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Sheriffs: Cattle found slain, dumped along Iowa gravel roads

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 17th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Sheriffs in two central Iowa counties say their offices are investigating after cattle were found slain and dumped along gravel roads in their jurisdictions. The Ames Tribune reports that two cows and a calf were found dead in Boone and Greene counties on March 10. Investigators said the calf, found in Boone County, had its front legs bound with twine. Boone County Sheriff Gregg Elsberry said a red shorthorn cow was found a short distance away in a creek with its throat slashed.

The carcass of the other cow, also a red shorthorn, was found in a Greene County ditch. Authorities say that scuff marks on the animals’ hides indicated they were dumped on the roads from a vehicle.

 

Grow Another Row Cass County is back for 2021

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 17th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Grow Another Row Cass County invites local farmers and gardeners to plant a few more rows of produce to share this year. According to ISU Extension, the 13 best produce donations are:
tomatoes, winter squash, zucchini, potatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers, melons, broccoli, cabbage, sweet potatoes, carrots, and beans. The Grow Another Row leadership team requests
additional potatoes, carrots, melons, and green beans because these were the items that were in highest demand last year, and the team knows these items will get used in Cass County.

Grow Another Row Cass County is a Healthy Cass County campaign started in 2020 by a group of local growers to encourage residents to grow and share more food. After a successful first
year with lots of positive feedback from people who enjoyed produce, the planning team is excited to continue the project in 2021.

Emily Paulsen, with Brun Ko Garm, a Grow Another Row leadership team member, says “We know some folks are already planting seeds in greenhouses and others will start gardens later. We invite any grower—big or small, seasoned or green–to join us.” She noted, “You don’t have to sign up for the email newsletter to participate in the program, but you might want to.” Growers can sign up for the Grow Another Row newsletter by emailing Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or visiting https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/content/grow-another-rowcass-county.

Grow Another Row is seeking a Program Coordinator for 2021. This temporary position is made possible through AmeriCorps funding. The coordinator will manage produce donations and distributions throughout Cass County. Cass County ISU Extension is seeking to fill the position immediately. Interested individuals should visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/ for more
information and to apply.

Cass County Extension Report 3-17-2021

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

March 17th, 2021 by Jim Field

w/Kate Olson.

Play

Ice-out channel catfish are biting

Ag/Outdoor, Sports

March 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa DNR News) – Channel catfish move close to shore and are eager to bite in many lakes and the large reservoirs across Iowa just after the ice is gone. The bite starts sooner in southern Iowa impoundments since they lose ice a week or two before northeast Iowa natural lakes. After eating light during the winter, channel catfish put the feed bag on in early spring cleaning up small fish that died over the winter. Search for actively feeding fish on windblown shorelines and points where dead fish are piled up and the shallow water warms quickly. Keep the wind in your face and move often until you find actively feeding fish.

Use cut bait or shad sides fished on the bottom. To keep the bait on the hook, try using a 1/0 to 3/0 bait holder hook and enough weight (3/8th to ½ ounce) to cast into the wind. Bring along disposable latex gloves to handle the bait and help keep the smell off your hands.

Ice-out catfishing can be good in any lake that has an abundant catfish population.  Iowa’s flood control reservoirs, Rathbun, Red Rock, Coralville and Saylorville usually offer the best action. Try catfishing in Storm Lake, East Okoboji, Clear Lake, North Twin, or Black Hawk Lake in northwest Iowa soon after the ice is gone.  Small impoundments in southern Iowa, like Don Williams, Big Creek, Lake Darling, Lake Wapello, Green Valley Lake, Lake Manawa or Lake Icaria, also offer good early spring catfishing.

Catfish can be found in almost every body of water across Iowa. Check the weekly fishing report to find out where catfish are biting.

Viking Lake still recovering from 2019 drawdown

Ag/Outdoor, Sports

March 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The water level at Viking Lake near Stanton was lowered eight feet during the summer of 2019 to improve the fish population. Now a year and a half later, the lake’s water level has yet to return to normal levels. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) closed the outlet gate in January 2020, after repairs to the gate were completed. Viking Lake’s water level was on the rise with normal rainfall last spring. Then the rains stopped in July and drought conditions set in for the remainder of 2020.

Lake drawdowns are a common fish management practice that crowds the fish population for a period of time. “Crowding fish into a smaller area makes them more susceptible to predation by largemouth bass and reduces the number of small bluegills in the lake to improve growth in the coming year,” said Bryan Hayes, DNR fisheries management biologist.

Produce in the Park Holding Vendor Meeting March 19

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

ATLANTIC, IA (March 14, 2021) – Anyone thinking about being a vendor at Produce in the Park this summer is invited to attend the 2021 Vendor Meeting Friday, March 19 at 6 PM. The meeting can be attended in person or virtually. Those attending in person are asked to bring their own lawn chairs, and mask and distance. Those interested in attending virtually should contact Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-
249-5870 for connection information. RSVPs are appreciated but not required.

Produce in the Park is held every Thursday evening (4:30-6:30 PM) from the beginning of June through the end of September in the beautiful Atlantic City Park. Both food and craft vendors are welcome. Vendors can register for the entire season, or sign up for just a few weeks. Fullseason vendor registration fees are $75 for vendors registered by June 1. More information on Produce in the Park can be found at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

Spring Celebration Market
Produce in the Park continues to welcome vendors for Spring Celebration Market. Spring Celebration Market is a pre-order only market. Pre-orders will be accepted from March 25 –April 1, and customers will drive-through pick-up their purchases at the Cass County Community Center on Saturday, April 3 from 12-2 PM.

Spring Celebration Market is being held the day before Easter, so customers can pick up treats for Easter Baskets and local foods for Easter meals. The market will offer baked goods including Miss Nini’s pies and macarons and The Kringleman’s Danish Kringle, in addition to local meats, produce, eggs, and more.

Vendors interested in participating in Spring Celebration Market should contact the market manager at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870 by March 19. Spring Celebration Market event details, including vendors, and information on pre-orders will be posted on Produce in the Park’s website www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com and on the Produce in the Park Facebook page www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark.

Produce in the Park 2021 farmers markets are sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, First Whitney Bank & Trust, and Cass County Tourism.

Cass County Pork Queen & Ambassador announced

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Left to right) Emily Plagman, 2021 Cass County Pork Ambassador; Paige Jensen, 2021 Cass County Pork Queen.

Cass County Pork Producers, Sunday, crowned Paige Jensen as Cass County Pork Queen and Emily Plagman as County Pork Ambassador. Paige is a Junior at CAM High School who is involved in 4H and FFA. Her parents are Ryan and Eva Jensen. Emily is a Senior at CAM. She’s the daughter of Mike and Kristi Plagman, and is also actively involved in 4H and FFA. Paige Jensen will act as a role model for the youth of Cass County, attend parades if it’s safe to do so (with regard to COVID), and help the pork producer board with promoting pork in Cass County. She will receive a scholarship as an additional reward for her involvement in the pork industry.

She explained why she wanted to be involved in the pork industry this year.

She started showing pigs in her 5th Grade year, and have developed a bond with the swine she’s had, and with the various leadership opportunities that have been presented to her. Agriculture, she said, runs in her blood.

Emily Plagman will promote pork, attend parades if they are safe, assist in promoting pork within the county, and she’ll also receive a scholarship for future schooling or advancing in the pork industry. She said she’s had a love for pigs since she was young, and this was a natural progression in that passion.

She too has always been involved in 4H and FFA ever since she was young, and growing up on a farm, and she wants to spread a message about pork.

Paige Jensen says her message is simple.

The Junior says after high school she plans to study Ag Communications, Marketing or Business in college, and afterward start raising beef and swine on a family farm. Emily says she wants to get an Associates of Agriculture Degree at a community college, then transfer and get a double major in Ag Media and Ag Education, with a Minor in Communications. She says she wants to stay in a rural area and promote ag the best she can.

Local 24-Hour Rainfall Totals at 7:00 am on Monday, March 15, 2021

Ag/Outdoor, Weather

March 15th, 2021 by Jim Field

  • KJAN, Atlantic  1.11″ (.2″ snow)
  • 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  1.2″
  • Massena  1.54″
  • Avoca  2.1″
  • Oakland  2.9″
  • Neola  2.8″
  • Red Oak  1.95″
  • Corning  1.48″
  • Villisca  2.4″
  • Clarinda  1.3″
  • Irwin  1.7″
  • Kirkman  1.19″
  • Missouri Valley  2.02″
  • Carroll  .96″

Atlantic FFA Competes at Districts

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 12th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(By Atlantic FFA reporter Aspen Niklasen) – On Saturday, March 6th, 2021, 30 members of the Atlantic FFA chapter competed in the District Career Development Events in Corning. The District FFA CDE is the second round of FFA speaking events with the top 2 individuals and teams advancing to State FFA Convention in April. During the District Business session Sophomore Dylan Comes was elected as the District treasurer for 2021-22. Comes will have several new responsibilities in his office. To earn his newly elected spot he had to give a speech and answered two questions earlier during the business session. Comes said “It was a very challenging and fun experience. I am really looking forward to all the new people I will meet, all the things I will learn, and places I will go for the next year.”

District Group: Close to Far
Jackson McLaren, Daniel Freund, Dylan Comes Bryan York, Claire Pellett

Dylan Comes SW District Treasurer

Cooper Jipsen 1st Place Ag Welding

Hannah Carlson and Logan Eilts were the chapter delegates for Atlantic FFA at convention. Delegates at the District Career Development Event help pick next year’s district officers. Dan Freund and Jackson McLaren competed in the FFA Chapter Website earning a silver getting 5th place. Jackson McLaren said, “The Chapter Website was a good learning experience for me to get more comfortable with technology. It was also interesting to learn more about our Chapter’s history. “ Cooper Jipsen competed in Ag Welding earning a Gold and placing 1st. The FFA Agricultural Welding CDE Contest tests students’ skills in agriculture welding.

Jipsen said “It was a really good time, and I got to meet a lot of new people. For the contest we had to do three stick welds and two wire welds.” Wyatt Redinbaugh competed in Torch Welding earning a Gold placing 3rd. The torch welding contest works to better improve students skills in torch welding. FFA member Dylan Comes competed in Extemporaneous Speaking earning a Silver placing 4th. In Extemporaneous Speaking students showcase their agricultural knowledge and ability to think on their feet in front of a panel of judges. Bryan York competed in Ag Sales and earned a Silver placing 4th. Students build a sales plan and demonstrate skills in customer relations for the Ag sales competition. “I was competing by trying to sell a product to a potential customer. In my case I was trying to sell vegetables.” said York.

Clarire Pellett competed in FFA Creed and earned a Silver placing 5th. In FFA Creed, FFA members recite the National FFA Creed to develop public speaking skills and self-confidence. “It was a great experience to work on my public speaking and to work on thinking on the spot.” said Pellett. Taylor McCreedy competed in Ag Broadcasting earned a Silver placing 6th. The Ag Broadcasting contest helps members learn to communicate effectively while advocating for agriculture. In the Farm Business Management Test Atlantic FFA had 10 members complete. Drey Newell, Cooper Jipsen, Hannah Carlson, Bryan York, Malena Woodward, Wyatt Redinbaugh, Caroline Pellett, Aspen Niklasen, Garrett Reynonlds, and Logan Eilts earned a Silver medal.

The members took a test that helped them learn business skills and apply economic principles to agricultural businesses, through a series of questions. In the FFA Freshman Greenhand Quiz, Atlantic FFA had 10 members compete. Claire Pellett, Callee Pellett, Tate Niklasen, Charles Klemmensen, Colton Becker, Chris Keegan earned Silver and Colton Rudy, Thomas Leonard, Roth Den Beste earned a Bronze medal. The purpose of the test is to show that members have an understanding of the history and purpose of FFA.

Finally, seven members of the Atlantic FFA earned the FFA Academic Achievement Award. To earn this award an FFA member must be a member for 3 years and maintain a 3.5 GPA while in high school. These years were awarded to Bethany Anderson, Craig Alan Becker, Hannah Carlson, Alyssa Derby, Gunner Kirchhoff, Taylor McCreedy, Drey Newell, Caroline Pellett and Garrett Reynolds. Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller said, “We had a pretty good day. I am proud of all our students that competed today and gave their best effort.”

Farmland values rise across the board, in Iowa

Ag/Outdoor

March 11th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Chapter of the REALTORS® Land Institute reports in their March 2021 Land Trends and Values Survey, a 7.8% increase in farmland values on a statewide average, for the September 2020 to March 2021 time period. This is following a period of 12 months that featured farmland values that were virtually unchanged across the state. Participants in the survey are specialists in farmland and are asked for their opinions about the current status of the Iowa farmland market.

They were asked to estimate the average value of farmland as of March 1, 2021. These estimates are for bare, unimproved land with a sale price on a cash basis. Pasture and timberland values were also requested as supplemental information. The RLI says “These results will come as no surprise to many, as Net Farm Incomes have surged in recent months. Government support payments in 2020 coupled with a rally in commodity prices to five-year highs have brought new optimism to the land market. Other major factors driving these increases are low interest rates and a very low supply of quality farms being offered to the market.”

The Northern Tier of Crop Reporting Districts showed the greatest strength, ranging from an 8.3% to 9.6% increase in cropland values. The Southern Tier showed the most modest gains ranging from 6.2% to 6.6% from September 2020 to March 2021. Timber and Pasture acres showed similar strength, boasting a 7.9% increase to Timberland values and a 6.5% to Pastureland values.

REALTORS® Land Institutes – Iowa Chapter farmland value survey has been conducted in March and September since 1978. This survey plus the RLI Farm and Ranch Multiple Listing Service are activities of REALTORS® specializing in agricultural land brokerage daily.