FALL SOIL MOISTURE
Subsoil miosutre conditions this fall are varied across the northwest corner of Iowa. Extension Agronomist Leah Ten Napel measures subsoil moisture in the fall at 11 locations in her district. Most of the sites showed soil moisture levels higher this fall compared to the fall of 2023. Readings in the northern part of the district were between 6.21 inches of plant available moisture at the Le Mars site, to 8.1 inches at Sanborn. The sites at Lawton and Castana were 3.44 and 4.18 inches. Most of the readings were higher than those of a year ago,
Le Mars’ reading was similar to last fall, when 6.28 inches was recorded. Other readings this fall include 7.82 inches at Ireton, 5.76 near Marcus, No reading was recorded at Akron.
The report from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach says the growing season was marked by extremes of wet and dry conditions. This past spring was the third wettest on record for northwest Iowa, and the summer was the 15th wettest on record. Then the precipitation ended. September and October were the 2nd driest on record. A soil recharge came from rains in late October and early November
By last Thursday, only a smal portion of south central Iowa was drought free. Most of the rest of the state was abnormally dry or in moderate drought. Parts of Sioux, Plymouth, Woodbury and Monona Counties were in severe drought.
GOP GOVERNORS URGE CONGRESS TO ACT NOW ON THE FARM BILL
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and 16 other Republican governors are urging congress to act now on the Farm Bill. The governors are not only calling for congress to reauthorize the Farm Bill this month, but for immediate assistance for farmers who’ve been hit by severe weather that’s destroyed crops and killed livestock. The current Farm Bill expired two years ago, but congress passed an extension in 2023 — but hasn’t yet taken action this year. The 17 governors, in a letter all have signed, say they are concerned for the future of rural America. The governor say if meaningful support is not provided soon, the governors say the well-being of the nation is at risk. The U-S House Ag Committee approved its version of the next Farm Bill last spring. Two weeks ago, the Democrat who’s the chair of the Senate Ag Committee released a Farm Bill proposal. A new Farm Bill is unlikely to emerge by the end of this month, but congress must vote before the end of the year to extend the policies of the 2018 Farm Bill or federal farm payment programs revert to rules established in 1938 and 1949.
IOWA BUSINESS GROUPS SEEK REFORM OF PROCESS FOR SETTING ELECRICITY RATES
Four Iowa business groups are calling on state utility regulators to adopt a series of reforms to address both the cost and the supply of power for consumers. Bob Rafferty represents Iowa Business for Clean Energy, one the groups that participated in a recent study. He says the study has four major recommendations that would allow the state-regulated utilities to make infrastructure improvements, while ensuring rate increases in the electric bills businesses and individuals pay are reasonable. The Iowa Utilities Commission recently issued an order that increased Alliant Energy’s rates for Iowa businesses by 15 percent. Rafferty says that should be a wake up call because Alliant’s Iowa customers now pay electric rates that are higher than the average residential and commercial rates in 37 other states.
LE MARS CHRISTMAS KICKOFF
Christmas in Hometown Le Mars was held Saturday featuring a full day of activities, shopping, and entertainment.
The evening was capped off with a 6 p.m. program that featured a tree lighting, music by the Brown’s and dancers from Central Dance Academy and the Turn Around studios. Cheryl Wells told KLEM that the day involved more than 150 community volunteers, plus a team that helped produce the evening performance.
The nativity featured two live camels. MIke and Cheryl Wells spoke to the large crowd at the Olson Cultural Event Center with a special Christmas message.
Sage Mescher, the daughter of Chad and Jill Mescher of Le Mars, was chosen in a drawing to help light the Christmas tree. It was also announced that the business “Piece of Cake” was the winner of the Chamber holiday window contest.
Cheryl Wells says they already are thinking about next year’s festival.
REMSEN OLDE FASHIONED CHRISTMAS
The community of Remsen celebrates an “Olde Fashioned Christmas” tonight (Monday, December 2.) The evening festivities include the “Blessing of the Season” around the Community Christmas Tree at 6 p.m. and Christmas Carols lead by Father Tim Pick. Santa will arrive following the lighting of the tree. The visitor from the North Pole will then head to the Remsen Heritage Museum. Business will be open this evening with many offering refreshments.
Other festivities for this annual event include the cookie and candy exchange at the VFW building and Kids Korner in the Beer City Party Room.
The Happy Siesta Festival of Trees also takes place today from 4 till 8 p.m. in the Avalon Ballroom where there will be entertainment, a bake sale, silent auction, and an auction of trees.
FLOYD VALLEY HEALTH CARE RONALD McDONALD ROOM
The new maternal health wing now opened at Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars includes help from Ronald McDonald House Charities. Executive Director Christy Batien-Clark says they have been involved at Floyd Valley Healthcare for the past year.
They wanted to provide a place to relax while mom recovers.
The waiting room is a place for dad and the kids to recharge anytime, without having to leave the hospital.
Floyd Valley Healthcare held a ribbon cutting for their new maternal health care facility Thursday.
SOME IOWANS QUESTION PARENTS’ RIGHTS BILL
Some Iowans are still raising questions about Senate file 496, a bill that was passed last year in the state legislature relating to children and students, including establishing a parent’s or guardian’s right to make decisions affecting the parent’s or guardian’s child.
There are several parts to the bill, including prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school and library programs.
Republican House District 2 State Representative Bob Henderson of Sioux City says some people think there’s a provision relating to banning books:
Henderson says there is a specific subsection of the bill that people seem to draw that concern from:
Henderson says if you read the bill and the state code referred to, you will see it is not a book banning bill, but a measure to prevent exposing young people to explicit materials:
Henderson says some of the materials found in some schools were very explicit, and not just the printed text:
The bill also authorizes the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district in certain specified circumstances, and modifies provisions related to student health screenings.
DNR COMPLETES RECYCLING STUDIES
The Iowa D-N-R has released three studies on the environmental and economic impacts of recycling in the state. The D-N-R’s Laurie Rasmus says the studies are part of its Sustainable Materials Management Initiative as they try to create pathway of managing materials that is the most productive way of using material. She says they were able to do some sampling at ten landfills to see what is being dumped. Rasmus says the studies of the waste dumped at the landfills yielded a lot of information on what is thrown away in Iowa. She says food waste is number one, followed by plastic film, textiles and leather goods. The goal is to recycle more and create markets for recycle products.
