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Iowa statewide news and notes Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Gov. Culver seeks disaster aid for farmers
DES MOINES -- Gov. Chet Culver is seeking federal disaster aid for farmers in eight more Iowa counties affected by severe weather.
Culver sent a letter asking for assistance last week to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
The counties included in the request are Calhoun, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Ida, Sac, Webster and Woodbury.
Culver says farmers in those areas suffered significant crop damage and losses because of storms between Aug. 1 and Aug. 9. Earlier this month, Culver sent Vilsack a letter requesting assistance for 23 counties.
If granted, the declaration will expand eligibility for USDA assistance.
Study to look at wind power transmission needs
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Several Midwest utilities, including Sioux Falls-based NorthWestern Energy, are studying the economics of building high-voltage transmission lines to carry wind energy to eastern markets.
Pewaukee, Wis.-based American Transmission Co. joined with utilities in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota on a study that will address the need for new transmission lines to carry electricity from renewable power sources.
ATC chose Quanta Technology of Raleigh, N.C., to come up with recommendations for transmission development in the Dakotas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan's upper peninsula.
Some of the same utilities backing the Strategic Midwest Area Renewable Transmission Study also have endorsed a plan by Novi, Mich.-based ITC Holdings Corp. to develop a high-voltage power line to move wind energy from the Midwest to homes in Chicago and other cities.
Huge dairy manure spill near Lester
LESTER, Iowa -- State environmental officials are investigating a huge manure spill at a dairy confinement near Lester in northwest Iowa.
Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say 100,000 gallons of manure spilled as it was being pumped to a manure storage pit. Officials say the spill happened late Aug. 17 when a clamp came off a temporary pipe at the Rock Bottom Dairy.
Officials say manure flowed into a road ditch and eventually into a creek that empties into the Rock River.
The confinement's owner, Bernie Bakker, hired an excavator to pump and recover as much manure as possible from the creek.
Aronia growers workshop near Lewis on Aug. 29
LEWIS, Iowa -- The Rural Development Resource Center is offering a workshop to assist anyone considering getting into the aronia berry industry.
The workshop will be offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Armstrong Research Farm near Lewis.
Topics to be covered include possible funding for value-added agriculture businesses and legal structures for value-added agriculture businesses.
Aronia berries, also known as chokeberries, have been used in Europe for years, and now some Iowa farmers have taken an interest in growing the berries.
Pre-registration is required. Contact the RDRC at (712) 623-5521.
CEEE to host workshop on agricultural practices
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- A workshop on food safety and agricultural practices for local food producers will be held at the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy and Environmental Education from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 27 in the CEEE Auditorium.
Sam Beattie, ISU assistant professor of food science and human nutrition and extension food safety specialist, will discuss on-farm food safety. Lester Wilson, ISU professor of food technology, will explain how to develop a plan for Good Agricultural Practices for farms.
For more information or to register for the event, contact Geary at (319) 273-7883.
Farmers Union's annual meeting is Aug. 28-29
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa -- The Iowa Farmers Union Convention will be Aug. 28-29 at the Marshalltown Community College. Speakers include Jim Braun, co-coordinator of the Illinois Local Organic Food & Farm Task Force, National Farmers Union president Roger Johnson and Iowa Farm Service Agency director John Whitaker.
Workshops will include "Taking the next step toward sustainability on farm,'' and "Wind energy, from start to finish.''
In addition to the development of 2009 to 2010 state policy, there will be a discussion of health care, seed industry concentration and displays from Iowa sustainable agriculture groups.
For more information, call the IFU office at 1-(800) 775-5227.
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