CENTURY AND HERITAGE FARMS
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Brent Johnson and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Brian Feldpausch honored 398 Iowa farm families with Century or Heritage Farm designations at the Iowa State Fair Thursday.
Three Plymouth County families received Heritage Awards, recognizing family farms of 150 years. They include John Becker of Le Mars; Keith and Kristin Koerselman of Le Mars; and the Knapp Family Farm of Westfield. Joan Koskovich of Kingsley received a Century Award, as her farm has been in her family for 100 years.
From Cherokee County, Michael and Pamela Dunn of Meriden were recipients of a Heritage Award, for 150 years of continual family ownership.
From Sioux County, Jim Bonnecroy of Orange City, and Colleen White Gries of Ireton received Heritage awards. Century awards were presented to Lloyd and Lorraine Borchers of rural Le Mars;
Sheila Bettendorf of Ireton; The Pete Davelaar Family Farm of Rock Valley; Wayne and Audrey Koenen of Rock Valley; Joseph C. Pohlen of Hospers; Joe and Alissa Richardson of Ireton; and Henry and Elizabeth Wolfswinkel of Rock Valley.
This year, 242 Century Farms and 156 Heritage Farms were recognized. To date, more than 21,000 Century Farms and 1,800 Heritage Farms have been recognized across the state of Iowa. The Century Farm program began in 1976 as part of the Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration. The Heritage Farm program began in 2006.
ORANGE CITY ROUNDABOUT
The first roundabout in Northwest Iowa opens today. The project to construct the roundabout connecting Iowa 10 and Jay Avenue was a collaborative effort between the Iowa Department of Transportation and the city of Orange City. Working together for your safety, the Iowa DOT and the Orange City officials took into consideration the growth in the area that includes proposed commercial and industrial development, a new residential area, and the opening of a new school.
MEXICO CORN BAN
The United States Trade Representative will request a dispute resolution panel to block Mexico’s ban on genetically modified corn.
United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai Thursday announced the United States is formally requesting a dispute panel with the Government of Mexico under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement to address genetically modified corn restrictions by Mexico contrary to its USMCA commitments. Tai cited concerns with Mexico’s February 13, 2023, decree that bans the use of biotech corn in tortillas and other food products.
IOWA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STEADY
The state unemployment rate held steady at two-point-seven percent for the third straight month in July. Iowa Workforce Development spokesperson Jesse Dougherty (Door-uh-tee) says the number of people entering the workforce continues to increase.
He says the workforce participation has steadily worked its way back since the pandemic.
Some economists say they see concern among businesses about ongoing inflation and the state of the national economy. Dougherty says that is an issue in Iowa as well.
The service industries saw some losses in July.
The demand for employees continues to be strong, so when something like the recent closing of a trucking company happens, those 180 workers can often be absorbed into other companies.
Total nonfarm employment has gained 14-thousand-400 jobs since last year. Education and health care gained the bulk of those jobs.
U OF IOWA EXPERT STUDYING MAUI DISASTER RESPONSE
The responses to the fast-moving wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui are being carefully watched by a University of Iowa professor who studies disaster transportation logistics. Ann Campbell, a U-I professor of management sciences, says there are lessons to be learned in every disaster that will help our leaders better plan to handle any future events. It’s a struggle to get resources to the island, plus Campbell says, there was no way to foresee such a disaster striking, so few resources were placed nearby ahead of time. Her specialty is vehicle routing, using mathematical models and high-powered computing to develop quicker, more efficient ways of moving things from one place to another.
BINKLEY FOCUSES ON UNITY
A Texas pastor who’s running for president says it’s time to end the country’s political divide and come up with bipartisan solutions to some the crises America faces. Ryan Binkley says the goal of each major political party in America is to see the other fail. Binkley says as president, he would not villify every Democrat on Friday and then ask them to work with him on Tuesday. Republicans can’t solve the country’s major problems on their own, according to Binkley, who says it will require compromise to balance the federal budget, secure the border and fix the health care system. Binkley has been campaigning at the State Fair and will return to the Iowa campaign trail August 31st.
