(Radio Iowa) – Negotiators returned to the bargaining table this week, hoping to find an agreement that will end the strike at a southeast Iowa plant that makes Case I-H and New Holland equipment. About 430 United Auto Workers members employed at the C-N-H Industrial facility in Burlington went on strike May 1st. Paul Iverson of the Labor Center at the University of Iowa says manufacturing workers nationwide who stayed on the job in the pandemic’s early days seem to approach contract talks differently. “Workers in organized and unorganized ways have gotten together and said that, you know, we’re just not going to take the labor relations that existed before COVID,” Iverson says.”…It seems in some of these negotiations it seems that it’s taking employers to get that realization.”

John Deere and the United Auto Workers came to agreement last year that ended a five-week strike. It was the first strike at Deere in 35 years. The strike at the Burlington and Racine, Wisconsin C-N-H Industrial plants is nearing the end of its 20th week. Iverson says that’s not necessarily a surprise. “Case New Holland has had a more contentious relationship with its union over time than John Deere has,” Iverson says.

In early May, C-N-H Industrial released a statement saying the U-A-W’s decision to strike creates high anxiety among employees, customers and the community. C-N-H made a contract offer in mid-May that it said provided significant economic improvements for employees. The union called the offer subpar, with very little increase in pay and a downgrade in health benefits. The company says it’s committed to reaching an agreement and will continue to negotiate in good faith.

(Radio Iowa) – This is the first full day of fall and Iowans are already starting to see the leaves on a few trees turning red, yellow and orange. Joe Herring, a forester with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says Iowa’s trees are facing a long list of challenges this season, including the emerald ash borer, storms, and drought, in addition to just their sheer age. “Two out of every three trees are big trees, and that means only about one out of every three is a young replacement that’s gotten a start to provide for the next generation, the shade and all the other benefits,” Herring says. “Those old trees are great. We want to keep them around as long as we can, as long as they’re upright and strong and sturdy, but they are more susceptible to things like drought or storms.”

Herring, who’s based in Iowa Falls, says Iowans can likely expect a decent showing of fall colors in the coming weeks. “We didn’t have a ton of rainfall which promotes a lot of fungal diseases on the leaves every spring and that can affect the fall colors later on,” Herring says. “But with the drought conditions, we may have some early change. I don’t think that’s the worst thing for fall color and maybe it extends the season a little bit and we just hope we don’t get too early of a frost that was blacken and brown up the leaves.”

The D-N-R says fall colors typically start to appear across Iowa’s northern third next week through the second week of October, with the state’s central section seeing the best color the first through the third weeks of October, and southern Iowa the second week of October through Halloween.

(Radio Iowa) – A northeast Iowa native has been nominated to help lead U.S. Department of Agriculture efforts to expand and promote exports of agricultural commodities and products. Alexis Taylor has been nominated to serve as undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs. Taylor promises to work to remove trade barriers and ensure countries adhere to science-based regulations.

“Expanding and maintaining diversified market opportunities, rebuilding strong and reliable trading relationships, and and holding our trading partners accountable is essential,” Taylor says. Taylor expects part of the job will be dealing with the growing food security crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “The United States plays a critical role in combating food insecurity and working to protect the most vulnerable,” Taylor says.

Taylor testified before the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee yesterday (Thursday). “I would not be here today without the support of my family, including my mother Carol, who’s watching from home in Iowa,” Taylor said. “…I am also thankful for the first and most influential farmer in my life, my father Joe.

Alexis Taylor (USDA photo)

Although he has passed, there’s not a day that goes by that I do not call upon the lessons that I learned on the farm from him.” Taylor grew up near Holy Cross, a small town in Dubuque County, on a farm that’s been in her family for over 160 years.

“I learned many things growing up on my family’s farm, from the hard work and long hours our producers put into raising a crop or keeping livestock healthy to the challenges that unpredticable weather and volatile markets can bring, but one of the most to important things that was instilled in me as a child was a desire to give back to my community,” Taylor said. “…It drew me to a career in public service, working to advance the interests of the community I grew up in — U.S. agriculture.”

Taylor graduated from Iowa State University in 2005 with a degree in political science. She served in the Army Reserves and did a tour of duty in Iraq. Taylor oversaw the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services before being appointed director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture in 2016.

AMES, Iowa— The Iowa 4-H Foundation and Cass County 4-H is launching its annual special 24-hour event, Iowa 4-H Giving Day (www.iowa4Hgivingday.org), on October 4th and 5th from Noon to Noon during National 4-H Week. Each year on Iowa 4-H Giving Day, supporters across the country come together to financially support Iowa’s largest youth organization, to ensure these opportunities continue to be available to youth across the state and at the county level.

Iowa 4-H Foundation Executive Director Emily Saveraid says “On Iowa 4-H Giving Day, we’re celebrating all that 4-H’ers have accomplished, how they’ve grown and how they support their communities. It’s great opportunity for 4-H supporters and alumni to give back and celebrate the program that is making a difference in every zip code in Iowa.”

Cass County 4-H supporters can go directly to the county giving day page to make a gift at https://www.iowa4hgivingday.org/organizations/cass-county-4-h-f319ebef-8748-431a-b9c5-133416766a9d simply scan the QR Code. 

Dollars raised on Iowa 4-H Giving Day go directly to the Cass County 4-H Program delivered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and to provide other opportunities– state recognition, national 4-H trips, college scholarships and special programs, which enhance the Iowa 4-H experience. Iowa 4-H Giving Day is proudly sponsored by Farm Bureau Financial Services.

The Iowa 4-H Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides private financial resources to develop and deliver quality 4-H youth programs to nearly 100,000 young people throughout the state of Iowa. These programs and opportunities help enhance 4-H’ers’ ability to use critical thinking, leadership, communication, and social skills.

For more information and to make a gift, visit www.iowa4Hgivingday.org. For the latest updates and stories on Iowa 4-H Giving Day, follow the Iowa 4-H Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.

(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa judge has scheduled a hearing within two weeks on a couple’s request that a carbon pipeline developer be at least temporarily barred from conducting surveys on their Woodbury County land. Navigator has sued William and Vicki Hulse of Moville, accusing the couple of violating a state law that allows its agents to access to land along its proposed pipeline route. The Hulses have filed a counter claim, arguing the law is an unconstitutional taking of private land. Brian Rickert, an attorney for the pipeline developer, is urging the judge to expedite the case. “Farmers Almanac, I don’t know how accurate that is, you know they’re saying we’re going to have an early and heavy winter, so we really do need to get out on this parcel and get our surveying done,” Rickert said.

Brian Jorde, the couple’s attorney, told the judge there’s no legal deadline for completing the land surveys along the pipeline route. “There is no urgency other than the company’s own investor wish list to get this done,” Jorde said. “They haven’t filed for eminent domain rights. They have no permit application on file.” The judge who held a status hearing on the dispute let both attorneys present some initial arguments this (Wednesday) morning. Navigator’s attorney accused pipeline critics of using the court to try to slow down the project.  “What we don’t want to have to deal with is tactics. We want to deal with what the law is. We’ve brought it to you. We think we’re right. We think they’re wrong. That is why we have judges to decide who wins in these situations,” Rickert said. “We need to move quickly.”

Jorde is the attorney for the couple refusing to let pipeline surveyors on their property. He told the judge he’ll be citing a recent Supreme Court opinion on property rights. “Once the constitutional right, the right to foreclose or prevent unwanted entry onto a property is destroyed, you can’t un-ring that bell,” he said. “You cannot go back.” Jorde has filed similar claims for landowners in Clay and Butler Counties. Navigator is suing a Sioux Rapids man and two Butler County property owners who have refused to allow the pipeline’s surveyors on their property.

(Radio Iowa) – Officials from Taiwan have agreed to buy two-point-six billion dollars worth of U.S. corn, soybeans and dried distillers grain. Representatives of Iowa commodity groups joined Taiwan officials at the Iowa Capitol for a signing ceremony. Johnson Chiang is director general of the country’s Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago.

“We want to have more cooperation with Iowa in addition to purchasing agriculture products, but also I think we enough areas in high technologies because of Taiwan is also one of the leading contributors to the high technology supply chain.” Taiwan, for example, is the world’s largest supplier of computer chips. Taiwan has signed letters of intent to purchase one-and-a-half million metric tons of U.S. corn and up to two-point-nine metric tons of U.S. soybeans as well as by-products of corn and beans over the next two years.

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says trade matters to Iowa. “As a leading exporter of food and agriculture products, we see great value in the type of commitment that you all signed today and that continues to build upon a relationship that we are maintaining and building throughout time.” Governor Kim Reynolds says Iowa exports to Taiwan have increased in the past five years and are on pace to be higher this year as well.

“Taiwan’s economic clout is substantial,” Reynolds says. “It’s the 12th largest purchaser of Iowa products, with a total of $304 million of (Iowa) goods sold in Taiwan last year.” The Taiwanese delegation is on a goodwill mission to the United States and has spent the past two days in Iowa. Chin-Chang Huang is the deputy minister of Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture. He was intrigued by Iowa State University programs on climate change and sustainable agriculture and plans to recommend his government establish agreements with I-S-U.

“And also send our people to study at Iowa State University,” he said. Taiwan’s first directly-elected president earned an agricultural economics degree from Iowa State in 1953. President Lee led Taiwan from 1988 until 2000.

(Radio Iowa) – The emerald ash borer (EAB) has now been discovered in all but six of Iowa’s 99 counties.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture has confirmed that Mitchell County is the 93rd county with an E-A-B infestation. Larvae were collected near Spring Park in rural Osage and federal identification confirmed them as the invasive insect. It is the ninth confirmed infestation this year.

The only counties now without an E-A-B infestation are Plymouth, Woodbury, Monona, Osceola, Emmett, and Palo Alto counties in western and northwest Iowa. The Ag Department says the invasive insect is a threat to native ash tree species — with the damage from the larva typically killing a tree within two to four years after infestation.

(Radio Iowa) – Northeast Iowa officials say a young farmer has died. A Farley man died in a farming accident on Saturday night. The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office says it happened shortly before 9:30 north of Farley, at a residence there. Workers were unhooking a silage wagon when it started rolling backward. Twenty-five-year-old Austin Gaul got caught under the wheels and was run over.

(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa woman has been offered a plea agreement in a case involving the deaths of over a thousand pigs at two hog confinements in Sac County in June. Thirty-four-year-old Elana Laber, of Early, was responsible for the care of the pigs. The company that owned the animals estimates it lost 150-thousand dollars due to the deaths of the pigs. Court records indicate Laber will plead guilty to one count of first-degree criminal mischief and one count of livestock neglect.

She faces up to 10 years in prison for the felony charge of criminal mischief charge. The sentence for animal neglect could be as long as a year. Her plea hearing is scheduled for next Monday, September 26.

ATLANTIC, IA – Produce in the Park in Atlantic is all about fall fun this Thursday, September 22. Market Manager Brigham Hoege says kids will be delighted to hear that the bounce house will be back, but there will also be pumpkin painting, face painting, and bracelet making. There will be lots of fall products at the park this week, including pumpkin bars, salted caramel
cupcakes, and caramel apple crisp cups from Frosting Inc., fall candles and soaps from Smudge in scents Pumpkin Spice and Salted Caramel, pumpkin kringle from Kringleman Pastries, and fall candles from Midwest Candles by Brit in Cashmere Cedar, Orange Spice, and Pumpkin Chai.

Hoege says September is a fabulous time for fresh produce at farmers markets, and this week market shoppers will find local fruits including grapes, watermelon, and elderberries, as well as vegetables including green beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, a wide variety of peppers, onions, and eggplant. September is National Recovery Month, and as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration explains, Recovery Month is a national observance held to “promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible.”

Produce in the Park always hosts at least one community organization at the park every week, and this week the market is proud to celebrate Recovery Month by welcoming a number of local recovery supporting organizations. Many people are living in mental health or addiction recovery or know or love someone living in recovery. Visiting organizations at the park this week will include Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services, National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwest Iowa (NAMI), Cass Health Senior Life Solutions, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Anonymous, Cass County Public Health, and more. These organizations will share resources as well as many of the fun fall activities mentioned above.

DETAILS: Produce in the Park September 22
Time: 4:30-6:30 PM
Location: Atlantic City Park (10 W. 7th St. Atlantic, IA 50022)

• Food Truck: Zemog’s Cocina Taco Truck
• Fresh local produce: Grapes, Watermelon, Sweet Potatoes, Peppers (bell peppers, snack peppers, hot peppers, sweet peppers), Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Green Beans, Aronia Berries, Elderberries, Onions, Eggplant, Garlic, Potatoes, Kale, and more!
• Farm Favorites: Fresh-cut flowers, local meat (beef, pork, lamb, chicken), farm-fresh eggs, honey, granola
• Desserts: Pumpkin Bars, Apple Crisps, Cupcakes, Cookies, Danish pastries, kringle, Sweet Breads (banana and banana nut bread, chocolate chip bread), and more
• Crafts: fall-scented candles, bath and body products, art prints, jewelry, and more
• Live Music: Sarah Selders!
• Activities: Bounce house, yard games, pumpkin painting, face painting, bracelet making, recovery card writing, and more!
• Recovery Month Celebration: September is Recovery Month, and we’re celebrating at Produce in the Park! We believe recovery is possible for Every Person. Every Family. Every Community. We are going to have a number of organizations at the park (including Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services, NAMI Southwest Iowa, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Anonymous, Cass County Public Health/Parents as Teachers, and Senior Life Solutions) with helpful information and fun activities. Additional Visiting Organizations: Cass County Master Gardeners, RSVP Volunteer Network.
• Free drawing for a dozen eggs (sponsored by the Cass County Local Food Policy Council). Anyone age 18+ can enter for free. Winner will be drawn after the market ends and pick up at the market the following week.
• Payment methods accepted: All vendors accept cash. Many accept credit cards, Venmo, and Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Senior and WIC checks. All qualifying food vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as food stamps). All fresh produce vendors both accept and distribute Double Up Food Bucks (coupons given for SNAP/EBT purchases of fresh produce).
• Produce in the Park September 2022 farmers markets are sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, Cass Health, Cass County Tourism, First Whitney Bank and Trust, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, and Deter Motor Co.
• For updates on Produce in the Park, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram
  (www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/), or visit the Produce in the Park website to sign up for the e-newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com. For information on vending at the park, contact Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870.