LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 17, 2015 - This week, following the recent announcement of $2 million in Conservation Innovation Grants to support water quality trading markets, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted a joint workshop to expand markets for water quality benefits generated on farms, ranches and forest lands.

Water quality trading is an innovative approach to reduce pollution and efficiently achieve water quality goals. Trading is based on the fact that sources in a watershed can face very different costs to control the same pollutant. Trading programs allow facilities facing higher pollution control costs to meet their regulatory obligations by purchasing environmentally equivalent (or superior) pollution reductions from another source at lower cost, thus achieving the same water quality improvement at lower overall cost.

USDA and EPA signed a partnership agreement in 2013 to advance water quality trading and other market-based approaches that provide benefits to the environment and economy. The workshop attracted over 200 participants involved in water quality trading from across the nation.

"Conservation practices that improve soil health and conserve nutrients also produce real water quality benefits. With support from USDA and our Federal partners, water quality markets can create incentives to increase these environmental benefits and boost investment in rural America. The actions we are announcing today will help us get there," said Ann Mills, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment.

Among the new water quality trading resources announced:

EPA-USDA Water Quality Trading Roadmap

• The Water Quality Trading Roadmap is a decision support tool for those designing and participating in water quality trading programs. The Roadmap is a searchable database that consolidates policy guidance from EPA, information from State programs, and examples and supporting materials from across the U.S.

EPA-USDA partnership on EnviroAtlas to support environmental markets

• USDA and EPA will incorporate environmental markets data layers into the Federal ecosystem service decision support tool, EnviroAtlas. The data layers will show where markets for water, carbon, wetlands, and habitats occur on the U.S. landscape, provide information about these markets, and allow this information to be displayed in the context of existing environmental data from Federal agencies.

Nutrient Tracking Tool (NTT)

• USDA will release this fall the next version of NTT, ready for use in the Pacific Northwest and Ohio River Basin. The new version of NTT is a USDA hosted, user-friendly, web-based tool that calculates edge of field nutrient and sediment loads for use in conservation planning and environmental market credit calculation. NTT will be made available in additional regions in 2016.

USDA Environmental Markets Website

• USDA released the Department-level environmental markets website. The site integrates information, tools and resources on environmental markets from across the Department, allowing users to easily gain a snapshot of environmental market activities at USDA.

These new resources were announced days after the Natural Resources Conservation Service awarded over $2 million in Conservation Innovation Grants to support water quality trading markets. The 2015 Water Quality Trading Conservation Innovation Grant Awardees are:

Conservation Marketplace Midwest ($243,933)-proposes to develop and pilot a Field Stewards program, an innovative conservation credit system designed to allow companies in the food industry to buy "offsets" for water quality and agricultural conservation. Through the purchase of certification credits, food companies can demonstrate sustainability to their customers without having to create a new chain-of-custody supply chain for agricultural commodities, keeping costs low for retailers and the consumer. (MN)

Electric Power Research Institute ($300,000)-proposes to develop and execute, for the first time, trades of "stacked" ecosystem services-both water quality and greenhouse gas emissions reduction credits. EPRI administers the Ohio River Basin nutrient trading program, the only multi-state trading program in the country. (IN, KY, OH)

Great Lakes Commission ($400,000)-substantial water quality issues plague the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB), leading to harmful algal blooms each summer in Lake Erie. The Great Lakes Commission proposes to develop a framework for water quality trading in the WLEB. (IN, MI, OH)

Iowa League of Cities ($700,000)-proposes to develop a framework for water quality trading in Iowa to support the State's Nutrient Reduction Strategy. (IA)

National Association of Conservation Districts($116,725)-proposes to develop guidance materials and engage in outreach and training to increase participation of soil and water conservation districts in nutrient trading programs. In many water quality trading programs, district employees are the conservation experts interacting with agricultural producers generating credits from the installation of conservation practices. (Nationwide)

Virginia Tech University ($285,729)-proposes to develop the information and tools required to incorporate agroforestry into Virginia's nutrient trading program, which currently largely depends on the retirement of marginal agricultural lands for credit generation. In December 2014, USDA, EPA and the State of Virginia celebrated a first-of-its-kind transaction when the Virginia Dept. of Transportation purchased phosphorous credits generated by a Virginia farmer. (VA)

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Nationwide Rankings Focused on Outcomes-Based Data

TROY, NY (09/17/2015)(readMedia)-- Saint Ambrose University has been ranked #6 among 724 colleges nationwide in Best Value for Business, Management and Marketing by College Factual (www.collegefactual.com), a trusted resource that uses customizable tools and outcomes-based rankings systems to guide students through the college selection process.

A number of factors were used to determine these rankings, including how well the institution retains and graduates students, the average loan debt per student, the boost in expected earnings, the percentage of full-time teachers, and the average student loan default rate.

In addition to Saint Ambrose University's placement in Best Value for Business, Management and Marketing, the institution also scored well in Best Value for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies, earning a #7 spot out of 426. Both of these reflect the institution's high quality of education as compared to other schools on the list, which includes both research universities and liberal arts colleges.

You can view all of Saint Ambrose University's rankings here: http://www.collegefactual.com/colleges/saint-ambrose-university/rankings/badges/

"We publish a variety of college rankings to get students and parents focused on key factors they need to consider when choosing a school," says Bill Phelan, CEO of College Factual. "How long it will it take you to graduate? 4 or 6 years? What will your expected earnings be, and how does that compare? What's the risk of student loan default? These are tough questions any prospective student should be asking and we highlight these factors throughout our ranking process."

With a focus on providing sought-after data and unique decision-making tools, College Factual puts the college rankings process in the hands of students and parents and not those of institutions or national publications.

College Factual's ranking system is based on a series of algorithms that include information from the Department of Education, nationally mandated data reporting for institutions, and Payscale.

For more information about College Factual's rankings, visit www.collegefactual.com or contact media@collegefactual.com.

DRAGONS LOVE TACOS FAMILY EVENT

Sunday, October 4, 2015

1:30-2:30 p.m.

Free admission; reservations required

Hooray!  The Muscatine Art Center is hosting our first party for dragons and kids!  All we need for a fun day is you and a few dragons to join us. There will be paper tacos to make and fire breathing dragons will be everywhere.  Ms. Laura will be in the studio for the story Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri.   "We all know dragons love tacos, especially Taco John's tacos," said Tom Hendricks, "I've never met a dragon who did not like tacos.  Taco John's is happy to support this kid friendly event that introduces children to the Tots programming at the Muscatine Art Center."

The Muscatine Art Center invites families to join us in celebrating National Taco Day! Sponsored by Taco John's, families can enjoy a free taco to top off the afternoon of fun.  After all, dragons love tacos.  If we have plenty of tacos nothing could possibly go wrong at our party.  Unless the dragons accidentally eat spicy salsa... And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. We're in red-hot trouble.

The Tots programming at the Muscatine Art Center is a great way to introduce your children to art.  Each class offers a story that is read to the children and several tot friendly art projects for them to do. The instructor is Laura Stahl, Programming Coordinator at the Muscatine Art Center.  "The children always find new and creative ways to participate in the art projects", said Laura Stahl. "I offer new projects to spark their imaginations and creativity at each class."

"Dragons Love Tacos is a heaping helping of silly.  Little kids will relate to the anti-spicy bias and chuckle over Salmieri's watercolor and gouache cartoon illustrations showing literally boatloads of tacos and all sizes of dragons enjoying their favorite food at pool parties, costume parties and, well, taco parties."?San Francisco Chronicle. And just remember, the way to a dragon's heart is always through his stomach!

"Last year Americans ate over 4.5 billion tacos! That's 490,000 miles of tacos, which could take you to the moon and back or, if you prefer, could, at 775-million pounds, equal the weight of two Empire State Buildings (nationaltacoday.com.)

Please call Laura at (563) 263-8282 to RSVP by Thursday, October 1, 2015. The event is free, but reservations are required.

To keep up-to-date on the latest Muscatine Art Center family activities, kids' and adult classes, programs, and exhibitions, connect with the Art Center on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. You may also email art@muscatineiowa.gov to be added to the Art Center's email list.

The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Visit www.muscatineartcenter.org for more information about programs and events and to download a class brochure.

Branstad testifies on behalf of the National Governor's Association and The Council of Governors

(ARLINGTON, Va.) - Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad today delivered testimony before the National Commission on the Future of the Army in Arlington, Virginia.

"I encourage you to consider the Army National Guard's capabilities, value, and strategic importance for our states and the nation's security.  As Iowa's Commander-in-Chief, I want to ensure that our National Guard continues to remain an operational force as part of the Total Army, while delivering on the state mission," said Branstad.  "Governors urge this Commission to consider recommendations that will preserve the Army Guard's role as the combat reserve of the Army, resource and equip the Army Guard to meet both federal and state needs, and leverage the Guard's cost-effectiveness and operational capability as part of a Total Army solution for the future.  To do otherwise would risk wasting billions of dollars invested over the past decade in making the Guard an experienced, globally deployable and combat-ready force."

The governor's full testimony, as prepared for delivery, is as follows:

Chairman Ham, Vice Chairman Lamont and distinguished members of the Commission, I am Governor Terry Branstad from Iowa and co-chair of the Council of Governors. I am pleased to join Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton to testify on behalf of the National Governors Association, or NGA, and the Council of Governors, or Council.

We have submitted joint written remarks that we ask you to include in the formal record of today's proceedings. In the interest of time, Governor Dayton and I will each make a brief statement to provide you with additional state perspective.

I would like to thank the Commission for this opportunity to provide governors' views on the future of the Army.  We appreciate the Commission's efforts to seek governors' thoughts during your examination of the Army's force structure and aviation restructuring proposals. Governors particularly appreciated the participation of Vice Chairman Lamont and Commissioner Stultz during the NGA Summer Meeting in July.

Through NGA and the Council of Governors, we have made progress working with the Department of Defense to improve coordination and understanding of military issues between states and the federal government.  Since the beginning of the Council of Governors, we have worked with our federal partners to address issues affecting the security of our states and the nation.

As Co-Chair of the Council of Governors since 2011, I have seen firsthand the challenges and struggles that our federal partners have in handling major budget decisions. Governors also face difficult budget decisions.

The need for more robust dialogue led to the 2013 National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force.  I was pleased to see that through a collaborative process, 42 total force recommendations were submitted for consideration.  And the Air Force leadership embraced all but two recommendations.

I'm optimistic that through this Commission's efforts there will be as much progress bringing Army components together as we saw within the Air Force following the Air Force Commission. I encourage you to consider the Army National Guard's capabilities, value, and strategic importance for our states and the nation's security.  As Iowa's Commander-in-Chief, I want to ensure that our National Guard continues to remain an operational force as part of the Total Army, while delivering on the state mission.

I have witnessed many times the critical role that the National Guard plays for our nation.  In the last 13 years, we have mobilized more than 17,000 Iowa National Guardsmen and women for combat and combat support duties in Iraq and Afghanistan, peacekeeping duties in the Balkans and on the Sinai Peninsula, and for other operational missions around the globe.  Approximately 4,000 currently-serving Iowa National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are combat veterans, more than 45 percent of our force, the highest percentage in modern history.  And our men and women have operated in more than 35 different nations since 9/11.

In 2006-2007, during the Iraq surge, one of Iowa's infantry battalions was mobilized for over 22 months, making it one of the longest deployments for an Army unit during the Iraq war.  In 2010-2011, Iowa's 2^nd Brigade Combat Team deployed in its entirety to Afghanistan, supporting the 101^st Airborne Division's mission by conducting full-spectrum operations along the eastern border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Last January, one of Iowa's medical units was alerted to deploy in support of the West Africa Ebola mission, before it was cancelled due to changing demands managing the disease. Since the beginning of Operation Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, the Iowa National Guard has met every required operational assignment for deployment and has performed superbly.

While I understand the Army is facing difficult budget challenges, I believe that recent efforts to cut Army Guard force structure and remove the Guard's Apache helicopters is a step backwards and would make lasting, irreversible changes to the Guard.  It would undo years of progress by returning the Army Guard to a pre-9/11 role and fail to leverage its cost-effectiveness in retaining mission capability at home and overseas.

Specifically, the Army's Aviation Restructuring Initiative undermines the Guard's ability to augment the Army as its combat reserve and fails to leverage the National Guard's cost-effectiveness to retain additional manpower, expertise, and attack aircraft at a reduced cost to taxpayers.  I would agree that Apache aircraft have limited application for the homeland mission; however, I value and recognize the broader, long-term importance that strategic depth for the total force provides to states and the nation.

The Army also proposed reducing Army Guard end strength to its lowest level since the Korean War.  National Guard personnel, equipment and capabilities are key resources built into our states' emergency response plans and the federal National Response Framework.  The National Guard also has the unique ability to perform law enforcement functions that have proven valuable in the response to natural disasters, episodes of civil unrest and other national special security events.  These capabilities are enhanced by well-developed relationships with state and county emergency managers and local law enforcement agencies.

The turbulence created by force structure and personnel cuts affects people, readiness, training, equipment and facilities.  This all comes with a cost to implement, which the National Guard Bureau estimates would be about $179 million in its first year.  Funding to cover these costs was not included in the Army's fiscal year 2016 budget.  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the cuts to Army Guard personnel would save the Army $170 million in its first year - $9 million less than the unfunded implementation costs. When these costs and long-term effects are considered, governors believe it simply does not make sense to implement the Army's proposals.  While some reductions to Army Guard force structure may ultimately be necessary, they should be done through a collaborative approach that considers future needs, limits turbulence, and maintains Guard readiness.

I would like to recommend that the following principles guide your work:

The National Guard must continue to serve as an operational force and the combat reserve for the Total Force;

The National Guard is a highly trained, battle tested asset that should continue to be properly resourced and equipped to meet the needs of both the federal government and states; and

The National Guard's cost-effectiveness should be leveraged to the fullest extent to meet the fiscal and operational challenges confronting the Total Army.

As the Army is forced to evolve in the wake of declining budgets and continuing global instability, I hope this Commission will help bring the Total Army together to address these challenges in partnership.

Governors urge this Commission to consider recommendations that will preserve the Army Guard's role as the combat reserve of the Army, resource and equip the Army Guard to meet both federal and state needs, and leverage the Guard's cost-effectiveness and operational capability as part of a Total Army solution for the future.  To do otherwise would risk wasting billions of dollars invested over the past decade in making the Guard an experienced, globally deployable and combat-ready force.

I will continue to advocate for a strong Guard that is "Always Ready - Always There."  The Commission is an important voice in this endeavor.  On behalf of the State of Iowa, and my fellow governors, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today.

I look forward to hearing Governor Dayton's perspective and answering any questions you may have.

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