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Iowa farmers, ag leaders urge Tom Vilsack, Katherine Tai to lower tariffs to ease fertilizer costs

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Iowa farmers, ag leaders urge Tom Vilsack, Katherine Tai to lower tariffs to ease fertilizer costs


WOODWARD, Iowa — Confronted with skyrocketing bills, Iowa farmers urged U.S. agriculture and commerce leaders to ease tariffs on fertilizers in an effort to chop their prices to develop subsequent 12 months’s corn, soybeans and different crops.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Commerce Consultant Katherine Tai and U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, a Democrat, met with Iowa farmers and ag leaders on Thursday for greater than an hour at a farm close to Woodward.

Iowa farmers advised the officers, who touted the advantages of the $750 billion Inflation Discount Act that President Joe Biden signed into legislation this week, that the costs of fertilizer, seed and different merchandise wanted to boost crops are exploding. 

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“Prices on my farm are up about 325%. It is attending to be insufferable,” stated Lance Lillibridge, a northeast Iowa farmer and the Iowa Corn Growers Affiliation board president.

An Iowa State College research in June confirmed that some fertilizer costs are as a lot as 4 instances larger now than in 2020, whereas crop costs have roughly doubled.

U.S. farmers depend on nitrogen, potash and different fertilizer imports from China, Russia, Canada, Morocco and different international locations to develop their crops. A few of these imports face U.S. tariffs.

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Extra: Decide guidelines names of landowners in path of carbon seize pipeline ought to be made public

Earlier this month, three main farm teams requested the Biden administration to supply quick, short-term aid to farmers by eliminating tariffs on imported potash from Morocco.

In an announcement in response to Vilsack’s go to, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican, criticized the Biden administration for not doing sufficient to decrease fertilizer tariffs.

“The prevailing tariffs on fertilizer are nothing greater than a tax on our farmers,” Ernst stated. “They hinder their potential to afford crucial vitamins wanted to fulfill the rising demand.”

Ernst, amongst different senators, has urged Biden to waive duties on fertilizer imports, much like the motion the president took to assist out the photo voltaic trade.

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Final month, a federal commerce fee rejected efforts so as to add tariffs on nitrogen merchandise from Russia and Trinidad and Tobago.

Vilsack responded partly to their issues, saying the U.S. Division of Agriculture is working to spice up home fertilizer manufacturing. Amongst these efforts, the USDA introduced in March it was making $250 million in grants out there to encourage U.S. manufacturing.

Daniel Heady, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s nationwide coverage adviser, stated the group appreciated the USDA’s efforts to spice up home manufacturing. However, he added, it may not come quickly sufficient.

“We’re all for constructing native home manufacturing of ag inputs, but it surely takes awhile to do this and some huge cash,” Heady stated. “Till we get to that time, we have to permit for the free motion of ag merchandise,” with lowered tariffs on fertilizers.

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Lillibridge stated producers are involved about Mexico’s decree to section out corn that has been genetically modified, the majority of the U.S. provide. Mexico is the No. 1 marketplace for U.S. corn and dried distillers grain, a byproduct from making ethanol that is excessive in protein and fed to livestock.

“Mexico is a giant deal,” Lillibridge stated. “We have not confronted any commerce disruptions but, however farmers are very involved about what might occur.”

MORE: As John Deere shifts some jobs from Iowa to Mexico, U.S. commerce rep defends commerce treaty

Bob Haus, authorities affairs supervisor for Corteva Agriscience, stated Mexico has already denied approval of 14 seed traits in corn, soybeans and cotton, a development that can affect U.S. farmers and exports to the nation.

Seed traits assist decide how nicely crops can survive rising challenges like pests and extreme climate.

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“Our freedom to function is our freedom to innovate,” stated Haus, who famous that Corteva, previously DuPont Pioneer in Johnston, employs about 3,000 folks in its Iowa operations.

Vilsack stated a part of Mexico’s causes for phasing out genetically engineered corn by 2024 has to do with the nation’s heritage. “White corn was first developed and established” in Mexico, he stated. “It is about Mexican pleasure. Mexican heritage. It is distinctive to them. It is a part of their identification.”

However Vilsack advised Mexico leaders customers might face rising meals prices with out U.S. corn to feed livestock. “That made an impression,” he stated. “And we’re in a dialogue about how we would get to a greater place” on accepting biotech traits and persevering with U.S. corn gross sales to the nation.

Extra: Iowa farmland values spiked a blistering 21% this 12 months, the second-largest enhance nationally

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Vilsack famous that U.S. farm exports hit a report in 2021. “And we’re anticipating to do it once more this 12 months,” given the present export tempo, he stated. U.S. farm and meals exports totaled $177 billion final 12 months, beating a report set in 2014 by practically 15%, the U.S. Division of Commerce reported.

Craig Floss, CEO of the Iowa Corn Growers Affiliation, stated export markets are crucial to U.S. corn growers, accounting for a couple of quarter of the crop, both immediately, fed to livestock, or as byproducts, akin to dried distillers grains.

Exports are “actually the distinction between earnings or not on our farms,” he stated. “We actually have to increase our world market entry.”

Vilsack stated he believed that U.S. farmers will lead the nation on decreasing greenhouse gases that contribute to local weather change, with the assistance of the Inflation Discount Act, which offers $19.5 billion to help conservation by means of conventional USDA applications.

Axne stated she pushed for $500 million within the new spending legislation to construct out pumps and different infrastructure so customers should purchase ethanol, biodiesel and different renewable gas.

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Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the surroundings and power for the Register. Attain her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457. 



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Man charged with destroying Iowa Capitol Satanic display seeks to strike hate crime count

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Man charged with destroying Iowa Capitol Satanic display seeks to strike hate crime count


A Mississippi man charged with destroying an Iowa Capitol display erected by Satanists is arguing in court filings the resulting hate crime charge against him is unconstitutional.

Erected under a policy granting religious groups space in the building for displays during the holiday season, the Satanic Temple of Iowa’s installation centered on a statue of the horned pagan idol Baphomet. Michael Cassidy, a former Republican congressional candidate, admitted to officials that he destroyed the centerpiece on Dec. 14, and later told a conservative website that “my conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted.”

Previously: Iowa lawmaker calls for Gov. Kim Reynolds to remove Satanic Temple’s display from Capitol

Cassidy, who has received crowdfunded donations of more than $130,000 for his legal defense, initially was charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief. In January, Polk County prosecutors elevated the charge to a felony under the state’s hate crime statute.

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In a filing Friday, defense attorney Sara Pasquale told the court the “violation of individual rights” enhancement is inapplicable to Cassidy’s case, and also is broadly unconstitutional.

Satanism not a real religion, Cassidy lawyer claims

The 11-page filing makes several arguments against the enhancement. Pasquale contends the law, which governs crimes motivated by “the person’s (victim’s) race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disability,” does not apply to damage to a display owned by the Satanic Temple because the organization is a legal entity, not a person, and cannot have a race, sex or disability, or practice a religion.

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“It could never be said, save in Wonderland, that Best Buy is Buddhist,” Pasquale wrote.

She further argued that the Satanic Temple is not a religion for purposes of the statute. Religion entails “a system of faith and worship,” Pasquale wrote, citing multiple dictionaries, while the Satanic Temple of Iowa specifically disavows “a belief in a personal Satan.” Pasquale points to comments by a temple leader, quoted in a Dec. 16 Register article, to debunk the “common misconception” that “the Satanic Temple is a theistic religion that worships Satan as an entity.”

“(The Temple’s) own words establish that it is not a religion within the ordinary meaning of religion, as they have no faith, do not worship, and reject the supernatural,” Pasquale wrote. “That they call themselves a religion simply does not make it so.”

The Satanic Temple did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Hate crime law unconstitutional, defense argues

Even if the law were applicable, it would still violate the free speech guarantees of the Iowa and U.S. Constitutions, Pasquale argued, calling prior U.S. and Iowa Supreme Court decisions to the contrary “misguided.”

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“Because (the hate crime law) in this case seeks to punish Cassidy’s thoughts, it cannot withstand constitutional muster as it violates the First Amendment which protects ‘the freedom to think,’” she wrote.

Polk County prosecutors have not yet responded to Cassidy’s motion in court. The case is scheduled to go to trial in May.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166



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What TV channel is Kansas State basketball vs Iowa on for first-round NIT game?

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What TV channel is Kansas State basketball vs Iowa on for first-round NIT game?


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The Kansas State men’s basketball team did not receive an NCAA Tournament at-large bid on Sunday, but instead landed in the National Invitation Tournament.

The Wildcats (19-14) will play their first-round game on the road Tuesday night against No. 3 regional seed Iowa (18-14) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.

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K-State has won two of its last three games, including an upset of Iowa State in its regular-season finale and victory over higher seed Texas in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament before falling to Iowa State in Thursday’s quarterfinals, 76-56. Iowa dropped its last regular season game at home against Illinois, then fell to Ohio State, 90-78 Thursday in the Big Ten Tournament.

Iowa, under 14th-year coach Fran McCaffery, tied for sixth in the Big Ten at 10-10. The Hawkeyes average 82.9 points per game.

Where Kansas State basketball’s March Madness résumé stands for 2024 NCAA Tournament

Kansas State basketball relying on “crazy faith” to keep NCAA Tournament hopes alive

Junior forward Payton Sandfort leads four Iowa double-figure scorers with 16.3 points per game, followed by senior Tony Perkins at 14.5, graduate Ben Krikke with 13.5 and co-Big Ten freshman of the year Owen Freeman with 10.6. Perkins averages a team-high 4.6 assists, and Freeman 6.6 rebounds.

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For K-State, super-senior guard Tylor Perry averages 15.5 points and 4.4 assists, Arthur Kaluma 14.7 points and 7.1 rebounds, and Cam Carter 14.6 points.

Here’s everything you need to know about Kansas State’s game vs. Iowa, including time, TV and streaming info and more:

What channels are Kansas State vs. Iowa on?

TV channel: ESPN

Livestream: ESPN+, FUBO (free trial)

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Radio: K-State Sports Network

Kansas State vs. Iowa start time

When: 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19

Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City

Kansas State vs. Iowa betting odds

Spread: Iowa by 6.5

Over/under: 156.5 points

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We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.



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Experts detail environmental impact of fertilizer spill in southwest Iowa

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Experts detail environmental impact of fertilizer spill in southwest Iowa


RED OAK, Iowa. (WOWT) – Water is one of the necessities of life.

“Everybody wants good water quality. We all have to drink water. We all recreate in water,” said John Lorenzen, a biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Lorenzen and his fellow DNR experts are still examining the environmental impacts of a massive 1,500-ton liquid nitrogen fertilizer spill near Red Oak, Iowa caused by a New Cooperative valve that was left open last Monday.

They know liquid nitrogen fertilizer traveled along the East Nishnabotna River in Iowa for 50 miles down to the state of Missouri where it’s estimated to have traveled at least another 10 miles.

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“(It’s) probably the longest fishkill that we’ve experienced in this area,” said Brent Marten, an environmental specialist for the Iowa DNR.

As the fertilizer plume swept through the water, the home of aquatic wildlife soon became their grave. Native species of varying sizes were found dead ashore and floating in the water.

“Just acute toxicity basically burned tissue on the outside and if they ingested it, on the inside of the fish,” said Lorenzen.

Water testing showed that where the spill happened, nitrogen levels were at least 60 times higher than they should’ve been.

After surveying from Red Oak to Hamburg on the Iowa-Missouri border, surveyors told 6 News they didn’t see any live fish with one exception: “We saw a handful of grass carp at the Hamburg bridge that were in the process of dying,” said Lorenzen. “Fortunately, this did not happen a month or so from now.”

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That’s because larger species, like catfish, are still in the Missouri River for the cold season. If it were warmer, they too could’ve been killed. Lorenzen is hopeful that the native species will rebound. Those that found refuge in tributaries should spawn and restock the river. It’s still unknown how long that will take.

“On a short time frame, a year,” said Lorenzen. “On a longer time frame, it may take a bit longer. It’s really hard to say.”

Lorenzen explained this may have an impact on the larger fish in the upcoming season. With many of the smaller, native fish of the East Nishnabotna River dead, the food chain may be impacted.

Now, Martens is doing follow-up testing for the water. In Red Oak, the nitrogen levels are back to what they would’ve been before the spill. He said it’s likely once the plume hits the Missouri River it would dilute and dissolve.

The field specialists’ reports will go to the legal division of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. From there they’ll determine the next steps and possible fines.

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