URGENT – FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE

331 PM CDT TUE APR 8 2014

…CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR WEDNESDAY…

A WARM AND DRY AIRMASS WILL BE OVER THE REGION WEDNESDAY. THIS AIRMASS COMBINED WITH SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH AND AVAILABLE FUELS/DRY GRASSES…SHOULD ELEVATE FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS INTO THE RED FLAG WARNING RANGE.

COUNTIES: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE–

…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* WINDS…SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AS LOW AS 15 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS…FIRES CAN EASILY IGNITE AND SPREAD QUICKLY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A survey shows the value of Iowa cropland has dropped for the first time since 2009. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports the survey from the Iowa Realtors Land Institute shows the value of tillable cropland fell by 5.4 percent in the past six months. The report found the average price of high-quality farmland was $11,104 an acre, a drop of $570 from the last survey released in September.

The survey showed declines in all nine regions of the state, with the largest drop in southeast Iowa. Reasons for the decline include lower commodity prices, higher input costs and increasing interest rates. Prices for Iowa farmland have more than doubled in the past five years. Average high-quality farmland cost $5,297 in 2009 but had soared to $11,515 by 2013.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – A virus never before seen in the U.S. has killed millions of baby pigs in less than a year, threatening pork production and pushing up prices by 10 percent or more.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says a pound of bacon averaged $5.46 in February. That’s 13 percent more than a year ago. Ham and chops have gone up too, although not as much.

Scientists believe porcine epidemic diarrhea came from China, but they don’t know how it got into the United States.  Agricultural economist Steve Meyer estimates the virus has killed nearly 6.8 million pigs in 27 states since last May. Meyer says Americans expect cheap food, but PED has shown how much an outbreak can cost and how important disease prevention is to the food supply.

1112 AM CDT TUE APR 8 2014

…CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR WEDNESDAY…

A WARM AND DRY AIRMASS WILL BE OVER THE REGION WEDNESDAY. THIS
AIRMASS COMBINED WITH SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH AND
AVAILABLE FUELS/DRY GRASSES…SHOULD ELEVATE FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS INTO THE RED FLAG WARNING RANGE.

COUNTIES: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY  FREMONT-PAGE-  
…A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA…

* WINDS…SOUTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS…FIRES CAN EASILY IGNITE AND SPREAD QUICKLY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.

It appears more young Iowans are interested in pursuing a field in agriculture than ever before. The Iowa chapter of the Future Farmers of America Association has announced its membership has climbed to a record high this year. Iowa FFA executive secretary Scott Johnson says there are 14,207 members in 219 high schools across Iowa. That’s up 57-percent compared to a low reached in 1989, following the Farm Crisis.

“So, this is something that has been 25 years in the making,” Johnson says. “We’re thrilled to be back to where we really think we should be and hope to grow some more.” The previous record was set during the 1977-78 school year with 14,204 Iowa FFA members. Johnson says more girls are joining the organization.

“Our male enrollment has been fairly steady to slowly growing over the last 25 years, but our significant growth has been in our female membership,” Johnson says. The organization was launched in the state in 1929. The 86th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference is scheduled for April 27-29 on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames.

(Radio Iowa)

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says he’s confident the agricultural economy will remain strong despite an expected drop in farm income next year as corn prices lag and a pig virus reduces herds. Vilsack, in an interview Friday for “Iowa Press,” the Iowa Public Television program, says this year’s farm income is expected to be slightly under last year’s record but significantly above the 10-year average.

He says another record year of exports for beef, poultry and pork products will help keep the farm economy strong. Challenges include the pig virus, which can be deadly for new-born pigs. Vilsack says it is worrisome but efforts are underway to come up with a vaccine, and the department is working with farmers to minimize losses through herd management.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Ethanol producers say clogged rail lines and other shipping problems have forced them to reduce production of the fuel and contributed to higher prices.  The Renewable Fuels Association criticized railroads Thursday and triggered a strong response from the Association of American Railroads.  RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen says railroads should take the blame for ethanol prices jumping more than $1 a gallon between early February and late March.

AAR CEO Ed Hamberger acknowledges rail traffic slowed in certain areas, but he says it’s preposterous to suggest the rail network is in disarray. Hamberger says railroads have done their best to deal with an exceptional winter, sizeable grain harvest and increased coal demand.

Railroads have hauled 6.8 million carloads this year – about 2 percent more than last year.

Officials with the Monsanto Corporation report that officers with the Exira-EHK FFA were presented with a check last week in the amount of $2,500, from the company’s “America’s Farmers Grow Communities” Program. The award was presented by C. Gene Riley, District Sales Manager for Producers Hybrids, and farmers Alan and Maureen Jensen of Exira, who chose the chapter to receive the award.

Pictured (L-R) Alex Bowlin, Deann Irlmeier, Kristen Rutherford, John Schultes, C. Gene Riley, Chance Lauritsen, Maureen Jensen, Kendall Petersen, Alan Jensen, Austin Moeller, Madison Leader.

The Jensens buy their seed through Producers Hybrids, a Monsanto traits vendor. Therefore, the Jensens were eligible to submit an application, and were selected as one of the winning customers who could choose any community organization to receive the award.

Kristin Rutherford Exira/EHK AG Teacher/FFA Advisor, said she is pleased with the level of  community support that the award represents. Rutherford said “We are so grateful for this money, which will go directly to funding the test plot that the students will be farming this year, and the funding of green house growing activities that help us with additional fundraising efforts,” she explained.

According to their website, each year the “America’s Farmers Grow Communities” program donates over 1200 $2500 awards to rural communities and organizations. The winning farmers are chosen through an application process that closes each November. There is one winner chosen from each eligible county. This is the first award for a Producers Hybrids customer and Exira-EHK FFA.

Recent and forecast rain has prompted Emergency Management officials in Shelby County to lower the outdoor Fire Danger risk from “High”, to “Moderate.” The “moderate” rating will be in effect through Monday morning, following another assessment of conditions in the County.

Emergency Manager Bob Seivert says if you need help planning your controlled burn, please feel free to contact the Emergency Mgt Agency, 712-755-2124 or your local Fire Chief for assistance.

w/ Dave York

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