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Groups petition for clean air enforcement for livestock confinements
More than 20 environmental and animal-welfare groups in several states petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday to end a 16-year-old moratorium on its enforcement of federal air pollution laws for livestock confinements. At issue is a 2005 agreement between the agency and thousands of confinement owners and operators in 42 states that temporarily […]
New study finds ‘forever chemicals’ in streams across Iowa
A first-of-its-kind study of rural Iowa creeks and rivers found traces of synthetic chemicals that are toxic and persist in the environment indefinitely at sites across the state. “They’re all over the place,” said Dana Kolpin, a research hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey who led the study, the results of which published this month. […]
The effects of the Deere strike? Dealers are mum
The ongoing strike of more than 10,000 Deere & Co. workers was expected to slow the flow of replacement parts to farmers who are busy harvesting their fields, but the true effects so far are unclear. “We are not to be talking to reporters about it,” said a woman who answered the telephone at a […]
Drinking water for 59+ cities to be tested for ‘forever chemicals’
The state’s drinking water tests for toxic, human-made chemicals that persist indefinitely in the environment began this week and will include at least 59 cities in Iowa, according to a list of test sites obtained by Iowa Capital Dispatch. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources seeks to identify the pervasiveness of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances […]
Public discussion of Polk’s $65 million water and land referendum is Wednesday
A Wednesday afternoon town-hall-style meeting hosted by a government spending watchdog group will focus on Polk County’s upcoming $65 million bond referendum to fund water, parks and trails projects. The Polk County Water & Land Legacy Bond needs support from at least 60% of voters in the Nov. 2 referendum to pass. A similar measure […]
Farm co-op fined $6,000 for ammonia discharge
A farmers’ cooperative in northeast Iowa has agreed to pay a fine of $6,000 for an illegal discharge of ammonia last year into a drainage ditch that flows into a creek that feeds the Turkey River. A fisherman noticed dead fish where the creek meets the river near Elkader on July 18, 2020, and a […]
Tests for ‘forever chemicals’ in Iowa drinking water to start soon
State officials are poised to begin limited testing of municipal drinking water sources for a group of toxic chemicals that can accumulate in residents’ bodies and cause cancers and other health problems. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances — more commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals” — are used in a variety of products for their […]
Timely rains salvaged Iowa crop yields
Corn and soybean yields in drought-stricken parts of northern Iowa were saved this year by sporadic rainfall that fortuitously arrived each time crops were in desperate need. “The corn in June, you thought some of it was going to die,” said Darrell Henkenius, the chief executive of Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company in Arcadia. “We had […]
Economist: John Deere workers likely to prevail with strike
The 10,000 Deere & Co. workers who went on strike Thursday have a strong negotiating position and are likely to succeed in getting more pay and better retirement benefits in their next contract, predicted Dave Swenson, an economist at Iowa State University. “They’re not striking from a position of weakness,” Swenson said. “From what I […]
Climate group urges beefier electric grid
Iowa should prioritize updates to its electrical power grid in the coming years to protect residents from outages caused by devastating storms and to meet increased demands that will follow the rise of electric vehicles. That is the latest recommendation from a group of more than 200 university and college professors and researchers who released […]
COVID-19 infection rates dip statewide, soar in smaller counties
The statewide COVID-19 infection rate continues to decline since its recent peak in mid-September, but certain counties in rural Iowa — where vaccination rates lag behind the state average — have new daily cases comparable to their pandemic peak last year. Adams County has the largest number of infections per capita in the state, even […]