(Radio Iowa) – The number of Iowa counties without a confirmed infestation of the emerald ash borer is now down to three. The Iowa Department of Agriculture has added Monona, Osceola, and Woodbury Counties to the list of infestations. The insects were confirmed in Blencoe, Melvin, and Sioux City, making it 96 of Iowa’s 99 counties with an infestation.

Plymouth, Emmet, and Palo Alto are the only counties that are still E-A-B free. The tree-killing insect from Asia was first discovered in Iowa twelve years ago. Thousands of trees across the state have been cut down after being infected — or in an effort to slow the spread.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has announced funding to complete phase two of Iowa State University’s new Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The governor announced that I-S-U will receive 40 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding and is proposing that an additional 20 million dollars from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund go to the project. I-S-U President Wendy Wintersteen earlier said phase one construction would end this year — but phase two is needed to provide an additional 70-thousand square feet for laboratory testing, research and support functions — and would put them all under one roof. Governor Reynolds has earlier indicated her support — saying the Vet Lab is critical to supporting and protecting the country’s ag industry and food supply.

(Bridgewater, Iowa) – Dave Nichols of Nichols Farms, near Bridgewater, was honored with induction into the American Angus Association’s Heritage Foundation at the 2022 Angus Convention held in Salt Lake City, Utah, in November 2022. AAA created the Heritage Foundation in 1983 to honor the contributions of individuals who have gone above and beyond for the Angus Breed.

Nichols was selected for his groundbreaking work in data collection. Nichols Farms was one of the first herds to incorporate computer performance records to intricate feed intake and measurement systems, and has continuously adapted and extended the limits of performance records. Today, Nichols Farms collects and maintains more than 70 fields of data on each animal.

Officials with the Foundation say Nichols’ immense interest in data led to his heavy involvement in the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR), and Beef Improvement Federation (BIF), along with partaking in numerous research projects to improve technology, placing him at the forefront of today’s EPD program. The farm’s latest research project focuses on feed efficiency, collecting data beef producers can utilize in breeding decisions.

Dave Nichols (Photo & story submitted by Terri Queck-Matzie.

In making the award announcement, officials with the Foundation said “Inductees of the Heritage Foundation depict the type of individuals who built a reputation with their drive, ambition and forward-thinking attitude. From his leadership and accolades, to his dedication to providing customers with a firm handshake and the best genetics possible, Nichols’ investment in the breed and its success is evident in all he does.”

In addition to Nichols, the 2022 Heritage Foundation inductees include: Jim and Sue Coleman of Modesto, California; Leo and Sam McDonnell of Columbus, Montana; and Becky and the late Arlen Sawyer of Bassett, Nebraska.

The American Angus Association® is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 22,000 members across the United States, Canada and several other countries.

Ames, Iowa – The Iowa Beef Industry Council board of directors selected Mike Anderson, of Ames, to lead as executive director of the Iowa Beef Checkoff organization.

Anderson comes to the beef council after 17 years with Iowa State Extension & Outreach where he served as program manager of 4-H Agriculture & Natural Resources. Anderson is experienced in personnel and program management through his background in coordinating 4-H livestock superintendents and shows at the Iowa State Fair, implementing Iowa 4-H online enrollment and identification programs and hosting several state 4-H events and activities.

Mike Anderson Exec. Director, IBC

“My previous experiences working with youth and adults has been really rewarding and eye-opening. I have seen first-hand how 4-H and FFA youth are more removed from the farm than ever before and would like to use this role as an opportunity to share the importance of agriculture with consumers and tying that back to beef production. I am a firm believer in building a strong team and I look forward to working with staff, board members and stakeholders to execute programs that help share the story of Iowa’s beef industry,” said Anderson.

DES MOINES, Iowa (Jan 12, 2023) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today announced that the November 10 order cancelling all live bird exhibitions at fairs and other gatherings of birds due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been lifted. The order also prohibited live birds from being sold or transferred at livestock auction markets, swap meets, and exotic sales.

It has been 30 days since the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed a new infection of HPAI in domestic poultry in Iowa. The last confirmed case of HPAI in Iowa was announced on December 12.

“Commercial poultry producers and those with backyard birds should continue to be vigilant with their biosecurity because this destructive disease still poses a serious ongoing risk,” said Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “We are continually monitoring highly pathogenic avian influenza case counts worldwide and we remain ready to quickly respond should spring migration bring us another enhanced level of threat.”

Commercial and backyard flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. Sick birds or unusual deaths among birds should be immediately reported to state or federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship website. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present a public health concern. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products. An internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses.

For additional information on HPAI, please visit the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website.

(Radio Iowa) – The four Iowa Republicans serving in the U.S. House have voted to create a new committee focused on China. Second district Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion notes it passed with the support of all Republicans and nearly 70 percent of the Democrats in the House.  “The beginning of our efforts to hold China accountable for their wide range of malicious activity and, of course, to protect our national security,” Hinson says. “These are efforts that I believe will continue to be bipartisan this congress.”

Hinson says the House Select Committee on China should move to forbid Chinese citizens and companies from buying American farmland. Iowa law forbids foreign ownership of agricultural land, but according to the U-S-D-A, China owns about 190-thousand acres of farm ground in the United States. “China poses the largest threat our national and global security,” Hinson says, “from posturing against Taiwan to buying up U.S. farmland at alarming rates.”

The governor of North Dakota has asked federal officials to review a Chinese food company’s recent purchase of 300 acres of land in his state. The property is about 12 miles from the Grand Forks U.S. Air Force Base. Hinson says the federal government needs to track the purchase of land around U.S. military installations and other key infrastructure. “We don’t want to completely block international land ownership. That’s not what we want to see happen,” Hinson says. “We have a lot of international investment in Iowa, in our district, but we need to be very clear that the Chinese Communist Party is the greatest threat to this country and we cannot allow them to buy another acre.”

Hinson made her comments this (Thursday) morning during a telephone news conference with Iowa reporters. She expressed reservations about G-O-P colleague George Santos, the New York congressman who admits he has lied about his past, including where he’s worked and his family background. “I am very troubled by the allegations against Mr. Santos,” Hinson said. “I do think we need to let the ethics investigation play out.”

Two Democratic congressmen from New York filed an ethics complaint against Santos this week, questioning whether he lied on the financial disclosures he filed with the House.

(Radio Iowa) – Cow manure from local dairy farms will be run through digesters to generate natural gas that will run through a pipeline to the northwest Iowa town of Sioux Center. Aaron Maassen owns one of the three dairy farms involved in the project. He says it will not only expand the town’s capacity for natural gas, it will also capture methane emissions from livestock waste. “Capturing value out of it that would have been lost as a greenhouse gas,” Maassen says. “So, it allows us to capture that without changing the value of the resource that we have for our own operation, and add value to just our local community.”

Maassen says the greenhouse gas emissions eliminated will be equivalent to around 88-hundred cars. Sioux Center utilities assistant manager Adam Fedders says the community needs more natural gas capacity. “For a growing community, like Sioux Center, taking advantage of opportunities to receive additional capacity and other locations is something that’s advantageous,” Fedders says, “and then to find an opportunity right in your backyard is even greater.”

The farm digesters are expected to bring in around 350 M-M-B-T-Us a day, or around a third of the natural gas typically used in Sioux Center on a summer day. Construction on the pipeline is expected to begin as early as April.

(reporting by Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)

(Massena, Iowa) – If you’ve ever wanted to explore the sport of ice fishing, but don’t have the knowledge or skills to give it a try, now’s your chance. The Cass County Conservation Board (CCCB) is hosting an “Intro to Ice Fishing” program, this weekend. Cass County Conservation Director Micah Lee says the program will be held beginning 10-a.m. Saturday (Jan. 14, 2023), at the CCCB’s Outdoor Classroom near Massena (76977 Tucson Road).

The program will focus on ice fishing basics, such as what’s needed to get out on the ice and enjoy the outdoors. Ice safety will be the first topic of discussion.

Basic equipment, clothing and shelter will also be part of the discussion.

The CCCB will have ice rods, bait and augers available for those who don’t have them. The forecast for this weekend is calling for temperatures near 50. If the conditions allow, those attending the program will get a chance to fish on the nearly two on and-half acre pond at the Outdoor Classroom, when the program concludes. There will also be a drawing for prizes, thanks to Cappel’s Ace Hardware, in Atlantic. Micah says the program is open to everyone.

For more information, call Conservation Director Micah Lee at 712-769-2372.

Landowners/tenants with land registered with the Iowa DNR in one of the 21 counties open to the January antlerless season are eligible to participate on the farm unit in the open county. The January antlerless season is Jan. 11- 22. Licenses will be available beginning Jan. 11, from license vendors in the open counties.

The January antlerless season is open in Adair, Adams, Allamakee, Appanoose, Clarke, Clayton, Dallas, Davis, Decatur, Fayette, Jefferson, Lee, Lucas, Madison, Monroe, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Wayne and Winneshiek counties. Landowner/tenant licenses are not subject to county quotas.

Due to the compressed timeline, these licenses will not be available online. Only antlerless deer may be taken during this season. Only centerfire rifles .223 caliber to .500 caliber with a published or calculated muzzle energy of 500-foot pounds or higher are allowed in the excess tag January antlerless season. The excess tag January antlerless season was approved by the Iowa Legislature during the 2022 session.

(Radio Iowa) – The American Farm Bureau has reached an agreement with John Deere that will allow farmers to repair their own equipment, or take it to independent repair shops. The director of the Drake University Agricultural Law Center, Jennifer Zwagerman, says it is a good solution for both sides. Zwagerman says Deere needs to protect the investment it has made in developing high tech systems to run tractors and other equipment. “If you can limit who can repair your products, you maintain not just the market, but you also ensure more privacy and more secrecy,” She says. “What we’re really I think seeing companies most concerned about are trade secrets.”

She says the computerized systems, programming or technology that’s used in the equipment is more important than the equipment itself. “From a legal standpoint, the more you allow people to have access to information, you’re starting to limit your ability to protect those trade secrets,” Zwagerman says. “And so I think that’s something that is very valid, that they wanted to maintain access and control over, but at the same time, was not fully recognizing or meeting the needs of their customers.” The agreement voluntarily makes available manuals or parts to vehicles or equipment.

“And that’s something that’s important to remember as well that they have voluntarily agreed to do it. And so there’s a big question about what this is actually going to look like, moving forward? Who’s going to enforce it? What sort of limitations will they put on it,?” she says. Farmers had been able to do their own repairs or have them done without concern before tractors and other equipment started to involve much more technology. “And so that’s definitely something that farmers are really pushing for — and have been very, very loudly. I think it says a lot that Deere listened,” Zwagerman says.

Zwagerman says John Deere has a long history in agriculture and working with farmers and the company wants to maintain that relationship into the future. Zwagerman says there are still some outside factors that could impact the agreement. “Either party can withdraw from this agreement at any time, particularly if any state or federal legislation tied to this is either introduced or enacted. And so it really in some ways is an effort to try and keep it voluntary like this,” she says.

Zwagerman says there have been a lot of states and the federal government looking at this type of right to repair legislation — and this agreement would keep it out of the government’s hands and out of that type of regulation. She says the Deere agreement will extend beyond that company’s products — as the memorandum of agreement says the Farm Bureau is looking to enter into these types of agreements with other companies as well.