipment,
WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have seized 36 head of neglected cattle from a farm near Winterset in Madison County. The cattle were seized Sunday night and taken away for food, water and medical care. Authorities also found cattle carcasses on the property. No arrests have been reported. The Sheriff’s Office says charges are pending.
Kim Weaver, the Democratic candidate in Iowa’s fourth congressional district, says voters shouldn’t believe her opponent, Republican Congressman Steve King, when he says he’d be able to work with Hillary Clinton if she’s elected president. “He’s the least effective member of congress, so he can’t even work with fellow Republicans,” Weaver says. “How’s he going to work with Hillary?”
Weaver made her comments during a speech this weekend on The Des Moines Register’s Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. Weaver called for a higher minimum wage, help for student debt and immigration reform. Weaver also supporting legalizing industrial hemp as a way to improve water quality. “We’re not talking pot. We’re not talking marijuana. We’re talking industrial hemp,” Weaver said. “Industrial hemp can be planted in marshy areas. It’s very good at mitigating nitrates as well as because of the way the root system it helps avoid soil erosion.”
Weaver says she’s ready to debate King this fall. King is seeking an eighth term in congress and he has not always agreed to debate his Democratic opponents.
(Radio Iowa)
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