Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are collaborating on a series of cover crop fact sheets for Iowa farmers interested in adopting the practice or trying new cover crops to achieve specific goals on their operation.

Thousands of Iowa farmers plant cover crops annually to help reduce soil erosion, increase soil organic matter, suppress weeds, minimize soil compaction, scavenge excess nutrients, or provide supplemental livestock grazing. A large percentage of Iowa farmers use cereal rye, oats, wheat, radishes and turnips. However, there are many other cover crop options available.

The collection of fact sheets includes legumes like hairy vetch and cowpeas, broadleaves like flax and buckwheat, grasses such as millets and triticale, and brassicas like camelina and rapeseed.

“We feel these fact sheets are a good introduction to cover crops for producers who haven’t tried them yet,” said Mark Licht, associate professor and cropping systems specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “There are also species that a more seasoned cover crop user might be interested in learning more about.”

More than 25 fact sheets are currently available on the Iowa NRCS website, with 33 fact sheets by the end of August and the potential to add additional species as interest develops. Each fact sheet includes sections on: Identifying Features, Cultural Traits, Planting Information, Performance Ratings, and pictures that highlight various features and growth patterns.

“The collaboration between ISU Extension and Outreach and NRCS on the fact sheets is important,” said Iowa NRCS State Soil Health Specialist Hillary Olson. “We are on the same page in the belief that all Iowa crop producers can find a way to make cover crops work on their farms. We feel these fact sheets will be a valuable learning tool for producers.”

For more information about conservation programs and practices to help you treat natural resource concerns on your farm, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/ia. To connect with ISU Extension and Outreach, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/.

A group of 56 Henry County Democrats gathered on Saturday morning to hear from John DaBeet, a candidate for Senate District 48. The district includes nine rural townships in Henry County, excluding Mount Pleasant. Currently DaBeet serves as a distinguished Professor of Economics and  Statistics at Muscatine Community College and as a member of  the Muscatine Community School Board. During the meeting, he expressed concerns about how the new voucher plan will siphon funds from Iowa’s public schools.

DaBeet is challenging Republican incumbent Mark Lofgren who assumed the role in January 2023.

Recently elected Co-Chairs Mary Elgar and Dave Helman welcomed the attendees and presented laminated maps of all the precincts in Henry County and the 2020 redrawn Senate and House District maps.  Helman discussed the need to effectively communicate with Democrats in Henry County. Registered Democrats and Independents are encouraged to forward their e-mail addresses to Elgar (maryelgar41@gmail.com) and Helman (cdhelman@gmail.com).

President Biden announced that he will be withdrawing from the 2024 Presidential race on Sunday, and Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks chimed in.

“A historic injustice perpetrated by the Democrats who lecture the country about democracy. Yet they just disenfranchised millions of primary voters while covering up the President’s cognitive decline, despite it being readily apparent to millions of Americans.”

Meeks then highlights “failed policies” which have torched the nation, mentioning inflation, open borders, and weakness on the world stage to name a few.

She also believes that Biden should resign from office if he is not fit enough to campaign.

Trevor Miller, 23 of Washington County, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for producing child pornography.

According to public court documents, Miller had produced a video of himself engaged in a sexual activity with a female minor. He then sent that video via snapchat to other minors. Investigators confronted Miller after witnesses notified the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, where they discovered that he had produced a similar video with a separate minor.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Miller will be required to serve 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Miller will be required to register as a sex offender.

This case was investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A Burlington man was sentenced on Thursday, July 11, 2024, to 120 months in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor.

10 years in federal prison is the sentence for 48 year old Corey Ritz of Burlington, after he was found guilty for attempting to entice a minor.

According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Corey Lee Ritz, engaged in a Facebook conversation with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old female. Ritz proceeded to graphically describe the kinds of acts he would like to perform on the 15-year-old if they met in person, and even went as far as making plans to meet. If that wasn’t gross enough, Ritz suggested that the 15 year old bring another underage female to their planned meeting, and began communicating with a second undercover officer posing as a 14 year old.

Ritz arrived at the pre-planned in-person meeting and was arrested by the Des Moines County Sherriff’s Department. He had a Samsung cell phone and three condoms in his possession.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Ritz will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by Des Moines County Sheriff Department.