DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – No new bird flu cases have been reported in nearly a week on commercial farms in Minnesota and Iowa. That has farmers, scientists and government officials hopeful the worst outbreak of bird flu in the U.S. is winding down, though they know it doesn’t mean the outbreak is over.

Farmers are finishing the disposal of turkey and chicken carcasses, disinfecting the barns and preparing to restock with new birds. And scientists trying to develop an effective vaccine, determine how the H5N2 virus evaded biosecurity measures and to establish what can be done to prevent a repeat.

The first turkey barn that was infected in Minnesota is restocking, and Iowa officials say they hope to begin to do the same in several weeks.

The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, Inc., has recognized an Atlantic man for his 30-years of membership with the organization.

Glen Smith

Glen R. Smith, Accredited Rural Appraiser (ARA) with Smith Land Service Company, in Atlantic, was honored for his years of service to the organization at the ASFRMRA’s meeting in Denver. The organization he’s been a member of for the past three decades, is the largest and oldest professional association that provides opportunities for development through high quality educational and meeting offerings, and a strict standard of Code of Conduct and ethics to its members.

The ASFRMA represents nearly 2,000 agribusiness professionals across the U-S and Canada, who provide farm or ranch management, rural appraisal and appraisal review, or agricultural consulting services. The organization was founded in 1929.

w/ Max Dirks

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri father and son face federal charges accusing them of defrauding farmers out of about $860,000 in a hay-selling scheme that spanned several states. Federal prosecutors in Kansas City say 50-year-old Mark Henry of Cameron, and his son, 28-year-old Mark Henry Jr. of Lucerne, face 15 counts, including conspiracy to defraud and wire fraud.

They’re accused of advertising hay to sell to farmers dealing with drought from 2010 to 2012. Prosecutors say they required farmers to pay in advance for hay that was advertised to be of good quality but actually “consisted of weeds, sticks, bushes, small trees, briars, thistles and woody stems.” Their customers were in Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, Wyoming and New Mexico.

w/ Kate Olson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The bird flu outbreak has caused the U.S. Department of Agriculture to approve importing egg products from the Netherlands to be used for baking and in processed foods. The American Bakers Association says makers of cookies, crackers and breads are facing an egg shortage crisis. A third of the supply disappeared in just a few weeks because of the H5N2 virus, which has led to the death of 35 million egg-laying hens.

The USDA said last week the Netherlands should begin shipping egg products within days. It’s the first time in more than a decade the U.S. has bought eggs from a European nation. In recent years, only Canada held certification to sell liquid, dried and frozen egg products to U.S. companies.

The latest U-S-D-A crop report shows continued problems last week with wet weather slowing planting in south-west and south-central Iowa. This is a critical week for southwest Iowa — which has lagged behind the rest of the state most of the spring — as the calendar days continue passing. Iowa State University Extension Agronomist, Aaron Sauegling monitors 14 counties in the southwest corner of the state where wet weather has put them behind.

“The majority of all the corn is in in southwest Iowa. Soybean planting lags behind where we would like to be at this time of year. There’s still portions of southwest Iowa that have over half or 50 percent of the beans to be planted yet,” Sauegling explains. The forecast is calling for some warm and dry days that farmers have been needing.

“We’re optimistic that this week is going to provide us with the break that we need, that we just simply did not get the entire month of May for planting soybeans,” Sauegling says. Sauegling says the delay in planting beans is forcing some farmers to make crop management changes.  “I may increase my plant population. I’d like to narrow up the row — because what I need to do now as a soybean producer, I need to maximize my days,” according to Sauegling. “So, how I can do that is simply have more simply soybeans covering the ground, for ‘A’ weed control and ‘B’ I have to maximize yield. Corn at this point — I would probably be a little more panicked if I didn’t have my corn in.”

Soybean planting reached 88 percent complete and that’s nine days behind 2014, and one day behind average. The crop report shows 96 percent of the corn crop has emerged, which is four days ahead of the five-year average.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey is encouraging Iowa students who were in kindergarten through 8th grade this past school year, to take part in a “Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt” at any of the 37 participating farmers markets across the state. The Iowa Farm to School program, which is part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, is sponsoring the initiative.

Northey says “We are fortunate to have wonderful farmers markets all across the state and I hope students will take advantage of this opportunity to get out and learn more about all the fresh, delicious products that are available and support their local market.”  To participate, students simply need to complete the “Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt” form. Forms may be picked up at any participating farmers market or can be printed from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under the “Hot Topics” section.

When they have completed the form, they can submit it to the market manager at the main market booth for the farmers market. Upon submitting the form, students will receive a free item from the market, such as a fruit, vegetable or honey, and will be entered into a drawing for additional prizes. In addition, the classroom with the most participation over the summer will receive a grow light that can be used to help them grow their own fruits and vegetables.

In western Iowa, farmers markets participating in the program include those in Shelby County (Harlan), and the Missouri Valley Welcome Center. More information about the Iowa Farm to School program and other upcoming events can be found at: http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/AgDiversification/farmToSchoolProgram.asp.

Many low-income Iowa families, that might not be able to afford a summertime staple in the state, will get the chance this year. Cory Berkenes, executive director of the Iowa Food Bank Association, says his agency is partnering with a sweet corn grower to provide thousands of FREE ears of the vegetable to hungry Iowans. “This first opportunity, we’ll have about 500 dozen ears of corn, so about an acre of corn for this first time,” Berkenes says.

The sweet corn seed, donated by Monsanto, was planted by Jacob and Emily Van Manen, owners of J & E’s Delicious Sweet Corn of Kellogg. If the weather cooperates, the sweet corn will be harvested in July and donated to the Food Bank of Iowa for distribution. “A lot of families, you know, just can’t afford the fresh produce,” Berkenes says. “So, having this chance to bring this into their homes…is an added bonus.”

Once harvested, Berkenes says the sweet corn will travel from the farm to the table in less than one week. He’s hoping the effort might be expanded next year.  “This is just the first project like this we’ve done and we’re hoping it maybe can grow into something more in future years. We’re really excited about it,” Berkenes says.

(Radio Iowa)