Iowa's largest farmers cooperative might face a significant fine from the U.S. Department of the Interior for a massive spill in southwest Iowa that annihilated aquatic creatures in a 60-mile stretch of river.
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Iowa's largest farmers cooperative might face a significant fine from the U.S. Department of the Interior for a massive spill in southwest Iowa that annihilated aquatic creatures in a 60-mile stretch of river.
Summit Carbon Solutions has demanded that opponents of its carbon dioxide pipeline project retract certain “false and defamatory” statements and to cease further similar comments about the company.
The Industrial Commission approved a plan to accept millions of tons of carbon dioxide to be permanently stored underground against the wishes of some landowners in the storage area.
A Sac County flock of about 45,000 turkeys was recently infected by highly pathogenic avian influenza, the fourth detection of the virus in less than a week.
It’s possible that a warm fall delayed the migration of wild birds, which are carriers of the deadly virus. It has recently infected three Iowa flocks.
The federal report, issued in November, came days after Donald Trump was re-elected president. During his first term, Trump championed the use of guest visa farmworkers — foreign laborers who work temporarily in U.S. agricultural fields — as a legal alternative for farm labor.
In a recent CDC study, the agency said that the prevention of human bird flu infections is critical to mitigating changes in the virus that could lead to a pandemic. The CDC advises that dairy workers wear PPE, but records obtained by Investigate Midwest show states with bird flu cases have different PPE responses.
The state has had four infected flocks this year -- which is a small number in comparison to other recent years -- but the losses have been huge: a total of 8.7 million.
State fines Strief Farms $7,500 for the pollution
Farm income is forecasted to have decreased in 2024 by 4 percent from 2023, largely because of a decrease in cash receipts, or the gross income, from the sale of commodity crops.
A 2024 annual report from the company noted that it had more than 160,000 employees worldwide, meaning the latest job cuts would be set to impact around 8,000 workers.
The Moline-based company has announced layoffs of more than 2,800 workers companywide since October 2023 as the farm economy struggles.
A federal initiative that aims to increase the availability of locally produced food and drinks is helping fund two dozen projects, including the NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids.
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