The Cass County, Iowa Master Gardeners (CCMG) are again offering a $1,000 scholarship to local students, with applications due April 1, 2020.  This scholarship is available to students who are graduating seniors or graduates of any of the following Iowa school districts, in which currently reside members of CCMG:  Atlantic, Clarinda, CAM, Exira-EHK, Griswold, or Red Oak.

The goal of the Master Gardener program is to support horticulture education and community service.  CCMG members provide many hours of volunteer service and gardening education within their local communities.  Accordingly, this scholarship is intended to provide post-secondary funds to individuals who are studying, or intend to pursue a career in, a horticulture-related field.  The scholarship winner will be selected based upon academic success, history of community service, and career goals related to horticulture. Demonstration of past interest and experience in horticulture will be very helpful.

The scholarship is for those pursuing post-secondary education during the 2020-2021 school year. The recipient will be notified of their award on or before May 20, 2020 for planning purposes. A scholarship check will be issued in January 2021, in the student’s name directly to the academic institution, upon receipt of an official grade transcript for the completed Fall 2020 semester. A previous scholarship recipient may re-apply, but an individual may only receive a total of two scholarships from this program.

The application form is available through the high school guidance departments, or on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/.  Applications should be submitted to the Cass County Extension Office, 805 W 10th St, Atlantic, Iowa 50022, or emailed to keolson@iastate.edu on or before the April 1 deadline for consideration. Questions can be directed to the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132.

The Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield will host a Forum on Agriculture and the Economy, this Thursday, March 12th, beginning at 7-p.m.. Grant Gerlock, a reporter for Iowa Public Radio who grew up on a farm near Cumberland, will moderate a panel of three local agriculturalists, farmers Rhonda Boehm and Dan Dreher, and ag lender Paul Nelson about their challenges in this rural economy.  Dr. Alejandro Plastina, professor of economics at Iowa State University, will then offer the keynote and will share his views of the impact of agriculture on the economy at the local, state, and national levels. After Dr. Plastina speaks, he and the agriculturists will answer questions from the audience related to ag and the economy, again moderated by Mr. Gerlock.

Whether you are a farmer, live in a rural area, or in the city, you are invited to learn more about how farmers are faring in this economy and what that means for our local communities, for Iowa, and for the U.S. There is no charge, but a free-will offering is appreciated. Soulshine Food Truck will be parked at the Warren Cultural Center, opening at 5:00 pm. The public is encouraged to purchase supper from Soulshine and go upstairs to the auditorium where tables are set and conversation is invited.

(Radio Iowa) — A ten-year study documents the conservation benefits of cover crops on farm fields and shows they’re a long-term tool for soil health. Growers were asked to plant strips of cereal rye as a cover crop on their corn and soybean fields, leaving neighboring areas without it. Liz Ripley, with Iowa Learning Farms, says after working out some kinks the first year or two, the results were so positive it was hard to keep farmers in the study. “In the strips that had the cover crops, they didn’t see the level of erosion, right next door to fields that did,” Ripley says, “and compared to those other fields that weren’t participating in the trial, they could see how the soil moisture even was changing over time.”

Many participants bowed out after just five years to plant the cereal rye across their entire fields. Ripley says cover crops are an investment in a farm’s future productivity. The study sites were all in Iowa but she says the findings should hold up throughout the Corn Belt. “They’re going to see very similar results in terms of the impacts on crop yields,” Ripley says. “When it comes to some of the other variables, here in Iowa, we have some really great soil. But a little further south, they start with a little bit lower organic matter, and so they can have the opportunity for faster increases in soil organic matter.”

Ripley says where small yield losses occurred, farmers made adjustments to how they plant their cash crop and were able to get back their expected yields. Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa partnered on the study.

(Lewis) – The Cass County Conservation Board will hold a Full Moon Owl Prowl Hike, 7-p.m. Monday, at the Cold Springs Park, near Lewis. The CCCB invites you to come out for a great night hike, with unknown surprises possibly in store. The Full Moon will light the way.  Officials say the group will hike and try to call in various species of Owls that may be in the park, Monday night.

All ages are welcome to attend. Be sure and dress for the weather. If there is snow, snowshoes will be available.

If you have ever wanted to grow your own succulents instead of purchasing them, or wondered why certain plants flourished in your yard while others perished, or even dreamed of growing masses of blooms or veggies using your small deck, patio or raised bed, then tomorrow (Saturday, March 7th), is your chance to learn all about growing. Cass County Master Gardeners are giving you the opportunity to receive short, small group learning on those topics and many others during the “Lightning Learning” portion of the Spring Garden Seminar. The seminar, “Garden Inspiration, Old & New” will be held Saturday, at the Cass County Community Center.

Master Gardener Jan Steffen says “The ‘Lightning Learning’ portion of our seminar gives participants the opportunity to move around and visit 10 minute demonstrations on a variety of topics. They’ve been popular at our seminars before, and we are excited to bring them back in 2020.” Topics for the “Lightning Learning” sessions include Hosta Highlights, Propagating Succulents, Small Space Gardening, What’s New at the Garden Centers, Soil Testing, Seed Lending Libraries, Faux Finish Pot Painting and more. This fast, fun-filled portion of the seminar will last an hour with participants choosing the topics they want to participate in. Steffen says that with the variety of topics offered, everyone should find inspiration for their garden.

“Garden Inspiration Old & New” is a half day seminar designed to help discover what’s new in the garden and heirlooms that continue to delight gardeners. In addition to the Lightning Learning sessions, participants will hear from two guest speakers. To start the day, Kathy Johnson, owner of local business “Flowers For You”, will share her insight into growing cut flowers, knowledge of floral design and tips for selecting and growing flowers for your own bouquets.

The second speaker is Cody Egan from the Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa. Cody will teach attendees about heirloom plants and how to preserve them. Cody believes that heirloom seeds have the ability to reconnect us to a specific time and place, a certain soil and season during which that seed, and the memories associated with it, were grown.

“Garden Inspiration Old & New” will be held at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic. Doors open at 8:30AM, and a light continental breakfast will be served. The program begins at 9AM and will conclude by 12:30PM. Cost for the seminar, including continental breakfast and refreshments is $20. A schedule and registration form are available at the Cass County Extension office, or online at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. Questions can be directed to Kate Olson at 712-243-1132 or by email at keolson@iastate.edu.

(Radio Iowa) — To best prepare for outbreaks of any foreign animal diseases, the Iowa Pork Producers Association is partnering with the Iowa Department of Agriculture in asking state lawmakers for money. Drew Mogler, the association’s public policy director, says funding is needed to help the ag department prepare for diseases like foot and mouth disease or African swine fever. “They’ve ramped up some funding efforts for activities,” Mogler says, “and this year, again, we’re supporting them for another half-a-million dollars, for some of those activities as they continue to build up their planning and preparedness efforts alongside the industry.”

He notes that’s the primary state agency for battling any foreign animal diseases, should they reach Iowa. “The department of ag plays a pretty critical role in movement of animals and permitting,” Mogler says. “It’s important that they have the resources at their disposal to be able to make sure that continuity of business for producers and they have certainty as we respond to an incident like that.” Mogler says Iowa lawmakers are wrapping up their talks on policy bills after the recent “funnel” deadline. “Now, they’re turning to appropriations and putting budgets together,” Mogler says. “It’s one of those things that we’re pretty confident that we’ll be able to get some of that money but continue to remind legislators of the importance of proper planning and preparedness in the state.”

Mogler says while neither foot and mouth disease or African swine fever has shown up in the United States, it’s critical officials are vigilant with protection efforts against any possible outbreaks.

AMES, IOWA – In cooperation with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host the Farmers Market Nutrition Program 2020 webinar training for new and returning farmers market vendors March 26 or April 15. Eleven ISU Extension and Outreach county offices are hosting the March 26 webinar and 22 extension offices are hosting the April 15 webinar. On April 15, the webinar will be shown online and at the ISU Extension and Outreach Guthrie County office. This viewing option is provided as a service to individuals without access to a computer or limited internet service.

The Iowa Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) consists of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) FMNP and the Senior FMNP. The FMNPs are Congressionally authorized programs that provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs from farmers markets and farm stands to nutritionally at-risk women, infants, children and low-income seniors. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship does not limit the number of vendors who may become certified under FMNP. For more information and eligibility, visit IDALS Marketing, Horticulture and Farmers Markets.

To attend an ISU Extension and Outreach hosted webinar, simply show up at one of these ISU Extension and Outreach locations near you.

Thursday, March 26, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. ISU Extension and Outreach county offices hosting this webinar are:

• Adair County: Greenfield, 154 Public Square, Ste C,. Contact: krohrig@iastate.edu
• West Pottawattamie County: Council Bluffs, 1705 McPherson Ave. Suite 200. Contact: kmoore16@iastate.edu

Wednesday April 15, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. ISU Extension and Outreach county offices hosting this webinar are:

• Carroll County: Carroll, 1205 W US Hwy 30, Ste G. Contact: juleeg@iastate.edu
• Crawford County: Denison, 35 S Main St. Contact: kthul321@iastate.edu
• Guthrie County: Guthrie Center, 212 State St. Contact: kristad@iastate.edu

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will hold the 2020 spring auction on March 21, in the Livestock Pavilion on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, in Des Moines. Doors will open at 7 a.m., and the auction will begin at 8:30 a.m. The public may view the items for sale and pre-register for the auction from 4 to 6 p.m., on March 20. There will not be any buyer’s premium fee added to the sale.

Items up for auction include more than 600 firearms, bows, gun barrels, scopes, gun cases and other assorted equipment. The items are sold “as is” with no guarantee or warranty. Any person interested in purchasing a firearm at the auction must have either a valid Iowa ID and right to carry permit, federal firearms dealer license or a conceal carry permit.  The Iowa right to carry permit can be obtained from a sheriff’s office. Allow two to three weeks to receive the permit. No permit is necessary to purchase other items.

Payment must be made on auction day. All sales are final. All items must be removed from the site within one half hour after the sale completion.  The Iowa DNR reserves the right to reject any bids and withdraw any item from the sale at any time.  A sale bill is available online at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting and will be updated if inventory is added. The DNR will not be mailing any sale bills. Inquiries can be made with the auctioneer, Auction Solutions www.auctionsolutionsinc.com.

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Alexander Londo reports today (Thursday), that the county is “Currently in Extreme Fire Danger,” and Tthere will be no burning allowed until further notice.” The County is under a Wind Advisory until 6-p.m. Gusty winds and low humidities will create a very high risk of grassland fires today. Do not carelessly discard smoking materials, and use extra caution when driving high profile vehicles.

Pottawattamie County is also under a ban on opening burning until further notice.

w/Max Dirks.

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