One hurt in blast at Clinton ADM plant
CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — One person has been injured in an explosion at the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) corn processing plant in Clinton.

The Clinton Herald is reporting the explosion occurred just after 9 p.m. Thursday in an area where welders had been working on duct work that was the exhaust system for corn dryers earlier in the day. Fire officials said the welders left about a half-hour before the explosion occurred and heavy damage was reported to the dryer.

A worker in the area at the time was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A company spokesman released a statement saying he didn’t have details of the employee’s condition.

The company is continuing to investigate the cause of the explosion.

Kentucky man dies after fall into machinery
CADIZ, Ky. (AP) — A 19-year-old western Kentucky man operating a piece of farm machinery has died after falling into the equipment.

Kentucky State Police said Benuel Stoltzfus of the Linton area of Cadiz died just after 9 a.m. Aug. 16. Stoltzfus was using a chipper to make silage when he lost his balance and fell onto the conveyer belt and into the machine, police said.

The accident happened in a field near Stoltzfus’ home, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

64 animals removed from house, barn
HOWELL, Mich. (AP) — Livestock and pets ranging from guinea pigs to a goat have been removed from an unsanitary house and barn in Livingston County, officials said.

County Animal Control workers helped by the Humane Society of the United States removed 64 animals Friday from the property about 45 miles northwest of Detroit, after neighbors complained. The animals were taken to temporary shelters and examined by veterinarians, WXYZ-TV reported Saturday.
The barn where some of the animals were kept was described as dark and dilapidated. Some of the horse stalls were filled with feces. Inside the house, cats were held in small rooms that contained high levels of ammonia vapors from urine.

“While this individual may have started out with good intentions, it seems that these animals are not receiving the socialization and veterinary care they need,” Jill Fritz, the Humane Society’s state director, told the television station.

It was not immediately clear whether the property owner faced any criminal charges.

Iowa commission member faces complaint
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A statewide activists group is asking a member of the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission to resign or sell his stake in a livestock confinement construction company.

The Des Moines Register is reporting Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement filed the complaint against Brent Rastetter Aug. 16, saying he should resign from the commission or sell his share of Alden-based Quality Ag. The group claims Rastetter benefits from actions taken by the commission to reduce regulations and that his serving on the commission is a conflict of interest.
Rastetter was appointed to the commission by Gov. Terry Branstad. Rastetter could not be reached for comment. Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht said the governor supports Rastetter and believes he can impartially serve on the commission.

DNR rejects permit for Iowa hog facility
GREENFIELD, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has denied a request to build a 5,000-head hog confinement in Adair County in western Iowa.

In a letter dated Friday to a consultant working with the operator of the proposed facility, the DNR said an evaluation of the proposal indicated it failed to meet the requirements necessary for approval. The Adair County Board of Supervisors recommended the DNR deny the construction permit because of problems with the application and community opposition.

The operator, Twin Lakes Environmental Services LLC, a manure management company based in Rockwell City, has 14 days to appeal the decision. Mike Sexton, a consultant with Twin Lakes, said the company is reviewing its options to determine its next step. He declined to identify for whom his company is working.

Indiana acres reallocated for the endangered
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Julia A. Wickard, state executive director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Indiana, announced the USDA has approved the reallocation of 6,000 acres to Indiana through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiative entitled State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE).
SAFE acres are devoted to four project areas for the purpose of benefiting specific threatened and endangered species in Indiana. SAFE practices target the habitat rehabilitation for the Northern Bobwhite Quail, Henslow’s Sparrow, Sedge Wren/Grasshopper Sparrow and Indiana Bat.

SAFE is a continuous CRP practice that provides the flexibility to meet specific needs of high value wildlife species in participating states. “Producers within a SAFE area can submit offers to voluntarily enroll acres in CRP contracts for 10 to 15 years. In exchange, producers receive annual CRP rental payments, incentives and cost-share assistance to establish habitat-enhancing natural covers on eligible land,” explained Wickard.

This additional 6,000 acres brings Indiana’s allocation to 19,100. Enrollment in SAFE is limited to 850,000 acres throughout the nation.
“Each of the four priority areas have state acreage enrollment limits,” said Wickard. “Consequently, offers will be accepted by FSA until the acreage allocation is reached. I encourage producers to contact their local office for availability.”