(Radio Iowa) – The latest U-S-D-A report rates 86 percent of Iowa’s corn crop in good or excellent condition. The analysis covers the past week — through Saturday — and it found 80 percent of soybeans are in good or excellent condition. July has been wetter than normal and 72 percent of topsoil and subsoil moisture readings are considered adequate. Twenty-one percent of Iowa topsoil has surplus moisture according to the report.

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says field crops have benefited from this month’s wet conditions and somewhat milder temperatures, but farmers are now worrying about the heat dome building over the state. Heat waves during this stage of corn kernel and soybean pod development can lead to yield losses.

Iowa farmers have harvested about 35 percent of the oats that were planted this year. Pasture conditions are rated by the U-S-D-A as 79 percent good to excellent and hay conditions are even higher — 86 percent in the good to excellent range.

(The following article was written and submitted by the Center for Rural Affairs):

NEVADA, IOWA– Rural economic development comes in many forms, however, in Iowa wind energy is a dominant presence and Adair County is a great example of that. Adair County contributes to Iowa’s status as the second highest producing state of wind energy, hosting more than 500 turbines, or 8% of all turbines in the state.  The Center for Rural Affairs’ new report, “Wind Impact Case Study: Adair County,” examines the economic impact of this development, detailing how tax revenue has been used by the county to support public services, such as schools and infrastructure projects. The report includes perspectives from local public officials, landowners, and a local co-op. 

“With an increasing demand for energy generation, wind energy will continue to provide new rural development opportunities,” said Alex Delworth, senior policy associate with the Center for Rural Affairs. “While not new to Iowa, wind energy can be new to many counties, and they may look to counties like Adair to better understand the public financial impact.” In 2024, wind projects provided more than $5.5 million in tax revenue to Adair County, or 25% of total revenues. Since 2015, through a special financing method, the county has been able to distribute more than $26 million worth of funds for roads and bridges, with additional funds being sent to normal taxing bodies.

“A former supervisor related it to having 500, $1 million homes with far fewer needs,” said Delworth. “Once operational, turbines provide consistent tax revenue for local services without requiring much from them in return.” Local farmers can also benefit from consistent revenues through land-lease payments; however, many took a step further through the creation of a local wind energy co-op, which has over 200 predominantly farmer investors and has developed 13 turbines throughout the county.

“Adair County is a great example of what wind development can look like in Iowa at its highest level,” said Delworth.

To access and read the case study, visit cfra.org/publications.

Established in 1973, the Center for Rural Affairs is a private, nonprofit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.

Cass County: Corn $3.96 Beans $9.97
Adair County: Corn $3.93 Beans $10.00
Adams County: Corn $3.93 Beans $9.96
Audubon County: Corn $3.95 Beans $9.99
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $3.99 Beans $9.97
Guthrie County: Corn $3.98 Beans $10.01
Montgomery County: Corn $3.98 Beans $9.99
Shelby County: Corn $3.99 Beans $9.97

Oats: $3.00 (same in all counties)

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

(Atlantic, Iowa) – All sorts of events and activities are available to the public during this year’s running of the Cass County Fair. Take a look at the schedule for all six days, below!

(written by Mark Moran; Iowa News Service) – Despite the elimination of a handful of alternative energy tax incentives in the new federal budget, Iowa corn farmers will benefit from one that was extended.

Tax breaks and rebates encouraging investment in solar and wind power in Iowa were eliminated in the federal spending plan. However, the Trump administration extended an incentive enabling farmers in Iowa to produce more corn. The Hawkeye State is the nation’s top corn producer, much of which is used to produce ethanol.

Chris Bliley, senior vice president of regulatory affairs for the biofuel trade organization Growth Energy, said grain-based fuels burn cleaner and are more environmentally friendly.

“The credit actually goes for production of lower carbon fuels that are used for transportation,” Bliley explained. “It includes on-road fuels as well as sustainable aviation fuel. And so, the lower in carbon, the higher the credit.”

The Trump administration has made efforts to extract more fossil fuels, which it said will move the U.S. toward energy independence.

Lawmakers in Iowa and neighboring Midwest states have introduced their own tax incentives for biodegradable jet fuel, which Bliley noted will create economic benefits for ag producers.

“To remain competitive, plants in Iowa and Nebraska and throughout the Midwest are investing in some of these key projects to lower their carbon intensity,” Bliley observed.

The commercial airline industry is aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to the International Air Transport Association, which could continue to benefit Iowa farmers who provide corn for ethanol production.

(Atlantic, Iowa/Cass County ISU Extension) – The 4-H motto is “To make the best better.” One way 4-H members fulfill that motto is by participating in conference judging at the Cass County Fair. All members who exhibit at the fair are awarded ribbons based on conversations with judges, but how can this make the best 4-H member better? Discussions on goals, accomplishments and lessons learned, in a one-on-one setting with trained judges, can help the 4-H’ers grow as exhibitors and individuals.

Throughout fair week, over forty judges will work with 4-H and FFA members during each evaluation process, whether in the show ring, at communication contests, or during static exhibit judging, to help members learn more about themselves and their exhibits. Life skills are emphasized in recognizing 4-H and FFA members who have reached their goals.

All contestants and exhibits are evaluated based on a set of judging criteria, and ribbons are awarded as purple, lavender, blue, red or white to the participants. Ribbon colors are assigned based on the learning of each exhibitor, as well as the quality of the final product.

In all competitions, exhibits are judged based on learning done and expectations met. In some contests, participants also compete against their fellow exhibitors for a placing or rank. During static exhibit judging, participants are competing only against themselves and their ability to present a quality exhibit that is the result of a goal, a plan, and the learning that took place in creating it.

During conference judging, youth have the unique opportunity to talk with a judge face-to-face, explain their project goals and learning, and walk away with the knowledge gained from that judge’s expertise and questions as well. This allows the 4-Her to get immediate feedback from the judge, as well as explain why the project, exhibit or activity was important to them and what was learned.

Fair may only be a once-a-year event for many people, but for local 4-H, Clover Kid, and FFA members, it is a chance to showcase skills and projects they have been working on for the past year. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to view exhibits in the Community Center and tour the livestock barns to see the variety of projects local 4-H, Clover Kid, and FFA members have been working on throughout the year.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are sometimes bugged by bugs, and if you come across a creepy crawler you’ve never seen before, the experts can likely identify it at the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State University. Zach Schumm, an insect diagnostician at the clinic, says there’s been concern this summer with very small critters called springtails.

Iowa’s had plenty of rainy days interspersed with hot, dry days, and that can sometimes prompt springtails to find a way to invade our homes.

Iowans who plan to be spending time outdoors over the coming weeks might be wise to heed a few words of Schumm’s advice.

And if you’ve been nibbled by a flying pest that was out for blood, he notes there are 57 species of mosquitoes in Iowa.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has issued its weekly Swimming Advisory for state beaches/lakes. This week 12 public beaches have advisories for E.coli readings above the acceptable limit for swimming. In southwest Iowa, swimming is not recommended at Lake Manawa Beach in Pottawattamie County, and at the Lake of Three Fires State Park, in Bedford.

Swimming advisories have also been posted for the following:

• Backbone Beach
• Beeds Lake Beach
• Black Hawk Beach
• Blue Lake Beach
• Lake Ahquabi Beach
• Lake Darling Beach
• Nine Eagles Beach
• Pine Lake South Beach
• Pleasant Creek Beach
• Union Grove Beach