1,000 Pigs Died in Iowa Hog Farm

Feb 05, 2013

Officials say that about 1,000 pigs died in a barn fire that broke out on a hog operation located in eastern Iowa. The fire was reported on Friday around 1pm on a hog farm located 10 miles west of Columbus Junction. The hog facility included eight connected buildings, spanning 20 acres.

By the time firefighters arrived on scene, two of the farrowing barns were fully engulfed in flames. It took 45 firefighters from surrounding communities to put out the fire. The blaze was difficult to extinguish due to the location of the facility. The swine barn was located on a hilly property, which made it difficult to truck water in freezing temperatures.

Authorities say that 500 to 600 pigs that were killed were sows and the rest were piglets. No humans were injured.

The fire is still under investigation.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.