The recent snowfalls and prolonged foul weather have caused delays in construction of the massive 240-million-dollar pork processing plant in north-central Iowa. Ron Prestage, the C-E-O of North Carolina-based Prestage Farms, says they’re still making excellent progress on the huge structure near Eagle Grove in southern Wright County, in spite of the weather.

“I’ve been amazed at the work that’s been accomplished in pretty tough conditions,” Prestage says. “I’d say as a result of some of that, we’re probably a little behind schedule but I don’t think it’s a really big deal. We still intend to start processing pigs in the plant before the end of the year.” One of the set-backs was missing the goal to finish putting the roof on the facility last fall before the cold, wet weather arrived.

“We ended up with kind of a wet December and we didn’t have 100% of the roof on before it started getting wet, either from snow or rain,” Prestage says. “You have to do things kind of the hard way where you have to go in and remove muddy soil out from underneath those areas that you’re pouring floors on.” Prestage says key staff members are being brought on board, but the big hiring push won’t come for a few months yet.

“We’re in the process of finalizing some of the stuff with the state of Iowa and the local community colleges for training,” Prestage says. “We’ve already started hiring people, for example, plant engineers, IT people, accounting people and stuff like that.” As many as one-thousand workers will be needed to run the plant. Interviews and hiring for those hundreds of positions won’t likely start until mid-summer.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Cass County Conservation service report the Conservation Board is offering a great opportunity for you to observe spring woodland wildflowers not far from Atlantic. A Wildflower Walk program will be held at the Pellett Memorial Woods beginning 9-a.m., April 28th. There is no charge to participate.

Oak Strollers Nature Club for Families are welcome to join at this event. You’re invited to walk through the early spring wildflowers with Cass County Interpretive Naturalist Lora Kanning, and learn the names, uses and history of the Wildflowers.

Those in attendance will meet at Pellett Memorial Woods- located just outside of Atlantic, ½ mile north and ¾ mile east of the KJAN radio station.

The Cass County Conservation Board is now taking Pre-orders for their Native Plant Sale. The order form and payment will be DUE April 27th 2018 at 4PM.  Forms can be found online http://www.atlanticiowa.com/county/county-departments/conservation-office/

Native Local Eco-type live Plants will be sold. Live plants from nursery will come as small plugs; cells are 5” deep x 2” wide at top or 4.5”deep x 2” Cone. 2 Species of Native grass, and 9 Native Forbs including many that benefit Pollinators.

All orders must be picked up during designated times at the Conservation offices in Lewis, unless prior arrangements made. Designated pick up times will be: Thursday May 24th 8-a.m. to 6-p.m., or Friday, May 25th, from 8-a.m. until 4:30-p.m. Plants not picked up will be donated, with NO REFUND.

Jason Wickizer, Shelby County Emergency Management Operations Director, report the Fire Danger index in Shelby County, will remain in the HIGH category through Monday.  On Friday, Low Relative Humidity’s, and winds gusting to over 30-MPH could approach RED FLAG conditions. Wickizer said “However, on Saturday we will see a Strong System bring moisture, and snow to the area quickly moderating Fire Danger.  We will reevaluate Fire Danger Monday – please remain aware that our Fire Risk changes within 1 hour this time of year, due to the large availability of standing fine dead fuels.”

w/Max Dirks.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds is traveling to Washington to discuss trade with President Donald Trump amid escalating tensions with China over tariffs. Reynolds’ staff says in a press release Wednesday that the governor will be in Washington on Thursday to meet with Trump, governors and congressional leaders. The press release says Reynolds will discuss “issues impacting the agricultural community, including trade.”

Reynolds has said she’s closely monitoring communication between the countries over proposed tariffs on a range of products. China’s tariffs on U.S. exports could have a huge economic toll on soybeans, ethanol and pork.

Reynolds’ trip caused her to cancel an event in Muscatine. She plans to return to Iowa by Thursday afternoon and will attend an event in Bettendorf.

w/Kate Olson.

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The Iowa Farm Bureau is moving ahead with plans to sell new “health benefit” plans to perhaps tens of thousands of Iowans through Wellmark after legislation was signed into law last week by Governor Kim Reynolds. Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill says the new law corrects a problem that was created by the federal government’s Affordable Care Act. “It provides us the opportunity to bring benefits to our members in health care,” Hill says. “We’ve done this for nearly 50 years as a partner with Wellmark but the Affordable Care Act eliminated our options and took us out of the market because of that legislation.”

Hill says one of the most pressing issues for farmers has been the inability to buy affordable health care. “Premiums have risen 300% since 2014 and many families are paying 20- and 30- and sometimes $35,000 a year for a policy with a large deductible,” Hill says. “It’s taken them out of the market. They’re going without insurance because they can’t afford it. They’re borrowing money to pay the premium.” Hill sees the new health benefit package becoming available by the end of this year or early next year. “We think there’s 20-to-30,000 Iowans who quickly will move toward this,” Hill says. “They’re on the individual marketplace and are either without a policy or are on an unaffordable policy. There will be more next year. We’re working with Wellmark to get the underwriting prepared and get the policies out.”

The Iowa Farm Bureau plan is under the rules for association plans offered by groups that have something in common, such as belonging to an association or a small employer. The Trump administration is drawing up new rules to offer health benefits outside the Affordable Care Act.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with ISU Extension in Adair County said Tuesday, that all Adair County 4-H and FFA market lamb and market goat exhibitors must weigh and tag their animals at a countywide weigh-in event on Saturday, April 28th, from 8:30–10:30am,  at the Adair County Fairgrounds in Greenfield. Official ear tags are $1.50 each and must be purchased at weigh-in. For further information, contact Adair County Extension at     641-743-8412.

While the initial reaction to the grain and livestock markets was negative after U-S tariffs were announced, Iowa State University Extension Grain Marketing Specialist says some of those markets have shown signs of recovery. Chad Hart says there is some hope the U-S and China may begin negotiations to minimize the impact of the trade war. Hart says some if not all of the tariffs might not happen as they could be negoitiated away. He says while the tariffs were announced, they don’t go into place for two months.

Hart says the initial drop in soybean prices came back up some and there is hope the time lag before the tariffs happen gives hope the damage can keep from being too bad. He says there is time for negoitiators to get rid of the tariffs before they even start, and that led to some rebound in the markets after the initial drop. Hart says several Iowa farm and commodity organizations have had trade missions to China in order to build a relationship. He says it may be difficult for those farm organizations to maintain the trusting relationship needed with the Chinese. He says it often takes years to build up a trade relationship, but it can be swept away rather quickly.

(Radio Iowa)