We reached the end of the 2024 Legislative Session in the early hours of Saturday, April 20. We were in session for 103 days, including 37 days of voting on the House Floor. We passed 295 bills in the House, and 85% of these bills, 252, were non-partisan votes. I want to share with you what I ...
Let’s start with the price: $7,170. That’s the insurance quote I got this week from the only company that will insure us. The only company. Apparently “agritourism” – having tourists on your farm for classes or pizza night or to pet goat kids — is a no-no in Iowa now. And ...
Nothing gets me more excited than the smell of freshly cut grass, the chalk lines being drawn around the batter’s box, and the smell of hotdogs and popcorn in the air. I am sure by now you know I am talking about the great sport of Baseball. Nine innings of trying to figure out who is going ...
If you are a farmland owner and you have not had a discussion about cover crops on your land with your farmer, it may be in your best interest. Most family land is more than likely going to be passed down to the next generation so why not ensure it is in the best shape? The best way to protect ...
In the heart of Iowa, Tama County is on the brink of a pivotal change. Lucas Dvorak, a name synonymous with dedication, expertise, and community involvement, has announced his candidacy for the position of Tama County Sheriff. With nearly 15 years of commendable service within the Sheriff's ...
There is a revival in Garwin! If a Church is like a sailboat, then you can’t make the wind blow, but you can have open sails. Over the last year, God has been helping us to fix up our boat and teaching us to open our sails again. Now, by God’s grace, the wind is blowing! This April and ...
There are plenty of old wives tales like if it rains before seven, it is done by 11. Another agriculture one is, which I did not believe was true at first, when farmers start making money, everyone else in the ag industry makes good money. I am also a numbers person. I was phenomenal with ...
We are in week 15 of the session with the intention of finishing up the budget and policy work yet this week, possibly working through till Saturday. As I finish this newsletter at 7:30 Thursday evening, we are preparing to debate five of these budget bills this evening. The first budget we ...
It’s time to be honest with you. You’re the problem. Every year about this time we warn you, the motoring public, that highway work is beginning across the country. State Police, State Departments of Transportation, workers, Unions, OSHA, and more; we produce public service ...
Do something. This mantra has been stuck in my head since I read Gabe Brown’s book, “Dirt to Soil.” It is about the regenerative agriculture movement which gives a unique perspective on agriculture. It should not be taken as gospel, but it provides different viewpoints. While talking ...