August 7, 2008
For immediate release
1. Environmental Protection Commission adds hearing to Aug 19 agenda
2. Get your no till pay-off from conservation central at the Farm Progress Show
3. DNR invites public to discuss bridge and road permits for public waters
EPC ADDS HEARING TO AUG 19 AGENDA
MEDIA CONTACT: Jerah Gallinger at (515) 313-8909
DES MOINES- The Environmental Protection Commission will discuss construction permits for two proposed hog confinements in Dallas County.
The hearing has been added to the commission’s regular monthly meeting Aug. 19. The hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Dallas County has requested the hearing to oppose draft construction permits issued by the DNR to Lincoln Pork and Dallas Pork to build hog confinements in the Lincoln and Dallas Townships.
The EPC meeting will start at 10 a.m. at the Air Quality Building located at 7900 Hickman Road in Urbandale. The meeting is open to the public, with public comments starting at 10:30 a.m.
Look for more information about the agenda items on the DNR Web site under Commissions and Boards at www.iowadnr.gov.
The members of the commission are Henry Marquard, chair, Muscatine; Charlotte Hubbell, vice chair, Des Moines; Suzanne Morrow, secretary, Storm Lake; David Petty, Eldora; Ralph Klemme, LeMars; Susan Heathcote, Des Moines; Paul Johnson, Decorah and Marty Stimson, Cedar Rapids. The director of the DNR is Richard Leopold.
Writer: Cassy Lalan
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GET YOUR NO TILL PAY-OFF FROM CONSERVATION CENTRAL AT THE FARM PROGRESS SHOW
MEDIA CONTACT: Karen Grimes at (515) 281-5135 or [log in to unmask]
BOONE – Conservation pays. Producers can find out why from other farmers, resource specialists and DNR staff when they visit Conservation Central at the Farm Progress Show, Aug. 26 to 28 in Boone.
Look for conservation pay-offs under the Conservation Central tent located near the center of the show on lots 817 to 823. DNR biologists, foresters and watershed staff, and other resource specialists will be available for producers who want to discuss the best financial and conservation decisions for their farms.
“Based on the producer’s goals, our wildlife experts can help identify options to consider,” said Kelly Smith with the DNR’s private lands program.
“For example, if someone has a really wet area, it doesn’t matter how high corn prices are, it may make for a better bottom line to enroll that spot in one of the federal rental or easement programs,” she said. “We can help figure out the dollars and cents of each possibility.”
Producers who are considering a switch to no till, strip till or mulch till should stop by the kitchen table at the DNR display. Look for the checked tablecloth to visit with experienced conservation farmers.
Crop producers who will be available to answer questions include John Glenn, who farms in Appanoose & Wayne counties. Having a full time job outside of farming, he became interested in no till in 1989 in order to save time and to improve the water quality in Rathbun Lake.
“Since I began no till, my soil quality has definitely improved,” said Glenn. “I’ve seen a lot less erosion, and the soil has more organic matter. No till has also saved me time and fuel costs.”
The following producers will be available during morning (9 a.m.-11 a.m.) and mid-day (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) shifts during the show:
Aug 26
Morning: Kirk Johnson, no till, Audubon County
Mid-day: Mark Thompson, strip till, Webster County
Aug 27
Morning: Wayne Brunsman, no till, Delaware County (Bear Creek watershed)
Mid-day: John Glenn, no till, Appanoose & Wayne County (Lake Rathbun watershed)
Aug 28
Morning: Keith Bader, strip till, Benton County
Mid-day: Mark Ingwerson, no till & mulch till, Dickinson County (Iowa Great Lakes watershed)
Conservation Central is the one-stop shop for producers interested in conservation practices, savings on fuel and fertilizer costs, wildlife habitat, and the quality of woodlands, water and soils. The DNR is one of 13 conservation partners. Their outdoor display area will showcase native plants, a rain fall simulator, solar water pump, no-till drill for native seed plantings and a stream table.
Partners in Conservation Central include Conservation Districts of Iowa, Iowa Association of Water Agencies, Iowa Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Transportation – Iowa Living Roadway Trust Fund, Iowa League of Resource Conservation and Development, Iowa Watersheds, Pheasants Forever, Trees Forever, U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency, U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Directions and more information can be found on the Farm Progress Show website at www.farmprogressshow.com.
Writers: Karen Grimes and Cassy Lalan
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DNR INVITES PUBLIC TO DISCUSS BRIDGE AND ROAD PERMITS FOR PUBLIC WATERS
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