Call Iowa Concern for Help Coping with Stress of Tornadoes and Storm Damage

Apr 30, 2024

By Tammy Jacobs

At least a dozen tornadoes struck Iowa on April 26, according to the National Weather Service. Iowans struggling to deal with the stress from the devastation of tornadoes and severe storms can call Iowa Concern for help, 24/7, says Tammy Jacobs, coordinator for the long-time service from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

“By calling Iowa Concern at 800-447-1985 for help, you can talk to a person who cares, learn about your legal rights, discuss financial concerns and find other assistance,” Jacobs said.

With a toll-free phone number, live chat capabilities and a website, Iowa Concern services are available 24 hours a day, seven days per week at no charge. Iowa Concern provides access to stress counselors and an attorney for legal education, as well as information and referral services for a wide variety of topics.

Language interpretation services are available. Or visit the website, https://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/, to live chat with a stress counselor one-on-one in a secure environment. Iowans can also email an expert regarding legal, finance, stress, or crisis and disaster issues. All personal information is kept confidential.

Disaster and crisis recovery resources

Iowans looking for recovery resources related to severe weather, natural disasters and other crises may visit extension’s disaster and crisis recovery website, https://www.extension.iastate.edu/disasterrecovery/. During times of natural disaster and other crises, ISU Extension and Outreach offers educational resources to reduce the personal impact, working in partnership with the local, state and federal agencies addressing the need. This website is updated with research-based educational resources for specific types of disaster when events occur.

Source : iastate.edu

Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.