Cass County Wellness Program Coordinator Brigham Hoegh said Friday, that “Due to concerns for spread of disease and accessibility, the Cass County Farmers Market Pre-Season Vendor Workshop will be held March 16th via phone conference, from 12:30 to 3:30 PM. All materials will be supplied electronically.”

The Cass County Local Food Policy Council and Cass County ISU Extension encourage those considering vending at Cass County farmers markets in 2020 to attend the free workshop. Those interested in attending the workshop are asked to RSVP by March 15th to Hoegh at 712-249-5870, or by email at bhoegh@iastate.edu. Registrants will receive the phone conference number and electronic materials. While all presenters will join the conference by phone, attendees needing assistance participating in the phone conference may join the call at the Cass County Community Center. Those planning to join the phone conference at the community center are asked to RSVP to ISU Extension at 712-243-1132.

The pre-season workshop has been designed to cover topics of interest to both experienced vendors and those just starting to consider participating in farmers markets. Experts in the areas of food safety and market licensing requirements, farmers market insurance, and resources from the Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship will present at the workshop. During the last 30 minutes of the workshop (3:00-3:30), vendor information will be provided for Cass County Farmers Markets, including the Anita Farmers Market, the Atlantic Farmers Market, and Produce in the Park.

(Radio Iowa) — A coalition of organizations is lobbying legislators to expand the state’s trail system. Iowa Bicycle Coalition executive director Mark Wyatt says the governor’s plan to raise the state sales tax would place money in the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Fund. “Greater investment in trails through the ‘Invest in Iowa Act’ will only accelerate the community and workforce development that we do need in this state,” Wyatt says. “But most of all, Iowa trails make Iowa a great place to live.”

Groups pushing to convert abandoned railroad lines to trails are joining with members of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and economic development officials to stress the need for improved access to spots for hiking, biking and swimming. Wyatt says many towns that have developed trail systems have seen the economic impact and health benefits.

“Because people that get physical activity often are healthier,” Wyatt says. Wyatt says a study his group did nine years ago found bicycle trails created an annual impact of 365 million dollars. Representative Andy McKean of Anamosa joined the groups at a news conference on the statehouse steps. He says investing in trails reaps tremendous dividends. “We’ve been chasing smokestacks and in many cases giving away useless tax credits instead of taking a good, hard look at the quality of life issues that attract and keep young people in our state,” McKean says. “And trails rank way up there in that equation.”

Governor Kim Reynolds is holding a town hall meeting in Ankeny tonight (Thursday) to discuss her “Invest in Iowa Act” which includes more money for trails. It also would lower some taxes, but raise the state sales tax and it’s unclear if the legislature will vote for the plan.

(Submitted by an Atlantic FFA Reporter) — On Saturday, March 7th, 2020, 10 members of the Atlantic FFA chapter competed in the District Career Development Events with one advancing to the State FFA Convention in Ames. Southwest State Vice President Tyler Comes lead the District Business session.

Corri and Tyler

Atlantic FFA member Corri Pelzer retired as the District Sentinel position. Aspen Niklasen and Malena Woodward were the chapter delegates for Atlantic FFA at Convention.

Carli H.

FFA member Carli Henderson competed in the Extemporaneous Speaking category placing 1st earning a Gold and advancing to State. Craig Alan Becker competed in Ag Sales earning a Gold placing 3rd and will be the alternate to State. Andrew Engler completed in Ag Broadcasting placing 4th earning a Silver. Gunner Kirchhoff competed in Ag Welding placing 4th earning a Silver. Finally Tate DenBetse, Dylan Comes and Wyatt Redinbaugh competed in the Chapter Website CDE placing 4th earning a Gold rating.

In the Farm Business Management Test Atlantic FFA had 4 members compete this year. Drey Newell earned a Gold and placed 2nd, Hannah Carlson earned a Gold and placed 17th, Caroline Pellett earned a Gold and placed 23rd and Garrett Reyonds earned a Silver and placed 34th out of 87 individuals.

Craig Becker

District Group

In the FFA Freshman Greenhand Quiz, Atlantic FFA had 4 members participate all earning Silver ratings. Sofia Mendez placed 55th, Dylan Comes placed 59th, Dan Freund placed 81st and Jackson McLaren placed 84th.

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds is again lobbying President Trump and his Administration on ethanol policy. The E-P-A signals it will appeal a court ruling that sided with the ethanol industry and against some of the E-P-A’s waivers that let small oil refineries skip blending ethanol into gasoline. “We don’t think they should appeal it,” Reynolds says. “We think they should let it stand and that should be something that they implement nationwide.” Reynolds and other ethanol advocates have argued many of the hardship waivers for oil refineries were not warranted and a federal court. “We’re going to continue to reach out to the White House and say: ‘Let it go,'” Reynolds says.

A federal court ruled in January that any oil refinery waivers granted after 2010 should be extensions. The policy would significantly limit the number of waivers the E-P-A could grant. The Trump Administration has until March 24th to make a decision on whether to appeal. Groups representing farmers and the biofuels industry have been voicing their objections to an appeal. Dave Walton raises corn, soybeans and livestock on a farm near Wilton in east central Iowa. “Families in my state are looking at each other across the kitchen table this morning and wondering why the president through this appeal would try to prolong this fight between farmers, the EPA and oil interests,” he says. “It’s kind of baffling to us.”

Walton, who is active in the Soybean Association at the state and national level, says the waivers impact the biodiesel industry, too, and it would be — in his words “a kick in the teeth” — if the Trump Administration sides with the oil industry and appeals the ruling. “This issue could destroy President Trump’s relationship with leaders and voters across the heartland,” Walton says.  National Corn Growers Association president Kevin Ross farms near Minden in southwest Iowa. He says the potential appeal has injected more unneeded uncertainty into the marketplace. “This is a united front from agriculture, our biofuels groups and other supporters of the decision,” he says.

If the court ruling stands, the number of oil industry waivers from biofuel blending requirements would be drastically reduced in the future. The oil industry argues forcing small refineries to blend ethanol into gasoline puts a financial strain on small refineries. Farmers and biofuels groups say the waivers have depressed demand for ethanol and biodiesel.

w/Kate Olson.

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Local producers have had several opportunities to discuss and learn more about marketing grain, thanks to a series of workshops hosted locally this winter by Patrick Hatting, Farm Management Specialist for Southwest Iowa with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. These meetings have been held monthly throughout the winter, beginning in December. The final meeting is set for this Thursday, March 12 and will feature Justin Newman and Brandon Barron of Gavilon, utilizing their market simulator for hands-on experience with contracts and options.

Doors will open at 6 PM and the program will begin at 6:30 PM. There is no cost to attend thanks to local sponsorship from First Whitney Bank and Trust in Atlantic, Cass County Extension and Cass County Farm Bureau. Pre-registration is not required, but will help plan for materials. Walk-in registrations are welcome on the night of the event.

For more information or to pre-register, or call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or email Lori Anderson at lander@iastate.edu. You can also visit the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass for information and a flier on the program.

(Atlantic FFA reporter submission) – To many students, the ride to school usually involves the requirement of driving themselves by car, or having their parents drop them off. But last Friday, on March 6th, the Atlantic FFA members were given the opportunity to ride to school in a different style. This “style” was a part of the annual Tractor Ride to School Day that the Atlantic FFA Chapter conducts every year during the spring. Members who participated met together at the Walmart located approximately 1 mile away from the High School. From there, they drove to the High School all together in a large line.

Photo: On top the tractor left to right: Derek Dreager, Chase Vogl, Tate DenBeste, Wyatt Redinbaugh, Dylan Comes, Dillion Shepperd, Dan Freund, Cooper Jipsen; On the Ground left to right: Ryan Klever and DJ Shepperd. (photo submitted)

This year, 10 members took place in the event. Dillion Shepperd said, “Money can’t buy happiness but it can buy a tractor and have you ever seen a sad person driving a tractor?” Tate DenBeste said, “It was fun to be able to drive a tractor to school my senior year.

The following is the list of members who participated in tractor day: Derek Dreager, Chase Vogl, Dylan Comes, Dillon Shepperd, DJ Shepperd, Wyatt Redinbaugh, Dan Freund, Cooper Jipsen. Tate Den Beste, and Brett Dreager

• KJAN, Atlantic  .23″
• 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .27″
• Massena  .24″
• Anita  .45″
• Carroll  .22″
• Creston  .21″
• Denison  .18″
• Red Oak  .07″
• Clarinda  .25″

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on March 5, 2020, Aaron M. Volkmar, age 46, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger for a felony Lacey Act Violation. The Court imposed a sentence of two years probation and a $5,000 fine. Volkmar was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution and a $100 Special Assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

Volkmar is the owner and operator of Tails of the Hunt LLC., which provided guided hunts in southwest Iowa, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Volkmar provided a guided deer hunt to undercover agents in December 2013. While providing these guided hunt services, Volkmar violated Iowa state law by illegally tagging a deer and assisting with transportation of the deer across state lines.

This matter was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Services and Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.