The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is investigating allegations an employee of the 21st Century Co-Op may have embezzled money. According to Sheriff Darby McLaren, the manager of the Co-Op asked for the investigation, which also includes a review of records by the Auditor’s Office. McLaren said because it is a complex, on-going investigation, additional details will not be released at this time. 21st Century Co-Op has locations in Cumberland, Massena, Atlantic, Fontanelle, and Greenfield.

A letter from Board President Rick Wheatley to the Co-Op’s stockholders dated October 3rd, said:

“This letter is to inform you as a Member of the 21st Century Cooperative about criminal activity that was recently uncovered and is being addressed by the Cass County Sheriff, the board of directors, and Coop management.

Late last week, the Coop learned that an employee has embezzled funds from the Coop. The employee was discharged. The theft was immediately reported to law enforcement authorities and investigations by the Cass County Sheriff’s office and our auditors are ongoing.

We ask that you keep this information confidential and refer any inquiries you may receive to Randy Daugherty, General Manager of the Coop. We will keep you informed as more definitive information is available.

The audit has been completed and we are pleased to report another successful year. Dividend checks will be distributed at next month’s annual meeting. In addition to last year’s business, we will also be paying off past equity for the years 2004 and 2005.

The 21st Century Cooperative remains a financially strong organization. We will continue to provide the highest quality service to our members and customers.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Pork prices hit record highs this summer as farmers weren’t able to feed the demand — mostly because a virus had killed millions of their baby pigs. There is good news for pork lovers in the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture production update, as it shows more piglets are surviving and producers are building up pork herds. Iowa, the nation’s leading pork producer, reported nearly 5.5 million baby pigs were born between June and August — the largest number in 20 years.

New farm procedures helped reduced the spread of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, such as disinfecting trucks and equipment. Many producers are optimistic the virus is under control but some fear winter’s return because the virus thrives in cold, damp conditions.

Energy suppliers say there’s plenty of liquid propane available for Iowans to heat their homes in the winter ahead. Deb Grooms, executive director of the Iowa Propane Gas Association, says a series of events last year led to a record spike in prices, but they also will mean a better plan this time around. Farmers need to dry the grain before it’s stored so it doesn’t spoil. Grooms says that extra pressure on L-P supplies last October caused a shortage for residential customers. Grooms says those residential customers were told to top off their tanks this summer. She says farmers got the same advice from Ag Secretary Bill Northey. Governor Branstad declared an energy disaster last fall when farmers throughout the Midwest used a record amount of the fuel to dry their corn so it could be properly stored. That depleted supplies for home owners who were forced to pay record high prices topping five-dollars a gallon.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the expected record corn and soybean harvest will be slightly bigger than previously estimated. Farmers are expected to bring in 14.5 billion bushels of corn, up from 14.4 billion last month, and 3.93 billion bushels of soybeans, up 14 million bushels. The October estimate released Friday boosted the per-acre yield for both major crops because of an extended period of late summer warmth in the Midwest.

The USDA says 22 states will set corn record yields this year. Corn farmers are expected to harvest a national average of 174.2 bushels per acre, a significant increase over the record of 169.  A dozen states will set new soybean yield records, and there’s expected to be 47.1 bushels per acre, up from the record of 44.

w/ Denny Heflin

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Officials with ISU Extension in Shelby County say the County will host a Mosquito/Public Health Pest Management Continuing Instructional Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators on Thursday, Oct. 23rd. The program will be shown at locations across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pest Management and the Environment program.

The local site for the Oct. 23 CIC is at the Shelby Co. Extension office at 906 6th Street, Harlan. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by sessions from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The registration fee is $35 on or before Oct. 16 and $45 after Oct. 16. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Shelby County by phoning 712-755-3104.

The 2014 course will provide continuing instructional credit for commercial pesticide applicators certified in categories 7D (Community Insect Management), 8 (Public Health Pest Control) and 10 (Demonstration and Research). The course will cover topics such as an update on laws and regulations; effects on groundwater and other non-target sites; pesticide toxicity and exposure; pesticide stewardship; and an update on mosquitoes, ticks and other public health pests.

Additional information about this and other courses offered through the PME Program may be accessed at www.extension.iastate.edu/PME.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investigating manure released from a cattle feedlot about 10 miles west of Guthrie Center to a tributary to David’s Creek last week.

Owner of the 14,000-head-capacity beef feedlot, Matt Van Meter, reported the manure release at 3:34 p.m. Oct. 2, about eight hours after discovering a break in an irrigation pipe. Van Meter estimates 200,000 gallons of liquids from a solids settling basin were released, but the amount is uncertain because he’s unsure when the pipe broke.

A DNR environmental specialist tested ammonia levels in the runoff and water quality in the stream Thursday night and Friday. Field tests showed ammonia levels of at least 10 parts per million in the runoff from the feedlot, which is high enough to cause a fish kill. However, it was raining Wednesday night, stream levels were high and field tests did not show elevated ammonia levels in the stream.

Friday, the DNR checked the stream for 10 miles below the feedlot and did not find any dead fish. The Van Meter feedlot has a national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit which allows facilities to discharge pollutants under certain conditions, such as heavy rainfall, if the permit conditions are followed.

The DNR is checking records and investigating the incident to determine if the facility was operating according to NPDES permit conditions. However, the DNR expects to take enforcement action on failing to report the manure release within six hours of discovery. DNR may take additional enforcement action depending upon results of the investigation and laboratory results from stream samples.

w/ Kate Olson

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2014 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will improve farm loans by expanding eligibility and increasing lending limits to help more beginning and family farmers. As part of this effort, USDA is raising the borrowing limit for the microloan program from $35,000 to $50,000; simplify the lending processes; updating required “farming experience” to include other valuable experiences; and expanding eligible business entities to reflect changes in the way family farms are owned and operated. The changes become effective Nov. 7.

“USDA is continuing its commitment to new and existing family farmers and ranchers by expanding access to credit,” said Harden. “These new flexibilities, created by the 2014 Farm Bill, will help more people who are considering farming and ranching, or who want to strengthen their existing family operation.”

The microloan changes announced today will allow beginning, small and mid-sized farmers to access an additional $15,000 in loans using a simplified application process with up to seven years to repay. These efforts are part of USDA’s continued commitment to small and midsized farming operations, and new and beginning farmers.

In addition to farm related experience, other types of skills may be considered to meet the direct farming experience required for farm loan eligibility such as operation or management of a non-farm business, leadership positions while serving in the military, or advanced education in an agricultural field. Also, individuals who own farmland under a different legal entity operating the farm now may be eligible for loans administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). Producers will have an opportunity to share suggestions on the microloan process, and the definitions of farming experience and business structures through Dec. 8, 2014, the public open comment period.

FSA is also publishing a Federal Register notice to solicit ideas from the public for pilot projects to help increase the efficiency and effectiveness of farm loan programs. Comments and ideas regarding potential pilot projects will be accepted through Nov. 7, 2014.

Since 2010, USDA has made a record amount of farm loans through FSA — more than 165,000 loans totaling nearly $23 billion. More than 50 percent of USDA’s farm loans now go to beginning farmers. In addition, USDA has increased its lending to socially-disadvantaged producers by nearly 50 percent since 2010.

These programs were made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.