"We plan to redouble our efforts in 2012 to help make Iowa in fact one of the healthiest states in the Nation."

Peggy Huppert, Iowa Director, American Cancer Society

DES MOINES, IA - The American Cancer Society (ACS) announced its legislative agenda for 2012 at its annual Legislative Breakfast today at the Capitol.

Joining Huppert at the ACS Breakfast was Gail Orcutt, a Des Moines resident who spoke about the deadly toxin in our homes, radon gas.

"While many Iowans know that smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and the most preventable cause of death in the state, most don't know that the second leading cause of lung cancer is radon. It's an odorless, colorless, tasteless toxin that threatens them where they feel the safest...their homes," Huppert stated.

ACS distributed free radon testing kits to those in attendance. "Testing is simple, and with these kits, free. But until you test, you won't know if this killer is lurking in your home," Huppert noted. "Iowans have been living with this threat for years without knowing about it, and with new test kits, Iowans can take steps to rid their homes of this silent killer."

Radon gas seeps into a house from the soil around and under the home; through cracks in the foundation, floor or walls; through hollow-block walls; and through openings around floor drains, pipes and sump pumps.

Governor Branstad proclaimed January as "Radon Awareness Month" with a proclamation dated January 5th, 2012. As many as seven out of 10 homes tested in Iowa have radon levels that exceed federal guidelines for exposure.

Huppert praised Governor Branstad for his proclamation. "Governor Branstad has made it a goal of his Administration to make Iowa one of the Nation's healthiest states, and bringing attention to this silent killer is an excellent step in that direction," she noted.

Huppert outlined there are other steps ACS will take to help the Administration achieve its goal of making Iowa one of the healthiest states in the Nation:

  • Establishing a consumer-friendly Iowa Insurance Exchange;
  • Closing the casino exemption in the 2008 Iowa Smokefree Air Act; and
  • Securing adequate funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

"Iowa should move forward on establishing its Iowa Insurance Exchange in the 2012 session, so the federal government doesn't do it for us," Huppert noted. "We have great leaders in the health care and insurance industries in Iowa, and we need to direct our own future and design our own plan tailored to the specific needs of our citizens."

"We also plan to continue our efforts to eliminate the casino exemption from Iowa's Smokefree Air Act. Iowa's casino employees should no longer have to choose between their job and their health," Huppert stated.

"And finally," she noted, "last year the Legislature dealt our efforts to reduce teen and adult smoking a severe setback with budget cuts of over 65%. The tobacco companies haven't reduced their sales by 65%, and we'll be seeking to solidify Iowa's prevention and cessation effort."

"Through our efforts, we will redouble our efforts in 2012 to make Iowa, in fact, one of the healthiest states in the Nation," Huppert concluded.

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Snowshoe Tracking Event

On Saturday, January 21 at 10:00 A.M. the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center will be hosting a snowshoe tracking event. Come explore the wintery wilderness at the Wapsi River Center via snowshoes.  Learn about the history of snowshoes and then search for animal tracks and signs of activity.  Winter fun for everyone!  BYOM ~ Bring your own mug.  Please call to reserve equipment; (563) 328-3286.

Cross-country Ski Clinic

Also on Saturday, January 21 at 12:30 P.M. the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center will be hosting a cross-country ski clinic. Come learn the basics of cross-country skiing and tour the Wapsi Center trails; if conditions allow.  Participants will learn about proper skiing techniques, safety and equipment.  Please call (563) 328-3286 to register, as a limited number of equipment is available.  Participants may bring their own equipment as well.

The Wapsi River Environmental Education Center can be found 6 miles south of Wheatland or 1 mile northwest of Dixon, Iowa by taking County Road Y4E.  Then turn north at 52nd Avenue and follow the signs for about 1 mile.

It's perfectly understandable why so many folks care how farmers care for the land; it doesn't just need to be protected because it feeds us, but because our fertile soils and watersheds always have and always will be Iowa's most valuable asset.

But there's a growing concern that some well-intentioned folks have taken efforts to be sustainable to a whole new level, calling for the sacrifice of property rights, food production and jobs for the sake of 'speciesism' (choosing plants or animals over people).  'Speciesism' seems to be 'de riguer' these days in Hollywood and national media, so that's probably why the subject packed the house this week at the 2012 American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting.

Rob Gordon, senior advisor for strategic outreach for the Heritage Foundation (http://www.heritage.org/about), says being environmentally-sustainable is important, but too often regulations are put in place which go beyond common sense. "Science has to be 'good science' which means it must follow scientific method. That means if you conduct an experiment and write down how you do it, I should be able to replicate your results.  Right now species are added to endangered lists based on 'best available data,' which doesn't mean rational, duplicated, sane or even scientific."

Gordon then went on to illustrate that point by way of the Pleistocene Snail.

The Pleistocene snail (http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/Snails/iops_fct.html) is a tiny snail that lives on rocky outcropping areas in Iowa and was declared 'endangered' in 1978.  So, the government took over land and created the National Wildlife Refuge near Dubuque to protect the snails.  But, there were snags in maintaining the tiny creature's population because, according to Gordon, the biggest threats remained: the lack of an Ice Age and humans.  It seems well-intentioned environmentalists who went out to 'count' these tiny snails were killing them by accidentally stepping on them.   Since these tiny snails thrived in glacial conditions, the government deemed that the next best 'savior' for the Pleistocene is to keep the National Wildlife Refuge near Dubuque in place, and wait for the next Ice Age.

"Clearly, this is a case of speciesism and regulation run amok.  We have to remember that environmental policy can't be good environmental policy if it doesn't take people into account," says Gordon.

In an age when snails are deemed more important than farming, feeding people or employing them, something is wrong.  That's why folks like Gordon are out there reading the fine print, calling for people to ask questions and demand conservation efforts be based on repeatable, scientific results that take human beings into account.  Waiting for the government to realize this however, could take...until the next Ice Age.

 

Laurie Johns is Public Relations Manager for the Iowa Farm Bureau.                        1/11/2012

With help from over 1,700 Iowans, Braley sets new record for non-election year fundraising in Iowa's First District

Waterloo, IA - The Bruce Braley for Congress campaign announced today that it will report having raised over $1.1 million during 2011 when it files its year-end Federal Election Commission report, due January 31st.  The report will also show Braley raising over $320,000 during the 4th quarter of 2011, and will report the campaign having over $627,000 cash on hand.  More than 1,700 Iowans contributed to Braley's campaign in 2011.

$1.1 million is the most ever raised by a 1st District Congressional candidate during a non-election year.

"Thanks to the outpouring of support from Iowans during 2011, Braley for Congress has set yet another non-election year fundraising record," Braley for Congress campaign manager Molly Scherrman said.  "This record year shows that Iowans want someone who's on our side in Congress working to create jobs, strengthen the middle class, and stand up for veterans.  Tea Party Republicans funded by Washington special interests may target Bruce because he puts Iowa first, but they'll have to contend with this strong base of grassroots support first."
Checkoff Supports Improved Fieldprint Calculator to Help Farmers Meet Customers' Needs

ST. LOUIS (January 11, 2012) - U.S. soybean farmers now have an updated tool that can meet the needs of some customers who want proof U.S. soy has been sustainably produced.

That's why the soybean checkoff continues to support the Field to Market alliance and its updated Fieldprint Calculator, a tool U.S. soybean farmers can use to help measure, improve and demonstrate their sustainability performance.

The updated calculator, available on the Internet by clicking here, includes several upgrades from earlier versions. It allows U.S. farmers to analyze individual fields and includes more advanced measurements for soil conservation and soil carbon. Additionally, the tool automatically provides a financial ledger that computes the economic impact of sustainable practices on that farm. It also allows U.S. farmers to set up a secure account to save their information for future use.

Nebraska soybean farmer Mike Thede notes that checkoff-funded research has proven the sustainability performance of U.S. soy production. The checkoff shares that information with U.S. soy buyers to support sales.

"All U.S. farmers are under more and more pressure from our customers, who demand soybeans produced in a sustainable manner," explains Thede, who serves as team lead of the United Soybean Board's Sustainability Initiative. "We need to continue to document our sustainability performance to our end users in order to maintain and expand our markets."

According to a recent checkoff-funded life-cycle study, U.S. soybean production proves to be very sustainable due to several factors. For instance, a soybean plant sequesters more greenhouse gases than those generated by the equipment used to grow, harvest and process soybeans. Additionally, U.S. soybean production and processing have become more efficient because of higher yields, more conservation tillage and reduced energy use.

The Fieldprint Calculator can be used for free by all U.S. soybean, corn, wheat, cotton and rice farmers. First, it asks farmers to enter information about their operation. If desired, the tool can confidentially save any information entered, in which case that information is accessible only by the farmer who saved it.

The tool analyzes the use of that farm's natural resources and inputs to compute its environmental footprint, or "fieldprint." The results show farmers where there's room for improvement. U.S. farmers can also compare their results with those from other farms in their area, state or the entire country.

As a member of Field to Market, the soybean checkoff supported development of the original calculator in 2009, as well as the recent update. More information about Field to Market and the Fieldprint Calculator is available at www.FieldToMarket.org.

For more information on the USB, visit www.UnitedSoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/UnitedSoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

USB is made up of 69 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.

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Davenport- The reader's theater play "The White Rose: A True Story of Freedom in Nazi Germany" by Josephine Cripps will be performed on Saturday February 11th at 1:30pm with a second performance at 3:00pm.

The play is directed by Nathan Porteshawver and has a cast of local actors who tell the tale of the White Rose, a resistance group consisting of many young university students that resisted Hitler and paid for it with their lives.

The performance will be held at the German American Heritage Center at 712 West 2nd St. Davenport, IA, in conjunction with the White Rose exhibit running through the 24th of February. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for children ages 5-17. Free for members and children under age 5.
Refreshments will follow each performance.

Support for the play is provided by the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, the Rock Island Community Foundation, the Doris and Victor Day Foundation, and the Rauch Family Foundation II. For more information contact Kelly Lao at GAHC, 563-322-8844 or kelly.lao@gahc.org.

Lisa L. Bierman and the Rock Island County Circuit Clerk's Office held their annual holiday food drive during the month of December 2011. The food collected will benefit  the River Bend Foodbank. River Bend will be collecting the donations this Week.

Circuit Clerk staff were encouraged to bring in food donations and then were eligible to wear jeans for the day. The Circuit Clerk staff were divided into teams based on department and given another incentive of a pizza party for the team that collected the most items at the end. Our staff were also encouraged to solicit others in the Courthouse to donate to their teams to boost their numbers in an attempt to gather the largest numbers of donations. In the end the Traffic Division Won!

"Working with the public everyday makes you even more aware ofthe need for this kind of help, which is so important to our community," says Circuit Clerk Lisa Bierman.

"We have Wonderful staff here and they are always eager to help participate with such a valuable resource for those in need. This is actually our 3rd food drive that We have conducted and plan to participate in many more in the future."

For more information with how you can organize a food drive or help The River Bend foodbank, go to www.riverbendfoodbank.org or call 309-764-7434.

Des Moines, January 10, 2012– On Wednesday, January 11, 2012, at 10 a.m. in the House Chambers, Chief Justice Mark Cady of the Iowa Supreme Court will address a joint convention of the General Assembly on the State of the Judiciary. The chief justice will discuss the important role courts have in securing a prosperous economic climate in Iowa by providing businesses with the necessary confidence to invest or expand in a community. He will also discuss the role of courts in providing a stable and safe environment for the people who work and live in this state. The chief justice will apprise the legislators on the impact of a decade of budget cuts on the court's ability to provide access to justice for all Iowans. He will announce that the judicial branch stands ready to work with the legislative and executive branches on the goal of achieving a vibrant Iowa economy.

Live video of the speech will be streamed on the Iowa Judicial Branch website at www.iowacourts.gov beginning at 10 a.m.

Members of the media may obtain advance copies of the speech at 8:30 a.m. in the supreme court courtroom at the Capitol. The message will be posted on the Iowa Judicial Branch website www.iowacourts.gov at 10:30 a.m.

 

 

 

# # #

WHEN: 01-21-2012

TIME: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: Cool Beanz Coffee House, 1325 30th St., Rock Island, IL 61201

WHAT: Sharon R. Holub, a resident of Davenport, IA, will be available to sign copies of her Children's book, Adventures of the Big Green Van.

When Shayla Christine and Christy Lee want to visit faraway places with their grandfather, they enlist the help of the big green van. With a little magic and a lot of love, the girls begin a journey to see the world with their grandfather in Adventures of the Big Green Van.

For more information, contact Terry Cordingley at 888-361-9473 or terry@tatepublishing.com

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PROPERTY TAXES, REGULATORY REFORM & INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING AMONG IOWA FARM BUREAU PRIORITIES FOR 2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Jan. 10, 2012 - Iowa Farm Bureau will focus on property taxes, regulatory reform and infrastructure funding in the 2012 legislative session.

"A priority in 2012 will be building on our success during the 2011 session, when Farm Bureau was instrumental in providing property tax relief by leading the effort to backfill $160 million in state money for our schools," said Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) President Craig Hill.   Farm Bureau will protect Iowa property taxpayers as new funding mechanisms are pursued for government services, including the redesign of the mental health system.  Farm Bureau will also work to ensure that commercial property tax reform measures do not create a shift to other classes of property."

IFBF, Iowa's largest grassroots farming organization, is also in support of long-term sustainable and equitable funding to help repair the state's aging infrastructure. According to a recent Iowa DOT study, maintenance and repair of Iowa's roads and bridges is falling behind. "An additional $215 million per year is needed just to address the critical repairs to Iowa's roads and bridges.  Providing and maintaining an adequate infrastructure system, such as safe roads and bridges, is a basic function of government," said Hill.

IFBF will work with lawmakers again this year to strengthen legislative oversight of the rule-making process.  "Our regulatory process needs reform.  Unwarranted regulations add unnecessary and unexpected costs to farming.  In recent years, we've seen numerous examples of rules developed by governor-appointed boards and commissions without the direction of the state legislature.  It is important that boards and commissions do not exceed their authority by creating rules beyond federal requirements.  These are decisions that should be made by the legislature," said Hill.  "Rules also need to be based on sound science to determine their need, relevance and effectiveness."

Another priority for Farm Bureau members in the 2012 legislative session is the continued support of increased funding of science-proven conservation practices that yield real results.  "Farm Bureau will continue to work for increased state funding to implement incentive-based, voluntary conservation programs.  Farmers want to do more, but these programs are currently underfunded and demand for cost-share dollars exceeds available funding by more than $15 million.  We know these conservation measures work. Thanks to buffer strips, terracing and other soil-protection measures, Iowa farmers have reduced total cropland erosion in this state by over 30 percent since 1982. Farm Bureau has always supported the efforts of the Soil & Water Conservation Districts and the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship to maintain soil conservation funding," said Hill, a Milo crop and livestock farmer.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online media room at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

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