Clean air and water should be non-partisan goals for Iowa, which has serious pollution and health issues. We’re encouraged by the discussion taking place across the state and across the political divide about how we can make agriculture more prosperous and resilient while protecting our natural resources. Zach Lahn, the Republican nominee for governor, touted himself as a regenerative farmer from Belle Plaine during his primary campaign. It resonated with conservatives.
Along come two Republicans and an independent, farmers all, who call themselves “The Lobe Rangers” as they farm on the Des Moines Lobe. They are preaching conservation agriculture, and plan a field day for July 25 at the James Hepp farm, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2195 250th St., Rockwell City. They use reduced tillage, cover crops and in-season nitrogen application to manage expenses and outcomes. “It needs to be commonplace on most of the fields you drive past. That means cover crops growing every winter, less tillage, and nitrogen being applied when the crop can actually use it. We’re a long way from that. Pretending we’re not hasn’t gotten Iowa anywhere,” said Hepp, who is joined by Matt Bormann of Bode and Zack Smith of Buffalo Center.
They’re inviting researchers, Des Moines Water Works, the public, and every Iowa officeholder and 2026 candidates to see the shortfall between the state's official water-quality plan and actual results. Dr. Matt Helmers of Iowa State University will speak. “We’ve farmed this way for 15 years, with yields right alongside everybody else’s,” said Smith. “We’re not asking anyone to take a risk we haven't already taken ourselves…we’re asking folks to join us and help create a better Iowa.”
Conservation, of course, should be at the heart of a conservative agenda. “In the long run, there is going to be a political response forced by the reality of a changing climate. It is inevitable,” said Alex Flint, executive director of the Alliance for Market Solutions, a conservative group, in an interview with The New York Times.
Candidate Lahn will find common cause with his Democratic opponent, Rob Sand. They could probably learn something at the field day, which also will feature Dr. Jerry Hatfield, former director of the National Lab for Agriculture and the Environment in Ames, and an expert on the Raccoon River watershed. It is gratifying to see people come together around clean water. Plan to attend if you want to be part of the solution.
As expected, the Trump Administration just before Independence Day asked Congress to approve another $11 billion in emergency assistance to farmers. That brings the total this year to over $23 billion in disaster assistance — $12 billion earlier this year because of the trade wars Trump started, and now $11 billion for the bombing war Trump imposed on Iran that raised fuel and fertilizer costs.
Trump in the same supplemental budget request proposed year-round sales of gasoline blended with 15% ethanol. USDA also issued rules allowing premiums to farmers whose corn sold for ethanol is raised using conservation techniques such as cover crops.
We are sure many other spiffs are in the works as Trump seeks to convince us that he cares about Rural America while gorging himself at the public trough. Farmers represent just a sliver of rural voters, but it is an important cultural myth that the family farm is the foundation of our economy — in fact, ethanol and meatpacking drive our ag economy, and those assets are domiciled in Delaware, Arkansas or Shanghai.
Many more people need access to health care than a disaster check for soy export losses. Ottumwa is a meatpacking town, which cannot support a health clinic. Iowa’s economy is among the worst-performing in America, built on meatpacking, ethanol and subsides easing disasters created by Donald Trump.
We should take the Trump Bump and vote for something different. Iowa has become dependent on corporate welfare. Not enough of it is flowing our way. Ultimately, the profit goes to Shanghai. If it can buy enough votes for Ashely Hinson so Trump can continue to control the Senate, lard on the welfare! If some of it finds the farmer, call it a happy accident.
President Trump blew at least $70 billion in taxpayer money on a colossal flop observing America’s 250th birthday. Almost nobody showed up. Musicians refused to play for Trump. Randy Feenstra is the only Iowan we are aware of who visited America’s State Fair on the National Mall. As T-shirt maker Raygun commented, if that few people showed up for an Iowa county fair heads would roll, heat be damned. It wasn’t the heat, it was the stupidity.
Trump ranted about Communists in South Dakota, North Dakota and around 11 p.m. in Washington, DC, on July 4. Ghosts of Joe McCarthy flew with the fireworks. It was perverse, and not at all in the spirit of Teddy Roosevelt or other patriots who understood the greatness of America. The reflecting pool, which was supposed to shimmer in blue by Independence Day, served as a metaphor: a no-bid contract to a Trump ally results in a mess and failure in which millions of dollars are wasted. Everything done is in vain and for vanity.
You were better off staying in Storm Lake. The parade was fine and relatively inexpensive with no federal funds involved. The musicians showed up because we left politics out of it. The neighbors go too far too late with their fireworks — we wish we could ban them again. Otherwise, it was a tremendous weekend in The City Beautiful. Thanks to the organizers and to your generous support, ours remains the best Fourth of July anywhere in the USA.
Gov. Kim Reynolds was reasonable in attempting to restrict food stamps to be used in purchasing healthier foods, but was frustrated by a federal court ruling that the restriction cannot be imposed. Federal food benefit recipients could not purchase items that are eligible for the Iowa sales tax, such as candy and soda. Some advocates said parents should be free to choose food for their families, and the court agreed that the definition of food is loose.
Iowa had been granted waivers to force purchase of healthier foods. Those waivers are no longer in effect.
Government benefits should not be working at cross-purposes. The state spends a lot of money on health care because of processed foods loaded with sweeteners. We do not allow food stamps to be used for tobacco, but we allow it for drinks that will rot your teeth and snacks that trigger diabetes. This opens up legitimate nutrition programs to widespread criticism and mistrust. Limiting purchases to healthier foods as defined by sales-tax parameters is appropriate. Congress could strengthen nutrition programs by defining what sorts of food should be eligible for purchase in the next farm bill.
City officials say they can’t do much of anything about reckless e-bike riders on sidewalks. The city can cut off your water, kick down your door, ticket you for lawn clippings in the street, but they cannot do anything about that 14-year-old with evolving brain functions going 25 mph down the LakeTrail.
Okay. So we are left to merely educate in laissez faire Iowa. We would not want to suppress sales. The mayor says nothing is stopping education efforts. You still might get sued but if the mayor is ready to go for broke then so are we: Be careful out there. Beware who is behind you because they seldom call out advance warning. Bicyclists do generally holler ahead, “On your left!” Courtesy solves 90% of the problem. Helmets save lives, wear one when riding. Slow down, be careful of kids and pets. We just realized the 14-year-old is not reading this. Surely they will heed the mayor.
A town meeting was held where nothing was decided except to harrumph over it. Rep. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids, said that this is something for the legislature to consider, and so on and so forth, with all interests receiving due consideration, et cetera. Everyone has found consensus that they don’t know what to do about the annoyance of rude scooters other than to cuss them. But if you do, the city could write you up for verbal assault of Hell on wheels.
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