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Buffer Pilot Project just got better

Editorial

There are times when a good idea can be made even better. That is the case with the expansion of the state’s Streamside Buffer Pilot Project. It uses a comparatively small amount of money to help farmers plant vegetation along the sides of waterways, with the ultimate goal of cleaning up water downstream. And there is plenty of evidence showing that the all-natural processes of plants can make the nearby water cleaner. The buffers are the plant kingdom’s version of an NFL offensive line: they block things from getting through. But instead of protecting a quarterback, they protect ...

Internship program is innovative way to boost health care workforce

Editorial

Health care workers are always in demand in our region. Local hospitals and clinics need people to take care of the patients, maintain the medical records and even keep up the buildings where people meet their care providers. The continuous challenge is finding the qualified people to fill all those positions. UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge has created a way to get young people interested in medically-related careers. And the organization already has evidence that its initiative is paying off. In 2024, UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge began a summer internship program for high ...

Colliding with a train is a no-win situation

Editorial

Take a long admiring, look at your personal vehicle some time, and then think back on the last time you saw a train. The difference between the two is spectacular. You may have the biggest, most tricked out SUV or pickup and it still won’t stand a chance against a diesel locomotive if the two collided. That big SUV, or any other vehicle for that matter, would be squashed like an old beer can. And if a person was struck by a train, the consequences would be too horrible to contemplate. The Fort Dodge area is served by two major freight railroads: Canadian National Railway and ...

Lower fertilizer costs for Iowa farmers

Local Columns

Since coming to Congress, I have consistently heard a key concern from farmers: the rising cost of fertilizer. When input costs climb, farm profitability shrinks, making it harder for producers to invest in their operations, pass their land to the next generation, and continue feeding and fueling the world. That’s why I have remained committed to lowering fertilizer costs. This week, American agriculture received incredible news. President Donald Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced executive action to temporarily suspend countervailing duties on certain ...

Be sure to attend your county fair

Editorial

Times change. Even so, there are a few constants in life. One is the pleasure provided by the county fairs that continue to be a highlight of summer in Iowa. For as far back as anyone who now lives in this part of Iowa can remember, these summer festivals have been much-anticipated and much-enjoyed features of summertime. The fairs, of course, have changed over the decades. One central theme, however, remains much the same — a celebration of farm life and the assorted positive educational and personal-growth pursuits that are treasured features of life in rural and small-town ...