WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Dec. 3, 2010 - Washington County farmers Joel and Laura Huber were presented Iowa Farm Bureau Federation's (IFBF) 2010 Young Farmer Achievement Award on Dec. 2 at the organization's annual meeting in Des Moines.

The annual contest honors young farmers who show outstanding management ability in their farming operations and involvement in Farm Bureau and community activities.  Receiving second place in the contest were Justin and Jennifer Dammann of Page County.  Third place recipients were Shane and Tammy DeBord of Cass County.

The Hubers raise hogs independently and grow corn and soybeans on their farm near Wellman.  The couple also operates a custom manure application business, and Laura is a teacher at the local school. Joel has served as secretary and membership chair of the Washington County Farm Bureau board, and this past year he served as the county's vice president. Outside of Farm Bureau, the couple has dedicated time to the Iowa Pork Producers, Iowa State University Extension and their local church.

For their award, Joel and Laura receive a plaque, an AGCO tractor for 150 hours, a Case New Holland certificate for $2,000 (or a Farmall or Magnum tractor for one year or 150 hours). They will also receive expense-paid trips to the 2010 American Farm Bureau annual convention in Atlanta (to represent Iowa in the National Young Farmer Achievement competition), the Growmark annual meeting in Chicago and the IFBF Young Farmer conference.

Runners-up Justin and Jennifer Dammann raise cattle, corn, soybeans, alfalfa and rye on their Century Farm near Essex. Both have served Farm Bureau in various capacities at the local and state levels. Justin has held president, vice president, young farmer committee chair and policy development chair posts on the Page County board and has participated in the state resolution committee. Jennifer is a graduate of Farm Bureau's Ag Leaders Institute, and both she and Justin have served on the statewide young farmer advisory committee.

Outside of Farm Bureau, the Dammanns volunteer for the county Cattlemen's Association, the county Soybean Association, the county Extension Council, the county fair and the local study and service club. They receive a plaque, a $1,000 gift certificate from Grainger and a $500 gift certificate from Growmark.

Third place finishers Shane and Tammy DeBord raise cattle, corn and soybeans on their farm near Atlantic. Shane has played an active role in the county Farm Bureau, serving on the board and reaching out to local schools to promote agriculture. The couple is also active with the county and state Pork Producers Association, Cattlemen's Association, Corn Growers Association and Soybean Association. Shane is a township trustee and a 4-H youth leader, and both Shane and Tammy serve as youth leaders at their local church. For their third place honor, the DeBords receive a plaque, a GPS unit from Farm Bureau Financial Services and $200 from Iowa Farm Bureau.

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URBANA - Tony Franklin was recently named University of Illinois Extension Director for the multi-county unit comprised of Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, and Stark counties.

"While there will be many challenges as we transition into the multi-county system," Franklin said, "the initial challenge will be to establish relationships with key stakeholders and volunteers, but it's one I'm really looking forward to."

Franklin was Associate Dean of Students at Knox College before joining University of Illinois Extension in 2001. He has served on numerous regional and statewide committees.

My vision for Unit 7 is to provide quality high impact programs that address critical issues and provide public value.  Goals and program initiatives will be implemented by a team of Educators in the following subject areas:  4-H Youth Development and Military Youth; Family and Consumer Sciences; Horticulture; and Community Development.  Specific programs will be determined based on local needs

The change in leadership came as the result of a restructuring of Extension due to a reduction in state funding.

"Even though Units are larger, we want to reassure everyone that the help you need from Extension will be just as accessible as it has been in the past" said Robert Hoeft, Interim Associate Dean for Extension and Outreach.  Hoeft says "People can still call the same phone numbers or use the same emails they have in the past to reach their local Extension staff."

The Extension educators who have been also been named are:  Jennifer Garner, Community Development; Cheryl Geitner, 4-H Youth and Military; Martha Smith, Horticulture; and Janice McCoy, Family Life.

An educator in Expanded Food and Nutrition Education has yet to be named.

For more information about how to find your local Extension office or personnel, visit http://web.extension.illinois.edu/.

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DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 14, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA Rural Development is providing loans and grants for 433 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in Iowa under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The funding includes support for wind projects that will generate renewable energy for businesses and agricultural producers. Also selected for funding are an anaerobic digester and renewable energy projects that use biomass as a fuel source.

"These loans and grants will generate and save energy for Iowa's farmers and business for many years to come, while promoting Obama Administration efforts to transition to a renewable energy economy," Vilsack said. "Farmers have significant opportunity to reduce their energy consumption or generate income by producing renewable energy that can be used by other consumers through USDA's REAP program."

The funding totals nearly $32 million and is expected to generate significant cost savings for recipients as they replace outdated equipment and install systems that create renewable energy or reduce energy use.

For example, Mark Anderson of rural Black Hawk County has been selected to receive a $20,000 grant to install a 20 kilowatt wind turbine to provide energy for the farming operation. Dean A. Tjaden of Charles City has been selected for an $8,000 grant to install a biomass furnace. The Madison County Winery LLC, located just outside St. Charles, has been selected for a $13,651 grant to purchase and install a geothermal heating and cooling system and solar panel for the winery's warehouse. Mark Ehrhardt of Monona has been selected for two REAP grants totaling $22,675 to install a biomass furnace to replace a propane furnace to heat a dairy barn and to install robotic milking equipment to reduce energy consumption.

Hundreds of rural businesses and farmers in Iowa have benefited from the REAP program during the past few years. One previous recipient is a farm engine and equipment repair shop in Spencer, Iowa. Shop owner Gary Hoefling moved his businesses from two locations to a new, 6,750-square-foot, energy-efficient building in fall 2008. The new building has a geothermal heating and cooling system that was paid in part by a $27,250 energy grant from USDA Rural Development. The building also uses energy-efficient lighting and is landscaped using environmentally friendly techniques, including a rain garden, permeable pavers and a garden of native prairie grasses and wild flowers that provide coverage and insulation for the geothermal well sites. Hoefling estimates the geothermal system will pay for itself in four to five years because of lower heating and cooling costs, tax credits and an accelerated depreciation schedule.

REAP funding can be used for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, feasibility studies, energy audits, and renewable energy development assistance. More information on the REAP program, which was authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill, is at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapResEei.html.

Funding of each recipient is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant or loan agreement. The following is a complete list of REAP recipients announced today. Award Recipients

Through its Rural Development mission area, USDA administers and manages more than 40 housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a network of 6,100 employees located in the nation's capital and over 600 state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers, and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $142 billion in loans and loan guarantees.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa - October 4, 2010 - Iowa Farm Bureau Federation's (IFBF) grassroots farmers work hard to protect the soil and water of this state which, for generations, have provided food for their families and yours.  That is why IFBF has joined with the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) and the Iowa Water Environment Association to file litigation challenging a rule adopted by the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) over inappropriate voting by an out-of-state resident Commission member and the conflict of interest by another EPC member.

A lawsuit, filed October 4, 2010, raises questions about the legality of the EPC vote last December which approved a new water quality rule. "The livelihoods of farmers, rural businesses and all Iowans are adversely affected by the new antidegradation rules," said IFBF President Craig Lang.  "The rule will stifle new economic development and job creation, especially in rural areas of Iowa."

"We know that the antidegradation rule will likely increase sewer and storm water rates for many Iowans, whether they live in small, rural towns or large Iowa cities," said Ted Payseur, government relations chair of the Iowa Water Environment Association.  The IRFA agrees; "While Iowa is the nation's leader in renewable fuels production, this new EPC rule threatens the future of that status," said IRFA executive director Monte Shaw.  "Imposing excessive costs and limitations that go above and beyond the Clean Water Act will severely hamper the ability of current biofuels producers to expand and will discourage new producers from locating in Iowa."

The lawsuit contends two EPC members had significant issues that should have prevented them from voting on the antidegradation rule.  Residency was the issue for regulator Carrie LaSeur, founder and president of the environmental activist group, Plains Justice.  LaSeur was already living and voting in Montana when she cast her vote on the Iowa antidegradation rule. That is a clear violation of the residency laws governing the EPC, which require members to be registered Iowa voters.

Susan Heathcote is an employee of The Iowa Environmental Council, an environmental lobbying group which pushed EPC adoption of the antidegradation rule; she had a clear conflict voting on a measure that affects her employer and her paycheck.

The lawsuit also spotlights procedural irregularities with the adoption of the antidegradation rule.  "Iowans need to believe they are represented by lawmakers who have their best interests in mind; not appointed members of a board, serving their own agendas," said Lang.

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