DES MOINES, Iowa – The picnic tables will be loaded with fresh foods as friends and family gather for the Fourth of July, but some in Iowa believe there is a threat to the integrity of those locally produced fruits and vegetables. Donna Prizgintas, a chef in Ames who relies on fresh ingredients from area growers, said she has concerns about pesticide drift and residue for produce farmers, home gardeners and consumers.

“I think Iowans are not aware of … the levels of glyphosates and nitrates that are in our water, in our air,” she said. “Our food can be fairly pesticide-laden.” Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide and, in a recent assessment, it was frequently detected in Iowa surface waters, rain and air. The agricultural industry is vital to Iowa’s economy, Prizgintas said, adding that with better cooperation, pesticides and produce can coexist.

“Some farmers and companies spray very responsibly,” she said. “There are guidelines, there are registrations. You’re not supposed to spray if the wind is blowing. You have no-spray zones you’re supposed to observe – but regularly, there are mistakes.” Prizgintas said the careful application of pesticides will be even more important going forward, with the expected approval of corn and soybeans tolerant to the pesticide 24D.

“Now this may come as soon as next summer,” she said, “and this is adding a whole new pesticide to the equation.” The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship operates a registry for producers to list the locations of their sensitive crops, so pesticide applicators can identify those areas and minimize the potential for damage from drift.

More information is online at iowaagriculture.gov.

(Iowa News Service)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Preliminary rainfall figures show June was Iowa’s third wettest in the 141 years records have been kept, and all that much rain is damaging crops. It’s too early to tell the extent of damage from rain, hail and wind from the numerous thunderstorms in recent weeks. Farmers in some locations are reporting significant field flooding.

The most recent crop condition report released Monday shows 79 percent of the state’s corn crop in good or excellent condition and another 22 percent is fair. Soybeans are faring nearly as well with 75 percent good or excellent and 19 percent fair. Those conditions likely will change.

Iowa State University agronomist Mark Westgate says Tuesday the yield per acre for corn and soybeans will be reduced. It’s just too early to say how much.

Wet weather has done some damage to crops, but the latest U-S-D-A crop report out Monday showed 79-percent of corn and 75-percent of the soybeans were rated in good to excellent condition. Just five-percent of the corn crop was rated in either very poor or poor condition as were six percent of the soybeans. Another U-S-D-A report on planting showed a record number of soybean acres were planted, but corn planting remained about the same or was down in several Midwestern states. Nationwide about four million fewer acres were planted in corn this year — down four percent from last year. The U-S-D-A’s Anthony Prillaman says many farmers are sticking with what has worked during a run of good years.

“Definitely weather concerns, economic concerns, all of that goes into what the farmers end up deciding what they’re going to plant,” Prillaman says. A fear of lower corn prices may’ve moved many farmers to plant more soybeans. “The biggest thing for soybeans this year was just the economics, is what was driving that increase in that we’re seeing in soybeans acres across the country,” Prillaman says.

He says persistent drought conditions may have contributed to lower corn acres in Kansas, Colorado and the Dakotas. In Iowa, soybean acres are up slightly compared to last year, while farmers planted the same amount of corn. But heavy rains in the past week underscore that ultimately weather will be a major factor.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – American farmers have planted less corn than in any year since 2010 but more soybeans than ever, as expected. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its annual Acreage Report released Monday that farmers planted 91.6 million acres of corn. That’s 4 percent less than last year but still the fifth-largest corn crop planted since 1944. Analysts expected some farmers to devote more acreage to soybeans because of a drop in corn prices.

The USDA says farmers planted a record high 84.8 million acres of soybeans, up 11 percent from last year. Record soybean acres have been planted in Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Seventy-six percent of the corn crop is in good to excellent condition, compared with 63 percent last year.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Area farmers are dealing with damage to their crops and fences after all the rain that fell in June. The Sioux City Journal reports farmers in northwest Iowa, southeast South Dakota and northeast Nebraska face significant work ahead because of the flooding on the Big Sioux, Rock and other rivers.

The flooding and heavy rains could also have a lasting effect on their crops because fertilizer may have been washed away and standing water in fields could have killed some plants. Janna Whitlock says her pasture in Union County, S.D., was underwater, and three lawn mowers, a snow blower and some other equipment in a shed was damaged.

Farmer Jack Kruse says he knows he faces weeks of fence repair ahead.

DEXTER, Iowa (AP) – Officials say a leaking pipe has caused wastewater to discharge near Diamondhead Lake in Guthrie County.

The state Department of Natural Resources says wastewater from a sanitary sewer line began bubbling up Friday morning from an underground pipe on the west side of Diamondhead Lake.

Officials believe the pipeline leak occurred after the installation of a power pole. Wastewater is discharging about 300 feet from the lake but has not reached the water.

The Diamondhead Lake Sanitary District expects the discharge to be ongoing until at least Saturday. Residents are being encouraged to avoid swimming and wading near the area.

The Cass County Cattlemen’s Association is offering a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction regarding recent cattle thefts in the Cass County area. Sheriff Darby McLaren has stated Cass County Crimestoppers will match the $500 for $1000 total reward. Persons with information are encouraged to contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at (712) 243-2206 or the toll-free Cass County Crimestoppers hotline at 800-233-3336.

w/ Kate Olson

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The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources said Thursday several Iowa state parks have been impacted by recent heavy rainfall and rising rivers. George Wyth State Park in Black Hawk County, will close at noon tomorrow, June 20, through Tuesday, June 24, due to flooding. The park may be closed longer, depending on weekend rains.

The main road through Dolliver State Park, in Webster County, is under water, and the campground and family cabins are closed. The north shelter can be accessed from the north entrance, and the south lodge and the group camp can be accessed from the south entrance. With more rain in the forecast, the main road will likely be closed through this weekend.

Little Paint, Big Paint, Creekside Equestrian and Frontier Equestrian campgrounds at Yellow River State Forest in Allamakee County will be closed through Monday, June 23, due to flooding. Also, all horse trails will be closed through Thursday, June 26.

Although scheduled to reopen at the end of this month, Wilson Island State Recreation Area, in Pottawattamie County is predicted to go under 3 to 4 feet of water Saturday morning, delaying the reopening until sometime in July. For updates, call the park office at 712-642-2069. www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/StateParksRecAreas/IowasStateParks/ParkDetails.aspx?ParkID=610118&idAdminBoundary=221>

The east, west and north entrances of Backbone State Park, in Delaware County, are closed until further notice due to high water in the main part of the park. However, the two campgrounds, beach area and cabins remain open.  Ledges State Park, in Boone County, remains open. However, portions are closed due to flooding.

The canyon road and lower road are currently closed and, with predicted pool levels at Saylorville Lake, will likely remain closed through June 30. Park facilities such as the campground, picnic areas, trails and shelters remain open. Brushy Creek State Recreation Area in Webster County, has temporarily closed equestrian and bike trails due to wet conditions. The 12-mile Lake Trail remains open. Equestrian trails at Elk Rock State Park, in Marion County, are closed due to recent rains. Volga River State Recreation Area, in Fayette County has closed its equestrian trails due to recent rains and downed trees.

Paddling enthusiasts need to evaluate stream levels before heading out to paddle this week. The Iowa DNR says recent heavy rains have created rising water levels across the state and hazardous conditions on many rivers and streams. As rivers rise woody debris, like branches, logs and in some cases entire trees, float downstream lodging at the base of bridge pilings and on the outsides of tight bends. The combination of logjams and high flows create hazardous conditions which can trap and pull tubers and paddlers underwater.

John Wenck, water trails coordinator for the Iowa DNR, says “Logjams can be difficult to avoid at low to normal flows, but at high flows they’re extremely difficult to avoid and can be deadly.”  High water levels demand greater skills to avoid obstacles or hazards. “Tubers are more vulnerable than paddlers because they lack the ability to steer,” he said. “They are at the whim of the current which tends to direct them toward the areas where woody debris has accumulated.”

With increased temperatures and high humidity it might be tempting to throw caution to the wind, but it’s important to be vigilant if you plan to paddle or tube on rivers this summer. Wenck offered the following safety tips for tubing and paddling Iowa rivers:

* Avoid paddling or tubing rivers that are rising: Learn more before you go. Review river heights from the nearest U.S. Geological Survey stream gauges at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/current/?type=flow. On the “Discharge” graph, find the median daily flow triangles. If the current water level reading is more than 50 percent higher than the median in late June to early July, use extra caution.

* Wear your life jacket: Properly fastened and cinched life jackets save lives. Life jackets are mandatory for any child under age 13.

* Always pay attention to what is downstream: If timber and debris are floating down the river or the river is out of its banks or nearly so, don’t launch.

* Develop skills to avoid hazards: Novice paddlers and tubers generally have less control as rivers get swifter, and should be more cautious.

* Avoid logjams or woody debris piles: Most high water accidents involve an obstruction. Downed trees and branches can trap boats and people under water. Bridge piers or boulders can pin people on the upstream side. Low-head dams can re-circulate and trap vessels under water.

* Don’t paddle or tube alone

* Let others know where you’re going and when you plan to return

* Avoid or limit alcohol consumption.