Jim Field visits with Cass Health Chief Operating Officer Amanda Bireline about National Nurses Week.

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• KJAN, Atlantic  .22″
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(Radio Iowa)  – The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected two major farm groups’ challenge of a California law requiring breeding pigs have more space in livestock confinements.

The American Farm Bureau and the Iowa-based National Pork Producers Council argued it will cost the swine industry up to $360 million to abide by the California requirement and reconfigure the pens for sows. The groups also contend the 2018 California ballot initiative opens the door to having other states pass regulations that affect farm operations outside their borders.

Trish Cook, a pig farmer from Winthrop who’s president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, said some small and medium-sized producers will go out of business and consumers will pay higher prices for pork because of the Supreme Court’s decision. “To say it’s disappointing is a large understatement,” Cook said.

Cook suggests upholding Proposition 12 — the voter approved California animal welfare standards — may lead to an escalation of farming regulations. “The ruling sets a really bad precedent because it does enable states to regulate commerce outside their boundaries,” Cook said.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that companies must normally comply with the laws in states where their products are sold. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, in a tweet, said the court is letting extremists in California effectively ban bacon that comes from Iowa hogs. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley also tweeted after the ruling was issued, saying you can expect to pay more for bacon, since California’s the largest consumer market and pork producers nationwide will have to respond to these regulations.

In a written statement, Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig said the court’s decision will allow large states to start dictating how other industries and businesses in the rest of America operate.

(Radio Iowa) – A farmer from California who works with war-torn countries to restore crops to the land is the 2023 World Food Prize Laureate. World Food Prize Foundation President, Terry Branstad made the announcement this (Thursday) morning at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D-C.  “I am so pleased to announce that the 2023 World Food Prize Laureate is Heidi Kuhn,” Branstad says. It was Branstad’s first laureate announcement since he took the World Food Prize Foundation position. He is a former Iowa governor and Ambassador to China. Branstad says Kuhn is the founder and C-E-O of the nonprofit “Roots of Peace”organization.

“Our 53rd laureate has built a model of work directly with farmers to restore farmland and food security after a devastating conflict. Through this work, she has shown more than a million people living in war torn regions, a way forward to restoring peace and prosperity through agriculture,” he says. Branstad says Kuhn developed a process that has proved to be successful around the world. “First, she partners with the mining organizations to clear landmines,” he says, “then she works with farmers to replant fields with modern agriculture practices, our laureate has worked in nine countries to confront the daunting challenge of rebuilding food systems and livelihoods after conflict.” He says her efforts started by partnering with wineries in her home state of California to raise funds to remove landmines in Croatia so they could replant vineyards and orchards.

Heidi Kuhn in Napa Valley, California. (WFP-photo)

“Then she took this model to Afghanistan. After clearing landmines. There, she helped farmers including more than five-thousand women produce high-quality crops,” Branstad says. “She built agriculture value chains and provided market support and development. Her organization is one of the few us nonprofits that still operate in Afghanistan.” Kuhn was not at the announcement as Branstad says she is working in Azerbaijan to remove landmines, which is her Mother’s Day tradition.

The World Food Prize was created by Cresco, Iowa native Norman Borlaug. Borlaug won the Nobel Prize for his efforts to end famine. Kuhn will receive the World Food Prize at a ceremony on October 26th at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 oz. each)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt and garlic powder.  In another bowl, beat the egg.  Place the Parmesan cheese in a third bowl.  Coat chicken in flour mixture, then dip in egg and roll in cheese.

In a skillet, brown chicken in oil on both sides.  Transfer to a shallow 1 quart baking dish coated with cooking spray; drizzle with lemon juice.  Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until juices run clear.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – On Friday, May 5th, the Atlantic FFA Chapter held a farm safety/petting zoo day at Washington Elementary. According to Atlantic FFA Reporter Lily Johnson, the event gave students at Washington Elementary the opportunity to experience being around large farm animals. They also got to learn about dangerous farm equipment and learn how to be safe when operating it and they heard about FFA and beef products, from the Cass County beef queen and princess.

Farm Safety Day was led by the Atlantic FFA Chapter officer team, the Atlantic High School Animal Sciences class, and some FFA members. Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller said “I thought it was a fun day and everyone had a chance to learn something new.” The Animal Science class picked 13 areas of need that were involved in bringing animals and equipment to help teach kids about safety around equipment. Those stations gave the Atlantic Elementary students an opportunity to learn more about the animals  and equipment they might find on a farm.

The petting zoo included a cow, a draft horse, sheep, a goat, poultry, a pig, and rabbits. The equipment there included a tractor, a rotary rake to show how a PTO works, a gravity wagon, a lawn mower, and a side-by-side UTV. Maddy Anderson said “I thought the kids had a lot of fun and learned about different types of animals and types of large equipment used on farms, I also think the kids got a lot of hands on experiences.”

The Cass County Beef Queen and Princess, Claire Pellett and Callee Pellet, taught the kids about cattle and beef by-products, along with FFA knowledge, with the assistance of Callee Pellett. She said “I think that it went really well and i love seeing all these little kids get excited about all the animals and have so many questions about agriculture.”

(Article and photo submitted by Eric Miller)

Jim Field visits with 2023 Audubon High School seniors Brittany Huston, Kali Irlmeier, Elly Schultes and Abigail Erickson.

Kali Irlmeier, Brittany Huston, Abigail Erickson, Elly Schultes

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w/Kate Olson.

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