(Radio Iowa) – The Missouri and Big Sioux River paddlefish licenses and tags are now on sale for the season that opens February 1st. John Lorenzen is the D-N-R’s fisheries biologist for Southwest Iowa. “So there are one-thousand tags available, 950 are available to residents and 50 are available to non residents,” he says. Lorenzen says you can buy up to two tags up to December 31st and an additional tag if there are some available from January 1st to January 7th, He says most of the tags are usually scooped up.

“For the most part, we sell out. I haven’t looked into the numbers so far. What we expect for numbers this year, although I would you know, I would assume we’d sell out again as we have in the past,” he says. The prehistoric looking fish are snagged with a hook in a method that’s different from catching most fish. “They have a, it’s called a rostrum. It’s like a giant spoon on the front of their face and they have a very large mouth, and they basically just swim around filtering zooplankton and things like that out of the water,” he says.

“And that’s what they feed on, so they’re not the typical sport fish that’s going to bite on like a crank bait. You know, you’re not casting and hoping they bite it. You’re trying to find where the fish are located.” Lorenzen says. Lorenzen says it’s likely many of the licenses are sold to people who live close to the two waterways, including the non resident licenses. “I can almost say with certainty that most of those are probably sold to Nebraska residents just because they live right across the river. Of the 950 resident tags that are available, I would say most people would be somewhat local just because, you know there’s other parts of the state, like on the eastern side of the state, if people wanted to paddle fish, they can do that on the Mississippi without having to travel over here to the Missouri side of the state.”

Lorenzen says most people have experience paddle fishing, or if they are new will find someone who does. )”It’s not as common or as well known as, you know, just throwing something on a bobber and catching bluegills or whatever in a pond,” He says. “You know, it takes the type of person who wants to try something completely different to be new at it. Otherwise you know most people out on the river usually have experience being on the river.”

A resident license sells for 25 dollars, 50 cents, and a nonresident license is 49 dollars. You must also have a valid Iowa fishing license to get a paddlefish license.

Cass County: Corn $4.13 Beans $10.39
Adair County: Corn $4.10 Beans $10.42
Adams County: Corn $4.10 Beans $10.38
Audubon County: Corn $4.12 Beans $10.41
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $4.16 Beans $10.39
Guthrie County: Corn $4.15 Beans $10.43
Montgomery County: Corn $4.15 Beans $10.41
Shelby County: Corn $4.16 Beans $10.39

Oats: $2.42 (same in all counties)

(Prices are per bushel; information is from the area Farm Service Agency [FSA] offices)

(An IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH report) – Nearly two dozen U.S. senators urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a letter, to “prioritize” a vaccine strategy for the highly pathogenic avian influenza. The virus has impacted more than 184 million commercial and backyard poultry birds and more than 1,000 head of dairy cattle since February 2022.

The letter comes as detections of the bird flu have increased over the winter months in states across the country, according to reporting from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.  A case of bird flu was detected in Iowa Dec. 2, in a Hamilton County commercial turkey flock, and as recently as Tuesday in flocks in Indiana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Washington.

The bipartisan letter, which included Iowa Republicans Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley, said a “thoughtful and comprehensive vaccine strategy” would “strengthen” the nation’s ability to fight the bird flu, as it prepares for a “resurgence.” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins launched a $1 billion plan in February to combat the ongoing outbreak of the H5N1 virus. Part of that plan included $100 million for research into a bird flu vaccine and other potential treatments.

The letter said USDA has a “draft proposal of an avian flu vaccine strategy for poultry” that is “currently under review” and the signed senators urged the department to advance the process with “speed and diligence.”  A draft proposal for a bird flu vaccine strategy had not been filed in the Federal Register as of Friday. In June, Reuters reported USDA was “considering” a plan to vaccinate poultry for HPAI and expected the plan would be completed in July.

Members of the Congressional Chicken Caucus, representing the interests of poultry producing states, submitted a letter to Rollins in February, noting they were wary of a vaccine, as it might interrupt export markets.  While the December letter from senators urged the advancement of the vaccine process, it also asked for “proactive consultation with affected stakeholders.”  Senators said the vaccine strategy should also address “all impacted species” of poultry and that the department should then prioritize a vaccine strategy for dairy cattle.

The letter was addressed to Rollins and dated Dec. 11. Signees included: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota; Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota; Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; Sen. John Thune R-South Dakota; Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona; Sen. James Justice, R-West Virginia; Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan; Sen. Michael Lee, R-Utah; Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York; Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia; Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio; Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minnesota; Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina; Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia; Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado; Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana; Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico; Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio; Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-New Mexico.

Cass County: Corn $4.14 Beans $10.47
Adair County: Corn $4.11 Beans $10.50
Adams County: Corn $4.11 Beans $10.46
Audubon County: Corn $4.13 Beans $10.49
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $4.17 Beans $10.47
Guthrie County: Corn $4.16 Beans $10.51
Montgomery County: Corn $4.16 Beans $10.49
Shelby County: Corn $4.17 Beans $10.47

Oats: $2.45 (same in all counties)

(Prices are per bushel; information is from the area Farm Service Agency [FSA] offices)

(Des Moines, IA)  – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says the recent blast of arctic air is growing ice on lakes and ponds across the northern two-thirds of Iowa. Outdoor ice enthusiasts are ready to get out ice fishing, snowmobiling, ice skating or fat-tire bike riding. The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of clear ice for fishing and at least five to seven inches for snowmobiles and ATVs.  Larger off-road utility vehicles should wait for seven or more inches of clear ice.

Ice forms at different rates on each body of water depending upon the size and water depth. Once frozen, conditions change constantly and ice thickness can vary across the lake. Rocks, trees, docks or other things that poke through the ice will conduct heat and make the ice around it less stable. Trust your instincts – if the ice does not look right, don’t go out.

A blanket of snow on top of an ice-covered lake insulates the ice, slowing the growth of ice and hiding potential hazards or weak spots. River ice is 15 percent weaker than lake ice. Ice with a bluish color is safer than clear ice.  Avoid slushy or honey-combed and stay away from dark spots on the ice.  Don’t walk into areas where the snow cover looks discolored.

Safety Tips on the Ice

• No ice is 100 percent safe.
• New ice is usually stronger than old ice.
• Don’t go out alone – if the worst should happen, someone will be there to call for help or to help rescue.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you will return.
• Check ice thickness as you go out – there could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed.
• Avoid off-colored snow or ice. It is usually a sign of weakness.
• The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process.
• Bring along these basic items to help keep you safe: hand warmers, ice cleats to help prevent falls, ice picks (wear around your neck) to help you crawl out of the water if you fall in, a spud bar, a life jacket, a floating safety rope, a whistle to call for help, a basic first aid kit and extra dry clothes including a pair of gloves.
• Use extreme caution when snowmobiling on ice. Snowmobiles can be difficult to steer and take a long time to stop with limited traction on ice. Slow down and avoid heavy braking.

(Des Moines, IA) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources have announced several new changes to the State’s parks system effective in 2026, designed to improve visitor experiences.  Among them:

1. Beginning in 2026, most campsites in the Iowa state park system will be reservable through the DNR’s Online Reservation System. The switch will complete a process that started in 2021, and means:

• Reservations can be made online or by phone using a credit card.
• Availability is known immediately and can be made the same day.
• If a cancellation occurs, the site is available for reservation within minutes.
• An increase in convenience and reduction in uncertainty for campers who previously may have traveled to a campground not knowing if sites were open.
• More site availability in every campground .
• Customers can change a reservation until 10 pm on the day of arrival – some limitations apply. Additionally, campers can change a reservation to a different park allowing for more flexibility.
• Ability for staff to spend more time caring for the park, programming and natural resource upkeep, instead of handling cash or check-ins at the campground.

A kiosk in each campground will provide online reservation information for those who come to the park looking for a site. Campers will no longer need to complete paper registration forms or pay with cash; all reservations will be through the Online Reservation System or by calling (877) 427-2757.

2.First Day Hikes: Kick off the New Year by joining a First Day Hike in an Iowa State Park. More than 40 parks are hosting either a guided group hike or suggesting a self-guided hike. Hikers can expect to be surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, and experience spectacular views, beautiful settings and the cultural treasures offered by Iowa’s state parks. Find a complete list on the First Day Hike page.

3. Iowa state parks have been renovating several campgrounds and facilities to modernize and improve visitor experiences. Be sure to check out the Park Alerts and Closures page when planning your trip in case the construction projects impact a park you plan to visit in 2026. In our area:

• Lewis and Clark  State Park – the entire park is currently closed to visitors for hazardous tree removal, with completion in the summer of 2026.
• Waubonsie State Park – the campground will re-open May 15, 2026 after completion of a waterline project. The cabins will be closed through 2026 for waterline upgrades to those facilities.

3. New rates for 2026:

In 2026, campsite rates will increase slightly by $1 to $3, depending on site type and campground location. Additionally, rates will increase by $4 or $5, depending on the campground, during the three major summer holiday weekends of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Off-season rates are not changing (October 16 – April 30). Rates will be updated on the reservation site in early 2026.

State park donation opportunities:

Park visitors can donate online in a variety of ways to support Iowa state parks. All donations go toward operational needs of state parks and forests. Campers, cabin renters and day-use facility renters can donate when making a reservation by rounding up, and anyone visiting the DNR Online Reservation Site can donate by clicking on Make a Donation. Supporters also can donate through the general DNR Donation page.

(Radio Iowa) – A key member of the Iowa House backs a bill to prohibit lawsuits accusing pesticide companies of failing to warn the product could cause cancer, as long as the product’s label meets federal guidelines. The bill does not name glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup — but House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican who farms near Wilton, suggests Bayer’s factory in Muscatine that makes Roundup could close if Iowa lawmakers don’t take action.

“I can tell you what will happen if we don’t get this bill done. What will happen is we’ll be buying glyphosate from China. We just got done seeing what China can do if they choose to squeeze us — whether it’s soybeans, whether it’s (computer) chips — China can put its grip around our throat and particularly around our farmers’ throats,” Kaufmann said during an interview with Radio Iowa. About 70 percent of the glyphosate sold in the North America is made at the Bayer plant in Muscatine.

“Do you want an Iowa company with all of the Iowa guardrails, with all of the Iowa accountability…making a product our farmers have to have,” Kaufmann asks, “or do you trust China?” Kaufmann says while Bayer’s Muscatine plant is just outside of his House district, he represents many of the 400 people who work there. “It’s 15 miles from me,” Kaufmann said. “It’s five miles from my district.”

The Iowa Senate narrowly approved this bill this past May, but it did not come up for a vote in the House. Kaufmann isn’t guaranteeing a vote in the House next year. Kaufmann says he’ll talk with House Republicans to see if there are the 51 votes necessary to pass the bill in 2026 — and he knows there are some House Republicans who are strongly against it. “Some of my closest friends are not for that bill in my (House Republican) caucus and their views are based on real stories and heart-tug stories,” Kaufmann said, “and their views are very, very valid.”

Opponents of the bill say it prioritizes profits over the health and lives of Iowans who’ve been affected by RoundUp and some accuse the company of covering up information about the product’s harmful effects. Tens of thousands of lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. with claims that the weedkiller causes cancer. Bayer has spent over 10 BILLION dollars on litigation and jury awards to plaintiffs. New laws in North Dakota and Georgia give Bayer new liability protection from lawsuits over product labeling and Iowa’s governor has signaled she would support of a similar law here.

(From an FFA reporter) – On Wednesday December 10th members of the Atlantic FFA participated in the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation Beef Extravaganza. Team members Lauren Comes, Hayden Kleen and Frank Freund placed 5th overall. The three members of the Beef Extravaganza team thank Chad Comes, Kevin Freund for helping with the team’s preparation, and Cass County Cattlemen for paying the entry fee for the team’s contest. Atlantic FFA member Lauren Comes commented, “Overall this is a very difficult contest and I feel like I learned a lot. I know this will help me in the future as I continue to work in the cattle industry.”

The Beef Scholarship Extravaganza is a unique contest open to high school juniors and seniors that focuses on the student’s knowledge and skills in ten different areas of the beef industry. Teams worked through ten 30-minute stations with 10-minute breaks between each station. In station one, Health and Handling, Team members were tested on effective stockmanship for handling of cattle and proper health related practices included, but not limited to, proper vaccination procedures and protocols, dose administration and equipment selection, parasite control, castration procedures and other health related practices essential for the beef industry and animal welfare.

Pictured from left to right: Frank Freund, Hayden Kleen, Lauren Comes. (Photo courtesy Eric Miller)

During station two, Nutrition, team members evaluated the body condition score of four cows and then assisted the station judge in balancing a feed ration for a real-life scenario. To prepare, students learned about body condition scoring, cattle nutrient requirements, the nutrient values of feedstuffs, and how to use that information to determine what diet will be the best for the exercise.  Station three focused on Marketing. The station required contestants to calculate yield and quality grades for carcasses, determine the value of a carcass, and determine values for lots of cattle. Team members should know the degrees of marbling necessary to achieve a final quality grade, assuming that all marbling calls are derived from A maturity carcasses. Students must also be able to use adjusted fat thicknesses, ribeye areas (sq. in.), hot carcass weights, and KPH% to calculate final yield grades. Team member Frank Freund said, “I really enjoy the marketing section. It’s a complex math problem that has real world applications. I will be able to use this information in the future when I work for the family business.”

Station four was the Seedstock Merchandising station. Team members demonstrated how to incorporate performance information, pedigrees, and phenotypes into a private treaty sales situation. Judges acted as buyers and team members had to identify the buyer’s needs, concerns, and goals in order to “sell” the bull or bulls. Atlantic FFA member Lauren Comes commented, “My favorite part of the contest is the Seedstock Station. I like talking about the genetics of cattle and how to use that information to predict the future of a cattle herd.“ Station five was the Keep-Cull Replacement Heifer station. During the first part of this station team members evaluated expected progeny differences (EPDs) and visually appraised live cattle in order to choose four out of eight heifers to keep that would best fit the production scenario given to contestants. The scenario addressed the objectives and marketing scheme of the operation along with other management information. In the second component teams answered questions about the set of heifers and their EPDs as well as their phenotypical features.

At station six, Job Interview, each student prepared a cover letter and resume and participated in a mock interview with an industry professional. By participating in this station, young people had the opportunity to explore career choices in the cattle industry. Station seven, Beef Industry Issues and Advocacy, gave team members the opportunity to give a presentation shedding a positive light on an area of the beef industry. Subjects may have included Modern Beef Production, Animal Care, Beef Safety, Beef Nutrition, Environmental Stewardship, and The Beef Checkoff. The Reproduction station is often considered the most difficult station of the contest. Students were tested on their knowledge of calving management practices such as pre-calving preparation, process of parturition, dystocia, equipment involved in reproductive practices, synchronization techniques, artificial insemination, embryo transfer and other technologies in this field.

In the Credit and Finance station team members were provided with the experience of organizing, preparing, and participating in a mock loan request. Teams met with financial officers and presented a description of a project along with completed financial data in support of the loan request. The project consisted of selecting one of three scenarios: purchasing 150 head of yearling steers to feed out, purchasing 15 bred cows to start a cow/calf business, or purchasing 75 head of heifer or steer calves. Atlantic FFA member Hayden Kleen commented, “My favorite station is the Credit and Finance scenario. This station will give me confidence when its time for me to get a loan to continue into the agriculture world after graduation“

The final station was the Beef Management Challenge. This station allowed students to tie information gained from the other stations of this competition together. This station was an informal discussion between team members and a judge, who assumed the role of a manager who needed advice about his or her cattle operation. The team members assumed a role of a hired consultant to provide advice for the fictitious beef enterprise.

Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller said, “Overall I was extremely happy with how the team performed. This contest is basically taking ten college sophomore level tests in a row. This contest is very demanding and takes a lot of practice. Thank you to all the parents that helped and a special shout out to the Cass County Cattlemen for funding our team for the past 13 years”

(Oakland, IA) — An Iowa conservation organization based in Pottawattamie County is asking for landowners’ help in improving water quality and reducing soil erosion. Golden Hills RC&D received funding from the Regional Conservation Partnership Program for the West Nishnabotna Water Quality and Infrastructure Partnership. The project aims to improve water quality, increase flood resiliency, and protect local infrastructure across a 681,000-acre project area in southwestern Iowa.

The project will complement similar activity on private lands in service of making the landscape more resilient in the face of increasing catastrophic flooding events. The partnership will report project outcomes through monitoring and modeling of soil and nutrient loss reductions.

Golden Hills RC&D has released a survey for rural property owners in Southwest Iowa. The brief questionnaire asks about conservation practices and related initiatives.

The organization says the goal is to better understand how familiar landowners are with these practices. The survey is also issued as part of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program and the Underserved Farmer to Farmer program. Golden Hills also says it will improve outreach efforts about cost-sharing programs.

For more information, or to fill-out the survey, go to:

https://www.goldenhillsrcd.org/rcpp.html

(Atlantic, IA) – Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller says three Atlantic FFA members traveled to Ankeny last weekend, to attend the State Officer Selection Process workshop and Amplify FFA Leadership Conferences. Making the journey to Ankeny on Dec. 6th, was Lauren Comes, Tenley Cappel and Tiegan Daniel.  FFA members from all over Iowa attended the conference, which taught them about leadership and student development.

Lauren Comes attended the State Officer Selection Process workshop (SOSP) in preparation for her potential run for an Iowa FFA State Officer position later this spring. The SOSP workshop focuses on the areas that all State Officer Candidates must prepare for. To start the process, each candidate must first complete an application. The first interview is a one-on-twelve interview where the candidates should capitalize on this time by making their first impression a lasting impression. Next is the Multiple Choice Test of key issues related to agriculture. Then the Round Robin 1 interview where State officer candidates will engage in a conversation with a knowledge area expert. The One-on-One interview is focused on two objectives. First, this is an opportunity for individual nominating committee members to develop rapport and get to know the candidates in a one-on-one setting.

On day two the candidates will start with a Writing Exercise 1 by completing an in-depth written essay. The written essay will be on a topic relevant to the theme of agriculture, FFA or the American agricultural education system. The next interview is called Stand and Deliver. State officers must consistently be knowledgeable and be able to verbally convey a message in front of a group or crowd. Candidates will have 20 minutes in a private room to prepare for delivering a 3-minute speech. The final interview is another Personal interview. The purpose of this interview is to ask a final set of questions developed by the committee to address competencies such as character, passion for success and influence.

Left to right
Tiegan Daniel, Tenley Cappel and Lauren Comes (Photo submitted with this story)

The AMPLIFY Conference focuses on student development. This year the conference focused on Purpose: Connect. Care. Create. Establishing a purpose as a daily practice and draft a leader purpose statement. Discovering how people are connected to purpose and identify their talents. Members also learned to discover what it means to live to serve as a leader and examine methods for serving others while pursuing purpose. All of this while Identifying the value in practicing practical self-care as a leader and discovering the difference between living with purpose and completing action items. To wrap up the conference, each member drafted a personal purpose team and identified how to live out a purpose plan at home.

FFA Advisor Eric Miller said, “These conferences are important to help develop the kind of leaders that we need in our school and community. I am glad the Iowa FFA provides us with the opportunity and the students are so willing to give their time to become better leaders.”