Thanks to the hard work by the dedicated employees of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, much has been accomplished during 2001, she says. Of course, there’s still more work to be done.

• The state ag department made phenomenal progress in eliminating the swine disease, pseudorabies. The number of infected herds went from the high of 592 to just 2. "We will continue to be vigilant in our efforts to eradicate this terrible swine disease and soon will achieve a statewide ‘pseudorabies-free’ status," says Judge.

• "During 2001, we have developed a Foot and Mouth Disease Response Plan for Iowa," notes Judge. "With the concern about foreign animal disease, we needed to prepare ourselves to respond quickly in the unlikely event that a foreign animal disease should be introduced into America."

She says Iowa is now ‘ahead of the curve’ and has one of the best response plans in the country. With today’s threats of bio-terrorism, 2002 will bring more challenges to assuring the safety of our agricultural industry, says Judge.

• Four new farmer-owned ethanol plants were established in Iowa in 2001. This brings the total number, in the span of less than three years, to 15 plants that have either broke ground or are "up and running" in Iowa. This renewable corn-based fuel is an overwhelming success.

Bio-diesel fuel, derived from soybeans, is the newest renewable fuel to hit Iowa by storm. A pilot project in Cedar Rapids, where the city buses run on bio-diesel, has made the air cleaner and has met with over-whelming triumph.

"This is a success story that will be repeated throughout Iowa, and across the nation. Renewable fuels promotion will once again be at the forefront in 2002 for our ag department," states Judge.

• The state of Iowa’s Beginning Farmer Program, administered by the Iowa Agricultural Development Authority (a part of the Iowa Department of Ag), has had its 4th best year ever in number of loans and 3rd in volume of loans. "This reflects a continued confidence in agriculture by beginning farmers in Iowa," she says. "We look forward to even greater success in 2002.

• "Our Consumer Protection & Regulatory Affairs Division has made great strides in protecting Iowa’s consumers and producers," says Judge. "We developed a pilot program for integrated pest management to reduce pesticide use in Iowa schools. In addition, we obtained a $305,000 grant from EPA for new testing equipment in our Pesticide lab to enhance the Department’s ability to test for pesticide residue."

• The Department’s Soil and Conservation Division provided assistance to 2,500 Iowa landowners for the installation of more than 27,000 acres of needed conservation measures. The CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) was introduced last summer by Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary Ann Veneman and officials of the Iowa Department of Agriculture.

CREP is a water quality program designed to provide incentives to landowners to voluntarily establish wetlands for water quality improvement. The program will reduce the movement of nitrate and other agricultural chemicals from croplands to streams and rivers.