(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association is asking Iowa’s congressional delegation and the U-S ag secretary to provide immediate federal assistance to cattle producers. Matt Deppe, the association’s C-E-O, says the dramatic drop in the cattle futures market in the past week alone has put cattle producers in harm’s way. “In the cattle business, we’re not one that as a producer group that typically goes out and asks for some assistance back,” Deppe says, “but certainly that swing was certainly unpredictable.”

Prices for the boxed beef that meat packing companies sell to retailers are strong, but the contracts farmers are getting for selling live cattle at a future date have fallen to a 10-year low. Deppe says the recent government payments to compensate Iowa farmers for trade losses did NOT include cattle producers and his industry needs federal supports now. “So they can live in fight another day and they can live to supply such a great product and feed the United States and others around the world,” Deppe says.

In addition to the price drop, cattle producers are concerned they may not be able to get enough feed for cattle without some sort of federal assistance. “Our producers are telling us that it’s absolutely needed to maintain their seat in the chair,” Deppe says. There are more than 25-thousand cattle producers in Iowa and on January 1st, there were nearly four MILLION head of cattle in the state.

• KJAN, Atlantic  .37″
• 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .39″
• Massena  .57″
• Avoca  1.2″
• Bridgewater  1″
• Villisca  1.26″
• Clarinda  .5″
• Red Oak  .66″
• Carroll  1.05″

• KJAN, Atlantic  .13″
• Massena  .15″
• Elk Horn  .17″
• Anita  .25″
• Audubon  .08″
• Guthrie Center  .11″
• Corning  .68″
• Manning  .06″
• Creston  .81″
• Red Oak  .11″
• Clarinda  .23″

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wednesday, issued a statement with regard to State Parks, under the current COVID-19 Emergency. The statement reads:

“At this point, Iowa State Parks are open. Our highest priority is the health and well-being of our visitors, volunteers and employees. During this time, we remain diligent in taking steps to make your visit as safe and enjoyable as possible.

Here’s how you can help:

• According to State of Iowa recommendations, limit your group to less than 10 people when visiting a state park.
• If you have been sick in the last two weeks, please stay at home for your health and the safety of others.
• Avoid popular areas where people may congregate, and also avoid larger groups in general. Areas to avoid may include scenic overlooks, buildings, playgrounds, etc.
• Please maintain distance between you and other park visitors according to guidelines and recommendations by health officials. Please take into consideration the health of others when spending time outdoors.
• Pack extra soap or hand sanitizer. Please be aware that bathrooms and showers are closed seasonally every year through April 15. Due to increased use or at remote locations, soap or sanitizer may not be available.
• Additional information on best practices for keeping you and your family safe can be found online at the CDC website.

Here’s what we are doing:

• If you feel cancelling your stay is the safest choice, we will waive cancellation fees for visits (cabins, campsites, lodges) with arrival dates through April 30, 2020. To cancel without fees, contact the Customer Service Call Center at (877) 427-2757. If you have a lodge or cabin reservation involving groups of 10 or more, we will be contacting you to cancel your reservation. Additionally, the DNR is working to temporarily limit reservations at lodges and cabins to groups of less than 10, so please be aware of changes that may be coming if you are making plans for the spring.
• We are implementing additional cleaning procedures, according to CDC guidelines, such as more stringent and frequent cleaning of cabins and other public areas.
• We are postponing programs and events at all state parks through April 30, 2020. This will help keep visitors safe, and we will reassess this policy in mid-April. We are also temporarily closing any visitor centers or museums managed by state parks.
• We are monitoring the situation. We promise to remain diligent and intentional in protecting you and making your visit a great experience.
• As conditions change, so may our policies on park visitation and overnight stays. We will keep you informed of any changes moving forward.”

• KJAN, Atlantic  .57″
• 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .52″
• Massena  .67″
• Elk Horn  .82″
• Anita  .45″
• Corning  .21″
• Manning  .66″
• Logan  .49″
• Carroll  .72″
• Red Oak  .19″

w/Kate Olson.

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AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach continue to follow the rapidly changing situation involving the outbreak of COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus. Officials say  most Iowa State University Extension and Outreach events throughout the state through April 4th, have been canceled. When possible, some activities may be conducted virtually using video or teleconferencing.

For details about an agriculture and natural resources event, including whether it will be rescheduled, reach out to the contact names listed in the original news release, or visit the program website for updates. You may also contact your ISU Extension and Outreach county office.

ISU Extension and Outreach is still open for business, said John D. Lawrence, vice president for extension and outreach. However, many employees are working remotely. If your office is closed, leave a message and someone will get back to you as quickly as possible.

“Our goal is to do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus, by eliminating large gatherings and practicing social distancing,” Lawrence said. “The health and safety of Iowans is our greatest concern. We all have to do our part and be willing to change our plans for the greater good. We will get through this.”

For the latest information and guidance from Iowa State University, including a list of frequently asked questions, visit https://web.iastate.edu/safety/updates/covid19.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports Burn Bans, which had been in place for: Harrison County (Since March 5th), and Pottawattamie County (Since March 4th), are no longer in effect. There are currently no bans on outdoor burning in the KJAN listening area (Cass & surrounding counties). The bans had been in-place due to a lack of moisture, dry tinder and strong winds, which helped to spread any grass, field and other controlled burns.

(Radio Iowa) — Warm weather will bring the grilling season and those who love to grill may be treated to slightly lower meat prices. Many factors contribute to the price we pay for a pound of burger at the grocery store, but swirling market forces typically don’t have a quick impact on them. Iowa State University livestock economist Lee Schultz says farmers and ranchers are producing a lot of beef. And, the global market has some good deals on things like hamburger.  “We’ve seen significant contraction and culling in the Australian market, for example, and so we can go out there and purchase that lean beef and that does help prices for our consumers here,” Schultz says.

Schulz says it also means beef producers are ready to take advantage of new and revised trade deals the United States has with Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and Canada. “They all have the potential to be major players for U-S products. Now I think the kink that’s been put in all this is the COVID-19 and the potential impact this is going to cause,” according to Schultz.

Schultz says there seems to be some progress in the Phase One deal with China now, after the disease stalled trade because workers were locked out of ports and other work sites.

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board of Directors will meet in a regular session 5:15-p.m., Monday, in the Council’s Chambers at the Atlantic City Hall. Action items and/or New Business on their agenda include:

1. Opening of the Schildberg Recreation Area (SRA) Campground.
2. Information on the Community Gardens program.
3. An update on the SRA Dock.
4. Friends of the Park information
5. Bull Creek Erosion Control.

In his report, Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen will speak about:

1. Summer help.
2. Signage for Parks.
3. Summer Programs.
4. Chess/Checkers.
5. The New Year’s Challenge (update)
6. Entry signs to parks
7. and that the bicycles for public use are being checked-over prior to being made available.