Officials with the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency said today (Monday), the County Fire Danger rating will remain HIGH through Thursday, even though we are supposed to receive some moisture. Wind and continued drying after short duration moisture will keep Fire Danger in the HIGH category through Thursday.  Predominate fuel at this time is grass, and will completely cure, and be ready to burn within 1 hour of rain event.

Burning of any kind is restricted unless approval is received from local Fire Chief. Controlled burns that are not reported will result in Fire Department being dispatched, and Fires extinguished if determined to be un-safe. Please call 712-755-2124 if you have any questions.

There are many traditions associated with autumn, including visits to pumpkin patches, apple orchards and fall farmers markets. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reminds Iowans to check the labels of apple cider containers to ensure the product is pasteurized. Unpasteurized cider can contain cryptosporidiosis (‘crypto’), salmonella or E. coli. All of these bacteria can be dangerous to the very young and those who are immune-compromised.

“You can’t tell if cider is contaminated just by looking at it,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “In fact, there is no difference in smell or taste either. The key to preventing illness associated with apple cider is purchasing product that has been pasteurized, or by heating unpasteurized apple cider to at least 170°F.”

Unpasteurized products may be purchased as freshly pressed from local orchards, roadside stands, or farmers markets. They may also be found on ice or in refrigerated display cases, and in produce sections at grocery stores. Do not assume that because the juice is hot or bottled that it is safe for consumption. Complete pasteurization is necessary to kill organisms that have the potential to cause significant illness. If product labeling is unclear, ask the location owners or operators whether the juice or cider being offered has been pasteurized.

Symptoms of foodborne illness caused by contaminated food include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, loss of appetite, fatigue, and fever. Symptoms may start within hours of eating the contaminated food or drink, or may begin days later. If you suspect you may have a foodborne illness, call the IowaSic hotline at 1-844-469-2742. The IowaSic hotline will be answered by IDPH specialists who will ask callers about the illness, symptoms, onset and duration, and also complete a history of all foods consumed for the past several days. Illnesses associated with foods purchased from or consumed at food establishments will be investigated by staff in DIA’s Food and Consumer Safety Bureau.

For more information about foodborne illnesses, visit idph.iowa.gov/cade/foodborne-illness.

Bob Beebensee and Conservation Officer for Cass and Adair Counties Grant Gelly talk about all things outdoors in the Nishna Valley.

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An investigation is underway after fire heavily damaged a livestock feed plant in southeast Iowa. Firefighters were called to the Church & Dwight plant south of Oskaloosa on Highway 23 shortly before 6-a.m. Thursday, morning where a livestock feed dryer caught fire. The fire caused extensive damage to one of two production lines, estimated at $2 million. There were no injuries reported.

(Radio Iowa)

The National Climate Prediction Center is again issuing a La Nina watch into next year, though an Iowa climatologist says it likely isn’t much reason for farmers and snow shovelers to worry. Dennis Todey, director of the U-S-D-A Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, says the La Nina watch won’t mean any significant changes in the long-range outlook. “Okay, yeah, it could end up being La Nina,” Todey says. “Still, I don’t think it’s going to be a major issue. It doesn’t really change too much about what it says for the winter or for next growing season.”

La Nina occurs when Pacific Ocean surface temperatures fall and it has some effect on the weather across North America. Todey says the looming La Nina may be a contributing factor to the winter ahead. “The storm pattern may be a bit more active across the northern U.S. this year,” Todey says. “I’m not saying we’re calling for more precipitation than average but it could be more active and we’ll probably see more storm systems coming through.”

Todey says other factors may have more of an effect on the weather through next spring. “Probably something else is going to kick in and be more of a driver this winter than the La Nina will be,” Todey says, “and then, it becomes a non-factor by next summer.” The La Nina pattern comes on the heels of a two-year, record-breaking El Nino pattern that faded away late this summer.

(Radio Iowa)

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) has received several questions from southwest Iowa producers about corn mold this harvest season. Based on producer descriptions of black mold or black dust that becomes airborne when the plants are disturbed, common corn smut is the most likely culprit in many of these cases.

Corn smut is caused by the fungus Ustilago maydis or Ustilago zeae and at harvest can typically be identified as black masses of spores that create a dark dust when the corn plants are disturbed.

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This spore material often is described as powdery or sooty in consistency and can be found on various parts of the corn plant including ears, tassels, stalks, and leaves.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialist Chris Clark said corn smut can impact grain quality and yield but generally is not directly associated with mycotoxin production. “If a mold in question is truly corn smut, the grain can probably be fed to livestock without any great concern about toxicity,” he said.

Corn smut can, however, be confused with other corn molds and fungal ear rot organisms that can produce dangerous mycotoxins. Corn plants are susceptible to numerous fungal organisms, some of which are commonly associated with mycotoxin production. Iowa State veterinary toxicologist Steve Ensley said Aspergillus, Fusarium, Gibberella, and Penicillium organisms are most commonly associated with production of mycotoxins that can be negatively impact animal health and performance.

There also is evidence that smut-infected ears are more susceptible to infection by Fusarium and Aspergillus. The smut fungus may not directly produce mycotoxins but can potentially cause greater susceptibility to secondary infections with organisms that are associated with mycotoxin production. That’s why it’s important to scout fields and identify corn molds affecting the crop.

The Iowa State VDL offers mycotoxin screening of grain and feed samples. Producers can find sampling guidelines, submission forms, prices and other information on the VDL website here https://vetmed.iastate.edu/vdl/resources/client-services/pathogens/mycotoxins. The site also includes a great deal of information about mycotoxins including species affected and health effects.

Clark and Ensley are available to address questions and concerns about corn molds and mycotoxins.  Clark can be reached at (712) 250-0070 or by email at caclark@iastate.edu.  Ensley can be reached at (515) 294-2783 or by email at sensley@iastate.edu.

MONTROSE, Iowa (AP) – Lee County’s community members have attempted to set the world record for most people planting flower bulbs simultaneously. The Hawk Eye reports that about 1,700 students and community members tried Tuesday to double the previous record of 850 people in the United Kingdom. County participants had five tulip bulbs to plant within an hour, and officials say the task was completed in less than 30 minutes.

Dana Millard with Lee County Economic Development, and one of the event’s organizers, says Guinness World Records must verify paperwork before the potential record is acknowledged. Conservation group Pheasants Forever donated tulips to the event and considers it an investment in the future of nature conservation.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – Preliminary discussions have begun over a proposal to bring a hydroponic, vertical farming operation along the Davenport riverfront. The Quad-City Times reports that Friday’s Fresh Market operation is in a 40-foot, insulated shipping container. Local farm owner and manufacturing consultant Andrew Freitag says the container is one of the models his company uses to promote sustainable farming practices.

The company and the Davenport Levee Commission are discussing the proposal. Commission executive director Steve Ahrens says there are many details to be worked out before any plan could come to fruition. According to Freitag, the shipping container uses an LED lighting system as well as 90 percent less water and 50 percent less nutrients than traditional farming methods. Freitag says the operations could be a year-round source for the Food Hub and farmers market.

A Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) director says the auto industry’s path to improved fuel economy will include higher blends of ethanol. Randall Doyal, CEO of Al-Corn Clean Fuel in southeast Minnesota, says the ethanol industry is keeping up with advancements in automobile technology. “We’re trying to get a higher and higher fuel economy, and the auto industry is saying that the way to get there is through higher compression, smaller and lighter engines that produce more horsepower from less, but require higher-octane fuels. And they are looking at somewhere around 30 percent ethanol,” Doyal says.

Iowa is the nation’s top ethanol producer. Doyal says the RFA is hitting some roadblocks as the organization works to educate consumers on the benefits of E-15 and higher blends of ethanol. “It’s always been a frustration to me that, in the U.S., we’ve listened to oil folks and others who’ve said that you can’t even use 10 percent blend…yet, you can drive any car that we make in the U.S. down to Brazil and you’re going to be running on 27 percent ethanol and your car will do just fine,” Doyal said.

Doyal, who recently completed his term as RFA chairman, says more infrastructure is needed to facilitate higher ethanol blends and provide additional choices at the pump. According to the Iowa Corn Grower’s Association, around 47 percent (1.3 billion bushels) of the corn grown in Iowa is used to create nearly 30 percent of all American ethanol.

(Radio Iowa/Mark Dorenkamp, Brownfield Ag News)

Officials with the Iowa DNR said Tuesday a Denison man suffered a self inflicted gunshot wound to his thigh from a pistol he was carrying in his waistband shortly after he began walking to the field to hunt deer with his muzzleloader.  The injury occurred around 5 p.m. Monday,, in southern Crawford County. 54-year old Daniel Gehling was taken to Denison hospital and then flown by helicopter to Omaha medical center for surgery. He is currently in stable condition.

Gehling was heading to the field with his wife Carolyn. He adjusted the gun in his waistband when it discharged. Carolyn called for help and then applied pressure on the wound until rescue personnel arrived.

It is common for hunters who have a permit to carry, to carry a pistol with them while hunting. It is illegal to have a pistol in possession while archery hunting.