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CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!
Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources report Norma McCutchan, life science teacher at Nodaway Valley High School in Greenfield, is the 2019 recipient of the Brass Bluegill award from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fish Iowa! program. McCutchan started using Fish Iowa! in 2012 to introduce animal behavior and Iowa’s natural resources to her sophomore classes, and share her love of the outdoors. McCutchan says “Many of my students aren’t aware of the nature around them, activities available outdoors, and the impact we have on an ecosystem.” She said also, “I’m an outdoors person and want to share my experiences and passion for nature, and hopefully spark an interest in fishing.”
McCutchan’s students study Iowa fish species found in their regional lakes, and characteristics of the fish. They learn about different fishing baits and lures and make a hypothesis about which lure or bait they could use to catch a specific fish species. McCutchan reminds her students that it’s not always about catching when they go fishing, they need to be aware of lake conditions and weather. After the students’ research is complete, they put their knowledge into practice during a fish outing.
“I want students to experience the outdoors and joys of fishing,” McCutchan said. “Many of my students have never gone fishing, don’t know how to cast a rod, bait a hook, tie a hook/lure on their line, or remove a fish after it’s caught. I get the privilege to teach them these skills.”
McCutchan was presented her award at the Natural Resources Commission meeting in Des Moines on August 8. The Brass Bluegill award has been presented each year since 1996 to an instructor who has established an outstanding local program that exemplifies the goals of Fish Iowa!
The Cass County Conservation Board is sponsoring a “Breakfast with the Birds” Program, this coming Saturday (Aug. 17th). The program will be held at Sunnyside Park, Camblin’s Addition Shelter in Atlantic, beginning at 9-a.m. Your Free will donations are gladly accepted. Kay Neuman, rehabilitator and Educator at S.O.A.R., Saving Our Avian Resources, will show and discuss several of her permanently injured birds and will hopefully have one that is fully recovered and ready to release back into the wild!! Please help the CCCB support raptors and education!
Iowa farmers continued to experience abnormally dry field conditions across most of the State during the week ending August 11, 2019. Statewide there were 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Fieldwork activities included spraying fungicides and insecticides and harvesting hay and oats.
Topsoil moisture condition was rated 7 percent very short, 29 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. East central, south central and southeast Iowa districts reported topsoil moisture conditions as over 55 percent short to very short. Subsoil moisture condition was rated 4 percent very short, 23 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.
Ninety-two percent of the corn crop has begun to silk, 17 days behind last year and nearly two weeks behind the 5-year average. Forty-one percent of the crop reached the dough stage, 10 days behind last year and 8 days behind average. One percent of the crop statewide reached the dented stage. Corn condition rated 65 percent good to excellent.
Eighty-seven percent of the soybean crop has started to bloom, 15 days behind last year and 12 days behind average. Fifty-six percent of the crop has started setting pods, also 15 days behind last year and 12 days behind average. Soybean condition rated 63 percent good to excellent.
Eighty-nine percent of the oat crop has been harvested for grain, 2 days behind both last year and average. The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 92 percent, 5 days behind average. The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 25 percent, 1 week behind average. Hay condition declined to 57 percent good to excellent.
Pasture condition declined for the sixth straight week and rated a season low 46 percent good to excellent. There were no major livestock issues reported this past week.
(Radio Iowa) — The U-S Ambassador to China visited the Iowa State Fair over the weekend. Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad says the escalating trade troubles between the U-S and China are top-of-mind for many people, from politicians to ag producers. Ambassador Branstad was asked how long the trade war between the nations will likely continue. “I wish I knew,” Branstad says. “We’re back at the bargaining table but we’ve got some big differences including things involving protecting intellectual property rights, stopping the stealing of technology and just getting access to their market in many areas.”
The Trump Administration plans to impose another 10-percent tariff on 300-billion dollars worth of Chinese goods starting September 1st, and China is retaliating. Branstad says agriculture has been “really hurt” by that retaliation, as China has asked its state-owned companies to halt all purchases of U-S ag goods. “There’s a lot of threats being made but they really need quality, reliable food from America,” Branstad says. “The Chinese people do appreciate both the quality as well as the dependability of American food. They have not always had that.”
There are some indications the Chinese may be stalling any resolution until after the 2020 presidential election, but Branstad says that’s a mistake on several levels. “This is not going to change just because there’s a change in party because both parties are tired of the way China is handling the situation,” Branstad says. “They want reciprocity and fairness and it’s a bipartisan issue. It doesn’t make sense for them to stall. They’re only hurting their own people as well as hurting the world economy.”
Branstad says it will take persistence and patience for the two countries to strike a deal.
Harlan, IA (August 12, 2019) – The Shelby County Conservation Board and City of Harlan are interested in improving public access to the West Nishnabotna River in Shelby County. Golden Hills RC&D and Iowa Department of Natural Resources are helping assess the possibility of developing approximately 18 miles of the river as a state water trail from just north of the city of Harlan (Reinig Access) south to the county line, connecting with the existing state water trail in Pottawattamie County.
The meeting will be held on Monday, August 19 at 6:30-p.m. at Nishna Bend Recreation Area (514 Maple Rd, Harlan, IA 51537).
Here are some of the changes that may occur if the river becomes a state water trail:
• Improved access and parking
• Wayfinding signage and interpretive panels, a brochure with a map.
• Greater maintenance and management of the river resource
• More on-water opportunities for interpretive/educational programs.
• Educational campaigns available for safety, river etiquette, and litter control.
• Access to funding and technical assistance for access improvements and interpretive materials (brochures, maps, interpretive panels, etc).
• Hazard mitigation and streambank stability opportunities.
• Broad partnership among public land managers for problem solving.
River recreation has increased significantly in recent years, and this meeting will be a way for river users to learn about Iowa’s water trail program, ask questions, and express concerns. Canoeists, kayakers, inner-tubers, and anyone else who currently uses the West Nishnabotna River for recreational purposes in and around Shelby County are welcome to attend. Questions should be directed to Lance Brisbois, Project Coordinator at Golden Hills RC&D: Lance@goldenhillsrcd.org or 712.482.3029.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The eastern Iowa city of Cedar Rapids is preparing for its annual Urban Deer Hunt, which allows some deer hunting inside city limits.
This year’s season opens on Sept. 14 and runs through Jan. 10. Hunting is limited to those using archery equipment, and participants must complete a bow hunter’s class and attend an urban deer hunting rules and regulations class. Participants must also pass an annual proficiency test and complete a special application before being issued a permit for the urban hunt. Participants must also provide a completed land owners permission form.
The intent of the urban hunt is to thin populations of deer living within city limits and residential areas. More information can be found on the city’s website at http://bit.ly/2YBizSw .
LAKE VIEW, Iowa (AP) — Western Iowa authorities say a 58-year-old man died after becoming trapped in a grain bin. Firefighters, medics and Sac County deputies were sent to the Lake View location around 3:40 p.m. Thursday. Officials say Garry Leonard became stuck after he entered the partially filled bin to break up some corn clotting. Another worker tried to pull him free but failed. The corn was removed, and firefighters were able to get him out about 45 minutes later. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Leonard lived in Lake View.
(Radio Iowa) — The 2019 Iowa State Fair’s Big Boar tipped the scales yesterday (Thursday) at 1254 pounds. They call him Captain. Tricia Britt, of Monticello, says “We wanted to come up with a name that had authority.” It’s the first time she and her husband, Bryan, have entered one of their boars in the biggest of big state fair contests.
“We’ve never been here before and we’ve never watched the ‘Big Boar’ show, but we knew about it,” Tricia Britt says. “Brian has a cousin that has done it.” Captain, who is three-and-a-half years old, was the heaviest of six boars entered in Thursday’s State Fair competition.
Each entrant was paraded into the Swine Barn’s show ring and weighed as a crowd on bleachers watched and cheered.
DES MOINES — A second consecutive month of below normal precipitation has about 36 percent of the state rated as abnormally dry, according to the latest Water Summary Update. “It seems surprising that after the wet winter and spring that we would be thinking about drought conditions, but recent dryness has pushed parts of the state in that direction,” said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources. “So far, streamflow and shallow groundwater are at normal levels, but we will continue to monitor those conditions.”
The data show two-thirds of Harrison County, all but the southeast corner of Pottawattamie County, the eastern half of Page County, nearly all of Taylor County, the northern half of Adair and Madison Counties, and most of Guthrie and Dallas Counties, to name a few, are abnormally dry.
July averaged 3.35 inches of rainfall around the state, which is 1.15 inches less than normal. June and July together were 2.3 inches below normal for rainfall. Despite this recent dry weather, the previous 12 months were the fourth wettest on record. Iowa temperatures averaged 75.1 degrees, or 1.5 degrees above normal, ranking this as the 51st warmest July. The month’s high temperature of 99 degrees was reported on July 19 in Little Sioux in Harrison County, which was 13 degrees above average for that date. Cresco in Howard County reported the month’s low temperature of 48 degrees on July 31, 11 degrees below average.
For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, go to www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.
The report is prepared by technical staff from Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.
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