Latest news with #IDALS
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New handbook helps law enforcement respond to Iowa animal-welfare complaints
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has released a handbook to help law enforcement and local officials better respond to animal welfare complaints, according to an article in the Iowa Capital Dispatch. IDALS will host an informative webinar on the handbook Wednesday, May 28, to give an overview of the tool, which provides agency-specific, and species-specific, guidelines. Those interested in attending can register here. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the department's animal health staff developed the handbook so that partners across the state have the tools to respond with IDALS to animal welfare complaints. 'The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responsible for keeping animals in our state safe and healthy, and it's a responsibility we take very seriously,' Naig said in a statement. Mindi Callison, of the animal advocacy group Bailing Out Benji, called the guidebook 'a phenomenal resource.' 'This is the most comprehensive handbook out there outside of the USDA,' Callison said. Callison said while the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a thick handbook, it's geared towards licensees and inspectors. Callison said the plain language of the IDALS handbook will make it easier for law enforcement to step in without having to look through and interpret Iowa code. Officials who might respond to an animal welfare call have different roles. The USDA and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS, control the licensing, inspection and outreach for any groups transporting, researching, exhibiting or dealing animals. The agency works to ensure these individuals meet standards set by the Animal Welfare Act. Local law enforcement, including animal control groups and county attorneys may also be involved in animal welfare cases to respond to calls, determine the course of action and build animal abuse cases when applicable. The handbook outlines how law enforcement should respond to and investigate an animal welfare complaint, which Callison said is an 'immediate resource' that will allow authorities to respond to calls sooner. 'We've seen cases where law enforcement agencies were hesitant to step in because they didn't know how to handle the case … But this guidebook really lays it out for them, and it kind of shows them who to contact in different cases for support,' Callison said. The handbook advises local authorities to plan in advance, by identifying facilities that could house animals in the event they need to be relocated, and building relationships with local partners and veterinarians. It also encourages communities to build a response plan in the event of animal welfare complaints, to 'ensure a collaborative approach to safeguarding animal welfare.' Callison said she believes these community connections can also 'really help' facilities to 'do better' before it comes to a complaint and animal welfare investigation. The handbook also serves as a quick reference guide for Iowa code related to animal welfare, including statutes on livestock, the mistreatment of animals, animals in commercial establishments and rescuing animals. Don McDowell, communications director for IDALS, said 'a lot of work' went into developing the handbook. 'We identified a significant need for this resource in working with and communicating with local law enforcement partners over the past few years – both larger urban counties and smaller rural counties,' McDowell said in an email. He said the guide emphasizes the importance of advanced planning for law enforcement officials, but is also meant to help 'county attorneys document the situation and build a strong animal neglect case.' For several years, Iowa has placed high on the list of states with the highest number of puppy mill violations. Puppy mills are facilities that breed puppies – usually in in inhumane conditions – and sell them. Part of the issue, which Callison's organization Bailing Out Benji has highlighted, is that federally licensed facilities do not have to follow the same standards as state-licensed facilities. Callison said the handbook helps to clarify the role each agency plays, regardless of where a facility is licensed, which she said 'will provide some clarity.' Legislators proposed a fix to this 'loophole' as Callison called it, but the bill did not advance before the close of Iowa's legislative session. Bailing Out Benji is based in Iowa but works to expose animal cruelty situations across the country. Callison said she has not seen similar handbooks in other states but hopes the IDALS move will inspire other states to create similar guides. 'This is a great move by the department,' Callison said. 'I'm shocked that our state has the most comprehensive handbook out there. I'm excited to see how it changes what's going on in our state.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
IDALS launches animal welfare handbook for local officials
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship released an animal welfare handbook to help local officials respond to animal welfare complaints. (Photo by Lance Cheung/USDA) The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has released a handbook to help law enforcement and local officials better respond to animal welfare complaints. IDALS will host an informative webinar on the handbook Wednesday, May 28, to give an overview of the tool, which provides agency-specific, and species-specific, guidelines. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the department's animal health staff developed the handbook so that partners across the state have the tools to respond with IDALS to animal welfare complaints. 'The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responsible for keeping animals in our state safe and healthy, and it's a responsibility we take very seriously,' Naig said in a statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Mindi Callison, of the animal advocacy group Bailing Out Benji, called the guidebook 'a phenomenal resource.' 'This is the most comprehensive handbook out there outside of the USDA,' Callison said. Callison said while the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a thick handbook, it's geared towards licensees and inspectors. Callison said the plain language of IDALS handbook will make it easier for law enforcement to step in without having to look through and interpret Iowa code. Officials who might respond to an animal welfare call have different roles. The USDA and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS, control the licensing, inspection and outreach for any groups transporting, researching, exhibiting or dealing animals. The agency works to ensure these individuals meet standards set by the Animal Welfare Act. Local law enforcement, including animal control groups, and county attorneys may also be involved in animal welfare cases to respond to calls, determine the course of action and build animal abuse cases when applicable. The handbook outlines how law enforcement should respond to and investigate an animal welfare complaint, which Callison said is an 'immediate resource' that will allow authorities to respond to calls sooner. 'We've seen cases where law enforcement agencies were hesitant to step in because they didn't know how to handle the case … But this guidebook really lays it out for them, and it kind of shows them who to contact in different cases for support,' Callison said. The handbook advises local authorities to plan in advance, by identifying facilities that could house animals in the event they need to be relocated, and building relationships with local partners and veterinarians. It also encourages communities to build a response plan in the event of animal welfare complaints, to 'ensure a collaborative approach to safeguarding animal welfare.' Callison said she believes these community connections can also 'really help' facilities to 'do better' before it comes to a complaint and animal welfare investigation. The handbook also serves as a quick reference guide for Iowa code related to animal welfare, including statutes on livestock, the mistreatment of animals, animals in commercial establishments and rescuing animals. Don McDowell, communications director for IDALS, said 'a lot of work' went into developing the handbook. 'We identified a significant need for this resource in working with and communicating with local law enforcement partners over the past few years – both larger urban counties and smaller rural counties,' McDowell said in an email. He said the guide emphasizes the importance of advanced planning for law enforcement officials, but is also meant to help 'county attorneys document the situation and build a strong animal neglect case.' For several years, Iowa has placed high on the list of states with the highest number of puppy mill violations. Part of the issue, which Callison's organization Bailing Out Benji has highlighted, is that federally licensed facilities do not have to follow the same standards as state licensed facilities. Callison said the handbook helps to clarify the role each agency plays, regardless of where a facility is licensed, which she said 'will provide some clarity.' Legislators proposed a fix to this 'loophole' as Callison called it, but the bill did not advance before the close of Iowa's legislative session. Bailing Out Benji is based in Iowa but works to expose animal cruelty situations across the country. Callison said she has not seen similar handbooks in other states but hopes the IDALS move will inspire other states to create similar guides. 'This is a great move by the department,' Callison said. 'I'm shocked that our state has the most comprehensive handbook out there. I'm excited to see how it changes what's going on in our state.' Those interested in attending the webinar on the handbook can register online. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa grain dealer files for bankruptcy; farmers can file for indemnity for 120 days
Trucks deliver harvested grain in western Iowa. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch) A St. Louis-based company with an Iowa grain dealer license has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Iowa farmers with unpaid grain sold to Benson Hill Holdings, Inc. prior to March 20, can file a claim for indemnity, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Don McDowell, communications director for IDALS, said the department is not 'immediately aware' of any affected farmers. The grain indemnity fund will pay farmers 90% of their loss, up to $300,000, though claims related to Benson Hill must be mailed or personally delivered to IDALS's Grain Warehouse Bureau by July 18. The fund was established by the Iowa Legislature in 1986 and accrues via a per-bushel fee on purchased grain and fees on licensed warehouses and grain dealers. According to minutes from the Iowa Grain Indemnity Fund Board, the balance of the fund as of Feb. 19 was $8.4 million. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Benson Hill filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy March 20 and has up to $11 million in debtor-in-possession financing to continue its day-to-day operations. Christi Dixon, a spokesperson for the seed innovation company, said it is 'restructuring' its finances. 'We will continue to meet our contractual commitments and support key farmers without interruption,' Dixon said in an email. Dixon said the company maintains a seed processing facility in Bondurant and employs seven people in Iowa. Benson Hill previously owned a soy processing facility in Creston, but sold the facility in February 2024 to White River Nutrition. McDowell said the grain license for Benson Hill included locations in Cherokee and Galva. In 2023, the grain indemnity fund fell below its minimum threshold, which triggered the farmer-paid fees to support the fund, after nearly 30 years without needing to fill the fund. It also triggered legislative efforts to reform the grain indemnity fund to reflect modern farming practices and pricing. The efforts have stalled out in the past due to disagreements on including credit-sale contracts, which are currently excluded from the fund. House File 508, introduced this year, would increase the fund's minimum from from $3 million to $8 million, and its maximum from $8 million to $16 million. It would also extend protections to farmers with credit-sale contracts, but would only reimburse these contracts at 70%. The bill is not yet eligible for floor debate in the House and could be killed by the upcoming April 4 'funnel' deadline if it does not advance to the Senate and through committee. The Senate version, Senate File 608, would increase the minimum and maximum to $5 million and $12 million, respectively, and would include credit-sale contracts as transactions covered by the fund. SF 608 is eligible for floor debate. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bird flu detected in Dallas County mixed species backyard flock
DALLAS COUNTY, Iowa — A new case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, known as bird flu, has been detected in a Dallas County mixed species backyard flock. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the detection on Saturday. Vendor market brings together women business owners This is the fifth detection of H5N1 HPAI within Iowa domestic birds in 2025. Other detections include a Sac County turkey flock, a Buena Vista County turkey flock, and a multi-species backyard flock in Clinton County. According to the CDC, H5 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows. Bird flu is typically fatal to domestic birds, and while there have been instances of fatal bird flu cases in cows the IDALS said with supportive care dairy cows can recover. The CDC says the threat to the general public remains low and it remains safe to enjoy eggs and poultry products. To learn more about bird flu and its signs and symptoms visit the IDALS' website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bird flu detected in Sac County turkey flock
SAC COUNTY, Iowa — Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has been detected in a commercial turkey flock in Sac County. According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), this is the fourth detection of bird flu in Iowa this year. Other detections include a commercial turkey flock in Buena Vista County, a commercial layer flock in O'Brien County, and a multi-species backyard flock in Clinton County. Des Moines shooting victim identified as 25-year-old man Bird flu is known to infect both wild and domestic birds, as well as dairy cows and humans. Bird flu is typically fatal to domestic birds, and while there have been instances of fatal bird flu cases in cows the IDALS said with supportive care dairy cows can recover. In 2024 Iowa saw its first human case of bird flu and in January of this year a patient in Louisiana died after battling the disease. The Centers for Disease Control said the threat to the public remains low. To learn more about bird flu and its signs and symptoms visit the IDALS' website. Iowa News: Bird flu detected in Sac County turkey flock It's baby season! Blank Park Zoo welcomes twin cotton-top tamarins Iowa State Fair Board selects replacement for former Steer 'N' Stein location WHO 13 Farm Report: Wednesday, February 19th Boys State Wrestling Tourney starts; changes for fans at venue Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
