News from the State House

by State Represtative Patti Ruff

Iowa’s economy continues to recover and there is a lot of good news to share.  Iowa continues to have one of the nation’s strongest economies, a highly skilled workforce, and a world-class education system.
According to the financial news organization 24/7 Wall St., Iowa is the 5th best financially managed state in the nation. The report cited Iowa’s strong credit rating, low debt ratio per capita, low unemployment, and low percentage of citizens living below the poverty line.
Iowa businesses are expected to save $104 million next year after state officials dropped the unemployment insurance tax rate from 2% to 1.6%.
More students than ever are graduating from high school ready for college in the key benchmarks of English, math, reading, and science.  Iowa students also have the 2nd best ACT scores in the nation.
Even with the good news, we’re going to keep working to strengthen our economy and create new jobs in communities large and small.
 One of the ways to do that is improving and expanding access to fresh, local foods from local farmer’s markets and road-side fresh food stands. Buying food produced at local farms is good for local economies and our environment.
It’s why the Legislature funded Iowa’s Local Food and Farm Program last session to empower farmers and food entrepreneurs to provide for strong local food economies that promote self-sufficiency and job growth in the agricultural economy.
 Throughout the fall our communities and countryside offer ample opportunities that showcase these homegrown items boosting the local economies through tourism dollars. To find a farmer’s market or food stand near you, go to http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/horticultureandFarmersMarket.asp.
Harvest will be ramping up over the next few weeks. As always please be aware of the increase in farm equipment on our roads. I hope the farmers have a safe harvest this fall.
 A concern that has surfaced in both Allamakee and Clayton counties is EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease) or blue tongue disease being found in the deer herd. It is a virus transmitted by a fly or midge. A deer must be bitten by the midge carrying the virus to become infected and is not transferred from deer to deer.  According to the Iowa DNR, it is important to know that deer being affected by EHD will be temporary. EHD will only remain active until rain disperses the deer by providing more watering areas or a heavy frost kills the midges.