As farmers in many parts of Iowa launch into the harvest, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says there’s good news for producers who might need to dry their grains using heaters fueled by tanks of liquid propane. While L-P supplies have been tight in recent years, Naig says that doesn’t appear to be the case this season, as fall arrives on Saturday.

Propane prices are averaging around a dollar-77 a gallon in Iowa, which is down from around two-16 a year ago.

Naig remains optimistic prices will hold steady as we head into the cold weather months.

It’s also a plus for Iowans who heat their homes with L-P. Estimates show about 67% of Iowans use natural gas to heat their homes, 15% use electricity, and 14% use liquid propane.

(Radio Iowa) – John Deere is laying off nearly ten percent of its workforce at the Harvester Works in East Moline, Illinois.
K-W-W-L T-V reports the company let employees know at a meeting Wednesday they were being laid off indefinitely. Deere leaders told employees that they had learned of the need for layoffs just one week ago.

They say lagging economic conditions for farmers are the primary reason for laying off employees. Some 225 workers will be laid off on October 16th.

Autumn arrives Saturday but many Iowa farmers are already starting the fall harvest, and motorists in rural areas will need to share the roads with large, slow-moving farm equipment for the next several weeks. Franklin County Sheriff Aaron Dodd says he’s already spotted drivers taking big chances when they shouldn’t, like trying to pass tractors on a hill.

Such risky behavior might result in a collision, or at least a ticket.

Distractions are also causing crashes, and Dodd says people need to put down the number-one distraction — their smartphones — while driving.

From 2017 through June 30th, 2022, the Iowa Department of Transportation reports 30 people died in crashes involving farm equipment in the state. This is National Farm Safety and Health Week.

Today:  Sunny with a high near 79.  East southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
Tonight:  A slight chance of showers.  Increasing clouds with a low around 59.  East wind around 10 mph.
Friday:  Cloudy, with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 7:00 am and 1:00 pm, then gradually becoming mostly sunny with a high near 77.  East wind 5 to 15 mph with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday:  Showers and possibly a thunderstorm.  High near 79. Breezy with a south southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday:  A 40 percent chance of showers.  Mostly sunny with a high near 75.

• KJAN, Atlantic  1.64″
• 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .5″
• Atlantic Airport  .98″
• Massena  1.96″
• Lewis  2.1″
• Lyman  2″
• Marne  .35″
• Exira  .85″
• Anita  .92″
• Wiota  1.31″
• Adair  .52″
• Audubon  .64″
• Bridgewater  1.6″
• Carroll  1.3″
• Corning  .11″
• Manning  .79″
• Guthrie Center  1.65″
• Creston  1.05″

w/Kate Olson.

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Many of Iowa’s trees are struggling in the long-running drought. Joe Herring, a district forester with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says some insects are causing problems with trees, and not just the emerald ash borer.

Herring says fall colors should be coming into view soon, starting with a species of small tree or bush found along roadsides, called sumac (SOO-mack).

During some drought years, the reds, yellows and oranges of fall appear more vibrantly on several species of trees in particular.

The D-N-R says the peak of fall color should be during the second week of October for the northern part of the state, and the second through the fourth weeks of October in southern Iowa.

Wednesday:  Mostly sunny with a high near 81.  South wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday Night:  Mostly clear with a low around 55.  Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday:  Mostly sunny with a high near 78.  East southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.

Friday:  A chance of showers and thunderstorms.  Mostly cloudy with a high near 76.

Saturday:  A chance of showers.  Mostly cloudy with a high near 78.  Breezy.

Sunday:  A chance of showers.  Mostly sunny with a high near 74.

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa lawmaker is suggesting the Iowa Utilities Board lacks the authority to grant Summit Carbon Solutions permission to seize property along its proposed pipeline route from unwilling landowners. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says eminent domain authority is reserved for projects that have a clear public use and public benefit.

Holt, who is chairman of the Iowa House Judiciary Committee, says he’s not opposed to pipeline projects that developers argue would benefit farmers by making corn-based ethanol carbon neutral.

Holt was one of two Republican lawmakers who testified today (Tuesday) at the Iowa Utilities Board hearing reviewing Summit’s application for a permit to build and maintain a carbon pipeline in Iowa. Senator Sandy Salmon, a Republican from Janesville, says Summit’s request to seize about a third of its route across Iowa is breathtaking.

Salmon says private property rights are essential for prosperity and must be preserved.

(Radio Iowa) – The head of the Iowa Utilities Board says there’s a limit to the questions that can be asked by attorneys for landowners who don’t want the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline on their property. The Utilities Board hearing on Summit’s application to build the pipeline is in its fifth week. Board chairman Erik Helland is citing a district court ruling about a previous pipeline hearing — and he says it gives the board authority to limit cross examination of witnesses that is repetitive.

Helland said “…We have clear authority to limit unduly repetitious testimony.” Bret Dubinsky, an attorney for the company, says not everyone is going to get the last word on every point that’s raised during the hearing.

Brian Jorde (JOR-dee), an attorney for landowners, objects.

Pipeline opponents had planned to have the director of the Science and Environmental Health Network testify today (Tuesday) through an online platform, but the Utilities Board recently ruled all those who testify have to do so in person. David Skilling of Algona took the stand this (Tuesday) morning air his objections to having the pipeline on his property. He’s concerned about a rupture and a lagging emergency response.

Another landowner testified Summit had moved its proposed route on his property in response to his suggestions, but moved it back when he did not agree to sign an easement giving the company access to his property.