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Snowmobilers welcome return of winter

Ag/Outdoor

January 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa DNR News) – Snowmobilers across Iowa are welcoming the return of winter, eager to get out and enjoy the fresh snow. Snowmobiling is a great way to enjoy the outdoors during the winter months, but there’s one hard truth: drinking alcohol and/or consuming drugs and riding just don’t mix.

“It’s important to remember that operating any type of motor vehicle, including snowmobiles, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can cause traumatic injuries, tragic loss of life, and is flat-out against the law,” said Captain Matt Bruner with the Iowa DNR’s Law Enforcement Bureau. “We recommend snowmobile riders of all ages take a snowmobile safety course, don’t outride your abilities or trail conditions, and perhaps most importantly, don’t drink and ride.”

The following safety tips will make snowmobiling a great experience with all recreation explorers:

  • Don’t drive impaired: Alcohol and drugs have a negative effect on the driver’s vision, balance, coordination, and reaction time. Don’t ride with people who drink and ride!
  • Stay on the trail or stay home: Trespassing is a major complaint about snowmobilers and can result in trail closure. Always stay on designated snowmobile trails. Venturing off trails can result in accidents. Only ride private property when you have landowner permission.
  • Watch the weather and check trail and ice conditions before riding: Don’t ride in adverse weather conditions. Plan your trip and check the trails you’ll be riding prior to departure.
  • Never ride alone: Always ride with a friend on another snowmobile. This way if one machine is disabled, you have another to get help.
  • Dress for safety and survival: Always wear a quality DOT helmet and facemask. Wear layers of clothing to keep warm and dry. Snowmobile suits, bibs, jackets, gloves, and mittens should cut the wind, repel water, and keep you ventilated.
  • Slow down: Excessive speed is a major factor in many accidents, especially at night. To help avoid accidents, keep your nighttime speed under 40 MPH.
  • Take a snowmobile safety training course: Designed to educate the student on basic snowmobile operation, laws and regulations, and safety, these classes can help save lives and reduce injuries.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are teaming up to promote a safe and sober snowmobile season by hosting a booth at the Iowa Winter Games in Okoboji, Jan. 25-28, in Arnolds Park.

Stay safe on the ice this winter

Ag/Outdoor

January 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa DNR News) – With cold weather finally arriving in Iowa and freezing over lakes and ponds, ice fishing activity has begun at certain northern lakes. The Iowa Department of Natural Resource (DNR) reminds all anglers – especially those in central and southern Iowa – to stay patient and allow ice thickness to grow before heading to their favorite ice fishing spot.

The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of quality ice for fishing and at least five inches for snowmobiles and ATVs.

Ice forms at different rates on each body of water depending upon the size and water depth. Once frozen, conditions change constantly and ice thickness can vary across the lake. Rocks, trees, docks or other things that poke through the ice will conduct heat and make the ice around it less stable. The DNR recommends that anglers test the ice thickness frequently and to trust your instincts – if the ice does not look right, don’t go out.

A blanket of snow on top of an ice-covered lake insulates the ice, slowing the growth of ice and hiding potential hazards or weak spots. River ice is 15 percent weaker than lake ice.  Ice with a bluish color is safer than clear ice.  Avoid slushy or honey-combed and stay away from dark spots on the ice.  Don’t walk into areas where the snow cover looks discolored.

Safety Tips on the Ice

  • No ice is 100 percent safe.
  • New ice is usually stronger than old ice.
  • Check the DNR weekly fishing report for current ice conditions on lakes and rivers across Iowa.
  • Don’t go out alone – if the worst should happen, someone will be there to call for help or to help rescue.
  • Let someone know where you are going and when you will return.
  • Check ice thickness as you go out – there could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed.
  • Avoid off-colored snow or ice. It is usually a sign of weakness.
  • The insulating effect of snow slows the freezing process.
  • Bring along these basic items to help keep you safe: hand warmers, ice cleats to help prevent falls, ice picks (wear around your neck) to help you crawl out of the water if you fall in, a life jacket, a floating safety rope, a whistle to call for help, a basic first aid kit and extra dry clothes including a pair of gloves.

ISU Extension and Outreach in Montgomery County elects county extension officers

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Four officers were elected during the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Montgomery County extension council organizational meeting Jan. 17. The nine-member county extension council annually elects officers to comply with Iowa law.

Mike Thomas, of Red Oak, was re-elected as Chairperson. Thomas will preside at all meetings of the county extension council, have authority to call special meetings and perform duties as performed and exercised by a chairperson of a board of directors of a corporation. Chad Jacobs, Villisca, was elected Vice Chairperson.

Tammi VanMeter, of Red Oak, was elected Secretary and has the responsibility of keeping the minutes of all county extension council meetings and signing required papers for the council.

The council elected Kassandra Houdek, of Red Oak, to the Treasurer position. The treasurer has charge of all of the funds of the county extension council; receives, deposits, pays and disburses. The treasurer insures an accurate record of receipts and disbursements and submits reports to the county extension council.

Front Row: Marti Clark-Moffett, Kassie Houdek, Tammi VanMeter Back Row: Macey Ellis, Mike Thomas, Ryan Sundermann, Chad Jacobs, Lucas Oster Not Pictured: Gayle Allensworth (Photo/story courtesy Katie Hart – Montgomery County ISU Ext.)

As elected officials, the county extension council is the governing body of ISU Extension and Outreach. The county extension council hires county staff, manages the county extension budget and helps determine programming. In partnership with ISU Extension and Outreach, the council provides educational opportunities that bring university resources to the needs of the county and region.

ISU Extension and Outreach is part of the federal Cooperative Extension Service — a network of more than 100 land-grant institutions, including Iowa State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture serving communities and counties across the United States. Every county in Iowa has an elected extension council that decides how to support ISU Extension and Outreach educational programs at the county level.

The county extension office is located at 1901 N Broadway Street in Red Oak, Iowa. To learn more about ISU Extension and Outreach in Montgomery County, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/montgomery.

For more information about ISU Extension and Outreach, visit www.extension.iastate.edu.

Local 24-Hour Snowfall Totals Reported at 7:00 am on Friday, January 19, 2024

Ag/Outdoor, Weather

January 19th, 2024 by Jim Field

  • KJAN, Atlantic  2.7″
  • 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  2.5″
  • Massena  3.5″
  • Oakland  1.4″
  • Audubon  3″
  • Earling  1.5″
  • Guthrie Center  3.5″
  • Red Oak  1.8″
  • Logan  3″
  • Clarinda  2″
  • Shenandoah  2″
  • Carroll  2.5″

Dry conditions lead to drop in migrating birds at Desoto Refuge

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The manager of the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in western Iowa reports not as many birds flew through the area this past migration season. Desoto manager Tom Cox says the drought, left the refuge without the water to flood as much wetland for geese, ducks, and swans.“Birds tend to follow the habit. And with this kind of region-wide drought, they’re probably skirting around where they’re finding better habitat during their migration,” he says.

Cox says the dry conditions led to bird numbers dropping 50 percent.“It kind of opened your eyes up that what the birds are after is the habitat, and that’s what supports them.”

The refuge is along the Missouri River near Missouri Valley, Iowa. Cox says overall, he isn’t too worried because conditions usually bounce back, allowing for better birdwatching during a different season.

Dairy Innovation Program grants now available

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 18th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa dairy farmers planning to invest in new technology or expanded processing can now apply for state grants to finance part of their projects. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says the Dairy Innovation Grant Program is part of a broader effort to expand the amount of local food available to Iowa consumers.

“And, in the course of doing that, provide Iowa farmers with more market opportunities,” Naig says. The state is awarding a million dollars in grants to expand processing at meat lockers around the state this year. Now, Naig’s agency is accepting applications for part of the 750-thousand dollars lawmakers set aside for grants to dairy farms with fewer than 50 employees.

“To increase on-farm dairy processing opportunities like cheese, butter, yogurt, frozen yogurt — those type of things,” Naig says, “but also to allow those dairy farmers, especially the smaller farms, to also invest in some technology, some equipment that would help them drive down their labor costs as well.” Naig expects may of the grant applications to be from dairy farmers planning to buy robotic milking systems, but he says there’s a lot of new technology out there to enhance production.

“There are systems now that you can put around the cattle’s necks so you can track their eating and when they’re milking and what their productivity is and track their health,” Naig says. According to the Iowa State Dairy Association, there are nearly 800 dairy herds in Iowa — and over 200-thousand dairy cows. Naig says there are some large-scale dairy operations in the state, but this program is for smaller operations.

“Consumers are more interested than ever before in buying local and so if you can source milk or cheese, yogurts — those types of products from your own farm that’s certainly what consumers are looking for,” Naig says, “but it also gives those farms an opportunity control their own destiny, capture some margin, generate some value of the milk that’s coming off their farm by processing it there and selling it direct to consumers.”

The maximum cost-share grant will be 100-thousand dollars. The grants may not be used to cover start-up costs, advertising, salaries or to pay off debt. The deadline to apply is February 9th.

Produce in the Park Seeks to Hire Farmers Market Manager

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 16th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ATLANTIC, IA (January 16, 2024) – Produce in the Park is seeking to hire a farmers market manager with skills in marketing and event promotion and a passion for community. The farmers
market manager is a part-time position responsible for managing Produce in the Park’s weekly summer farmers market on Thursday evenings in the Atlantic City Park and four holiday farmers markets just prior to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter.

Produce in the Park farmers markets don’t just focus on local food and craft vendors, the events create community by offering activities and entertainment for people of all ages. While knowledge of local food and business management skills are preferred, the market manager will be primarily responsible for marketing and promotion of the farmers markets through social
media, radio, and print media, as well as vendor and sponsor recruitment and scheduling market activities and entertainment.

In this part-time position, the market manager will be required to be on-site in Atlantic at all farmers markets from set up through clean up, while market preparation work can be done
off-site on a flexible schedule. The position requires approximately 20 hours a week from mid-May through mid-October, and approximately 5-10 hours a week in the off-season. The position is expected to pay $15-20 dollars per hour depending on experience.

Produce in the Park is a non-profit organization, and the market manager will report to a board of directors who set market policies and deadlines. For additional details on the position and to apply, visit https://www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com/now-hiring.html.

For the latest information on all Produce in the Park markets, follow Produce in the Park on
Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram
(https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/).

DNR postponing trout stockings in Council Bluffs and Fort Dodge

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 16th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is postponing the trout stockings scheduled for this Friday, Jan. 19 at Big Lake, Council Bluffs, and Moorland Pond, Fort Dodge, due to unsafe ice conditions and extreme cold weather.

The stockings will be completed after the ice thickens. A news release will announce when the stockings have been completed.

The family fishing event also scheduled for this Saturday at Big Lake has been canceled and will not be rescheduled.

Upcoming trout stockings are still on schedule with significantly colder weather in the forecast. Winter storms last week may slow ice formation by insulating the ice with snow. Check the DNR Trout Fishing website at www.iowadnr.gov/trout for the most up to date information.

Researchers looking for insight into wild turkey population decline

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa DNR/Manchester, IA) – The reintroduction of wild turkeys to Iowa’s landscape has been celebrated as a conservation success story for the past 25 years. But Iowa’s turkey population is showing troubling signs: the numbers are down, nests are failing and fewer poults are surviving. And it’s not just an Iowa problem – turkey populations are declining in all states in the Midwest and across the eastern half of the United States. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says a group of midwestern states met in North Dakota in 2023 to discuss turkey population concerns and projects that are planned and underway. Missouri has had a decades long study, while Ohio, Nebraska and Wisconsin are all in the early stages of projects. In the southeast, Tennessee is looking at harvest seasons impacts and Auburn University is looking at male fertility rates in Alabama, and there are more.

In 2022, the DNR began a 10-year study of the turkey population in southeast Iowa to learn more about why the numbers are declining. Now entering its third year, researchers may have more questions than answers.   Dan Kaminski, wildlife research biologist with the Iowa DNR, is leading the study and what Kaminski and his fellow researchers have learned is that only around 60 percent of Iowa hens survive annually. Of the hens that are alive on April 15, roughly 25 percent will not nest, which is above what other researchers are finding in other parts of the country. Researchers observed 60 nests last summer and documented 10 nests that hatched. Of those 10 nests, only 30 percent of the broods survived at least one poult into August. All of the unhatched eggs collected from lost nests were sent to the University of Tennessee for examination and all were determined to have been fertilized.

“These are concerning findings, but the study only goes back two years,” Kaminski said. “The ten-year study will get us out of any short-term weather patterns that affect turkeys and provide clearer long-term data trends.”

Hen turkey outfitted with a transmitter as part of the 10-year Iowa turkey population study. Photo courtesy of the Iowa DNR.

So, what is killing them? Environmental factors? Lack of available food? Predators? Abandonment?

The Project

Researchers in Wisconsin found that to sustain its current population, hen turkeys need to average 2.6 poults per hen. The recent trend in Iowa’s summer turkey brood survey has hens averaging two poults per hen. To find out what is causing nest failures, poult mortality and why a quarter of the hens are not even attempting to incubate a nest, researchers will be catching hens in late January and February, outfitting them with transmitters and releasing them. “Cold and snowy conditions are best – that will group up the birds,” he said. “Our local staff have trail cameras set up at wintering sites and once the birds show up, we head to the sites and trap the birds.”

Nesting season begins in late April, peaks around May 20, and ends in mid-July. Turkeys nest on the ground, usually in dense vegetation underneath shrubs or trees in overgrown fields or mature forests, relying on their natural camouflage to avoid predators. The transmitters update hen location every 15 minutes and once it appears hens are on a nest, Kaminski will mark and date the location, and then wait. Hens will lay one egg every day-to-day-and-a-half, averaging 12-14 eggs per clutch. Eggs incubate for 28-30 days before hatching. After hatch, little by little, she will slowly begin to move her brood away from the nesting site. Once she is on the move, researchers will go in to check nesting success, collect any unhatched eggs as well as any eggs that appear to have been broken or eaten.

“With the new technology – the satellites and gps – it makes collecting highly detailed data much more available,” he said. “When birds set up nests we want to know about it – if it fails, is predated, or abandoned, we want to know ASAP – we want to get to the nest to see what happened and collect the eggs for analysis.” This year, they will attempt to catch 83 adult and juvenile hens across all sites in Lucas, Van Buren, Louisa and Jackson counties. These birds will join the roughly 55 birds that are currently “on the air.” The goal is to maintain 25 birds with transmitters in each county.

The study area is a mosaic of grassland, agriculture and timber that should be producing turkeys – but is not. And the issue is not isolated to southeast Iowa, other well-known turkey spots in northeast Iowa and the Loess Hills are also seeing the same declines. “But those areas started with more birds so the population decline isn’t as obvious,” he said.

Looking for answers

“We get comments at public meetings and through social media focusing on bobcats, eagles, coyotes and other predators as the reason for the population decline. Poults are ground bound and vulnerable for the first four weeks before they can roost in a tree so there is no question that predators impact turkeys through nest predation and poult predation. But this long-term decline goes back to pre-bobcat days, back before the fur market crashed in 2015, before carnivore populations increased,” he said. “The population decline likely began in the late 1980s and it may simply be due to a changing landscape that has less carrying capacity and that this is just nature’s way of finding a new normal for the population. However, it is probably a combination of factors. Predation is an obvious cause to detect; what we don’t want to do is miss one of the other factors.”

It could involve habitat loss. It could also involve a new disease. That new disease – Lymphoproliferative Disease Virus (LPDV) – was first detected in North America in 2009 in Arkansas and has since been found across the Eastern U.S. and statewide in Iowa. Lymphoproliferative Disease Virus has been studied by the domestic poultry industry which found that chicks and poults die within six weeks of contracting it. “The question is, can an LPDV positive wild hen pass the disease on to her poults? We don’t know. We also don’t know if it’s 100 percent fatal in the wild like it is with domestic poultry,” he said. LPDV is not known to be a health concern for humans.

There are other theories being explored in other regions of the country. Some research in the southeast U.S. is looking at the timing of the hunting seasons potentially disrupting breeding and removing dominant birds from the population before they can pass on their genetics. But Kaminski has his doubts. “We’re not sure about this theory but it is being discussed,” he said. “Our study doesn’t include males so I’m interested in what they find. More so than genetics, it may be that early and prolonged disturbance during the egg laying period is disrupting hens.”

Whatever factors are causing the decline, Iowa still has a dynamic population of the iconic bird in every county in the state. “We just came off a record harvest in 2023,” he said. “We still have a vibrant turkey population and when the nesting conditions are right, the population can really jump.” Data collected from this project will be used to build population models and habitat models that will provide researchers some understanding and guidance in ways to improve populations.

Landowners, partners play key role in project

“The project would not happen without cooperation with private landowners,” said Kaminski. “Public support to allow us to come out, investigate nest sites and collect carcasses – that support is critical for this to be a success.” The project involved 20 staff from the Iowa DNR’s Wildlife Bureau and buy in from local private landowners in four counties. Project funding is supported by grants from Iowa State University – Fish and Wildlife Co-op Unit, the state and national National Wild Turkey Federation and Turkeys for Tomorrow. Luther College is conducting genetics work and the DNR is working with the USGS National Wildlife Research Center in Fort Collins, Colo.

Gov. Reynolds Extends Harvest Proclamation

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Today, Governor Kim Reynolds signed an extension of the proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer, and manure.

The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through February 12, 2024. The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.

This proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (a) and (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.