ICYMI, here's what happened last week at USDA:

The heart of USDA's mission is to put in place sound policies that lay a steady groundwork for a better future for our children and our children's children. That means using the resources we have today to invest in creative solutions to tomorrow's challenges.

USDA's management of our national lands and our support for farmers' and ranchers' stewardship of private working lands not only helps to support a robust and thriving rural economy, but also meets our moral obligation to the next generation to leave our land, water, and wildlife better than we found it. Our efforts to strengthen rural economies by providing farmers and ranchers the resources they need to feed their families and our nation can at the same time promote clean air, clean water, and thriving wildlife habitat on both public and private land. No one knows the importance of conservation more than our nation's farmers and ranchers. And we are here to support them.

With record fires currently burning out West, the importance of forest management is front and center in our nation's policy discussion.  Unprecedented resources are being spent to combat fires throughout the U.S., which means the Forest Service's budget for non-fire operations, including forest conservation and management activities that lessen the threat of wildfires, are at risk. The work we do today to create and maintain resilient forests will have lasting impacts on our future generations.

Throughout the month, we'll focus on our partnerships and collaborative efforts that will ensure our national forests and private working lands are conserved, restored, and made more resilient to climate change. Follow along or join the conversation using hashtag #conservation.

www.RareIncidents.com

Here We Go Again ...

Yet Another 'Rare Incident': 120K Gallon Oil Spill in Mississippi River Latest Reminder Why the EPA's Proposal to Weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard and Encourage More Oil Drilling and Spilling Is a Recipe for Disaster

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/midwest/ct-mississippi-river-oil-spill-20150903-story.html

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - This is the first week of National Preparedness Month (NPM) and in the Midwest it's off to a roaring start with active outreach and conversations meant to inspire individuals and families to take action and prepare for flooding?the most common and costly disaster in the United States. Yes, it can happen where you live!

During this first week of NPM, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency's 10 regional offices; county and local emergency managers; other federal agencies; businesses; voluntary and other organizations; as well as families and individuals will use news releases, social media, educational activities and events to promote the message that preparing for floods is important for protecting lives, livelihoods and properties.

"Flooding is fresh on the minds of many people in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. With so much flooding during the past few months, it's a good time to consider the true risk," said FEMA Region VII Regional Administrator Beth Freeman. "But it's not enough to simply realize flooding is a real threat for us all. This month, this week, today, we hope everyone will take action to develop and practice a family emergency communication plan for hazards like flooding. This year our theme is, 'Don't wait. Communicate. Make your emergency plan today.'"

Fewer than half of Americans have taken the time to plan what they will do if there is an emergency. Sitting down and developing a communication plan with loved ones doesn't cost a thing, but can save a lot if a flood or another disaster impacts you and your family.

In addition to floods, hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and earthquakes also occur frequently and devastate lives across the country every year. To encourage disaster planning for all hazards, FEMA and the Ad Council just launched a new series of public service announcements (PSAs) in English and Spanish, at www.ready.gov/september,  The PSAs direct audiences to www.ready.gov/communicate for tools and resources to help develop and practice a family emergency communication plan.

Managed and sponsored by the Ready campaign, National Preparedness Month is designed to raise awareness and encourage Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, schools, organizations, businesses, and places of worship. National Preparedness Month is an opportunity to share emergency preparedness information and host activities across the country to help Americans understand what it truly means to be ready.

National Preparedness Month Weekly Themes

  • Week 1 (September 1-5)  Flood
  • Week 2 (September 6-12)  Wildfire
  • Week 3 (September 13-19)  Hurricane
  • Week 4 (September 20-26)  Power Outage
  • Week 5 (September 27-30)  Lead up to National PrepareAthon! Day, September 30

National Preparedness Month culminates with National PrepareAthon! Day on September 30 when cities and counties across the country are planning community-wide events bringing together schools, their business community, government, faith leaders, hospitals, individuals and families, and others to participate in preparedness drills and activities for hazards that are relevant to their area.

For more information visit Ready.gov/September or follow the campaign on Facebook, at https://www.facebook.com/readygov, on Twitter, at https://twitter.com/Readygov, or for FEMA Region VII, www.twitter.com/femaregion7. For more information about events for America's PrepareAthon throughout September, and for National PrepareAthon! Day information, visit www.ready.gov/prepare.

Quick facts to consider as you plan:

  • Text messages and social media can be better ways to communicate during an emergency when phone lines are tied up, or even not working.

  • Homeowners and renters insurance don't cover floods

  • Talking to children about emergencies and involving them in the planning process helps children feel they have some control over what could happen during an emergency. It can also make recovery much easier on everyone.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Find regional updates from FEMA Region VII at www.twitter.com/femaregion7. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.  The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.–Sen. Chuck Grassley today was awarded the Dr. Harold D. Prior "Friend of Iowa Wind Energy" award by the Iowa Wind Energy Association in appreciation for his efforts in championing the wind industry.

"I'm honored to receive this award.  In Iowa, wind produces 28 percent of the state's electricity, ranking third in the United States.  The industry supports thousands of jobs and generates billions of dollars in investment across Iowa and the nation.  It's a non-polluting, renewable resource.  Wind energy makes sense for America's future, and I'll continue to fight for it through my position in the U.S. Senate," Grassley said.

The Dr. Harold D. Prior "Friend of Iowa Wind Energy" award is an annual honor that recognizes outstanding leadership in moving the wind industry forward.

Grassley is the author of the wind energy tax credit enacted in 1992.  The incentive was designed to give wind energy the ability to compete against coal-fired and nuclear energy and helped to launch the wind energy industry.  In July, Grassley secured the inclusion of the wind energy tax credit in the tax extenders bill that passed through the Finance Committee.

The award was presented at the association's annual wind conference in Des Moines and accepted by Grassley's office on his behalf.

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/28/2015)(readMedia)-- The Illinois National Guard conducted a week-long, multi-agency exercise dubbed Prairie Assurance Aug. 24 to 28. The exercise trained elements of a task force of personnel from the Illinois Army and Air National Guard to rapidly respond to a major earthquake in southern Illinois.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) along with representatives from other state agencies, National Guard Bureau, US Northern Command, and the Polish Armed Forces participated in the exercise, providing incident management and emergency management teams, agency technical experts, and military personnel to support the military's training scenario.

"We gained a tremendous amount of insight by having IEMA, other civilian agencies, National Guard Bureau, US NORTHCOM, and Poland participate in this event," said Col. Rick G. Yoder, commander of the joint task force. "It's critical to strengthen partnerships with local, state, and federal partners before a disaster happens."

The exercise simulated a 7.2 magnitude earthquake centered on the New Madrid Seismic Zone. The event took place at the 183rd Fighter Wing and the Joint Forces Headquarters in Springfield, Illinois.

The National Guard has a standing mission to provide support to civil authorities during natural disasters. The joint task force provides command and control of military personnel and equipment in support of civil authorities during a complex catastrophe like an earthquake.

"We want to be able to respond rapidly and efficiently and training together supports that goal," said Yoder. "We train the force to anticipate need. It's ultimately about saving lives and property."

Approximately 220 Army and Air National Guard members and more than 100 civilian emergency management personnel participated in.

Department to Invest Additional $211 Million to Help Ranchers Adopt Proven Conservation Methods

PORTLAND, Ore., August 27, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a four-year strategy that will invest approximately $211 million through 2018 in conservation efforts to benefit the greater sage grouse. The strategy, known as Sage Grouse Initiative 2.0, will build on successful public and private conservation efforts made since 2010 to improve sage grouse habitat. The new plan will provide additional assistance for ranchers to make conservation improvements to their land, which mutually benefits the iconic bird and agricultural operations in 11 Western states.

"The Sage Grouse Initiative has proven itself as a model for how wildlife and agriculture can coexist and thrive in harmony, and that is why we are announcing steps today that will expand this important initiative throughout the life of the 2014 Farm Bill," said Vilsack. "I applaud America's ranchers for their initiative in improving habitats and outcomes for sage grouse and other wildlife, and for their recognition that these efforts are also good for cattle, good for ranching operations, and good for America's rural economy."

Since its launch in 2010, public and private partners engaged in the Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) have conserved 4.4 million acres, an area twice the size of Yellowstone National Park, using voluntary and incentive-based approaches for conservation. Between 2010 and 2014, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invested $296.5 million into SGI, which partners matched with an additional $198 million. By the end of 2018 with implementation of the SGI 2.0 strategy, NRCS and partners will invest approximately $760 million and conserve 8 million acres, an area more than seven times the size of the Great Salt Lake.

NRCS leaders from California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming worked with conservation partners to develop the four-year strategy.

The wildfires devastating Western communities also impact habitat for wildlife like sage grouse. Under the SGI 2.0 strategy, NRCS will focus on reducing the threat of wildfire and spread of invasive grasses after fires to restore wildlife habitat and quality livestock forage. The strategy will also focus on removing encroaching conifers, protecting rangeland from exurban development and cultivation, protecting mesic habitats like wet meadows, and reducing fence collisions.

While in Oregon, Vilsack will meet with conservation partners, ranchers, and government officials who have worked through SGI to conserve sage grouse habitat. Oregon has seen success in sage grouse habitat conservation, especially through the targeted removal of conifer trees that invade sagebrush habitat. Through SGI, NRCS has helped Oregon ranchers address more than two-thirds of the conifer problem on private lands in the state's priority areas, and with SGI 2.0, anticipates 95 percent removal on priority private lands by 2018.

"The Sage Grouse Initiative is making a difference because private landowners voluntarily work with us to produce results on the ground," Vilsack said. "The decisions Western ranchers and other private landowners make every day about what to do on their land will continue to have a critical impact on sage grouse."

SGI conservation practices are targeted to ensure maximum benefits in the areas where they are implemented, and this focus will continue in SGI 2.0. During the past five years, SGI has increased conservation easements 18-fold and strategically located them in priority landscapes that contain the majority of the birds. These easements not only protect important lands but help stitch together the broader landscape, connecting public and private lands into a footprint of healthy habitats.

These voluntary conservation practices work. Earlier this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) determined the Bi-State sage-grouse, a subpopulation of the greater sage-grouse along the California-Nevada border, did not require listing because of the conservation efforts of NRCS and partners proactively working to conserve the species. This success is seen nationwide, evidenced in the recent decisions not to list the Arctic grayling in Montana, the proposed delisting of the black bear in Louisiana, and the recent delisting of the Oregon chub.

The deteriorating health of the sagebrush habitat and the greater sage-grouse has sparked an unprecedented, collaborative federal-state partnership. This comprehensive approach includes strong conservation plans for state and private lands, strong federal conservation plans, and an effective strategy to reduce rangeland fire risk.

Learn more about NRCS' sage grouse conservation efforts. To get started with NRCS, visit your local USDA Service Center or www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted.

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Growing Along the River - Focus on Fall Gardening Conference benefits all gardeners, both novice and seasoned, with an opportunity to learn, mingle, and share ideas on all aspects of gardening in the Quad-Cities. This year's conference will be held Saturday, October 3, 2015 at Scott Community College, 500 Belmont Road, Bettendorf, Iowa from 8:00am-4:00pm.


Keynote speakers are Jason Delaney and Laura Christensen. Jason is the Bulbs Collection Specialist at the Missouri Botanical Garden and will speak on "Success with Bulbs in Midwest Gardens." Laura is a landscape architect and owns her own business, Design with Nature, in Wheaton, Illinois and will be presenting "A Landscape Love Affair: A 25-Year Relationship with My Garden."


In addition to the keynote speakers, four breakout sessions will be offered with participants choosing from 20 additional gardening topics presented by Iowa State University (ISU) professors, horticulturalists, and local experts. The cost is $40 and includes lunch.


The conference is presented by ISU Scott County Extension Master Gardeners. Complete conference information is online at www.eicc.edu/focusonfall and search course #159012. You can also find us on Facebook at ISU Scott County Extension and Outreach and on the web at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/scott or call 563-359-7577 for more information.


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Federal assistance available for farmers impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding

 

SPRINGFIELD, IL–The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted the request of Governor Rauner for disaster designation in 87 Illinois counties and 14 contiguous counties that suffered losses due to rain and flooding this year.

"Illinois has suffered a lot of storm and rain damage throughout this Spring and Summer," Rauner said. "I am pleased our request for federal assistance was granted and encourage farmers throughout these counties to contact their local Farm Service Agency for questions."

The governor issued an official letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack on July 23, 2015. The 19 members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation also signed a letter to President Obama to endorse the governor's request for this designation. Counties eligible for assistance were determined through the Loss Assessment Reports reviewed by the USDA.

"I am grateful to all the members of our Illinois Congressional delegation for their strong and united support for securing this assistance for farmers throughout the state," Rauner added.

Farmers who believe they may be eligible for assistance should contact their county Farm Service Agency office.  Loan applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and applicant's repayment ability.  Farmers who have questions should contact the state FSA office at (217) 241-6600.

Counties eligible for assistance include : Adams, Alexander, Bond, Brown, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Cumberland, DeKalb, DeWitt, Douglas, DuPage, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Johnson, Kane, Kankakee, Knox, La Salle, Lawrence, Lee, Livingston, Logan, McDonough, McLean, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Massac, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, St. Clair, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Stark, Tazewell, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Whiteside, Will, Williamson, Woodford

Counties named as contiguous disaster counties eligible for assistance: Boone, Bureau, Christian, Coles, Cook, Edgar, Jo Daviess, Kendall, McHenry, Moultrie, Ogle, Shelby, Stephenson, Winnebago

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QUAD-CITIES?Volunteers for the 12th annual Xstream Cleanup on Saturday, August 8 removed about 17,888 pounds of debris from area waterways and illegal dump sites. Cleanups were held at 34 sites in Bettendorf, Davenport, LeClaire and rural Scott County, Iowa; and in Hampton, Milan, Moline, Rock Island and Silvis, Illinois.

A total of 671 volunteers worked 1,880 hours and collectively gathered 705 bags of trash, 119 tires, 5 appliances, 4 bicycles, 11 pieces of furniture, and 11 televisions. This total includes 14,100 pounds of trash, 2,856 pounds of tires, 375 pounds of appliances, 92 pounds of bicycles, 275 pounds of furniture, and 165 pounds of televisions.

Additional items collected included vinyl siding, a mattress, lawn chairs, a swimming pool, a stroller, car parts, railroad ties, fencing, cement blocks and large pieces of Styrofoam.

Volunteers at five sites also worked to clear invasive species and vegetation from natural areas.

For event photos, find Xstream Cleanup on Facebook or click through from www.xstreamcleanup.org.

Xstream Cleanup 2015 was sponsored by the following. Presenting Sponsors: Group O and Riverboat Development Authority. Platinum Sponsors: Alcoa, Triumph Community Bank, Living Lands & Waters® and Waste Commission of Scott County. Gold Sponsors: Iowa American Water, Eastern Iowa Grain Inspection and Rock Island County Waste Management Agency. Silver Sponsors: Alter Metal Recycling, DHL Global Forwarding, McCarthy-Bush Corporation, MidAmerican Energy, Radish magazine, Quad City Conservation Alliance, Sears Seating and Wallace's Garden Center. Bronze Sponsors: Downtown Davenport Partnership and Midas Auto System Experts, Inc. Logistics Sponsors: Cities of Bettendorf, Buffalo, Davenport, LeClaire, Milan, Moline, Rock Island and Silvis; Bi-State Regional Commission, Keep Moline Beautiful, Keep Rock Island Beautiful, iLivehere, Partners of Scott County Watersheds, Republic Services and River Roots Live.

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2015 ? For the first time in its 110-year history, the Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is spending more than 50 percent of its budget to suppress the nation's wildfires. A new report released today by the Forest Service estimates that within a decade, the agency will spend more than two-thirds of its budget to battle ever-increasing fires, while mission-critical programs that can help prevent fires in the first place such as forest restoration and watershed and landscape management will continue to suffer. Meanwhile, the report notes, these catastrophic blazes are projected to burn twice as many acres by 2050.

As the costs of fighting wildfires grow each year with longer, hotter, more unpredictable fire seasons, the report details how the Forest Service has experienced significant shifts in staffing and resources. In effect, the Forest Service has nearly half a billion dollars less, in 2015 dollars, than it did in 1995 to handle non-fire related programs?the bulk of its programming. There has also been a 39 percent loss of non-fire personnel, from approximately 18,000 in 1998 to fewer than 11,000 in 2015, while the fire staff has more than doubled. Dedicated to its mission of protecting more than 190 million acres of federal forests and grasslands, as well as lives and personal property from the growing threats of catastrophic wildfire, the Forest Service in recent years has absorbed skyrocketing costs related to fire and relied increasingly on "fire transfer"?moving resources from non-fire accounts to cover firefighting costs.

"Climate change and other factors are causing the cost of fighting fires to rise every year," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, "but the way we fund our Forest Service hasn't changed in generations. Meanwhile, everything else suffers, from the very restoration projects that have been proven to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the future, to watershed projects that protect drinking water for 1 in 5 Americans, to recreation projects that support thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity. The time has come for Congress to change the way it funds the Forest Service."

Today, fire seasons are 78 days longer than in the 1970s. Since 2000, at least 10 states have had their largest fires on record. Increasing development near forest boundaries also drives up costs, as more than 46 million homes and more than 70,000 communities are at risk from wildfire in the United States.

"These factors are causing the cost of fighting fires to rise every year, and there is no end in sight," said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. The release of this report is very timely based on the current hectic pace of wildfires in this country. We have been pointing out this challenge for the past few years, but we have not been able to effectively address it through our current budget process. It is important to keep the focus on this problem, ensure the discussion continues and a solution to the funding problem be found."

By 2025, the cost of fire suppression is expected to grow to nearly $1.8 billion dollars, according to today's report, but the Forest Service would be expected to absorb those costs into its regular budget, which has remained relatively flat. And if these trends continue, the Forest Service will be forced to take an additional $700 million dollars over the next 10 years from all the other programs. No other natural disasters are funded this way.

When fire suppression costs more than Congress appropriates to the Forest Service in any given year, the agency is forced to transfer additional funds from already depleted programs, called "fire transfer."

Vilsack said the bipartisan Wildfire Disaster Funding Act, already introduced in the House and Senate, is an important step forward in addressing the funding problems. The proposed legislation, which mirrors a similar proposal in President Obama's Fiscal Year 2016 Budget, would provide a fiscally responsible mechanism to treat wildfires more like other natural disasters, end "fire transfers" and partially replenish the ability to restore resilient forests and protect against future fire outbreaks.

"We must treat catastrophic wildfire not like a routine expense," said Vilsack, "but as the natural disasters they truly are. It's time to address the runaway growth of fire suppression at the cost of other critical programs."

To read the full report, go to: http://www.fs.fed.us/about-agency/budget-performance/cost-fire-operations

The mission of the Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to State and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the Nation's clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

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