Last week the artisanal butchery task force submitted its recommendations to the legislature in efforts to address workforce challenges in meat lockers in Iowa. The task force was created during the 2021 legislative session and was charged with exploring the feasibility of establishing an artisanal butchery program in a community college or regent institution.

The task force recommends that there be a one-year artisanal butchery certificate program offered to the state's community college systems and encourages those community colleges to take advantage of programs and services that are offered by Iowa State University meat lab.

The task force also recommends other measures be taken to help with workforce and regulatory challenges including;

• Establishing a toolkit for meat processing businesses to find resources and training;
• Create a talent pipeline by generating interest at a high school level;
• Exploring opportunities to reduce regulatory hurdles;
• Help add value to products

IA Department of Ag Expands Online Pesticide Testing

The Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Pesticide Bureau has expanded online testing to all commercial and private pesticide applicator category exams. Pesticide applicators are also encouraged to apply for certification now to avoid delays in the spring.

All commercial pesticide exams are available online. These exams are monitored, reported, and reviewed by third-party proctoring service tests are also administered in person.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has partnered with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to host these sessions. Dubuque and Blackhawk counties are among the locations with in-person tests.