Funding included in Agriculture Appropriations bill, along with additional money for agriculture development in the First District

Washington, DC–Today, funding secured by Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) for a USDA grant program was signed into law by the president. Braley announced that he secured $875,000 to continue the New Era Rural Technology Program he established. This program allows community colleges and advanced training facilities to train the next generation of agriculture-based energy professionals.

"This funding for the New Era Program allows us to keep Iowa at the forefront of the bio-energy industry," Braley said. "As our economy shifts to a culture of renewable energy, it's crucial that we provide education for the emerging professionals in Iowa. I'm proud to have introduced, passed into law and funded legislation that does just that."

Additionally, the bill signed into law included $350 million in emergency assistance for dairy farmers. The language provides $290 million for direct assistance to dairy farmers and another $60 million for a large cheese purchase.

"I understand the struggle Iowa dairy farmers are going through as they deal with low dairy prices combined with high input costs. I'm hopeful that the assistance provided in the Agriculture Appropriations bill will help them get through this difficult period."

Braley also secured funding for the National Education Center for Agriculture Safety in Peosta, the National Ag Based Lubricants Center (NABL) at University of Northern Iowa and for UNI's Tallgrass Prairie Center to research floodplain restoration.

The $170,000 for the National Center for Agriculture Safety will provide interactive health and safety education to Iowa farmers, volunteer firefighters, EMS providers and agricultural businesses. The program will also provide youth safety training to over 300 young people in the First District.

The $405,000 for the UNI-NABL will fund research and testing of bio-renewable lubricants and greases. The goal is to create commercial, bio-based lubricant products which are bio-degradable and more environmentally friendly than petroleum based products.

The $134,000 for UNI's Blackhawk County's Tallgrass Prairie Center will fund a study of wetland communities to determine which species best aid in floodplain recovery. This will provide direct impact on restoration of wetlands in Eastern Iowa and across the country.

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On Thursday, October 22nd, at 10:30AM, Whitey Ice Cream will begin packaging their new camouflage colored cartons with Sgt Camo Ice Cream and deploying them to all Hy Vee stores.

Media representatives are invited to witness this event and also taste how different and delicious Sgt Camo Ice Cream really is.

Special Forces will begin filling the new green & brown cartons w/ Sgt Camo at 10:30am at the Whitey's Manufacturing Plant, 2525 41st St., Moline, IL. (Entrance at door with American flag).

Sgt Camo is their newest camouflaged tinted, s'more tasting ice-cream that has been very popular and only available, in the past, at Whitey's 11 stores in the Quad Cities area. Whitey's owner, Jeff Tunberg, describes Sgt Camo as, "It's more than a new flavor...it's a new creation."

Sunday, October 25th, is D-Day for Hy Vee to begin selling Sgt Camo at their 13 stores in the Quad Cities.

The historical execution will be the first time Whitey's has used camouflaged colored cartons instead of their familiar red & white half-gallon containers. The Tunberg's are hoping the new non-traditional camouflaged cartons will act like a radar beacon to ice cream lovers and those who support the military.

In August, Whitey's designated that all profits from Sgt Camo would be allocated to veterans organizations. The Military Warriors Support Foundation, which sponsored "A Night to Honor Our Heroes" on Sept 5th at LeClaire Park, Davenport, was the first recipient of proceeds from Sgt Camo which will continue until December 31st.

Sgt Camo has been sent to the Pentagon and on October 9th & 10th, the Tunbergs handed out the ice-cream to WWII vets and their guardians, departing the Honor Flight plane from Washington, DC. On November 20th the Tunbergs will travel to Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX to deliver 3,500 scoops of Sgt Camo to military and their families before troops are deployed to Iraq & Afghanistan.

Recently the Tunberg's committed to sending their ice cream to Iraq and Afghanistan and say they will continue to support other military opportunities in the Quad Cities.

For more information contact: Jeff Tunberg @ 309-235-2600.

Thousands of people in Illinois are finding a new motivation to be active through a free online program that offers participants support in developing healthier, more active lifestyles.

Walk Across Illinois is a free health initiative that creates opportunities for everyone to achieve their full potential for physical activity. Find out more at www.WalkAcrossIllinois.org.

Registered participants earn "miles" through physical activity and use those miles to track their progress on virtual routes across the state.  Walk Across Illinois is a program through the Active Transportation Alliance, which works to improve the health and sustainability of Chicagoland's transportation.

More than 12,000 walkers have logged over 1.2 million miles since Walk Across Illinois launched in 2005.

"One of the easiest ways to earn miles is to replace car trips with walking or biking trips," said Rob Sadowsky, Active Trans executive director. "Whether it is a walk to the store or a bike ride with your family, your virtual tour starts right at home."

The program's website provides participants with resources to make it easy to get active. Resources like information on route locations and a tracker that allows participants to report and track their progress will make help walkers stay motivated every step of the way.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four people living in Illinois are obese and more than half of the population is considered overweight.  Through Walk Across Illinois, thousands from all across Illinois are on the path towards better health by incorporating physical activity into their daily routine.

Walk Across Illinois envisions neighborhoods and streets filled with residents being active together within their communities.  This free online program is a fun and rewarding opportunity that makes it easy for everyone to develop active lifestyles through walking and other physical activity.  Anyone can register at www.WalkAcrossIllinois.org and embark on a journey towards health and fitness one step at a time.

Find out more about Walk Across Illinois at www.WalkAcrossIllinois.org.

The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety and builds a world-class transportation network. Formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Active Transportation Alliance is North America's largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by more than 6,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 35 full-time staff. For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.

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