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Iowa has the second-highest cancer rates in the U.S., with a sharp rise in breast, prostate, and lung cancer cases, particularly in Northwest Iowa. Concerns about agricultural pollution and the lack of legislative action have prompted local meetings to urge citizens to advocate for clean air and water. Voter influence is essential for change. Continue reading Time to make some noise about cancer in Iowa
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A report by Food and Water Watch analyzed nearly 200 manure spills in Iowa between 2013 and 2023, highlighting northwest Iowa’s high spill concentration linked to animal feeding operations. It urged stricter regulations, citing inadequate enforcement and underreporting of incidents. The report calls for more accountability for corporate polluters in Iowa. Continue reading New report shows 10 years of agriculture spills into Iowa waterways
Farmers in Iowa face challenges getting insurance coverage for agritourism due to high premiums and limited options. The federally subsidized insurance largely benefits large-scale commodity crops, leaving smaller-scale farmers with limited support. Calls for reform and reduced subsidies highlight the disparity, with Republican lawmakers advocating for increased support for the “Golden Crops.” The author questions the fairness of taxpayer-funded support for crop insurance while essential public services remain underfunded. Continue reading Farm insurance unfairness: Taxpayers foot the bill, but only for the ‘golden crops’
The South Dakota Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) and the S.D. The Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources moved to recognize one specialty crop producer for making an outstanding contribution to local production in South Dakota.
Christy Heckathorn of Fleurish Flower Farm, is the 2023 S.D. Specialty Crop Producer of the Year.
Fleurish’s one-acre flower farm, near Elk Point, S.D., is home to a variety of annuals, perennials and an heirloom pumpkin patch. Continue reading Elk Point’s Fleurish Flower Farm named Specialty Crop Producer of the Year
South Dakota farmers have received nearly $10 billion in payouts from the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. over roughly the past two decades, with payments specifically due to weather disasters rising significantly during that time.
Between 2001 and 2022, South Dakota was among the top states in the nation for receiving insurance payouts for crop losses due to weather disasters, a trend environmentalists have said reveals a hidden but rapidly rising cost of climate change that is increasing the frequency and severity of storms that damage crops.
American taxpayers have funded a large portion of the payouts, as nearly 65% of the premiums for the crop insurance program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are subsidized with federal funding. Continue reading $8.3B in crop insurance payouts to South Dakota farmers: A cost of climate change
If you’ve been driving outside of town anywhere in Siouxland the last week or so, you’ve likely noticed combines out in the fields. And if you’ve been on the secondary roads in South Dakota, Iowa or Nebraska you’ve probably encountered farm machinery or trucks going between fields or transporting corn or soybeans to the nearest elevator. Yup, it’s that time of year in Siouxland. I’m not a farmer, but I’m always curious as to how harvest is going for those that are. Especially when our local TV meteorologists are forecasting heavy rain for later in the week. And I’ll bet … Continue reading Looks like harvest is going well
The Siouxland Observer 