(Radio Iowa) – Clearfield Mayor Chris Knox is hoping an egg production facility that was heavily damaged by fire this weekend will be able to recover. Knox says he noticed the plant burning at around 7:30 Saturday morning — and most of the facility’s employees were standing outside when he drove by. The mayor says the gusty winds made for what he called “a scary deal.”

“The wind did pick up pretty strong there Saturday afternoon,” he says. “It was blowing right towards town at that particular time, and there was a pretty big concern about starting a cornfield on fire right to the east side of where the fire was. From there, it could have carried into the town of Clearfield.” Knox says the facility was bought from Iowa Cage-Free last month and is now known as Hen Haven Fire crews brought the fire under control by about 6 p-m Saturday–but not before it caused considerable damage.

“One complete hen house was burned clear to the ground. I would estimate it to be 700-to-800 feet long. It took it completely down. From there, the barn was connected by breezeways to the processing facility, and to the office space, and I believe to the distribution center. The processing, the office space, and the distribution area were all completely damaged, as well,” according to Knox. It’s believed hundreds of thousands of chickens died in the fire. Knox says the plant employs up to 70 people and the fire is a big blow to more than just the facility’s workers.

“It goes to people supplying the facility with feed resources and other resources,” he says. “It doesn’t even affect just the employees, it affects everybody that has ties to that business, as well. It would be really great if we could salvage what we can out of the mess, and continue to have that for the community. It really would.” Knox praised fire departments from surrounding communities for their assistance in battling the fire.

There’s no word on what caused the fire. None of the facility’s employees were injured, but Knox says two firefighters reportedly were treated for smoke inhalation.

(Atlantic, Iowa)  – Beef producers needing to renew or obtain their certification for Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) can attend an in-person workshop held Monday, December 6^th from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.  The training will be held at Cass County Community Center at 805 W 10^th Street in Atlantic.

A majority of packers require cattle sellers to be BQA certified.  BQA is a nationally coordinated, state implemented program that raises consumer confidence through offering proper management techniques and a commitment to quality within every segment of the beef industry.  The Iowa BQA Program is funded by the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and the Beef Checkoff.  The education component is delivered as a joint effort by Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University and IBIC.

There is no cost to attend the training, but pre-registration is appreciated. To reserve a seat at the training, please RSVP by noon on Monday the 6^th by contacting the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or emailing keolson@iastate.edu. A light meal will be served to all who RSVP in advance, grilled by the Cass County Cattlemen, starting at 6:00 PM ahead of the meeting.

To learn more about the Iowa BQA Program and other upcoming certification trainings in your area, please visit www.iabeef.org.  BQA certification is also offered online for free at www.bqa.org.  For more information, feel free to contact Erika Lundy-Woolfolk, ISU Extension beef specialist at 641-745-5902 or ellundy@iastate.edu.

AMES, Iowa – The 2022 Crop Advantage meetings will give producers a solid foundation of current research-based crop production information to help make smart, informed decisions for their farming operation. The meetings are an opportunity for farmers and crop advisers to hear current research and crop production information from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Specialists will travel to 14 locations around Iowa (Including Atlantic, Denison & LeMars), from Jan. 4-27, providing updated management options and recommendations on crop production issues facing Iowa growers.

Meetings include continuing education credits for Certified Crop Advisers and pesticide applicator recertification. All sites offer private pesticide applicator continuing instruction, which is included in the registration fee. The Chariton location also offers commercial ag pesticide applicator continuing instruction for an additional cost.

Nearly 2,000 individuals attended one of 14 Crop Advantage meetings across the state in 2020, representing all 99 Iowa counties and surrounding states. Approximately 85% of attendees said information from Crop Advantage would likely save them between $5 and $20 per acre.

Program topics vary by location and are selected for regional issues. Topics on this year’s agenda include: crop market outlook for 2022, precipitation and weather variability trends, corn rootworm management, managing cover crops before corn, fertilizer management for 2022, management of corn and soybean disease issues, tax law changes and many more.

Financial support for this farmer-focused meeting series is provided by the Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Corn Growers Association. Locations, times and program details are available online.

Early registration for each location is $60; late registration made less than seven days prior to the meeting, or on-site, is $75. Registration includes lunch, private pesticide applicator recertification, and CCA credits.

Online registration and additional information is available at www.cropadvantage.org. For questions, contact ANR Program Services at 515-294-6429, or anr@iastate.edu, or contact your regional Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomist.

2022 Meeting Dates and Locations

• Jan. 4 – Sheldon.
• Jan. 5 – Storm Lake.
• Jan. 6 – Burlington.
• Jan. 11 – Okoboji.
• Jan. 12 – Ankeny.
• Jan. 13 – Cedar Falls.
• Jan. 14 – Mason City.
• Jan. 18 – Chariton.
• Jan. 19 – Webster City.
• Jan. 20 – Atlantic.
• Jan. 21 – Davenport.
• Jan. 25 – Coralville.
• Jan. 26 – Le Mars.
• Jan. 27 – Denison.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Iowa Learning Farms (ILF), the Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach conservation and water quality education program, will host “Coffee and Conservation,” Wednesday, Dec. 15, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield. The in-person event will provide local farmers and landowners with a chance to discuss conservation practices and ask questions of ILF and local extension staff.

Liz Ripley, ILF conservation and cover crop outreach specialist, says “Our intent with this event is to help build community through encouraging farmers to talk with their peers and ILF about topics important within the community, what keeps them up at night, what challenges they see with conservation practices, and what they want to learn more about. There will be no formal presentations or agenda, just a chance to talk, ask questions, listen and learn while enjoying a beverage and provided food.”

ISU hosts at the Greenfield event will include Mark Licht, assistant professor and extension cropping systems specialist in agronomy at Iowa State University, and Liz Ripley, ILF conservation and cover crop outreach specialist. The Coffee and Conservation event is produced in collaboration with ISU’s Conservation Learning Group and the Adair County Extension Office.

To ensure adequate space and food, please RSVP for the Greenfield Coffee and Conservation by calling 515-294-5429 or email ilf@iastate.edu.