Latest news with #IowaDepartmentofAgricultureandLandStewardship
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
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers approve budget for agriculture, natural resources
The Iowa Capitol on May 8, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capitol Dispatch) State representatives approved a budget from the Senate on Tuesday that would increase funding for agriculture and natural resources departments by $682,000 compared to the current fiscal year. The budget for the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year prioritizes funding to prevent the spread of foreign animal disease, supports state park maintenance and continues the Choose Iowa program, along with operations for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Senate File 646 would appropriate $46.6 million from the general fund and appropriate an additional $99.4 million from other funds for fiscal year 2026. The bill would put $1.8 million into the Choose Iowa fund for use on promotion, dairy innovation and value-added grants for Choose Iowa participants, which is on par with 2025 expected figures for the program. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Choose Iowa is a network of producers selling Iowa-grown goods and has nearly 300 members across the state. The bill also ends the Choose Iowa pilot purchasing program and creates the Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Program, with an appropriation of $200,000 to help food banks purchase locally produced foods. The pilot program previously had two divisions, one that helped local food banks and another that helped Iowa schools purchase from local growers. Local farmers and food-security advocates hoped the program would have substantial funding this year following the cancellation of funding from a similar federal program. Rep. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, proposed an amendment to expand the purchasing program to include schools, but the House did not adopt the amendment. Scholten said the amendment would have made 'sure that (Iowa) kids are properly fed.' The appropriations bill would also eliminate the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Fund in favor of creating an Iowa Animal Disease Prevention fund, which fulfills requests from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and other stakeholders for increased funds to protect against the threat of foreign animal diseases. Those funds would go toward animal disease equipment, vaccine research and updates to state technology to track an outbreak. Rep. Norlin Mommsen, R-DeWitt, tied the need for funding to the ongoing impact of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, which since 2022 has killed more than 169 million birds in the United States. The bill also appropriates $200,000 to the Iowa Geological Survey to research and map the state's aquifers. The bill allocates $12 million from the Environment First Fund, in lieu of a standing $20 million appropriation from the general fund, to extend the Resources Enhancement and Protection, or REAP, program through 2028. This program funds county conservation, city parks and open spaces, historic preservation, conservation education, soil and water enhancement, and other projects related to natural resources. Rep. Monica Kurth, D-Davenport, proposed an amendment, which failed, to fund the project at the full $20 million. 'It's a long time program that has never received the full amount of money for which it was authorized,' Kurth said. The bill also has a special general fund appropriation for state park maintenance, floodplain management and forestry health management. The budget bill faced some pushback from Democrats in both the House and Senate who said it did not adequately prioritize local food, water quality and conservation efforts. The bill advanced from both chambers, and with no adopted amendments in the House it now goes to the governor for final approval. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bird flu detected in Buena Vista County commercial pullet flock
The bird flu was detected in a commercial pullet flock in Buena Vista County. (Photo by Larry Rana/USDA) A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in a commercial pullet flock in Buena Vista County Friday, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. This is the sixth detection of the H5N1 bird flu in Iowa this year, and the second 2025 detection in Buena Vista County. The previous detection in the county occurred in a commercial turkey flock and impacted more than 26,000 birds. The current HPAI outbreak has been an ongoing problem for wild and domestic birds since 2022, though it has also spread to dairy cattle and more than 70 humans who have contracted the virus after being in contact with sick animals. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rates the public health risk of HPAI as low, and the state agriculture department said poultry and egg products remain safe to consume. The bird flu has caused egg shortages and price increases around the country. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins recently laid out a $1 billion plan to strengthen biosecurity measures, repopulate farms and research a vaccine for poultry. Gov. Kim Reynolds extended a disaster proclamation to Buena Vista County through April 13 to waive certain regulatory provisions and allow state resources to assist with containing the outbreak. The governor issued a disaster proclamation for the county in February following the first outbreak, which was set to expire Saturday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bird flu found in Buena Vista County flock
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — A flock of chickens in Buena Vista County has been found to have bird flu, officials said Friday. The flock was that of commercial pullets, or young hens, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Iowa State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at the front lines of battle against Avian Influenza This is the sixth case of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, in Iowa for the year of 2025 and the second case in Buena Vista County. Most recently, HPAI was detected in Dallas County on March 8. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds authorized a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista County to take effect immediately after announcement of the virus detection. The proclamation give state agencies additional resources to track, contain, dispose, and disinfect. HPAI affects wild and domestic birds and is often fatal to domestic populations. The disease has also been found in dairy herds. Dairy herds often recover with limited deaths. Officials say that eggs and poultry products remain safe to consume, and a threat to the general public remains low. Any poultry producers or owners with backyard birds should report any possible signs of HPAI to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship by calling 515-281-5305. Signs of the disease in birds include: Sudden increase in bird deaths without any clinical signs Lethargy and/or lack of energy and appetite Decrease in egg production Soft, thin-shelled and/or misshapen eggs Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks Purple/blue discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs Difficulty breathing Coughing, sneezing, and/or nasal discharge (runny nose) Stumbling and/or falling down Diarrhea Vaccinating poultry could help cut soaring egg prices, but the US is hesitant Iowa officials are also asking poultry producers, dairy farmers, and other livestock producers in increase their biosecurity. Such resources and recommendations can be found here. Anyone who finds five or more sick or dead flocking birds in a week are asked to report it to their local wildlife biologist or state conservation officer, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said. Do not approach or bring home wild or migratory birds that appear sick or are deceased. Detections of HPAI are being tracked by the USDA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
