(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Environmental Council is calling for updating the system for measuring pollution in Iowa waterways. The state’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy program uses models to estimate the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in Iowa’s water. Iowa Environmental Council water program director Ingrid Gronstal says a lack of in-stream sensors makes it difficult to accurately assess water quality. “The public needs to know what their tax dollars are going toward and whether that money is being spent wisely,” Gronstal says. “So, are we actually getting a water quality benefit out of that?”

According to the Iowa Environmental Council, the State of Iowa has spent 100 million dollars since 2013 on water quality projects, but a lack of real-time water measurements means its difficult to determine if the investments are working. Gronstal says the models currently being used to estimate water quality can exclude factors that may impact a waterway – like land use changes or extreme weather patterns. “These are models that were developed close to a decade ago,” she says, “and they didn’t account for climate change effects then, and so certainly not responding to climate change effects now.”

The Iowa Environmental Council is calling for the state to release all of its water quality monitoring information to the public.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Kendall Crawford; additional reporting by Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson)

Jim Field visits with Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh about how local organizations are partnering to increase access to fresh produce.

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(Radio Iowa) An international organization is now classifying the migratory North American monarch butterfly as endangered, and efforts underway in Iowa will aid the helpful insect if more people get onboard. Laura Iles, director of the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State University, says the monarchs’ status change should bring more awareness. “It’s important to always draw attention to insects and other animals and the impacts that habitat loss and things like that can have,” Iles says. “It doesn’t legally change their status like the Endangered Species Act does, but it does remind people that it’s important to protect these really cool insects.”

Last week, the International Union for Conservation of Nature issued a report showing monarch populations have fallen up to 72-percent and are at risk of extinction. The U-S Fish and Wildlife Service has -not- listed the monarch as an endangered or threatened species in the U-S but will revisit that status in 2024. Iowans are aware of the monarchs’ plight and many are taking action, she says, by keeping pollinators in mind when planting their gardens and plotting out landscapes. Iles says, “The key with a garden that protects and invites pollinators in and all those beautiful butterflies is having lots of flowers, which most of us who garden like pretty flowers anyway, so it’s kind of a win-win.”

She says growing plants for insects is an amazing way to enjoy nature in your own back yard. “Have those pollinating plants available all summer long, especially early and then later into the fall if you can,” Iles says. “Having those blooming plants available and then reducing any insecticide use in your yard because those insecticides can’t pick and choose between just the pest insects, so you have to accept sometimes a little bit more pest damage when you’re gardening for pollinators.”

Besides planting plenty of flowers, Iles suggests Iowans also plant milkweed, as it’s the only plant on which monarchs will lay eggs. “We’ve got several different species of milkweed in Iowa,” Iles says. “The common milkweed is probably the one that people are most familiar with and very often, it just comes up as a weed in the garden. I just leave it. One less weed to pull and I’ve got some habitat there for monarchs.”

In addition to butterflies, common insect pollinators in Iowa include honey bees, bumble bees, solitary bees, beetles, flies, ants and wasps. Bats, birds and other animals that visit plants can also be pollinators.

For more tips, visit:
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/attract-butterflies-and-other-pollinators-your-garden-and-landscape

(Radio Iowa) – As Iowa farmers start putting together the finances for the next growing season, they’re again considering liquid manure rather than commercial fertilizer for cropland. Nitrogen and phosphorous are typically applied to corn and soybean fields, but a global shortage of commercial fertilizer has caused prices to spike. Iowa State University Extension agricultural engineer Kris Kohl can liquid manure from livestock operations can be a cheaper alternative.

“Typically a person that’s buying manure is going to get it for probably 80 or 90% of what the equivalent fertilizer is, so that’s a savings,” he says. “Oftentimes they’ll get the micro nutrients, the sulfur and zinc, thrown in for free.” I-S-U Extension will host a workshop on August 1st in Storm Lake for those who have manure to sell and those who are looking to buy it. Anyone buying manure in bulk for the first time needs to collect soil samples from farm fields and file a manure management plan with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

“Our research at Iowa State shows there’s a slight advantage to using manure over commercial fertilizers,” Kohl says. In a typical year, I-S-U experts estimate 14 BILLION gallons of manure are spread on Iowa fields. Transporting liquid manure can be costly, though, and environmentalists are raising concerns about drainage from fields into rivers and lakes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (July 25, 2022) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November.
“After another warm week statewide, corn pollination is nearly complete for portions of Iowa as soybeans continue to bloom and set pods,” said Secretary Naig. “Much of Iowa received at least some rain, though not enough to ease drought conditions. Forecasts show near-seasonal temperatures and isolated chances of rain through the end of July.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report:
Limited rain over much of Iowa resulted in 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 24, 2022, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included cutting hay as well as insecticide and fungicide applications.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 12 percent very short, 26 percent short, 61 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 11 percent very short, 25 percent short, 63 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn silking or beyond was 66 percent, 4 days behind last year and 3 days behind the 5-year average. Eight percent of the corn crop has reached the dough stage, 5 days behind last year and 2 days behind average. Corn condition rating was 80 percent good to excellent. Seventy-two percent of soybeans were blooming, 1 week behind last year and 2 days behind average. Thirty-two percent of the soybean crop was setting pods, 5 days behind last year and 1 day behind the 5-year average. Iowa’s soybean condition rating was 75 percent good to excellent. Eighty-two percent of oats were turning color or beyond, 1 week behind last year. Oats harvested for grain reached 38 percent, 2 days behind last year. Iowa’s oat condition was 78 percent good to excellent.

Seventy-seven percent of the state’s second cutting of alfalfa hay was complete, with the third cutting under way at 3 percent. All hay condition rated 66 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 50 percent good to excellent. Some producers already had to begin supplementing with hay. Flies and above average heat and humidity were stressing livestock with cattle still struggling with pinkeye.

(Radio Iowa) – A regional recreational trail system spanning more than one-hundred miles in northwestern Iowa will connect several towns, including Sergeant Bluff, Sioux City, Merrill, Hinton and Le Mars. Siouxland Chamber of Commerce president Chris McGowan says linking the communities is a strategy to overcome the area’s labor shortages.  McGowan says, “To take a pause on aggressively recruiting more businesses and creating more job vacancies and saying, what can we do to enhance quality of life in the region so that we can attract more people?”

Sioux City is one of the largest towns in the state without a trail connection to another city. It’s estimated it could double the amount of visitors the trails see within five years of the project’s completion. Sioux City Parks and Recreation director Matt Salvatore says the regional trail system will be a real game-changer for the area. “I think that could really transform the community,” Salvatore says. “People will move to Siouxland because of the quality of life amenities, and we can see our communities start to grow, and we can see our employment start to go up.”

The project is made possible by a seven-million dollar grant awarded by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. As part of the grant, the project must be completed by 2026.

(Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)

(HARLAN, Iowa) — The Rosmann family, of Rosmann Family Farms, and Eric Madsen of Madsen Stock Farm, will host a Practical Farmers of Iowa field day in partnership with Farming for Public Health exploring weed control strategies in organic row crops on Tuesday, Aug. 2nd, from 1-4 p.m., near Harlan (1222 Ironwood Road). The event – “Weed Control Strategies in Organic Corn and Soybeans With Buffalo Cultivators and Planters” – is free to attend and will include lunch. RSVPs are appreciated for the meal by July 27. To sign up, visit the event page at practicalfarmers.org/field-days or call Debra Boekholder at (515) 232-5661.

Rosmann Family Farms includes Ron Rosmann and Maria Vakulskas Rosmann; David Rosmann and Becky Tompkins-Rosmann; Daniel Rosmann and Ellen Walsh-Rosmann; and Mark Rosmann and Virginia Lehner-Rosmann. Rosmann Family Farms is a multi-generational diversified crop and livestock operation on 700 acres of certified organic land. The farm consists of cattle, hogs, egg layers and a range of crops, including popcorn, soybeans, corn, small grains, hay and pasture, annual forages and cover crops. Maria operates the farm store, Farm Sweet Farm. Ellen and Daniel operate FarmTable Delivery and a restaurant, Milk & Honey in Harlan, featuring local foods.

Eric Madsen raises organic crops and livestock near Audubon with his parents, Vic and Cindy, and will join Ron during the field day to provide additional perspective on mechanical weed management. During the field day, Ron and Eric will share their organic weed control experiences and cultivator know-how while showcasing their Buffalo equipment. Guests will learn how to improve cultivator settings and fine-tune a planter. They will also have a chance to a cultivator field demonstration and learn about cultivating oat stubble.

Cultivator specialist Dale Kumpf, of Global Equipment Company, will be on hand to speak and share his knowledge. Other speakers will include Iowa State University extension organic specialist Kathleen Delate, who will talk about weed control and crop rotations in organic systems, and Olga Reding of the Iowa Organic Association. Though Buffalo equipment is featured, concepts and strategies discussed will be relevant to any high-residue cultivator. Full event details are available at practicalfarmers.org/weed-control-strategies-in-organic-corn-and-soybeans-with-buffalo-cultivators-and-planters.

This event is part of PFI’s 2022 field day season, which includes 41 events hosted by farmers located across the state, and beyond, on topics spanning the agricultural spectrum. Attendees can expect a welcoming atmosphere, a spirit of curiosity, a culture of mutual respect and farmers openly sharing their knowledge and experience. The full roster of events – along with additional information about PFI field day policies and logistics – is available at practicalfarmers.org/field-days. For questions, contact the PFI office at info@practicalfarmers.org or (515) 232-5661.

The field day is sponsored by Albert Lea Seed; Farm Power Implements; Iowa Farmers Union; Iowa Organic Association; Iowa State Organic Ag Program; OCIA International, Inc.; Organic Valley – Organic Prairie – CROPP Cooperative; Riverside Feeds, LLC; Sunrise Foods International; and The Scoular Company. Practical Farmers’ 2022 field days are supported by Level A sponsors Albert Lea Seed; BioTill Cover Crops; Grain Millers Inc.; Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance; Iowa State University Department of Agronomy; Iowa State University Extension and Outreach; MOSA Certified Organic; Nori Carbon Removal; P&K Midwest; Sinclair Tractor; Sunderman Farm Management; and Van Wall Equipment.

Chris Parks and Cass/Adair County Conservation Officer Grant Gelly talk about all things outdoors. This week they discuss water quality, new regulation books, learn to hunt programs and more.

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(Radio Iowa) – The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa — RAGBRAI — starts Sunday. However, riders and support crews started converging on Sergeant Bluff Wednesday, as the town is the starting point for this year’s route. Sergeant Bluff City Councilwoman Andrea Johnson says 28-thousand people are expected in the community for the opening festivities this weekend — so the city is asking motorists to avoid the entertainment zone.

“We are asking that people do not drive through our town just because we have lots of bikes and we’re just trying to keep everyone safe,” she says. Saturday’s series of concerts and other activities will begin around noon in Sergeant Bluff. The city has established designated parking areas and three shuttle routes. “We encourage everyone to come and eat our food and enjoy our bands,” Johnson says. Emergency officials are preparing for excessive heat and the possibility of severe weather.

Riders on a past RAGBRAI. (file photo)

Sergeant Bluff Fire Chief Anthony Gaul says his fire station will be the command post to deal with whatever Mother Nature has in store. “We did a final test of our outdoor warning system which is meant to alert people that are outdoors in case of severe weather or any other disasters,” Gaul says. “We have a voice function on that as well as the tone siren alert.” If a tornado or winds of more than 70 mile an hour are forecast, the outdoor warning system in Sergeant Bluff is triggered, but they plan to announce any severe weather that does not meet that threshold.

Fourteen campgrounds have been established around Sergeant Bluff for the RAGBRAI crowd. “We have established tornado and storm shelters for every campground. We have access to all of those public safety wise so we can open them up whenever need be and we have sent that all throughout the campground so they know where they are to go.” Gaul and other Sergeant Bluff officials are walking through the campgrounds, too, welcoming RAGBRAI riders and pointing out the emergency shelters. Gaul says the city has a valuable tool that likely will alter the crowds find shelter before dangerous lightning arrives.

“We have a lightning prediction system called THOR GUARD,” he says. “It is set to alert when we have about a 12-15 minute time frame before lightning impacts the community and over the last years it has been very accurate.” Officials have been handing out yard signs to Sergeant Bluff residents that indicate the home is open as an emergency shelter to bicyclists in case of severe weather. The latest forecast indicates there’s a chance for severe storms in the area on Saturday.

Early Sunday, RAGBRAI riders will leave Sergeant Bluff and pedal through Bronson, Anthon and Battle Creek before reaching the overnight stop in Ida Grove. The week-long ride covers 454 miles and ends in Lansing on July 30th.

This year is bittersweet for riders – it’s the first year without one of its founders. Ninety-one-year-old John Karras died due to complications from a stroke. He co-founded Ragbrai with Donald Kaul in 1973.

Officials with the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC), today (Friday), released their Beach Advisory for the week of July 22nd. There are eight 8 beach advisories this week, seven of which advisories are related to unhealthy E.coli levels:

• Backbone Beach (Dundee, Delaware County, IA)*
• Big Creek Beach (Polk City, Polk County, IA)*
• Black Hawk Beach (Lake View, Sac County, IA)*
• Lake Darling Beach (Brighton, Washington County, IA)*
• Lake of Three Fires Beach (Bedford, Taylor County, IA)* [temporarily closed; see note below]
• McIntosh Woods Beach (Clear Lake, Ventura, Cerro Gordo County, IA)*
• Prairie Rose Beach (Harlan, Shelby County, IA)*

There is also one beach with a Microcystin-related Advisory: Geode Beach (Danville, Des Moines County, IA)*

*Data from the Iowa DNR State Park Beach Monitoring Program
**Data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District

Lake of Three Fires is temporarily closed for swimming.
A Missouri resident who swam in Lake of Three Fires had a confirmed infection and passed away from Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba.” There is no new information to share at this time other than the beach has been sampled and the samples have been sent to the CDC laboratory. The beach will remain closed pending test results. Additionally, the test results for E. coli exceed the advisory threshold this week.