(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Natural Resource Commission discussed the possibility of increasing hunting, fishing and trapping fees by 5% at their monthly meeting.

Commissioners and those who spoke on the issue Thursday say the increase could help the DNR do more to conserve and restore wildlife habitat. Commissioner K.R. Buck says the issue has generated a lot of support. “We have lit a fire underneath the sportsmen. I will guarantee you that besides the CO2 pipeline, I’ve been contacted more in the last two weeks about this, and they’re all in favor,” he says.

Buck says supporters don’t think it will be enough. “They’re all afraid that 5% isn’t going to get us where we need to be,” Buck says.
State law caps annual license fee increases at 5%.

State lawmakers and the governor would need to sign off before a license fee increase went into effect.

Cass County: Corn $3.76 Beans $9.53
Adair County: Corn $3.73 Beans $9.56
Adams County: Corn $3.73 Beans $9.52
Audubon County: Corn $3.75 Beans $9.55
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $3.79 Beans $9.53
Guthrie County: Corn $3.78 Beans $9.57
Montgomery County: Corn $3.78 Beans $9.55
Shelby County: Corn $3.79 Beans $9.53

Oats: $2.72 (same in all counties)

(Prices are per bushel; information is from the area Farm Service Agency [FSA] offices)

DES MOINES, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it had improved and expanded its Farm to School Grant program and would invest up to $18 million to connect locally grown food to child nutrition programs. The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants program was initiated in 2013, but according to a news release, the fiscal year 2026 investment represents the “largest total amount” the department has offered in a given year.

The Farm to School Grant announcement was made alongside U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s latest Make America Healthy Again report, which called for more whole, unprocessed foods in children’s diets. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the grants are “one of the best ways we can deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to children, while also strengthening local agriculture.”

Eligible projects are those that: incorporate more unprocessed and locally produced foods in school meals, encourage the consumption of fresh foods, train producers on food safety and procurement requirements or educate students on agriculture and nutrition. The release from USDA said updates to the program will also streamline the application process, remove barriers to innovation and emphasize partnerships.

According to USDA’s latest Farm to School Census, more than 440 Iowa school food authorities, the entities that manage school food service, have participated in the program. The grants can also be used to support agriculture education at schools through things like ag and nutrition classes, or school gardening programs. According to the census, nearly 50% of Iowa school food authorities had classroom programs and slightly more than 15% of Iowa school food authorities had edible gardens.

According to USDA, Farm to School Grant awards totaled $100 million since 2013. The millions in Farm to School Grant dollars are significantly less than the billions of dollars that schools and food banks used under a pandemic-era program to support local food purchases. These programs, Local Food for Schools and Local Food Purchase Assistance, were canceled in March after USDA announced in October 2024 over a $1 billion in funds to continue the programs across the country.

Tommy Hexter, the policy director for Iowa Farmers Union, said the new investment from USDA is positive, but said it doesn’t make up for the loss of programs that provided “vital government support” to food farmers and players in the local food system. Hexter said the canceled programs created relationships between farmers, food hubs, the state department of agriculture, schools and community, that are “fundamental to our food system in Iowa.”

“The first and foremost thing with this announcement is like, yes, let’s see how we can take advantage of this new announcement and make these programs come to Iowa,” Hexter said. “But we also are acknowledging that this investment does not replace the major loss of funding that happened earlier this year.”

DES MOINES, Iowa — After very soggy weather across the state earlier this summer, including the wettest July on record in Des Moines, abnormally dry conditions have returned to Iowa for September. With the lack of rain, especially over central and southern Iowa, the national drought monitor now shows portions of southern Iowa in the abnormally dry category. With limited rainfall expected over the next week, those dry regions are likely to expand.

15% of western Iowa was in extreme drought

72% of the entire state had at least some level of drought

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with Cass County ISU Extension and Outreach in Atlantic, report Jacque Wickey was inducted into the 2025 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 17. Ninety-two Iowa counties participated this year and selected 122 inductees for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H. Inductees or their surviving family members were presented a certificate by the Iowa 4‑H Foundation President, Don Timmins, and State 4-H Program Leader, Mitchell Hoyer, as they were introduced on stage.

Wickey participated in 4-H from 1964-1972 and belonged to the Massena Champions, Massena Merry Maids, and the Massena Merry Maids/Victoria Volunteers.  She also was a member of the “Boys” Club so she could show livestock where she showed cattle and horse. Other memories include building a Cass County team and attending the State Fair and AKSARBEN livestock shows.  She always enjoyed dressing in the calves for shows.  She even got her start as a beautician at the rear end of a steer.  She could make the tails bigger and fluffier than anyone else.  Skills learned there have yielded her career as a licensed Cosmetologist for 50 years now. Other 4-H member activities include a Jr Leader, Jr Superintendent, and holding all offices in her club.

Jacque Wickey (Photo submitted)

She attended the State Conference and Camps at the Iowa 4-H Camp, in addition to State Fair and AKSARBEN.  After graduation, Jacque Wickey volunteered to chaperone at the Girls Dormitory at the State Fair.  This allowed her to help out and stay connected with the people from Cass Co.  Upon moving back to Cass County, she served as Secretary of the YAC committee in the early 2000’s in addition to helping Great Nieces learn to sew or simply sat in the stand cheering them on. She is deeply involved in her community and church and is always willing to plan and volunteer for events.  She is a pretty amazing aunt, and a friend to everyone.

Many inductees serve as club leaders, youth mentors, fair superintendents or fair board members, County council members, county youth council members, fair judges, financial supporters, chaperones or ISU Extension and Outreach staff members. The inductees have demonstrated dedication, encouragement, commitment and guidance to Iowa’s 4-H’ers through the years.  “We are honored to recognize these special individuals, for their advocacy and dedication to the Iowa 4-H program,” shared Iowa 4-H Foundation Executive Director, Emily Saveraid. “This is a great way to honor the volunteers and staff across the state of Iowa that generously give their time and talents to foster positive partnerships with our 4-H youth,” said Tillie Good, Iowa 4-H staff and volunteer development manager.

Information about previous inductees to the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame also is available on the Iowa 4-H Foundation website, organized by year and by county. Go to www.iowa4hfoundation.org/ and under the heading “What We Do” select “Recognizing Service” then “Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.” Cass County 4-H Hall of Fame past recipient list can be found at https://www.iowa4hfoundation.org/what-we-do/recognizing-service/iowa-4-h-hall-of-fame/iowa-4-h-hall-of-fame-inductees/categories/cass

(Iowa DNR News; Des Moines, IA) – Iowa state parks have set Saturday, Sept. 27 as annual Volunteer Day, when Iowans are invited to lend a hand at several state parks and forests hosting volunteer events. Join park staff to help care for Iowa’s natural areas, freshen up campgrounds and facilities, and spend time outdoors.

Clean-up efforts will be unique for each park depending on needs, and may include litter pick-up, staining or painting buildings, removing invasive species, rebuilding picnic tables, harvesting prairie seeds and more. The state parks and forests participating include:

• Bellevue State Park, Bellevue
• Blackburn State Park, Thurman
• Geode State Park, Danville
• Lake Darling State Park, Brighton
• Lake Macbride State Park, Solon
• Lake Manawa State Park, Council Bluffs
• Lake of Three Fires State Park, Bedford
• Ledges State Park, Madrid
• Palisades-Kepler State Park, Mt. Vernon
• Pilot Knob State Park Forest City
• Prairie Rose State Park, Harlan
• Shimek State Forest, Farmington
• Wapsipinicon State Park, Anamosa
• Waubonsie State Park, Hamburg
• Yellow River State Forest, Harpers Ferry

Citizens interested in volunteering can find complete details on times, meeting locations and activities at https://www.iowadnr.gov/places-go/state-parks/statewide-volunteer-day

Cass County: Corn $3.77 Beans $9.48
Adair County: Corn $3.74 Beans $9.51
Adams County: Corn $3.74 Beans $9.47
Audubon County: Corn $3.76 Beans $9.50
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $3.80 Beans $9.48
Guthrie County: Corn $3.79 Beans $9.52
Montgomery County: Corn $3.79 Beans $9.50
Shelby County: Corn $3.80 Beans $9.48

Oats: $2.68 (same in all counties)

(Prices are per bushel; information is from the area Farm Service Agency [FSA] offices)

(Radio Iowa) – A D-N-R forester says the cooler temperatures are setting things up for a good fall color show in the coming weeks. Joe Herring is from Iowa Falls, and says the colors should start showing up soon. “I think it’s going to be good if if this weather is any indication of where we’re going, it’s perfect. We think the best fall colors come from clear bluebird sky days, warm days, cool nights, not freezing,” he says. Herring says freezing temperatures can kill off the color show.

“If it dips down into hard frost, that can actually kill those leaves and end the fall color early. But you know, we want to avoid the real strong, windy days and we’d like to avoid, you know, tons of rain in the fall,” Herring says. He says the tree canopies are strong heading into the fall color season. “It’s been a really good year for foliage, just for vegetative growth in general, just because of all the rain we’ve had,” he says.

Herring says he starting to see some early color in some trees, but there’s not been a full scale breakout just yet.