Iowa environmental group seeks to limit farm runoff
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An environmental group is hoping to pressure lawmakers into considering legislation that would limit runoff of fertilizer from farm fields by setting state standards. Environment Iowa rallied at the Capitol last week to deliver a petition with 5,000 signatures to state Sen. Dick Dearden, a Des Moines Democrat who chairs the Senate Natural Resources Committee. The group says city water treatment plants can’t keep up with the record levels of nitrate flowing into rivers from farm fields.
Farm groups oppose standards or strict enforcement, saying managing runoff on each farm is different. The state recently rolled out a new nutrient management policy supported by state agriculture and natural resources officials and Gov. Terry Branstad that relies on voluntary farmer compliance.
Environmental groups say that approach won’t work.
Officials identify man found dead in Iowa farm pond
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified a man found dead in an apparent drowning on private property northwest of Waterloo.
The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office said the man was 53-year-old Wilson Edward Bolden Jr., of Waterloo. An autopsy was scheduled for Sunday at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny.
The sheriff’s office said Bolden was found Friday morning in a Black Hawk County farm pond after a 911 call was placed to report a possible drowning.
Northern Indiana county OKs hog farm near youth camp
MONTICELLO, Ind. (AP) — A northern Indiana county has approved plans for a 9,200-hog farm near a youth camp whose leaders worry the farm’s odors will impact life at the popular camp.
The White County Commissioners approved a zoning petition July 1 allowing for construction of two large hog barns near Camp Tecumseh. The Journal & Courier reported the vote followed two hours of testimony for and against local farmer John Erickson’s planned hog farm about a half-mile from the camp that’s about 20 miles north of Lafayette
Camp Tecumseh CEO Scott Brosman told commissioners he’s convinced the farm would cause water contamination or odors to waft over the 600-acre camp, impacting its outdoor activities. The YMCA-operated camp’s activities include camps for children with asthma, kidney troubles or who have suffered burns.
Tennessee veterinarian revises wild hog transport order
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) announced a revised Order by the State Veterinarian specifying conditions under which wild-appearing hogs are to be transported in the state.
The revised order, which went into effect June 10, is in support of legislation passed last year making it illegal to transport and release wild-appearing hogs without documentation from the TDA. “Wild hogs have the propensity to reproduce in great numbers, carry diseases, destroy crops and cause serious ecological damage,” State Veterinarian Charles Hatcher, DVM, said. “The new order strengthens efforts to prevent the illegal transportation and releasing of wild hogs by requiring individual animal identification and documentation for all wild-appearing hogs being moved.” The previous order exempted individual animal identification in specific cases. The revised order requires all wild-appearing swine being moved within Tennessee to have state or federally approved individual animal identification and meet other requirements. Authorization numbers for wild-appearing hogs intended for slaughter can be obtained by phone Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CST by calling 615-837-5120. Producers will be required to provide information including the number of swine and the place of origin and destination.
For more information, visit www.tn.gov/agriculture and click on the “Animal Health Information” link. |
