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!
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!
DES MOINES— Iowa DNR officials are asking for the public’s help in determining the cause of a fish kill yesterday (Thursday), along Squaw Creek in the Franklin County town of Hampton.
Thursday afternoon, a local angler reported dead fish in Squaw Creek in East Park in Hampton. The DNR investigated and found that the fish kill extended approximately 1.5 miles upstream through the town of Hampton.
No definitive source of the kill has been identified at this time, though the DNR is continuing to investigate. Any information or tips from the public with knowledge of a possible cause are requested to contact the DNR’s environmental field office in Mason City at 641-424-4073
(Atlantic, Iowa) – A reminder from The Station Where Your Friends Are: An event taking place this Saturday, June 3rd, “Truckin’ on the Trails,” will showcase various cycling opportunities and trails fun in Cass County. All Truckin’ on the Trails activities will take place at the Schildberg Recreation Area West Rotary Shelter (102 Buck Creek Rd. Atlantic, IA 50022).
At 10:30 AM, the event will kick off with the “Nishna Valley Trails Gravel Sampler” ride led by Jon Jordan. This ten-mile ride will visit both trails and gravel. Gravel riding has become
increasingly popular in the last few years, and those interested in learning about this sport are encouraged to attend. Prior to the ride, Jordan will give a primer on gravel skills vs. road skills.
Any “non-skinny” tire bikes will work for this ride. Participants will ride from Schildberg Rotary Shelter (West parking lot) to South T-Bone Trailhead (63395 Dunbar Rd. Atlantic) and back.
Then from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Truckin’ on the Trails is hosting food trucks and live music at the Schildberg Rotary Shelter. Master Griller Catering, Atlantic Kiwanis, and Louie’s Shaved Ice will be selling food, and Sarah Selders will be singing live. Cass County Conservation and Nishna Valley Trails, a tax-emempt local nonprofit that promotes the development of recreational trails and cycling, will be sharing information on their organizations, and Bike Farm will be offering minor bike maintenance and door prizes. 
At 1:00 PM a 1.5-mile kids ride will take off from the West Rotary Shelter. This ride will be a loop that will end back with the food trucks and music.
Whether cycling or walking, pushing strollers, or riding trikes, all people are welcome at Truckin’ on the Trails. Truckin’ on the Trails is just one of many events taking place across the nation on National Trails Day, the first Saturday in June. National Trails Day is an annual event hosted by the American Hiking Society that encourages support of the nation’s public trails. Trails have positive impacts on mental and physical health, and National Trails Day is a day of public events that invites thousands of trail users to participate.
A Cass County trails map can be found online at:
https://www.atlanticiowa.com/experience/cass-county-trails-map-2/. Hard copies of the map will be available at the event and are always available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.
(Ames, Iowa) – The latest Iowa Drought Monitor (Released Thursday, June 1) indicated a continued trend toward dryness across the State. Only the north-central & northeast counties are free of drought conditions.The report is released every Thursday, and does not take into account rain received since the report was issued. Atlantic finally received some decent rain Thursday, at slightly more than nine-tenths of an inch. The last time we received over nine-tenths of an inch, was May 5th (.94″). The National Weather Service says a high-pressure system parked over the Great Lakes continues to block any organized weather system from entering the state.
White-No drought; Yellow-Abnormally dry; Tan-Moderate drought; Orange-Severe drought; Red-extreme drought; dark red-Exceptional drought.
Drought areas are categorized from D-O (no drought) to D-4 (Exceptional Drought). The Drought Monitor shows drought conditions continued expanding across the region, from D-O to D-1 (Abnormally Dry) in parts of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. D-2 soil/drought conditions expanded in Iowa and Missouri, while D-3 (Extreme Drought) conditions grew in Missouri. As of May 28th, USDA data revealed more than half of the topsoil moisture was short or very short in Iowa (50%), Missouri (62%), and Michigan (68%), and 40% or more was short or very short in Wisconsin (45%), Ohio (45%), Illinois (42%), and Indiana (40%).
The story for the Midwest was continued drying of soils, low streamflows, and mounting precipitation deficits over the last 1 to 3 months.
(Radio Iowa) – The cost to rent an acre of Iowa farmland increased nine percent last year to a record 279 dollars. Iowa State University’s Alejandro Plastina, says the strong farm economy drove the increase. “We saw a great farm year last year with good profitability land values are also at very high levels and still increasing according to recent surveys,” he says.
He says there’s demand when land becomes available to rent and that is also pushing up rents. “Farmers are trying to expand to extract better economies of scale and be more profitable with larger farms so it makes sense,” Plaustina says. He says some input costs came down, and the increase in interest rates has not been a factor after several years of good farm income. “Farmers have built up some cash reserves and are not using credit loans, operating loans as much as in other years in in the past. That higher interest rate is not affecting all farmers as it would have a decade ago,” Plaustina says.
There was considerable variability across counties depending on the quality of the land — but 91 out of the 99 Iowa counties experienced increases. Only Des Moines, Jefferson, Lucas, Muscatine, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Woodbury counties saw declines in their overall average cash rents. Plaustina says farm income projections are expected to decline over the next couple of years, putting downward pressure on cash rents. “Now the concern is with 2024, on the whether we will continue to see to see inflation in inputs and declining corn and soybean prices, and you know that will be concerning in 2024 if that happens,” he says.
Plaustina says 51 percent of the farmland in Iowa is rented, with the majority of rent in the form of cash deals.
(Radio Iowa) – With the unofficial first weekend of summer behind us, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is reminding Iowans about the multitude of state and county parks that offer camping options. D-N-R wildlife biologist Matt Dollison says the more prominent and popular campsites often fill up quickly, so he recommends checking out the local spots, too. “You might consider looking at some less-used county facilities,” Dollison suggested. “For instance, the Fremont County Conservation Board has eight campsites for plug-in here at the golf course in Fremont County. That might be a nice emergency spot to go. There’s plenty of spots out there like that across southwest Iowa. Just look for those ‘off the beaten path,’ less-traveled places to find a hookup.”
Dollison says tent camping sites are typically more readily available and are on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, he adds there are a couple of tent-camping-specific tips to keep in mind. “If you’re tent camping for the first time ever, try to plan for some shade in the morning,” he said. “If it’s shady at night when you’re setting it up, that might not be shady in the morning. If you set that tent up in the sun, it’s going to be unbearably hot in there generally by about 8 a.m.” Dollison also recommends having supplies readily available, including bug and sun protection.
“There’s plenty of ticks out there at this time of year, and mosquitoes aren’t going to be too bad in most of our area with how dry it’s been, but bug spray is definitely something to consider having, and sunblock if you’re going to be out in the sun,” said Dollison.” Learn more about Iowa’s state parks at iowadnr.gov.
Ag/Outdoor, Heartbeat Today, Podcasts
Jim Field visits with Cass County Extension Director Kate Olson about the Cass County Master Gardeners Bus Tour on June 7 to the Lincoln, NE area. The deadline to register for the day-long trip on Thursday, June 1. For more information or to register, CLICK HERE!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (23.7MB)
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(Radio Iowa) – The planting season is down to just a few more trips across the field. The U-S-D-A crop report shows 98 percent of the corn crop is planted, eight days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the five-year average. Eighty-five percent of the corn crop has emerged — with 77 percent reported in good to excellent condition. Ninety-four percent of soybeans had been planted by Sunday, more than one week ahead of last year and 15 days ahead of normal. Sixty-seven percent of soybeans have emerged and the first condition report shows 71 percent are rated in good to excellent condition.
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