OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Governor Chet Culver « Lt. Governor Patty Judge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 24, 2008

Contact: Troy Price

 (515) 281-0173

GOVERNOR CULVER ANNOUNCES STEPS STATE AGENCIES ARE TAKING TO MAKE PUBLIC LANDS MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR HAYING AND GRAZING

Part of state’s flood response and recovery effort

(DES MOINES, Iowa) – Today, Governor Chet Culver today announced steps that the Iowa Departments of Natural Resources and Transportation are taking to enhance their public land access processes to assist farmers affected by this year’s flooding and severe weather. 

 “As Governor, I am committed to helping our state recover from this year’s severe weather while protecting our precious natural resources and assuring the safety of Iowa’s drivers,” said Governor Chet Culver.   “With this one year modification to already existing rules, these two agencies will allow expanded agricultural use of state lands this year, and we will do so in a way that appropriately balances the needs of farmers with our commitments to the people of Iowa.”

The Governor’s announcement comes in response to a request by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey’s request to open public lands for haying and grazing to farmers adversely affected by this year’s flooding and storms.  Actions taken by the two state agencies include the following.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

1. Staff will consider the value of haying and grazing as an alternative to burning and for control of brush invasion into grassland areas.
2. Parks land managers will collaborate with wildlife staff to enhance or manage habitats, and insure avoidance of threatened and endangered species.
3. Land managers will review the lands they manage with local Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) staff to evaluate existing conservation plans. The evaluation will include a review of both state and adjacent private lands in the watershed areas of state-owned lakes to determine ways for improving conservation.
4. DNR will seek an administrative rule change raising crop leases to be negotiated from $2,500 to $5,000.
5. Fisheries staff will contact local conservation offices and review the watersheds of public-owned lakes, seeking opportunities to improve watershed performance and needs.
6. DNR will review producer responses to the “Grass-banks” program to determine if improvements can be made in that program.
7. DNR managers will meet with their counterparts at IDALS to enhance collaboration between the departments.

Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT)

The DOT presently allows haying in the Primary Highway System right of way. A permit is required and applications can be obtained locally from one of the DOT’s six district offices.  The following waivers apply to the 2008 harvest seasons.

1. The DOT is waiving liability insurance ($100,000 property and $300,000 personal) required of individuals applying for permits to harvest in DOT-managed right of way. 
2. The DOT is waiving the annual $15 per-acre permit fee for the right to harvest in DOT-managed right of way.  These fees would normally be deposited into the state’s Primary Road Fund.