(Des Moines, Iowa) – More than half of Iowa soybeans and nearly a quarter of the state’s corn have been harvested as of Monday’s crop report. The warm and dry weather from September persisted into October and led to increased drought and burn bans across the state.  The Iowa Capital Dispatch says the crop report shows Iowa farmers harvested 31% of the state’s soybeans acreage during the reporting period of Sept. 30 through Oct. 6, bringing the total acres harvested to 58%. Harvest percentages for corn harvested for grain doubled from last week, with 22% of the crop harvested and 90% reaching maturity.

The state climatologist report for the same period said the Iowa saw a high temperature of 96 degrees Fahrenheit (reported in Atlantic) and a statewide average rainfall of 0.10 inches, or 0.64 inches below normal. The majority of topsoil and subsoil moisture rated short or very short, and a persistent decline in pasture conditions gave producers concern about water for livestock.

A small portion of west central Iowa moved from moderate drought to severe drought conditions over the span of a week, and more than 90% of the state remains in abnormally dry or worse conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. These conditions increased the likelihood of fires, especially on combines and other field equipment as it gets hot. The crop progress and condition report for the week said several combine and equipment fires were reported.

State Fire Marshal Dan Wood said he didn’t have a report of the number of equipment fires from the past week, but said 46 Iowa counties are in a burn ban. He urged Iowans, and farmers, to be cautious around things that could start a fire.  “Make sure that farmers are trying to keep their combines and tractors cleaned off of debris and stuff, especially the parts that get hot,” Wood said.

Iowa has 46 active burn bans, represented by a flame icon on the map, as of Monday. (Map courtesy of Iowa State Fire Marshal)

He said folks should take care to properly dispose of cigarettes during these dry, windy conditions, and call in anything they see smoking on the side of the road.

(Radio Iowa) – Efforts to reach an agreement on a new contract to end the strike at a Cargill corn processing plant in Cedar Rapids have failed to make any headway. The business agent for the local Teamsters chapter at the Cedar Rapids plant, Scott Punteney, says the company is busing in workers from other plants to continue production and has not responded to the union’s request to negotiate.

“We haven’t heard from them, and we’ve reached out through a federal mediator to try to resume talks. So we’re willing to talk whenever we were willing to talk the very next day after the strike happened,” he says.

The union’s three-year contract with Cargill expired last week. Punteney said workers are seeking a wage increase of more than three dollars an hour and are prepared to strike until the company meets their demands. He said striking workers are paid from a union fund to cover basic living expenses. Cargill has not responded to requests for comment. Punteney made his comments on the Iowa Public Radio Program, River to River.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans might spot a few tractors in school parking lots this week as part of National 4-H Week. Emily Saveraid is executive director of the Iowa 4-H Foundation, which she says has more than a hundred years of history in the Hawkeye State.

“A lot of times we think of 4-H during county fair season and state fair season, and certainly that’s an important time for us too, but this is the time when clubs are meeting and kids in-school and after-school clubs are starting to kick off their programming for the year,” Saveraid says, “so it’s a fun way to be able to celebrate and talk about the great things that 4-H is doing.”

The organization now reaches more than 120-thousand young people in Iowa every year, and she says it’s grown well beyond just appealing to farm kids. “Certainly we started with our roots in ag, and have really progressed over the years to be able to serve and meet the needs of all young people,” Saveraid says, “and give them the skills that they need to be successful as they move forward for whatever’s next for them.”

She says 4-H is empowering Iowa’s youth to reach their full potential and creating a real impact on the state. “Certainly our traditional club program and our Clover Kids program is really strong still, but really thinking about the club program in a new way,” Saveraid says, “after-school clubs and in-school clubs and special interest clubs and really helping young people find their spark and what they’re excited about, and giving them an opportunity to dig in and dive deep and really get some important skills.”

Learn more by contacting the Iowa State University Extension and Outeach office in your county or at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/

(Radio Iowa) – Combines are moving across Iowa fields harvesting corn and soybeans and they are also cutting down a lot of cover that deer have been using. Iowa D-N-R deer biologist Jace Elliot says the harvest is one reason you should be looking for deer on the move in the fall. “With these crops being removed from the landscape, that’s going to shift how deer are moving and behaving, possibly making them more vulnerable to end up in a vehicle collision,” he says. You will likely see more deer in areas where there are trees and brush where they can hide. “Deer are likely shifting from these more agricultural areas into areas with woody cover or tall grass prairie,” Elliott says.

Mating season for deer is also underway and that’s another factor that could make them run across a road into the path of your car. “Bucks are pursuing goes for much of this time, and because of that, you may see a what seems like a single deer on across the road, but always keep an eye out for others that may be behind,” Elliott says. Elliott says drivers should be alert for deer in wooded areas, and especially so at down and dusk when they are more likely to be on the move.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A pedestrian trail bridge located just west of the KJAN studios, crossing the East Nishnabotna River, was damaged recently by graffiti. The bridge connects the AMU Well head trail with the Schildberg Recreational Trail.

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Coordinator Jeff Christensen said in a video posted online, that crews were spending the morning today (Friday), power washing the bridge to clean up the mess. (Photos courtesy of Jeff Christensen)

If you have any information on this incident, contact Jeff Christensen or the Atlantic Police Department.

[Red Oak, Iowa] – An open burn ban is now in effect for all areas and jurisdictions within Montgomery County. The ban prohibits all open and controlled burning in Montgomery County, including all incorporated city limits within the county.

Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman says record high temperatures, limited to no moisture and continued drought conditions have created dangerous fire conditions throughout the entire area. The extended forecast outlooks show well above normal temperatures as well as extremely windy conditions causing concern that any outdoor fire will become large and out of control in a very short amount of time.

Citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris, grass/agricultural ground and set asides or other items during this ban. Small recreational campfires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fireplace of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh, however extreme caution should be
taken. Any campfire not in an outdoor fireplace is prohibited.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to criminal charges as well as civil liabilities for any damages, losses or injuries resulting from the fire. The open burn ban is anticipated to remain in effect until the county receives substantial precipitation alleviating the increased fire danger risk.

Burn bans are also in effect for the following area counties: Cass, Adair, Audubon, Guthrie, Harrison, Mills, Shelby, Monona, Crawford and Carroll.

Today:  Sunny with a high near 75. East northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight:  Mostly clear with a low around 52. Southeast wind around 10 mph.

Saturday:  Sunny with a high near 92. Windy with a south southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming south southwest 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.

Sunday:  Sunny with a high near 73. Breezy, with a northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Monday:  Sunny with a high near 73.

Tuesday:  Sunny with a high near 78.

(Radio Iowa) -Pure Prairie Poultry (PPP) in Charles City is closing less than two years after they began operations. In a statement, George Piechel, one of the owners of the plant, said, “While we continue to explore options, including possible buyers for our operations, our efforts to restart the plant on a limited basis have proven unsuccessful. Without a viable operating plan, we are discontinuing operations at our Charles City production plant effective immediately.”

Plant employees were notified Wednesday afternoon their positions had been eliminated. Some 138 workers are out of jobs. P-P-P had sought to reorganize under Chapter 11 Bankruptcy with liabilities between 100 million dollars and 500 million owed to between 200 and 999 creditors, including over 500-thousand dollars to the City of Charles City.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has been granted an emergency court order to take immediate care, custody and control of approximately one-point-three million broiler chickens owned by Pure Prairie Poultry. The company notified state officials they were unable to purchase feed for the chickens on 14 Iowa farms the plant contracts with to grow broilers.