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CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Iowa Agribusiness Network!
CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!
Quad Cities-based Deere & Company is being named one of the world’s most ethical companies. The designation comes from the Ethisphere Institute. It annually ranks companies that achieve highly ethical business practices. Deere is one of only a dozen companies to have earned the recognition for all 12 years the institute has done the research. This year, 135 honorees in 23 countries and 57 industries were recognized. Deere chairman and CEO Sam Allen says the company has an unwavering commitment to ethical behavior and doing the right things in the right way. Deere is Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer.
(Radio Iowa)
Organizers for the annual “Produce in the Park,” in Atlantic, say planning for the 2018 Produce farmers market will be held Thursday, February 15th. The meeting will be held at The Depot Atlantic Chamber Office beginning at 2:00 pm. This will be the fifth year for the event being held once a week through the summer months in Atlantic City Park.
Growers of veggies, fruits, herbs, eggs, meat and other locally produced food are invited to attend. Artists and crafts persons are invited. A vendor may be anyone who grows or makes products they will be selling. Others who are interested in the community event are also encouraged to attend. The opening and closing dates will be decided. The contract for vendors and fees for 2018 will be reviewed. Everyone attending the meeting has input for decisions about dates, fee and more.
Contact Susan Retz, Emily Krengel, or LaVon Eblen for more information. Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce also can provide information.
The Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development invites you to attend the 27th Annual meeting of the Wallace Foundation, on Tuesday, March 6th, at the Learning Center located at the ISU Armstrong Research Farm near Lewis.
The program will begin at 9:30 AM. Featured speakers are Steve Johnson, ISU Farm Management Specialist speaking on ”Riding the Ag Cycles” and Dave Swenson, ISU Economist speaking on “An Overview of Iowa’s Economy and the Growth Challenges Rural Areas Face.”
A complimentary lunch will be served at 11:30-a.m., followed by the annual business meeting at 12:45-p.m.
The Armstrong Research Farm is located 12 miles southwest of Atlantic on Highway 6, half a mile south on 525th Street, and a half mile east on Hitchcock Avenue; or 13 miles east of Oakland on Highway 6, half a mile south on 525th Street, and half a mile east on Hitchcock Avenue.
For more information contact the Wallace Foundation at 712-769-2650 or raelynb@iastate.edu.
DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced today (Friday) it has received a $100,000 Farm to School Support Services Grant from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to host an Iowa Local Food Day on October 11, 2018, as part of National Farm to School month. Mike Naig, Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture said “We continue to see growing interest from both the schools and the farmers in incorporating locally grown produce in school meals. We are excited to get this additional funding to help scale-up efforts focused on increasing the amount of locally grown food served in school breakfasts and lunches. This food day celebration will help prepare growers to sell to schools and assist schools in accessing locally grown items.”
With the grant funding, the Department is working to: build a support network for schools interested in using local foods; aid food service directors in making local procurements; work with growers interested in selling produce to schools; partner with Summer Food Service Programs (SFSP) as a starting point for farmers to work with schools; and allow Farm to School activities to expand beyond fruits and vegetables.
The Department is also helping to host the 2018 Iowa Farm to School Conference on June 29th at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to share ideas, resources and successes to help grow the farm to school and farm to early care and education movement in Iowa.
Farmers or schools interested in participating in Farm to School efforts can contact Tammy Stotts with the Department at tammy.stotts@iowaagriculture.gov.
CORYDON, Iowa (AP) — Wildlife biologists have confirmed a deer killed by a hunter in south-central Iowa suffered from chronic wasting disease, marking the first confirmation in a wild deer hunted outside of northeast Iowa. The disease attacks the brains of deer and elk and is always fatal. No human cases have ever been recorded. The deer was killed Dec. 5 in Wayne County.
Iowa wildlife biologist Terry Hainfield says the confirmation of the disease was disappointing, but not surprising. He says officials are “increasing number of CWD positive deer in northeast Iowa and from our neighboring states.” The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says it is waiting for test results from deer recently hunted in Allamakee and Clayton counties.
The fatal disease first appeared in a wild deer herd in Iowa in 2013.
Legislators are considering a bill that would force the state’s grocery stores to always have “conventional” eggs for sale. Republican Representative Lee Hein, of Monticello says the concern is stores may be pressured to only sell eggs that come from “cage free” operations. “Which are $3 to $4 more expensive that the regular commodity egg that’s cheaper and more affordable,” Hein says. Bill backers say it’s about ensuring consumer choice. Critics say it will require stores to sell a certain product. Hein admits to “struggling with” the idea of imposing a mandate. “But I also believe that we don’t need to bow down to the pressure of the animal rights groups, which are maybe growing, but are still a small segment of the population,” Hein says. “And I firmly believe that the regular Iowans wants a choice.”
The vast majority of the eggs laid in the U.S. each year come from “conventional” large-scale operations with thousands of hens. Some retailers, like Walmart, have committed to eventually buying eggs from hens that have a larger range of movement indoors — in so-called “cage free” operations. If this bill becomes STATE law, though, Walmart stores in Iowa would be required to keep selling eggs raised in large-scale conventional operations. The legislation has cleared initial review in both the House and Senate. It must pass a full committee by the end of next week to remain eligible for consideration in the 2018 Iowa legislature.
(Radio Iowa)
The Iowa DNR invites hunters and trappers to attend listening sessions where they can share suggestions and thoughts about Iowa’s hunting regulations and seasons. The public meetings are the first step in setting rules for the fall 2018 hunting season and will take place Feb. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 18 Iowa locations.
During each meeting, DNR staff will facilitate a discussion about what went well last fall, what didn’t, and what changes hunters and trappers would like to see for the upcoming seasons.
Meetings will be held locally, in Atlantic, Council Bluffs and Creston.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Labor, public health, environment and animal protection organizations are asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reject plans to change the way hogs are slaughtered and processed for meat.
Thirty-five organizations, including Compassion Over Killing, Friends of the Earth and Waterkeeper Alliance, asked Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Tuesday to reject the rules proposed last month.
The rules allow plant employees instead of government inspectors to determine which animals are slaughtered and allow increased line speeds. The groups say the changes risk increased food contamination, worker injuries, animal abuse and water pollution.
The USDA says the rules don’t risk food safety and improve industry practices, and the National Pork Producers says they increase efficiency, inspection effectiveness and the rapid adoption of new food-safety technologies.
The USDA is taking comments until April 2.
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