ISU Extension and Outreach Offers Weeds Week Aug. 3-7

Weeds, herbicides and the effectiveness of herbicides to control weeds are topics of agronomic and economic importance to farmers and agribusinesses. It is so important that Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomists are hosting Weeds Week, a weeklong series of informational meetings. As part of Weeds Week, a session will be held August 3, 2015 in Crawfordsville, Iowa.

"Farmers are challenged with producing crops and implementing effective weed management programs in a profitable manner," said Virgil Schmitt, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach in southeast Iowa. "Our goal is to help farmers develop effective weed management plans."

Schmitt said the meetings are intended to help farmers and ag retailers support each other in this process.  "By supporting each other, they can increase their profitability and minimize negative impacts on the environment," Schmitt said. "The sessions have been developed to provide tools that help farmers and agribusinesses work together to develop long-term weed management plans that identify sites of action, promote timely application of herbicides and avoid the expenses of dealing with herbicide resistance."

Each session will include presentations, hands-on weed management planning, small group discussion and plot tours presented by extension field agronomists. In the farmer-oriented session, farmers will learn how to select herbicides from the herbicide effectiveness table, identify which herbicides to apply and develop their own four-year weed management plan. Agribusiness representatives will receive similar information, but it will be presented with a focus on how to support farmers and their operations.

On August 3, 2015 a session will be held at the Southeast Research Farm. 3115 Louisa-Washington Road, Crawfordsville, Iowa.  At 9:30 a.m. a Farmer Session will be held with an Agribussiness Session to follow at 1 p.m.

Registration is $25 for each session and includes refreshments, lunch and materials. To assist with facility and meal planning there is a registration deadline four days prior to the meeting. Register online with a credit card at www.aep.iastate.edu/weeds/. For more information, call 515-294-6429 or anr@isstate.edu.

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ISU Scott County Extension Master Gardener Fall 2015 Openings

Do you like to garden and share your gardening experiences with others? Are you a plant enthusiast who looks forward to spring time and the outdoors?   Then the Iowa State University (ISU) Scott County Extension Master Gardeners wants you!

Master Gardeners are volunteers, trained by ISU in horticulture, who return service to the community through a variety of educational projects.  Trainees attend over 40 hours of classes and complete volunteer service.  Each master gardener has the opportunity to learn and share their unique skills and knowledge with others in a variety of way.

Each year this opportunity is extended to a limited number of residents of Scott County.  Classes are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings this fall at the ISU Scott County Extension and Outreach office, starting September 10th.  There is a fee which covers the training and reference materials provided by ISU Scott County Extension and Outreach Office.

If you are interested in joining the Master Gardener program, additional information and an application for the 2015 fall session is available at our website http://www.extension.iastate.edu/scott/.  The deadline for receipt of applications is July 31st.  Applicants can attend a Master Gardener informational session scheduled in August.  Send completed applications to Scott County Extension and Outreach, 875 Tanglefoot Lane in Bettendorf.  Call 359-7577 with any questions.

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Webinar to Focus on Pollinators and Growing Herbs

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Scott County office will wrap up the sixth annual "Growing Season" webinar series in August.

The August webinar, Pollinators and Growing Herbs, with Nathan Brockman and Susan Appleget Hurst, will be offered on August 19, 2015, at the Scott County Extension Office, 875 Tanglefoot Lane in Bettendorf, IA from 7 to 9 pm. Participants will learn about attracting bees, birds, and butterflies to their gardens as well as growing, harvesting and preserving culinary herbs.  There is a $5.00 fee that is payable at the door, however, pre-registration for the webinar is requested.

To register please contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Scott County office at 563-359-7577 or aheitz@iastate.edu.  All Master Gardeners who attend will earn two continuing education hours for each webinar.

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Scott County Master Gardeners to Host an English Afternoon Tea

The Scott County Master Gardeners cordially invite you to attend an English Afternoon Tea on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at the Butterworth Center, 1105 8th Street, Moline, Illinois.  From 1-2 p.m. tour the gardens at the Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House with a light refreshment provided.  Beginning at 2 p.m. Master Gardener Dan Mays will present "Garden Designs."  To wrap up the afternoon an English Afternoon Tea will be served at 3 p.m.  The cost of this event is $20.00 per person, it is open to the public with limited seating.  Please R.S.V.P. with your check by July 24th made payable to Scott County Extension, 875 Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf, Iowa 52722.  For additional information contact the Scott County Extension office at 563-359-7577.

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EXTENSION CALENDAR

August 7, 2015    Pesticide Applicator Testing, Scott County Extension Office, 10 am-2pm

August 19, 2015    Pollinators and Growing Herbs, Scott County Extension Office, 7-9 pm

August 25, 2015    Extension Council Meeting, Scoot County Extension Office, 7 pm

Visit our events calendar at our web site:   http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is accepting applications for funding under a program that supports the production of advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased product manufacturing.

"This critical financing will enhance our efforts to build a robust, rural bioeconomy by helping to expand the availability of biobased products and to increase the number of commercial-scale biorefineries in the country," Vilsack said. "In addition to the available funding, I am proud to announce that USDA has significantly improved the biorefinery program to help create lasting job opportunities in rural America."

USDA is making the funding available through the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program. It was formerly known as the Biorefinery Assistance Program.

The new program provides loan guarantees of up to $250 million to construct and retrofit commercial-scale biorefineries and to develop renewable chemicals and biobased product manufacturing facilities. Vilsack and USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Lillian Salerno today hosted a seminar at USDA headquarters to discuss changes to the program and the opportunities available to produce more biobased products.

Two funding cycles are being held. Applications for round one are due October 1. Applications for the second round are due April 1, 2016. For information on how to apply, see page 38432 of the July 6, 2015 Federal Register.

USDA has made significant improvements to the program. Biorefineries are now able to receive funding to produce more renewable chemicals and other biobased products in addition to advanced biofuels.

Also, biobased product manufacturing facilities are eligible to convert renewable chemicals and other biobased outputs into "end-user" products. Further, USDA has streamlined the application process.

Sapphire Energy's "Green Crude Farm" in Columbus, N.M., is an example of how USDA funding and partnerships with the private sector are helping to support the development of biorefineries. In 2011, USDA provided Sapphire Energy a $54.5 million loan guarantee to build a refined algal oil commercial facility.

The plant opened in May 2012 and is producing renewable algal oil that can be further refined to replace petroleum-derived diesel and jet fuel. According to the company, more than 600 jobs were created throughout the first phase of construction at the facility, and 30 full-time employees currently operate the plant. After Sapphire received additional equity from private investors, it repaid the remaining balance on its USDA-backed loan in 2013.

USDA released a new report on June 17 that shows America's biobased industry is generating substantial economic activity and creating American jobs. According to the report, the U.S. biobased industry contributed four million jobs and nearly $370 billion to the American economy in 2013 alone.

Today's funding announcement was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life.

Bill would provide incentives for wireless carriers to make unused spectrum available for use by rural and smaller carriers in order to expand wireless coverage in rural communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) today introduced the bipartisan Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act. This bill would provide incentives for wireless carriers to lease unused spectrum to rural or smaller carriers in order to expand wireless coverage in rural communities. Both Congressmen serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee which oversees the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

"The future of economic development in Iowa and across the country depends, in large part, on access to the internet and mobility," said Congressman Loebsack. "I have met with many small businesses, farmers, and rural telecommunication companies who have stressed the importance of mobile internet access in rural areas. I am pleased to work with Rep. Kinzinger to introduce this legislation that will increase access to wireless broadband to help boost economic development, education opportunities and job growth in rural areas."

"The Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act promotes better utilization of spectrum to help rural America reap the full benefits of communications technology," said Congressman Kinzinger. "From small businesses trying to stay competitive in a global market or remote health clinics working to deliver expert telemedicine to underserved populations, expanding wireless coverage will help rural communities overcome the challenges they face. I am glad we could work together on this important legislation that will boost economic development in the 16th District as well as across the country."

The Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act would direct the FCC to establish a program that would provide a 3-year extension of the spectrum license to wireless carriers that lease unused spectrum to rural and smaller carriers, encouraging collaboration between companies to bridge service gaps in rural areas.

Click here for the text of the Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act.