Western Iowa Disaster Declaration
Governor Kim Reynolds says President Donald Trump has approved a Presidential Disaster Declaration Request for four Western Iowa Counties that sustained significant damage to public infrastructure and private property from severe weather that occurred March 19th.
This declaration activates the Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program for Woodbury, Monona, Crawford, and Harrison Counties.
The Public Assistance program provides funds that can be used for the restoration of damaged utilities, debris removal, and other emergency protective measures. Those include, but are not limited to, sheltering, essential needs, and movement of emergency supplies.
Ernst Pushes for a New 185th Air Guard Runway
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst has once again brought up the ongoing delay of funding for a new runway for Sioux City’s 185th Air National Guard Refueling Wing.
During a Senate Committee on Armed Services Hearing, Senator Ernst asked for a commitment from the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, General David Allvin, to upgrade the runway used by the 185th so they may use the new style refuelers that will replace the KC-135’s currently in use.
Ernst, who served in the Iowa National Guard, pointed out the critical role the unit plays in defending the homeland and the importance of the unit to Iowa and the Siouxland area.
She also reminded the committee that the airfield is named after Colonel Bud Day, a Sioux City Native and fighter pilot who was awarded the Medal of Honor and Air force Red Cross for his service in Vietnam where he survived a P-O-W Camp.
Click it
The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is partnering with law enforcement across Iowa to support the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Click It. Don’t Risk It. high-visibility enforcement effort. The national seat belt campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, is underway now through June 1st.
In 2024, 44% of traffic fatalities in Iowa were unbuckled; that translates to 108 lost lives. In a GTSB survey of over 1,450 Iowans, 88% reported always buckling up in the front seat. Only 67% always buckle in the back seat.
GTSB works with city, county, state, and local organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce death and injury on Iowa roads using federally funded grants.
ISU Extension survey shows cropland rental rates fell 2.9% this year
Iowa State University Extension’s annual survey shows the first statewide decline in cash rental rates for farmland since 2019. Rental rates went up nine percent in 2023 and were stable last year. Ann Johanns, a program specialist with I-S-U Extension, says the average drop this year is eight dollars per acre.
The survey does not seek information about cash rental rates for individual farms. Farm operators, landowners, realtors and professional farm managers are asked instead about cash rental rates for cropland in their counties. Cash rental rates for corn and soybean fields dropped in 68 out of Iowa’s 99 counties.
The biggest decrease was in south central Iowa, where rental rates for cropland fell nearly seven percent. The statewide average rental price per acre for rented farm ground was 271 dollars this year. Landowners rent nearly six out of every 10 acres of cropland in Iowa.
In District 1, where Plymouth and Woodbury Counties are located, cash rental rates fell from 304 dollars per acre to 288 dollars per acre.
Farm Groups Concerned about “Make America Healthy Again’ Report
A coalition of over 100 ag groups is expressing concern about a soon-to-be-released federal report on how chemicals and other factors may be contributing to rising levels of childhood diseases.
The “Make America Healthy Again” or MAHA (MAH-hah), report will come from the agency lead by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who said Tuesday there’s not a word in the draft he’s seen that should worry the American farmer.
Scott Henry of Nevada, a fourth generation Iowa farmer, suggests that’s hard to believe because Kennedy has compared farmers to terrorists in the past.
Last year as a presidential candidate, Kennedy said toxic chemicals like glyphosate — the main ingredient in Roundup — are contaminating the U-S food supply. Henry says the impact of anti-agricultural activists like Kennedy could be severe if farmers are no longer allowed to use Roundup to control weeds.
Henry says it’s scary that science may not drive future decision making about Roundup, which has been approved for use by the E-P-A for decades. Without Roundup, Henry and other farmers say yields will drop and costs will rise.
Modern Ag Alliance executive director Elizabeth Burns-Thompson says while the report hasn’t been issued yet, the ag community wants to get their concerns about Kennedy on the record now.
Burns-Thompson said. In 2020, Kennedy said the company that makes Roundup is the enemy of every admirable American value. On Tuesday, during a U-S Senate hearing, Kennedy said the Trump Administration will not do anything that would put farmers out of business.
The Make America Healthy Again report is due to be released tomorrow. During an event last week, one of Kennedy’s top advisors said the report won’t forbid the use of farm chemicals, but many of the leading herbicides and pesticides used in the U-S have been phased out or banned in every other country in the world and the report will offer policies to solve the issue of toxins in the environment.
Governor Funds Child Care Assistance
This week, Governor Kim Reynolds launched a new Statewide Solutions Fund. The fund extends the successful Child Care Assistance pilot program that supports child care workers, and introducing a Continuum of Care grant to encourage preschool and child care partnerships to provide a full day of care for 4-year-olds.
To address gaps in full-day care, Iowa HHS is releasing a Request for Proposal for the Early Childhood Continuum of Care grant.
Grants of up to $300,000 over three years will support partnerships between Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program (SWVPP) sites and licensed child care centers to offer seamless, full-day care for 4-year-olds.
Reviving Lake McBride Recreation Area
The University of Iowa is debating whether to renew its lease on the Macbride Nature Recreation Area, which hosts thousands of students each year for wildlife camps, research projects and educational opportunities.
A special university committee estimates it would cost nearly $15 million to make upgrades to cell phone service and repave the roads. Mutel says she thinks the report exaggerated some of the costs. The report was submitted to university president Barbara Wilson, but the University has not said when a decision may be made..
