Home News Thursday Afternoon News, March 11th

Thursday Afternoon News, March 11th

March 15th Is The Deadline For Farmers To Enroll In Farm Programs

(Le Mars) — Monday, March 15th serves as an important date for farmers.
That date is the deadline for farmers to sign-up for crop insurance coverage, as well as to decide which coverage program they wish to enroll through the 2018 Farm Bill. Jeff Davis serves as the Director for both Plymouth and Sioux County Farm Services Agency as part of the U-S Department of
Agriculture. He says farmers need to contact his office to inform officials if they want to participate in the Price Loss Coverage program or P-L-C, or if they intend to enroll with the Agricultural Risk Coverage plan, or A-R-C.

Davis explains the Agricultural Risk Coverage protects farmers with any anticipated yield loss with their crops, while the Price Loss Coverage protects against any possible price reduction.

The F-S-A director says if a crop loss does occur, the payment won’t be calculated until long after harvest is completed. He says officials will look at the average yield for the county, as opposed to the individual farm.

Davis says farmers need to report to their county U-S-D-A office by Monday, only if they intend on making any changes to their farm bill program coverage.

Davis estimates that nearly 80 percent of the area’s farmers have already signed up, leaving the remaining 20 percent that needs to act before Monday afternoon deadline.

 

 

 

Iowa Senate Committee Votes to Phase Out State Inheritance Tax

(Des Moines, IA) — A bill passed by Republicans on an Iowa Senate committee would phase out the state inheritance tax. It would also accelerate the plan to phase in state income tax cuts. Democrats oppose the moves, warning the state’s budget could take a billion-dollar hit in a couple of years. Senator Pam Jochum from Dubuque said the original plan in 2018 put “guard rails” in place, so income tax cuts were only triggered if total state
tax revenue rose to certain level. G-O-P Senator Dan Dawson of Council Buffs said for Iowa to be more competitive, the tax burden must be lowered. Under current Iowa law, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren pay no income tax on inherited property. Brothers, sisters and in-laws pay between
five and ten percent while uncles, aunts and cousins could pay up to 15 percent.

 

 

 

Iowa Board of Regents Lifts International Travel Ban

(Urbandale, IA) — The Iowa Board of Regents is ending the ban on university-sponsored international travel. Regents president Michael Richards said he’s lifting the ban immediately as conditions related to COVID-19 continue to improve. He says each state university president will be allowed to make decisions regarding travel. The State of Emergency for Regents Universities issued last March remains in effect.

 

 

 

14-Year-Old Girl in Ames Leads Police on Chase in Stolen Vehicle

(Ames, IA) — A 14-year-old girl is accused of leading police in Story and Hamilton counties on a chase in a stolen vehicle. Iowa State University police say an officer tried to pull over the stolen car Tuesday in Ames but the driver refused to stop. The suspect vehicle attempted to elude officers on gravel roads before turning onto Interstate 35. Authorities eventually made a traffic stop in rural Hamilton County. The 14-year-old driver was
taken into custody for eluding. Four juvenile passengers were in the car.

 

 

 

Ankeny Police ID Victim of Suspicious Death

(Ankeny, IA) — Police in Ankeny are still investigating a suspicious death in a mobile home park. Officers say 45-year-old Antoine Davis was found inside a home Tuesday afternoon. Authorities were originally called to a stabbing, but his cause of death hasn’t been released. The Ankeny P-D said it appears to be an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public.
No information has been released about a possible suspect.