WASHINGTON (AP) – Food prices could rise more slowly next year because farmers have a bigger surplus of corn on hand than previously thought. The Department of Agriculture estimates farmers have 206 million more bushels of surplus corn on hand at the start of this year’s harvest. That means farmers will have 866 million bushels of corn on hand at the end of next summer. That’s higher than last month’s forecast of 672 million bushels. The bigger surplus could bring down corn prices, which soared to record levels in June because of limited supplies. Corn is an ingredient in everything from animal feed to cereal to soft drinks. So cheaper corn could ease broader food prices. It takes about six months for corn prices to trickle down to products at the grocery store.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) said Monday, crews are completing the installation of signs for the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway and the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway in the Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County area. Thanks to grant funds made available through the Federal Highway Administration, the DOT is installing a new sign system for all the Scenic Byways in Iowa. Each of the 11 scenic and heritage byways across the state has a unique logo in a similar framework easily identifiable as an Iowa byway. The images are on reflective signs, with directional information added at decision points for the traveler.

The Loess Hills National Scenic Byway signs are now being installed in our area. The Loess Hills were named one of Iowa’s Scenic Byways in 1998 and received National Scenic Byway recognition in 2000 by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Loess Hills National Scenic Byway stretches along the western edge of Iowa through Fremont, Mills, Pottawattamie, Harrison, Monona, Woodbury, and Plymouth Counties. The Loess Hills National Scenic Byway also goes down Broadway in Council Bluffs, from highway 6 to 7th street. The public is invited to an unveiling of the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway signs on October 13th, at 4-p.m., in the offices of the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce, in the renovated Hughes-Iron Historic Building, at 149 West Broadway. 

The new Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway signs have been in place for a short time. They feature a distinctive “L” on a red, white, and blue background. The Lincoln Highway Association was created in 1913 in Detroit, Michigan. The first transcontinental highway, Old Lincoln Highway was officially 3,389 miles long from New York City to San Francisco. In Pottawattamie County, the road goes down county road L20, North Broadway in Council Bluffs, continuing on West Broadway towards Dodge Street in Omaha over the Missouri River.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Missouri River in Iowa is open for boaters again. Boats have been off-limits all summer because of flooding. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says Monday that the Missouri River as well as the Big Sioux River in northwest Iowa are now open. The agency says with fall fishing picking up and the second duck season a few weeks ago, the rivers could get busy. Officials are urging boaters to be careful because the river level is still high, and there are many obstacles under the surface, including logs and sandbars. Most of the public access areas on the Missouri River remain closed, but the DNR is working to clean and inspect the boat ramps and parking lots, which will reopen as conditions allow.

A local trails group is inviting the public to attend tonight’s meeting in Atlantic. The Nishna Valley Trails Association will gather at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on East 14^th Street, beginning at 6-p.m.

During the meeting, the group will hear from a representative with the Western Iowa Tourism Council, and, receive updates on the development of trails in the Atlantic area.

Morgan McDermott shows off her award for Reserve Champion Feeder Calf Showman (Ak-Sar-Ben photo)

Four southwest Iowa youth walked away with top honors at last month’s 2011 Aksarben 4-H Stock Show. More than 2,000 4-H families from a ten-state area participate in the show, held September 22^nd-through the 25^th, in Omaha. In our area, Morgan McDermott, of Atlantic, was named the Reserve Champion Feeder Calf Showman. The daughter of Rex and Beth McDermott, Morgan also exhibited the Overall Reserve Champion Feeder Calf Steer at Aksarben.

Madisyn Jorgensen of Guthrie Center, exhibited the Reserve Champion Division II Market Steer at the show. Kysa Downing of Creston, exhibited the Overall Champion Feeder Calf Steer. Tyler Long of Creston, exhibited the Champion Simmental Breeding Heifer. And, Seth Warren of Glenwood, exhibited the Champion Division III Market Hog.

To be eligible to exhibit at the Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Stock Show, the 4-H member must have been at least 10 years of age by January 1^st, 2011.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today said that whole milk with an expiration of October 22, 2011 from Farmers All Natural Creamery in Wellman, Iowa is the subject of a voluntary recall due to concerns that at least some of the milk from that facility may not have been properly pasteurized. The Department conducted laboratory testing on the finished product by State Laboratory Evaluation Officers that have been certified by the FDA.  The results tested positive for residual phosphatase indicating that the milk may not have been properly pasteurized and therefore could present a risk if consumed. Farmers All Natural Creamery believes 954 gallons of milk have been sold to four distributers; UNFI (Aurora, CO), UNFI (Lancaster, TX), Calma Optimal (Franklin Park, IL), and Natural brands (Wood Dale, IL). 

The milk was manufactured on October 3^rd with an October 22, 2011 sell by date.  Milk from Farmers All Natural Creamery can be identified by the plant number 19888 printed on all gallon containers.  The four distributers have since been notified and milk is being pulled from shelves.  If the public has any concerns they should return the milk to the store it was purchased from. These milk products should not be consumed.

A “World Championship” outdoor event will take place in Anita later this month. The Patternmaster’s BDC World Championships are scheduled for October 20th through the 23rd, at Hansen Outfitters, in Anita. The National Bird Dog Circuit event is in its 8th year, and will be televised on the Sportsman Channel and MAV-TV, beginning in January, 2012. The organization estimates more than 25,000 viewers will watch the taped event.

Paul Hansen, with Hansen Outfitters in Anita, said the BDC Qualifying events were held in the community last year, as well as the BDC Players Tournament. Players from all across the country and Canada attended the event. The Patternmaster’s BDC World Championships are expected to bring anywhere from 100- to 125-professional hunters and their dogs to Anita.  Hansen says that means a big infusion of money into the surrounding area, and it’s already taking place, in the form of motel reservations. He says motels are already booked in Atlantic, Anita and Adair. Hansen says people will begin showing up in the area one-week in advance, and they’re going to be looking for places to eat, and things to do. The event also offers an opportunity to showcase not only Anita and the surrounding communities, but our local school musical talent and youth groups.

Hansen says the Anita High School Choir will sing the National Anthem, accompanied by the Atlantic Marching High School Band, and the Girls Scouts and Boy Scouts will serve as the Color Guard.
Filming of the performance will begin 7:30-a.m., October 21st. The public is invited to attend, and watch the students perform. Gallery seating will be available to watch the field trials and related filming. In addition, the Anita Volunteer Fire Department will be raising funds for the ambulance drive, and holding a banquet for the BDC players and staff. All the proceeds will benefit the fire department.

Registration for the BDC World Championships begins on Wednesday, October 19th. Competition events start bright and early the next morning, in the Pointing and Flushing Doubles Division. Hansen says the event takes place on an eight-acre field. Three birds are planted to represent foul shot by the hunter. The dog has to locate the bird and bring it back to the hunter, who must then harvest the bird. Each trial is timed. The man/dog team with the best score and times, wins.

On Friday, October 21st, participants in the Pointing and Flushing Top Gun Division run match play are scheduled to compete, with activities continuing through Sunday, and an awards ceremony to follow. Hansen says there are trophies and cash prizes at stake. He says the trophy package is worth $16,000. BDC President Max Wroten said in a press release, that they “Look forward to a great event and good times in Anita.” He added that he hopes it becomes an annual event. For more information, visit www.nbdca.com.

w/ Denny Heflin

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Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Wednesday, announced that the Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will award more than $260,500 in grants to Iowa organization, to help enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in the state. The department received more than $276,500 through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, to support the program.

Among the grant recipients, was Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development, which was awarded $18,343 for building capacity for southwest Iowa local food producers, to increase specialty crop competitiveness in the region. And, Southern Iowa Resource Conservation and Development was awarded a $24,000 grant for “Farm to where you are: Creating and Enhancing Markets for Southern Iowa Specialty Crop Producers.” In addition, the Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land Stewardship was awarded a little more than $55,000, to support connecting growers and schools through the “Farm to School Program.”

Bill Northey says “Specialty crops are a very important part of Iowa agriculture, as they allow farmers to diversify and give customers access to locally grown products.” He says the federal funds will support food safety, research and marketing efforts, that will encourage Iowans to choose fruits, vegetables, nuts and flowers, that are produced in the state. Iowa agricultural non-profit organizations, cooperatives, specialty crop industry associations or organizations, along with producer groups, were eligible to aplly for funding, to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.

w/ Kate Olsen

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