712 Digital Group - top

KJAN Ag/Outdoor

CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Iowa Agribusiness Network!

CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!

Conservation Report 1/14/2017

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

January 14th, 2017 by admin

Bob Beebensee speaks with Conservation Officers Grant Gelle and Adam Arnold about all things outdoors and remind everyone to renew licenses that expired on Jan. 10th.

Play

Record year for corn and soybean production in Iowa, U.S.

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 13th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Corn and soybean growers in Iowa and across the country set new records in 2016. That’s according to a report from the USDA Ag Statistics Service. Doug Hartwig, deputy director for the Upper Midwest region, says the corn yield in Iowa is estimated at 2.74 billion bushels. “That’s a record high production. This is nine-percent above the previous record of 2.51 billion bushels set in 2015,” Hartwig says.

Iowa’s average corn yield topped 200 bushels per acre for the first time ever. “The average yield for the state ended up at 203 bushels per acre,” Hartwig says. “It was a pretty phenomenal year for corn production.” Iowa has now led the nation in corn production for 23 consecutive years and 38 of the last 39 years. Soybean production in Iowa in 2016 is estimated at 572 million bushels.

“This is a record high production as well, topping the previous record set (in 2015) at 554 million bushels,” Hartwig says. The average soybean yield last year was 60.5 bushels per acre, also topping the previous record of 56.5 in 2015. Nationally, 2016 corn production totaled 15.1 billion bushels with an average yield of 174.4 bushels per acre.

Those are both all-time highs, besting previous records set in 2014. U.S. soybean production totaled 4.3 billion bushels with an average yield of 52.1 bushels per acre, also new records.

(Radio Iowa)

Northey: Grants available to help promote specialty crops

Ag/Outdoor

January 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is accepting applications for grant funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program.  The grants are available to support projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in Iowa.

The final funding level for the 2017 Iowa Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is yet to be announced by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service that administer the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, but is expected to be similar to last years $244,352.23 funding.

“The Specialty Crop Block Grant funds can support food safety, research and marketing efforts that encourage Iowans to choose the products that are produced right here in our state,” Northey said.  “Specialty crops are a very important part of Iowa agriculture as they allow farmers to diversify and give customers access to locally grown products.”

Grant funds shall be used for projects that benefit the specialty crop industry as a whole and will not be awarded for projects that directly benefit a particular product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual.

Iowa agencies, universities, institutions, and producer, industry, and community based organizations are all eligible to apply for funding.  In addition, organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.

Grant awards will be considered up to a maximum of $24,000 and projects can have a duration of up to 30 months (2 ½ years). “Specialty Crops” that are eligible under this program are fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.  Both fresh and processed specialty crops are eligible.

Proposals must be received by IDALS on or before 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 3, 2017.  For more information visit the IDALS Specialty Crop Block Grant program at the Department’s web site at www.IowaAgriculture.gov/Horticulture_and_FarmersMarkets/specialtyCropGrant.asp.

The Department is also again establishing a Review Committee to help review, evaluate, and make recommendations on grant proposals submitted to the Department. Those interested in participating in the Review Committee should have knowledge of specialty crops, and/or grant writing or grant management experience, and the ability to devote the necessary time to complete the review process.  Additional information about reviewer responsibilities, meeting dates and an application form can also be found at www.IowaAgriculture.gov/Horticulture_and_FarmersMarkets/specialtyCropGrant.asp.

Applications to participate in the Reviewer Committee are due Friday, March 17, 2017 by 4 p.m. To ensure that funds are used in the most efficient manner possible, the Department is asking specialty crop stakeholders and organizations to submit public comments on program priorities.  The comments will help the Department identify priorities; establish the criteria used to evaluate the projects proposed for funding, and to determine how the reviews are conducted.

Iowans interested in submitting comments about the program can do so online by emailing HorticultureAndFarmersMarkets@IowaAgriculture.gov or by mail to Horticulture and Farmers Market Bureau, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, 502 East 9th, Des Moines, Iowa, 50319.  Comments received by April 3, 2017 will be presented to the review committee to assist in prioritizing projects.

“The Specialty Crop Block Grant program has been a tremendous benefit to Iowa and it is important we understand the priorities of the specialty crop producers as we consider this year’s applications,” Northey said.  “The public comments will allow us to hear from all segments of Iowa’s specialty crop industries and give them a means to participate in the decisions surrounding this program.”

(Press Release)

Coyote hunting picks up this time of year

Ag/Outdoor, Sports

January 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

As we get deeper into January, some Iowan’s thoughts are turning to coyotes. Iowa Department of Natural Resources state furbearer biologist Vince Evelsizer says there’s a continual season on coyotes — but these winter days tend to get more hunters seeking the animal. “There’s more focus this time of year because there’s typically snow cover, a lot of the other hunting seasons are closing down after January 10th, and so some of the outdoors folks devote their time and attention to the coyote,” Evelsizer explains.

Another draw is the price paid for the fur of the animals. “Pelt value has remain decent for coyotes,” Evelsizer says, “mostly because of the trim trade where the coyote pelts are utilized in the hood of coats and jackets and that sort of thing.”

IA DNR photo

He says Iowa pelts can bring between 15 and 25 dollars, depending on their quality. In Iowa you can trap coyotes during the trapping season, or you can hunt them with a gun. Evelsizer says the method used to catch a coyote varies based on personal preference. “Some guys do very well calling in coyotes. Other guys do well working together in groups of hunters and getting them that way. Whereas some trappers do well trapping them, so it just kind of depends,” he says.

Evelsizer says the state population of coyotes has been steady to increasing, with the western and southwestern areas seeing more of the animals than in the eastern part of the state.  “For the past couple of years we’ve had record harvests. It varies from year-to-year, but lately it’s been from 12 to 15-thousand coyotes harvested annually,” Evelsizer says.

There are fewer rules in hunting these animals. You can use predator calls, hunt day or night, use high powered rifles, hunt over bait and use groups of hunters and or hounds to round them up. There is no bag limit and coyotes. Evelsizer says the rules are more liberal for hunting coyotes because they are very good at avoiding detection. And they are very resilient in adapting to their habitat.

“Coyotes have the ability to compensate with liter size. Meaning that, in years when their numbers are down, the average litter size is typically higher because there is more food available. It’s sort of their way of rebuilding their numbers,” according to Evelsizer. “In years when coyote numbers are higher, the average liter size may be lower.”

While there are fewer regulations to hunt coyotes — Evelsizer says hunters need to take some precautions. “An adult coyote typically weighs around 35 to 40 pounds — but that can vary a little bit — so they are typically about the size of a dog,” Evelsizer says. “The number one thing for hunters is to be sure of their target so that they don’t mistake it for some sort of hybrid dog, coyote or a wolf for that matter. So, we just encourage hunters be sure of their target.”

He says there has been an increase in the number of reported wolf sightings over the years as they may’ve migrated in from Wisconsin or Minnesota. There have been at least four wolves shot by coyote hunters during the last two years. Wolves are protected in Iowa and there is no open season You can tell the difference between the two, as coyotes have a pointed snout and their ears are larger proportionally to their body. Wolves are taller than coyotes and have long front legs and a heavier, squarer frame. You can find out more about coyote hunting on the D-N-R’s website, http://www.iowadnr.gov/ .

(Radio Iowa)

Shelby County/ISU Extension to host a Farmer’s Coffee January 31st

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 11th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Are you a farmer or are you involved in the agriculture industry? Are you curious where the ag markets might be headed this year?  If yes, plan on attending Iowa State University Extension and Outreach – Shelby County’s Farmer’s Coffee January 31st at 9:30 a.m. ISUEO Farm Management Specialist Shane Ellis will be presenting a market outlook for both crops and livestock. Low commodity prices are impacting both producers and other industries related to agriculture.  Knowing what to expect in the near future will help to make good management decisions for the future.

Please join us at the Shelby County Extension Office 906 6th Street for hot coffee and refreshments, catch up on the latest ag news, bring your questions, and visit with others and Shane about what the new holds for agriculture.  There is no cost.  This informational meeting is for anyone who is involved in the agriculture industry! Please call the Shelby County Extension and Outreach Office at (712)755-3104 for more information.

Local 24-Hour Rainfall Totals at 7:00 am on January 11, 2017

Ag/Outdoor, Weather

January 11th, 2017 by Jim Field

  • KJAN, Atlantic  .14″
  • Massena  .17″
  • Anita  .18″
  • Red Oak  .06″
  • Clarinda  .22″
  • Denison  .08″
  • Carroll  .09″
  • Logan  .02″

Cass County Extension Report 1-11-2017

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

January 11th, 2017 by Jim Field

w/Kate Olson.

Play

Iowa Farm Bureau president discusses delay in US Ag Secretary announcement

Ag/Outdoor

January 11th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

There’s growing concern by some in the ag industry that President-elect Donald Trump has not announced his choice for secretary of agriculture. It was a popular subject of conversation at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention that wrapped up Tuesday in Phoenix, Arizona. Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill attended the convention and said most of the names being mentioned for the top post at the USDA are people who are very well qualified

“I’m hoping for a farmer. That would be nice,” Hill said. “But, it kind of looks like Sonny Perdue, the former governor of Georgia…there are some others, but I’ll just look forward to finding out when we can.” Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack has served as the U.S. Ag Secretary since January of 2009. He was nominated for the post in mid-December of 2008, shortly after Barack Obama was elected president.

Hill said he would prefer if Vilsack’s replacement was also from the Midwest. “You know, Iowa is a state that became number two in the country in terms of agricultural receipts. We overtook Texas. We may volley back-and-forth over time with that distinction, but agriculture production in the Midwest is strong and it drives our economy. We need representation from the Midwest,” Hill said.

Last week, Agri-Pulse reported Tom Vilsack is expected to take over as CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council once he leaves office. However, Vilsack told Brownfield Ag News that he has NOT made final plans for the future and he’s solely focused on his remaining days at USDA.

(Thanks to Ken Anderson, Brownfield Ag News)

Iowa landowners have more CRP options

Ag/Outdoor

January 10th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Iowa landowners have the opportunity to enroll land in the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) into special targeted areas for wildlife. D-N-R wildlife biologist Todd Bogenschutz says more C-R-P land is now eligible for what’s called the State Acres For wildlife Enhancement or SAFE program. “Basically what they’ve done, nationwide there’s two-point-five million acres coming out — some of them are continuous, most of them are general. They made this announcement that they are going to target 700-thousand of those acres toward the state safe practices,” Bogenschutz says. “That was great for Iowa because we have a couple of safe requests in. They basically gave us acres for all three of them.”

He says the SAFE program is designed to help particular species of wildlife. “It’s basically where there’s threatened and endangered species, a species that is declining significantly, or a species that’s economically important. States can come up with a targeted C-R-P practice to address one of those concerns, or any of those concerns,” Bogenschutz says.

He says Iowa has had success with its SAFE programs. “We have a gaining ground SAFE — which is targeted at grassland birds and pollinators — we have a pheasant recovery SAFE, and we just submitted a new quail SAFE — and they gave us additional acres for all three of those,” Bogenschutz says.

He says until the recent announcement they didn’t know if any new C-R-P acres would be allowed to go into the program. “Because we were at the cap people weren’t sure what was going to happen this coming year. If they were just going to have another sign up. SAFE’s been popular, but we can’t put any more in because the acres are all gone,” Bogenschutz says. “Now with this announcement people have an opportunity to get into SAFE. If you ‘ve got a contract that is expiring this year, you can re-enroll in that, which is going to probably make it better habitat than it was.”

The sign up is underway and Bogenschutz urges you to not delay in getting signed up. “Many people are expecting that these acres could be gone within a couple of weeks. There’s a lot of interest in C-R-P, a lot of people want to be in C-R-P and they can’t now that they’ve lowered the cap. So we expect it’s going to be very competitive, so if folks are interested in C-R-P I recommend they get right into their local U-S-D-A office, or contact one of our private land staff to get more info,” according to Bogenschutz.

The Iowa D-N-R has created a web page for landowners to learn more about federal and state programs available to them. The web page includes a list of D-N-R staff who are experts at connecting landowners with programs and writing land management plans that benefit the landowner, wildlife and improve water quality. There is also a link to F-S-A where landowners can find information about their local F-S-A office. The landowner assistance webpage is at www.iowadnr.gov/crp.

(Radio Iowa)

Public Hearing set for next week in Atlantic on proposed Urban Renewal Area, plan & projects

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports a Public Hearing will be held next week on the designation of a 2017 Cass County Agribusiness Urban Renewal Area, and on a proposed Urban Renewal Plan and Projects. The Hearing will be held Jan. 18th at 8:45-a.m., at the Cass County Courthouse.

The hearing is on the question of designating as the 2017 Cass County Agribusiness Urban Renewal Area (the “Urban Renewal Area”), pursuant to Chapter 403, Code of Iowa, the property situated in Cass County, Iowa described as follows:

Certain real property situated in Cass County, Iowa bearing the following Cass County Property Tax Parcel Identification Numbers as of January 1, 2017:

  • Parcel ID: 180001556001000 – 3.55 acres;
  • Parcel ID: 250000488001005 – 13.29 acres
  • Parcel ID: 250000488001006 – 50.87 acres
  • Parcel ID: 250000488004011 – 2.25 acres
  • Parcel ID: 250000488004012 – 8.95 acres
  • Parcel ID: 250000522001006 – 1.93 acres
  • Parcel ID: 250000523002003 – 3.17 acres
  • Parcel ID: 250000533001001 – 2.81 acres
  • Parcel ID: 250000533001002 – 0.24 acres
  • Parcel ID: 250000533001003 – 1.04 acres
  • Parcel ID: 250000687003002 – 6.08 acres
  • Parcel ID: 250000754001002 – 3.60 acres Parcel ID: 250000754003002 – 4.41 acres; and
  • All of the right-of-way of Echo Road from and including its intersection with Olive Street on the east and continuing west to and including its intersection with Buck Creek Road; and
  • All of the right-of-way of Buck Creek Road from and including its intersection with Echo Road on the north and continuing south to and including its intersection with Glacier Road; and
  • All of the right-of-way of Glacier Road from and including its intersection with Buck Creek Road on the east and continuing west to the paved segment of Glacier Road.

(A More detailed description of the parcels is available from the Cass County Auditor’s Office) The subject matter of the public hearing will also include a proposed urban renewal plan (the “Plan”) and project for the Urban Renewal Area identified above, pursuant to Chapter 403, Code of Iowa, a copy of which plan is on file for public inspection in the office of the County Auditor.

The general scope of the proposed Plan, as more specifically described therein, includes the following:

  • Increasing the tax base and promoting economic growth in Cass County by encouraging commercial, industrial and agribusiness development.
  • The Plan authorizes certain initial urban renewal projects to be undertaken in the Urban Renewal Area consisting of (i) providing tax increment financing support to Elite Octane, LLC in connection with the planning, design and construction of an ethanol plant (the “Development Project”);
  • and (ii) using tax increment financing to pay the costs of constructing certain road and greywater sewer system improvements necessary for the development of the Development Project.

At the hearing any interested person may file written objections or comments and may be heard orally with respect to the subject matter of the hearing.