Organic farmers want more time to get their corn crops in the ground and still be able to qualify for crop insurance. Right now, they are held to the same timelines as conventional farmers, which they say puts them at a disadvantage and could cost them their full insurance coverage. Both ...
Whether it is giving money or donating my time to an organization, it is always worth it. Volunteering in the community is important. I saw it with my grandpa’s participation in the Lion’s Club which consisted of grandma and grandpa cutting up onions for their dinner, driving the truck ...
Admittedly, “Smash your smartphone” is a bit of a dramatic exaggeration, meant to shock you into paying attention. I didn’t smash my smartphone. It wasn’t until I dropped my smartphone in the toilet that I finally got rid of it. My wife still uses her iPhone 6 for a camera. My ...
It’s been a busy week at the Capitol! On Monday morning, I had the pleasure of joining a great group of 5th graders from Lincoln Elementary School in Cedar Falls for a tour of the Capitol. I enjoyed answering their questions and I appreciate their enthusiasm to learn more about state ...
Week 15 of the session was a short week, we debated bills on Wednesday and Thursday in the House. Many of the bills we debated were bills that were amended in the Senate earlier in the week and sent back to the House for consideration. House File 317, a bill that I filed known as the ...
If Iowa’s climate keeps changing as a result of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide from man’s activities, corn and soybean yields are predicted to decline by 39-68% and 86-92%, respectively, by 2050, according to an article in the journal Scientific Reports. Even worse, this is not the ...
Planting season is here. Last week’s warm weather led to some getting out in the field and putting in this year’s crop. Others will start soon enough but it might have to be a bit due to this uncharacteristic spring. Compared to the last few springs, this has led to different decisions ...
Extreme weather events typically don’t happen very often. However, more and stronger extreme weather events are consistent with what scientists expect from a warming planet. These events are becoming more frequent and severe around the world. Extreme weather events include heatwaves, ...
As session is nearly three weeks from the scheduled end date, progress continues to align for a well-deserved victory as we celebrate positive progress knowing a bright future is ahead for lowa. I was just as shocked as many of you when my Property Tax Assessments were delivered last week. ...
This year, I've enjoyed serving on the Senate Appropriations committee. The Appropriations committee sets the state budget, which is one of the most important items of business the legislature must accomplish every year. Much of our work this week was dedicated to beginning this process, but ...