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Iowa statewide news and notes Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Farmland Leasing meeting in Spencer July 24
SPENCER, Iowa -- A Farmland Leasing Meeting will be held July 24 in the 4-H Auditorium on the Clay County fairgrounds in Spencer.
Iowa State University Extension farm management specialist Ron Hook will present current leasing information, including the latest land value survey and cash rent survey.
"We will be examining the cost of crop production and the importance of maintaining soil fertility,'' Hook said.
Registration costs $20 and the "Farmland Leasing -- 2008'' publication is included in the cost. For more information, call (712) 262-2264.
Backers drop plans for Wesley ethanol plant
WESLEY, Iowa -- Backers of a planned ethanol plant in northern Iowa have dropped the project after failing to raise enough money.
They decided to cancel their plans for the plant in Wesley after investors failed to commit in the face of increased grain prices and lower profits.
Brad Davis of Gold-Eagle Cooperative and CORN LP in Goldfield says planning for the plant began two years ago. It would have produced 100 million gallons of ethanol a year and created 45 jobs. Davis' company partnered on the project with North Central Cooperative of Clarion.
Wesley is about 40 miles west of Mason City.
Jewish group drops Agriprocessors boycott
POSTVILLE, Iowa -- An organization of American Orthodox Jews has dropped its call for a boycott of Agriprocessors Inc. meat products.
On May 23, Uri L'Tzedek called for the boycott of any businesses that sold the company's meat. Agriprocessors is the nation's largest kosher meatpacking plant and is located in Postville in northeast Iowa.
The plant was raided last month and nearly 400 workers were detained by immigration agents. Allegations arose of unsafe conditions and low-paid workers who were abused by supervisors.
Uri L'Tzedek said in a statement issued last week that Agriprocessors' hiring of former federal prosecutor James Martin as chief compliance officer shows the company intends to take "significant steps" toward fixing its issues.
E85 pumps are on the increase in Iowa
JOHNSTON, Iowa -- More E85 stations are in operation as Iowans are driving more flexible-fuel vehicles.
A new E85 pump was recently installed in Forest City, which marks the 85th alternative pump in the state.
"Iowa Corn has been promoting ethanol for 30 years, starting with the first E85 pumps in the early 1990s,'' said Shannon Textor, market director for Iowa Corn. "With rising regular fuel prices you may have noticed a considerable price advantage to filling up with E85 made right here in Iowa.''
Textor said E85 is better for the economy, the environment and reduces the nation's dependence on foreign oil.
Man faces neglect charges after pigs die
DES MOINES -- A northwest Iowa man accused of letting about 350 pigs starve and freeze to death has made an initial appearance in court.
Todd Steenhoven, of George, is charged with one count each of livestock neglect and failure to dispose of the carcasses. If convicted, the Lyon County attorney's office says he faces up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine on each of the charges.
Authorities say Steenhoven was arrested in May after the pigs' owner found the carcasses in a building that Steenhoven rented south of Edna. Sheriff's officials say Steenhoven had been hired to care for the pigs.
The county attorney's office expects Steenhoven's arraignment to be scheduled for sometime before the end of July.
Harkin pushes $3 million for Des Moines levees
DES MOINES -- Sen. Tom Harkin says he has secured $3 million dollars for levee work in the Des Moines area.
The Iowa Democrat says the funds will help rebuild levees that protect downtown Des Moines and neighborhoods on the city's north side. That includes the Birdland area which flooded last month when a levee on the Des Moines River failed.
The funds are included in the 2009 Energy and Water Appropriations subcommittee bill.
Replacing the levees will cost at estimated $12 million, with a share coming from the city and the federal government through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Iowa had 2,225 dairy herds during June
DES MOINES -- The Iowa State Dairy Association says the state contained 2,225 dairy herds in June. The number includes one dairy sheep farm and 193 dairy goat operations.
Clayton and Dubuque counties have the most herds in the state with each at 229. Twelve counties don't have any dairies.
The association reports that the state has 216,000 dairy cows, up 5,000 from a year ago. Total milk production remains the same as a year ago at 361 million pounds. |
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