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(Radio Iowa) — Efforts to save the monarch butterfly in Iowa may be starting to pay off. A report from the World Wildlife Fund finds monarchs overwintering in Mexico covered about 15 acres of forest canopy, twice the previous year’s population and a level not seen in a decade. Steve Bradbury, a professor of natural resource ecology and management at Iowa State University, says it’s excellent news. “This past year’s survey information from Mexico was definitely encouraging,” Bradbury says. “Our goal, our nation’s goal and all of the work going on in states in the Midwest and Southern Plains, is to try to maintain that 15 acres as an average over the coming 10-to-20 years.”
While the population rebound is a big plus, Bradbury says consistent long-term gains rely on advancing conservation efforts that are critical to help monarchs survive and reproduce in Iowa and the Upper Midwest. “What we see this past year is certainly a signal,” Bradbury says. “Starting to get that habitat in the ground is good, but there was also just the most perfect weather conditions that helped make that happen.” In recent years, cities, farmers and individual Iowans have joined to create or to preserve habitat that’s vital to monarchs, including the cultivation of milkweed and nectar plant gardens. “Getting new habitat in the ground is picking up the pace,” he says, “and people being really careful about the habitat that’s already on the landscape and protecting it.”
The Iowa Monarch Conservation Strategy aims to maintain a yearly population of 225-million adult monarchs, or roughly that 15 acres of forest canopy. About 40-percent of all monarchs that overwinter in Mexico are estimated to come from Iowa and neighboring Midwestern states. Bradbury says expanding monarch habitat in Iowa will play a major role in the recovery of the species.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Working in grain bins can be deadly, so insurers want to remind farmers of the dangers. Nationwide insurance is helping sponsor a campaign to educate farmers about safety procedures they can use when working in grain bins. Farmers should wear proper safety gear when they enter grain bins and test the atmosphere for toxic gases.
Brad Liggett with Nationwide says the insurer is also working with other groups to train first responders and provide grain bin rescue tubes to fire departments. Since 2014, 77 fire departments in 24 states have received the rescue tubes that help protect someone stuck in the grain while responders work to rescue them.
(Radio Iowa) — A pilot program in its first year at Big Creek State Park near Des Moines is using black locust trees as a raw material for hand-crafting wooden log chairs. Iowa D-N-R park manager Chad Kelchen says the trees are considered an invasive species so it’s a bonus to be able to make use of them in a worthwhile fashion. “It’s not the furniture component I’m after,” Kelchen says. “I’m after the whole end user, that’s the ultimate goal. I’m tired of just piling the stuff and burning it. Somebody’s got to have a use for it.”
State law allows the public to harvest the black locust trees with a special permit. Kelchen says since the trees are invasive, this is a great way to repurpose them. “When you start talking furniture and stripping down these big trees, standing out in the timber, it’s hard to get an idea of what you’re looking at doing,” he says. “When I talked the first person into it, he talked his friends into it and they had a lot of fun. And that’s what this program is about, having fun, learning a little bit and getting something done.”
So far, two volunteer groups have participated in constructing three log chairs through 40 hours of in-kind service. The chairs will not be sold. Instead, they will be used at cabins at Springbrook State Park, in Guthrie County. Kelchen says it’s likely the program will be offered again next winter.
(Thanks to Pat Blank at Iowa Public Radio)
(Radio Iowa) — Thousands of Iowa F-F-A members will be celebrating National F-F-A Week, starting Saturday and all next week. Scott Johnson, executive director of the Iowa F-F-A Association, says these young people are tomorrow’s leaders of America’s number-one industry, agriculture. Drive Your Tractor to School Day remains one of the organization’s most popular events in Iowa — and one of the most visible. “I remember from my experiences teaching, it was always weather-pending,” Johnson says. “If FFA Week happened to be colder, Drive Your Tractor to School Day would almost always occur but sometimes it didn’t occur during FFA Week. You had to wait for it to be warmer for those old diesel engines to be able to fire up and survive a day in the open parking lot.”
F-F-A membership in Iowa hit an all-time high last year with more than 15-thousand-400 students wearing the familiar blue jackets. Johnson says membership has continued to grow over the past several years. “We’ve experienced about a 20% growth in membership,” Johnson says. “When I started in this position in 2012, we were right around 12,000 to 12,300. Now, we’re at 15,000.” The number of chapters statewide last year hit 242, which was also a record, one Johnson hopes to again surpass this year. The Iowa F-F-A Association provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education, what he says is a growing field. “We see a few schools that are adding a second ag instructor,” Johnson says. “We continue to see schools adding new programs. We look forward to the opportunity to bring on-board a number of chapters for the 2019-2020 school year.”
The week gives members an opportunity to educate the public about agriculture through events including: service activities, appreciation breakfasts, dress-up days and Agricultural Olympics.
(on the web at IowaFFA.com)
OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) — South-central Iowa authorities are investigating after dozens of head of cattle were found starved to death on property near Osceola. The Des Moines Register reports that the farmer who was supposed to be caring for the cattle could face charges. The Clarke County Sheriff’s Office says about 40 to 50 dead cattle were found Friday on a property about 4 miles west of Osceola. Chief Deputy Lucas Darby says a local veterinarian told authorities the animals appeared to have starved to death.
Darby says the farmer was tending to the property but did not own the land on which the cattle were found. Officials say someone reported the dead animals to authorities.
(Radio Iowa) — A spokesman for the Iowa D-N-R, Mick Klemesrude says the sale of fishing licenses was down a bit in 2018. “I think if you look back we had kind of a really strange spring where I think we had snow all the way into middle April,” Klemesrude says. “And when you have some of those crazy fluctuations in temperatures we tend to not see some of the license sales that you would have if you have a nice, steady spring.”
There were 201-thousand-765 annual licenses sold — while some people decided to buy a three-year hunting or fishing license. Klemesrude says they sold 75-hundred of those type of fishing licenses, which he says is right around average. They sell anywhere form two to three thousand of the hunting licenses each year. The fees for hunting and fishing licenses went up starting January 1st and Klemesrude says they aren’t sure how that might impact sales. “We tried to do it as way where we don’t have sticker shock. We tried to keep all of those below a 20-percent increase,” according to Klemesrude. “We think Iowans will absorb that cost and keep going out there and enjoying everything.”
He says it has been 15 or more years since they raised the prices and most anglers and hunters supported the increase — because they know it will help them. “Our hunting and fishing areas are supported by license fees and the people who purchase those licenses, so its a benefit that goes right back to the user,” Klemesrude says. The D-N-R also offers a lifetime hunting or fishing license for anyone over the age of 65. “Those are pretty steady sales, and we would always joke with them that you have to make three to three-and-a-half years and you are ahead of the game,” Klemesrude says.
There were around 75-hundred lifetime fishing licenses sold in 2018 and nearly three-thousand lifetime hunting licenses.
Area women who embrace the rural lifestyle are invited to attend the 5th Annual Women Gaining Ground Conference on Saturday, March 9 in Glenwood. This event is brought to you by Women, Land & Legacy of Southwest Iowa and is a one-day summit designed to be fun and empowering for women from all walks of life. The conference will begin with check-in at 8 a.m. Once you have arrived, you will be treated to a yogurt bar, muffins, and plenty of coffee. You will also be invited to visit with the many vendors ranging from non-profit ag-related organizations, to unique local entrepreneurs like Lindy’s Laine, Down Home Creations, and Denim Do-overs.
Starting at 9:00, Deadra Stanton, this year’s keynote speaker, will take the stage. Deadra, a former English teacher, has inspired thousands of people across the United States with her humorous stories of life lessons. In her opener, she promises to “make you laugh until you cry!” Following Deadra’s keynote presentation, Melanie Bruck, the Education Program Coordinator for Loess Hills Ag in the Classroom, will share her passion for building a foundation of Ag literacy through a presentation about the impact of food labeling on marketing and consumer perceptions.
From there, participants will choose three breakout sessions from a variety of relevant topics including:
It’s Time to Grow Up! Betsy Maryott, Mills County Master Gardener, is excited to share the pros and cons of vertical gardening through her own successes and failures in “growing up!” She will also identify resources to help you get started. Knowledge is Pow-Her is a financial workshop designed specifically for women. It will be presented by Denise and Daniel Miller of Miller Financial Group, Inc. Stop the Bleed, led by Katie Morse, Trauma Coordinator with CHI Health Mercy Hospital, will help participants learn the skills and basic tools to save lives in uncontrolled bleeding emergencies such as loss of limb and puncture wounds.
Getting Away without Going Too Far will be presented by Lisa and Tim Trudell. They are authors and bloggers based in Omaha and specializing in short-distance get-aways, perfect for busy farm families or retirees who don’t like to stray too far from the comforts of home!
Self-Defense Basics, taught by Officers Macy Arman and Kim Juarez from the Shenandoah Police Department, will equip you with basic self-defense skills and tips for staying safe in uncertain situations. Flower Power gives us the opportunity to learn from a pro. Jayna Guehlstorff from Jayna’s Country Store & Gardens will teach us how to cut and handle fresh flowers to keep them looking beautiful longer. She will also cover basic design principles and techniques that can be applied to all florals-fresh, fake or dried!
Lunch will feature one of the area’s best local caterers, Katy’s Catering of the Tabor/Glenwood area. A long break will allow plenty of time for shopping with the amazing vendors that will be on-hand, and networking with the many fascinating women who will attend. At the end of the day, participants will make their way back to the auditorium where the planning committee will distribute door prizes, and one lucky woman will win the $100 Early Bird Cash Prize! Sandy Hansen and Spencer Williams will close the conference with their special brand of positivity, affirmations, and tips for living your best life. The event is expected to end by 4:30.
Registration forms are available at www.extension.iastate.edu/fremont, or in any of the Extension offices in East Pottawattamie, Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page or West Pottawattamie counties. Register by February 22 to be eligible for a chance to win $100 CASH! All registrations are due by March 1. Special accommodations, including dietary needs, must be requested in advance. Any questions can be directed to Fremont County ISU Extension at (712) 374-2351; Mills County ISU Extension at (712) 624-8616; or Montgomery County ISU Extension at (712) 623-2592. Vendor spots are still available and vendor registrations will be accepted until March 1. Vendors can download the form at www.extension.iastate.edu/fremont.
Women, Land & Legacy (WLL) is an education and outreach program designed to educate and empower women. Three to four programs are presented each year to bring relevant information and resources to local women to help them affect positive changes in their communities. WLL of Southwest Iowa serves the counties of East Pott, Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page and West Pott. Its programs are available to all.
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