(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is exploring ways to address a national decline in the number of hunters, and to prevent the drop from happening here. D-N-R wildlife biologist Matt Dollison says Iowa has seen its number of pheasant hunters -rise- by almost 20-thousand in the past few seasons, and they now number 83-thousand, but he says national hunter figures have been falling for decades.

“Back in the ’80s, we had about 9% of the population that was hunters and now they say it’s less than 4%, so we’ve lost a ton of hunters overall,” Dollison says. “It is nice to see a few more pheasant hunters taking advantage of the resource here in Iowa this past few years.” Dollison says several factors have likely contributed to the overall decline in hunter numbers nationwide.

“The high number that we had back in the ’80s was really driven by the Baby Boomers getting into hunting, so unfortunately, we’re losing a lot of them from the ranks of hunters,” Dollison says. “It seems like there’s a lot more activities for kids these days to be involved with and there’s way less free time for parents especially, and the kids also have more things to do themselves.”

Dollison says game populations and the availability of public land are also likely factors in the decline. That’s why he says positions like his exist — to manage habitats, spur population numbers in public areas, and to help organize hunting programs. He notes hunting-related expenses provide the bulk of the money for conservation efforts. “A huge portion of the funding for conservation comes from hunting license sales and hunter dollars in the form of excise tax on firearms and ammunition — 90% of the funding for conservation comes from that,” he says. “So, if hunters go away, we don’t have that anymore and that pays all of our salaries in the wildlife bureau, and our management budget is paid by that.”

The focus in the past was on hosting youth hunting events across the state, but Dollison says they’ve started turning to young adults in recent years.  “Now there’s a focus to encourage more adults to get into hunting, especially the 20-year-olds that are getting out of school, have available income and time, and aren’t loaded down yet by a bunch of kids and events to attend. The idea is to get those people into hunting, expose them to it, then they’ll eventually have kids, they’ll take their kids out, and then those kids will become hunters.”

Dollison encourages hunters to invite friends who are interested in outdoor recreation to go along, and to point them toward educational events in their area.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and 24 other states filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court Monday in support of the Port of Tacoma’s appeal of a U.S. circuit court decision that upheld a citizen’s ability to sue individuals for violating the Clean Water Act. “We must not allow unelected, green activists to weaponize lawsuits to force woke mandates, hurt farmers, or threaten cities that are working hard to keep drinking water clean,” Bird said in a press release.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the original case involved a citizen-led environmental group in Washington, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, who sued the Port of Tacoma and its tenants for not implementing stormwater controls in accordance with the state-issued pollutant discharge permits.

In June 2024, the 9th Circuit Court ruled in favor of the environmental group. The court’s opinion said “even though the (state pollutant permits) exceeded the requirements of the federal regulations, they were enforceable in a citizen suit.” Circuit Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain wrote that without the existing precedent, “private citizens such as Puget Soundkeeper Alliance would have no standing to sue” in such cases.

(Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The precedent that set the court’s opinion was a citizen suit from 1995 claiming the City of Portland had violated the Clean Water Act. O’Scannlain said in his concurring statement the precedent “continues to expand citizen standing in a way Congress never intended.” Sean Dixon, Puget Soundkeeper executive director, said in a statement at the time of the ruling that it “closes the book on a proposed loophole in environmental protection,” and will help protect clean water across his state of Washington.

The recently filed  brief by Bird and other states argues that the decision “interferes with (s)tate authority over water resources” and “undermines” state environmental efforts. This interference, the brief argues, disrupts the “cooperative federalism” approach of the Clean Water Act which allowed states to “tailor” federal programs to local needs.

The precedent set by Port of Tacoma case would take away a state’s flexibility and ability to experiment with implementing various conservation laws that prioritize what is most important to citizens of a given state, according to the brief.

A press release from Bird’s office called the citizen lawsuits “politically charged” and said taxpayers would be “on the hook” paying for the government to defend itself from “woke green activists.” Bird also argued the new interpretation could lead activists to “weaponize” the Waters of the United States rule and try to enforce “radical” point-source regulations by suing farmers and cities. The brief urges the Supreme Court to reverse the judgment of the 9th Circuit Court.

“The states are calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case and restore regulatory power to the (s)tates so that farmers and cities are not forced to choose between woke, costly mandates or defending from aggressive lawsuits,” the press release said.

(Radio Iowa) – River and stream flows have dropped as the wet spring turned to a dry fall, which raises some concerns for fish. D-N-R fisheries biologist Scott Grummer works in north-central Iowa. “We’re starting to get a few calls from citizen reports of some fish getting stranded in isolated pools, especially at the you know, the upper, upper reaches, or headwaters of some of our rivers,” he says. Grummer says the wet spring had rivers full, but it never fully replenished groundwater.

“Even with the flooding, you know, the sub soil moisture wasn’t fully replenished, and once we got those spring rains through, you know, we slid right back into dry events where we seen very little rainfall really since July on, especially parts of Iowa, and kind of slid us right back to where we were a year ago, at this time in drought,” Grummer says. Rivers with less water depth could freeze over. “The thing that keeps river water from from freezing solid is obviously the current, or flow velocity,” Grummer says. “And when we’re in these dry periods, like we are now, you know, the current is is minimal, and that makes it you know, where a harsh, cold winter could have some some dramatic effects on fish.”

Public Health Watch photo

He says the natural instincts of fish kick in. “Fish will move to the deepest water they can find to winter. They can sense winter coming. But when we’re in this, this type of drought and flow conditions, there’s not a lot of deep water for them to find,” he says. Grummer says there could be some fish kills. “On the positive side, you know, obviously, fish have dealt with droughts through history, and they are very resilient. And typically, it’s not like a complete destruction of the fishery, but it could cause some, some minor setbacks in in some areas, if, if we get a harsh winter, and especially in these northern Iowa rivers,” Grummer says.

Grummer says precipitation generally drops in the winter, so there’s not a lot of chance for the waterways to get replenished.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa’s furbearer season opens Saturday and according to the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the outlook for trappers is positive – most species populations are steady, and there are some early indications wild fur pelt prices could be trending up this winter. The challenge, however, could be that fewer marshes and streams have good water levels. Vince Evelsizer, state furbearer and wetland biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says “Our water levels are similar to last year in some regions, even with a wet spring. These wet/dry-dry/wet swings within a year can have an impact on aquatic furbearers – otters, mink, beavers and muskrats. But the upland species – bobcats, red fox, coyotes – are much less impacted.”

Evelsizer encouraged trappers to do some preseason scouting as marsh water levels vary by location with many either dry or drying by the day. The furbearer season is Nov. 2 to Feb. 28, 2025. Beaver trapping closes on April 15, 2025.

Mentoring young trappers

A regulation change allows youth age 15 and younger to go trapping with a licensed adult trapper without purchasing a license. This change brings trapping in line with hunting. “This allows the youth to experience trapping to see if it is something they would enjoy without having to purchase a license,” Evelsizer said. Each youth must be accompanied by a licensed adult.

Gray fox study

The Iowa DNR will again be looking for live caught gray foxes as part of a pilot population study to learn more about this small, secretive woodland furbearer. “We’re asking for the public and our trappers to contact us if they’ve recently seen a gray fox or catch a gray fox. Better yet, contact us in advance if you’re trying to catch a gray fox in your area. Private trappers are a valuable partner for this pilot project. We have one fox collared so far, and hope to add to that this year,” Evelsizer said. The collar provides researchers with data on the fox’s movement, habitat preference and survivorship. There is a $400 reward, provided by the Iowa Wildlife Federation, for anyone who catches a gray fox that can be used for this study. He said the fox will be released on the site where it was caught.

The DNR is also working with Iowa State University on a pilot project this winter in northeast Iowa, using cameras to track fishers and gray foxes to determine what areas these species occupy and what areas they don’t occupy in this region. “Other regions may be surveyed in the future, depending on how this study goes,” Evelsizer said.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa snowmobilers are no longer required to purchase and display an annual trail user permit, according to a new law that went into effect July 1, 2024. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (SNR) says the law folded the trail user permit into the annual snowmobile registration fee, which will now be $30 plus administration fees. The previous price for each type was $15.

Registration and permit fees for snowmobiles are placed in a dedicated account for snowmobile programs in Iowa, including the Iowa Snowmobile Trail Grant Program, which is administered through the Iowa State Snowmobile Association. The grant program supports snowmobile trail development and grooming; equipment purchases and maintenance; and trail signage in cooperation with snowmobile clubs all across Iowa.

Iowa Snowmobile Association photo

Snowmobilers who own a new machine or have not yet entered the snowmobile into the state registration system need to go to the County Recorder’s office in their county of residence to start the registration process. To renew an existing registration, visit the County Recorder or go online to www.gooutdoorsiowa.com

Nonresident snowmobilers will still need to purchase and display the trail user permit, which are available at any County Recorder’s Office, through retailers that sell hunting and fishing licenses, or online at www.gooutdoorsiowa.com .

Learn more about Iowa’s snowmobile programs at: https://www.iowadnr.gov/things-to-do/snowmobiles

(Johnston, Iowa) – USDA Deputy Secretary Torres Small announced Tuesday, that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding $39 million of Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) grants across 18 states to help retailers upgrade infrastructure such as storage tanks, dispensers and fuel pumps. This will allow 9 Iowa fueling locations, who received nearly $3 million, the ability to offer consumers higher blends of biofuels like E15 and B20 across the state.

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw says “Consumers in Iowa come out winning when Iowa retailers choose to provide a homegrown, cleaner fuel option that leaves extra dollars in their pockets. With Iowa’s cutting edge E15 Access Standard taking effect on January 1, 2026, there is plenty of time and resources to help Iowa retailers meet the deadline. The momentum for the USDA grants is rolling and USDA should not hit the brakes now. As congressional funding for HBIIP has run out, IRFA encourages the USDA to use discretionary funds to keep the grant awards going until Congress can refund HBIIP in the next Farm Bill.”

HBIIP provides cost-share grants to retailers who are working to expand access to biofuel blends, aiming to significantly increase the sales and use of ethanol and biodiesel. On average each grant dollar has leveraged four dollars in private investment. Iowa retailers can also apply to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program for cost-share grants to offer higher ethanol and biodiesel blends.

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The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4.7 billion gallons annually – including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity – and 10 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 416 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org.

(DES MOINES, Iowa) – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield, Tuesday, announced that USDA is awarding $3,143,693 in grant funding for six projects in Iowa to increase the availability of domestic biofuels that will give Iowans cleaner, more affordable fuel options.

The Department will also make $200 million available through the new Biobased Market Access and Development Grants made possible by Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds. USDA will use previously transferred CCC funds to create the Biobased Product Market Development and Access Grant program to support innovative biobased technologies and bridge the gap between pilot-scale demonstrations and commercial viability. The funding will be available to applicants who have been accepted into the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program (Section 9003), which is administered by Rural Development. The $200 million program is being funded through the reallocation of unobligated CCC funds from 2020.

All six Iowa projects are funded through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentives Program (HBIIP) and are part of a larger nationwide announcement. Recipients are:

–Kardes Inc. received a $930,000 grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. Kardes Inc. is the owner of 10 or fewer fueling stations. This project will install eight E15 dispensers, eight E85 dispensers, eight B20 dispensers, two ethanol storage tanks, and two biodiesel storage tanks at two fueling stations, located in Iowa. Two stations in Monticello in Jones County are impacted by this funding. This project is expected to increase the amount of biofuel sold by 1,710,115 gallons per year. The purpose of this funding program is to assist owners of transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities in activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol and biodiesel.

–SNK Gas & Food LLC received a $624,750 grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. SNK Gas & Food LLC is the owner of 10 or fewer fueling stations. This project will install three E15 dispensers, five B20 dispensers, one ethanol storage tank, and one biodiesel storage tank at one fueling station in Zwingle in Jackson County. This project is expected to increase the amount of biofuel sold by 410,732 gallons per year. The purpose of this funding program is to assist owners of transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities in activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol and biodiesel.

–H&A Mini Mart Corp. received a $1,009,943 grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. H&A Mini Mart Corp. is the owner of 10 or fewer fueling stations. This project will install eleven E15 dispensers, three B20 dispensers, three ethanol storage tanks, and one biodiesel storage tank at three fueling stations—two in Des Moines in Polk County, and one in Ames in Story County. This project is expected to increase the amount of biofuel sold by 404,554 gallons per year. The purpose of this funding program is to assist owners of transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities in activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol and biodiesel.

–Stratford Country Store LLC received a $229,500 grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. Stratford Country Store LLC is the owner of 10 or fewer fueling stations. This project will install two E15 dispensers, one B20 dispenser, one ethanol storage tank, and one biodiesel storage tank at one fueling station in Stratford in Hamilton County. This project is expected to increase the amount of biofuel sold by 204,659 gallons per year. The purpose of this funding program is to assist owners of transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities in activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol and biodiesel.

–Libertyville Gas & Goodies received $248,250 to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. Libertyville Gas & Goodies is the owner of 10 or fewer fueling stations. This project will install two E15 dispensers, one B20 dispenser, and one ethanol storage tank at one fueling station in Libertyville in Jefferson County. This project is expected to increase the amount of biofuel sold by 136,002 gallons per year. The purpose of this funding program is to assist owners of transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities in activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol and biodiesel.

–GA Combine LLC received a $101,250 grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. GA Combine LLC is the owner of 10 or fewer fueling stations. This project will install three E15 dispensers and two E85 dispensers at two fueling stations in Fort Dodge in Webster County. This project is expected to increase the amount of ethanol sold by 165,637 gallons per year. The purpose of this funding program is to assist owners of transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities in activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol and biodiesel.

(Radio Iowa) – Researchers, business executives and government officials from around the globe are in Iowa this week for the World Food Prize symposium. It’s an annual gathering to discuss food security and innovation. Geoffrey Hawtin and Cary Fowler are this year’s World Food Prize laureates. They were instrumental in establishing the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway two decades ago. Fowler says it’s a backup for seedbanks that could be hit by natural disasters, wars or a loss of funding.  “In a world of changes, we are all in this together,” Fowler said, “and a loss in any seed bank around the world is a loss for all of us.” Fowler is the current U-S Special Envoy for Global Food Security.

Hawtin, the other World Food Prize laureate for 2024, says the preservation of seeds is crucial to protect the diversity and resilience of crops. “We think of genebank as being a safe haven, but it’s only a safe haven as long as you can continue to pay for the electricity. If you can’t afford to pay for the electricity, and you have to switch it off, you risk losing your entire of collection,” he says. “That could be decades of work and thousands of samples.”

Hawtin and Fowler spoke last (Monday) night at Iowa State University. The Des Moines-based World Food Prize is hosting three days of events, culminating with a banquet and closing ceremony in the Iowa Capitol.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s two U-S senators are questioning why Pure Prairie Poultry, which recently declared bankruptcy, was given tens of millions of federal dollars. Senator Chuck Grassley says two years ago, the U-S-D-A handed the Minnesota-based company a near-seven-million dollar grant along with guaranteed loans of almost 39-million.  “We all know it’s very important for the USDA to support the farm economy, especially in today’s tough market,” Grassley says, “but companies don’t just fail out of the blue.” When the company’s plant in Charles City closed this month, it left around 50 farmers in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota without processing capacity or feed for more than two-million chickens. Plus, another 100 Iowans lost their jobs.

Grassley questions when it became apparent the company was going to fail. “This proposition raises questions about how well the Department of Agriculture is overseeing the federal funding it administers,” Grassley says. “For example, does the USDA have a process for vetting companies before it gives away taxpayer dollars? More importantly, are there other companies in a similar financial situation right now?” Senator Joni Ernst says “Pure Prairie Poultry’s abrupt closure shows the importance of proper vetting and oversight at USDA,” and says those funds need to help producers, “rather than being flushed down the drain and harming entire rural communities.” Grassley agrees.

Senator Grassley (file)

“Taxpayers have a right to know how the government is spending their money,” Grassley says. “We need to assist the workers and the farmers, and I’ll keep pushing for full enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act to create a better environment for small processors.” Grassley was asked if he thinks the owners or managers of Pure Prairie Poultry did something wrong, or whether they should pay the U-S-D-A back. “I don’t have any evidence they did anything illegally, but obviously bad management, I think without a doubt, you can say that,” Grassley says. “In the situation they’re in, they have no ability to pay the money back. If they did, I would expect them to, if there’s $1 left over, that ought to be paid back.”

Grassley says it’s the U-S-D-A that’s “responsible for keeping tabs on the taxpayer-funded grants it administers, but it clearly dropped the ball with Pure Prairie.” He’s asking the agency to explain to Congress and the public “what went wrong to help prevent a repeat scenario.”

(Radio Iowa) – The number of active burn bans in Iowa has dropped down to 57 counties (as of 5:30-p.m. Monday). State Fire Marshal Dan Wood says five counties ended their bans thanks to recent storms. “We’ve experienced a little bit of rain, but, you know, we’ve got a lot, lot of rain to go to catch up, to get everything, you know, sufficiently moist, where it’s not going to catch on fire as easy.” he says. Bremer County reported a grass fire along Highway 218 near Janesville Monday morning that was believed to be caused by a discarded cigarette. Wood says the dry conditions make a fire possible almost anywhere in counties with bans. A grass fire was also reported Monday afternoon near mile marker 51 off westbound I-80 in Cass County. Marne and Atlantic Fire responded and quickly had the flames extinguished.

Counties w/an active burn ban are shown with a flame. Recently rescinded burn bans are shown in blue.

“With this being a rural state, and you know, our crops dry out at this time of year, every year, so that doesn’t help any either. And getting those out gives a lot of relief, but we still got to be mindful of there’s a lot of dry grass, a lot of dry crops and stubble out there. So everybody needs to be careful,” Wood says. He thinks most people have been avoiding open burning in the counties under a ban. “I think so. Haven’t heard too much of people, you know, going against the bans, a few here and there, but not much. I think people are pretty mindful once they get put on,” Wood says.

Johnson, Linn, Iowa, Hancock and Cass County recently lifted their burn bans after some rain.