(Radio Iowa) – The Biden Administration is providing another 800 million dollars to support smaller scale beef, pork and poultry plants and is establishing a new tipline for whistleblowers from the meatpacking industry. President Biden says the four largest meat packing companies are distorting prices for farmers and for consumers. “Capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism. It’s exploitation,” Biden said. “That’s what we’re seeing in meat and poultry — in those industries now.”

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the goal with this new batch of federal grants and loans is to invest in at least 15 small packing plants and to take steps to recruit and train new workers for the industry. “Then $50 million of it is going to be utilized for technical assistance and research,” Vilsack says. “We’re going to need a lot of innovation in this industry. We’re going to need to new business models…and small and mid-sized facilities need to have this opportunity, as opposed to the ‘big four.'”

The ag department and the U.S. Justice Department are creating a new portal to handle reports of anti-competitive behavior in the meatpacking industry. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland says the agencies are committed to vigorous enforcement of anti-trust laws. “When we talk about promoting competition in the agricultural sector, we are talking about whether a farmer or rancher will be paid a fair and competitive price for their goods and labor,” Garland says. “When we talk about protecting consumers in this context, we are talking about whether food will be affordable for everyone in America.”

Iowa Farm Bureau president Brent Johnson participated in yesterday’s (Monday’s) White House forum. Johnson urged Biden to work with Iowa’s congressional delegation on a price transparency bill to ensure farmers are paid an honest price for their cattle, hogs and poultry. Several of the Iowans who serve in the U.S. Senate and House said via Twitter that they were pleased to see the bipartisan bill was highlighted during Monday’s summit.

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa families have a tradition of taking down the Christmas tree on this last day of the year in order to start the new year out fresh tomorrow. Horticulturist and extension educator John Fech says don’t just toss the tree to the curb, but find a way to repurpose it. “Recycling it, reusing it, thinking of it again as a resource or an asset,” Fech says.

If you’re crafty, trim the branches to make a fragrant sachet, wreath or garland to enjoy in the weeks ahead. You could also cut up pieces of the evergreen to toss in a nearby lake or pond to provide a habitat for fish. Fech says mulching is another option. “Do that yourself with a hatchet or you could have it run through a chipper,” Fech says. “Many of the cities do that for their parks and then they use that for trail cover around city parks and hospitals and places like that.”

Another idea is to return the tree to the great outdoors for wildlife to use as shelter. “Also, it could just be songbird habitat,” Fech says. “Set it near the bird feeder so birds have a place to get out of the wind and have a little bit of refuge from predator birds.”

If mulching the entire tree is too much work, just using the needles can be an effective mulch on perennial plants, in your garden and to keep weeds in check.

(Iowa DNR News) – What are your plans for New Year’s 2022? Iowa state parks and forests invite you to join the First Day Hike Challenge. Visit state parks on your own, or join a guided hike at more than 20 parks and forests. Whichever works for you, check in and take part in the First Day Hike Challenge through the State Park Passport!

How It Works:

• Check into any of more than 50 participating state parks and forests on the Park Passport from Friday, Dec. 31, 2021 through the end of Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022.
• Every check-in qualifies for a prize drawing for a free 2-night stay at a 2-bedroom cabin at Lake Darling State Park, near Brighton, Iowa! Restrictions and booking fees apply.
• Visit as many parks as you want during the weekend — every check-in counts as a contest entry.
• As an option, join a Guided Hike at more than 20 parks, led by park staff and Friends Groups, with some offering hot chocolate and snacks.

Be sure to look under your park’s “More Info” tab on the Passport to see a Suggested Trail from park staff!

The temperatures may be chilly this weekend, so please dress for the weather! Please wear hats, gloves and warm boots. 

Learn more about the First Day Hikes and sign up for the Passport today!

(Radio Iowa) – The latest Iowa State University Extension survey showed the price of farmland was up 29 percent — but the landowner profile has not changed very much. I-S-U Professor Wendong Zhang oversees the survey. “When you are thinking about the general trends, they are still consistent in historical patterns where you see a minor dip in the share bought by farmers and from a 22 to 25 percent increase for investors. But still, investors are not in the dominant category,” Zhang says. He says the type of seller hasn’t changed very much either.

He says 55 percent of the sellers are still estate sales and the sales by retired farmers — which is slightly higher than last year. “Some that are encouraged by the high prices. Some are concerned by the potential tax changes,” he says. One thing hasn’t changed, Zhang says those who own farmland in Iowa keep it. “Regardless of who they are — they tend to hold onto the land for a long time. So, half the land in Iowa is owned by the same owner for over 20 years. So, farmers are hoping for the appreciation — especially given the current tax law — you don’t necessarily have to pay capital gains taxes,” according to Zhang. Inflation has been an issue that’s hit a lot of areas — but he says it’s not major for farmland.

“Iowa doesn’t necessarily see as much influence because we have restrictions on corporate land ownership. Illinois probably sees a little more of that inflation,” Zhang says.

Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Thursday (Today) signed an extension to the proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain.  The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through January 29, 2022. It allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage and stover to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.

The proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in section 321.463 (6)(b) of the Iowa Code by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

See the proclamation in its entirety, here.

(Radio Iowa) – Northwest Iowa crops specialist, Joel DeJong says it’s a chance to brush up on your knowledge. “Farmers like every industry need to continually learn and improve. Any industry that doesn’t improve and doesn’t get better has a tendency to die,” DeJong says. “And although people will still need to eat — we need to be productive, we need to be competitive and we need to look at that on a world basis. So, we need to get better at that all the time, and that’s one of the goals of what we do.”

DeJong says each of the Crop Advantage seminars for northwest Iowa will feature entomologist Erin Hodgson. “Erin is going to talk about corn rootworms. We had a lot of issues with corn rootworms this past year — particularly corn-on-corn acres have had a huge amount of problems — and some of the treatments aren’t working as well as they used to, and she is going to talk about that,” he says.

Joel DeJong. (ISU photo)

Agricultural economist, Chad Hart will try to look into what’s going to happen with the commodities market. “He’s going to try and look ahead. And as Chad says sometimes when you are really high his job is to kind of bring you back down a little bit — and when it is really low — his job is to help you back up. He gets to work with the high end of that price scale this year,” DeJong says.

He says you can contact your local extension office or go online to CropAdvantage.org. Sheldon will host the first seminar, scheduled to take place on January 4th at the Northwest Iowa Community College. Other seminars to follow include Storm Lake, Burlington, Okoboji, Ankeny, Cedar Falls, Mason City, Chariton, Webster City, Atlantic, Davenport, Coralville, Le Mars, and Denison

(Shelby, Iowa) – Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc. will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at the Shelby Community Hall in Shelby, at 7:30 pm.  Out-going Carstens Board President Mel Hursey says “While we know that the last thing anyone wants to think about is another election, we encourage everyone to come out and vote!”  Members of Carstens Farm will be voting for two director positions. The following board members’ terms are ending as of the date of the meeting:  Harvey Ferris of Missouri Valley, Mel Hursey of Shelby, Bill Johnson of Avoca and Meryle Osborn of Crescent.  Incumbents Harvey Ferris and Bill Johnson are running again.

Gerald McCool of Minden and Terry Torneten of Harlan are candidates seeking the open spots on the board.  Continuing board members are Ben Ausdemore of Minden, Charlie Leaders of Minden, Dale Schroder of Avoca, Rick Newland of Portsmouth, Stan Kern and Doug Martin all of Shelby and David Dittmer of Minden.

Results of the election will be announced following the meeting. Hursey said  “We are throwing around ideas for projects for 2022. We want to continue our focus on more building upkeep and repair.” Reports will be given on the 2021 Carstens Farm Days.  Hursey adds, “I hope to see many members as well as the general public who care about the farm at the meeting.”

Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc. members as well as members of the public are welcome and encouraged to attend.  Those attending will have the opportunity to renew their memberships or to purchase new memberships.  Memberships are important for sustaining the farm’s operations. Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc., a non-profit group of local volunteers, oversees this working farmstead museum exhibit located south of Shelby, Iowa.  The farmstead hosts several thousand people annually during Carstens Farm Days which is held the first weekend after Labor Day.  For more information visit www.carstensfarm.com

w/Kate Olson.

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(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa DNR says hunting seasons will begin closing in early January. Pheasant, archery turkey and deer seasons, and late muzzleloader deer season close on Jan. 10. Goose seasons start closing in the north zone on Jan. 8, followed by the central zone on Jan. 15, and the south zone on Jan. 22. Also….

• The season for quail, partridge, ruffed grouse, and squirrels closes Jan. 31. Rabbit season closes Feb. 28. The furbearer hunting and trapping seasons also close on Jan. 31. Furharvesters can continue trapping beavers until April 15.
• Iowa hunters have reported harvesting 91,000 deer so far during the 2021 season.
• 2021 hunting, fishing and trapping licenses expire on Jan. 10, 2022.
• The January antlerless deer season will open Jan. 11 and close Jan. 23, 2022. The season is open in Allamakee, Appanoose, Decatur, Wayne and Winneshiek counties.

HIP Reminder – Beginning this year, hunters who pursue migratory game birds will be required to register for Harvest Information Program (HIP) either through the Go Outdoors Iowa app on their smartphone, through a link at www.iowadnr.gov/waterfowl or at www.gooutdoorsiowa.com and answering a few questions. Migratory game birds mean more than ducks and geese; it includes ducks, geese, coots, doves, woodcock, rails, and snipe.

Once registered, hunters will need to physically write a confirmation number on the line provided at the top of the license as proof of registration. The HIP registration can be found in the GoOutdoorsIowa mobile app by clicking on the purchase license button, and then logging in to your account. Registering for HIP is a federal requirement for all migratory bird hunters.

The Iowa DNR is busy reserving locations for its town hall-style public meetings that will be held in late February. These meetings are led by local staff who provide updates on recently completed hunting and trapping seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting and trapping rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested. Meeting dates and times will be announced once the locations are finalized.

The meetings are open to the public. Comments collected from these public meetings will be considered along with other related comments received by the Iowa DNR prior to proposing changes to hunting rules and regulations. Proposed rules will be presented to the Natural Resource Commission during a regular public meeting for consideration and additional public comment.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says state conservation officers have charged three men with multiple hunting violations in Des Moines County from two separate investigations for illegal activity that allegedly occurred this fall. An anonymous call to State Conservation Officer Paul Kay in October began an investigation into the alleged unlawful taking of a mature white-tailed deer that lead officers to discover additional deer and a turkey were also allegedly illegally taken, as well as, multiple violations for hunting over bait and a felon in possession of a firearm. The individual faces the possible loss of hunting privileges as well as the loss of the firearm used to take the deer and turkey.

The second case grew from an investigation into suspicious activity in northern Des Moines County in November that lead state conservation officers to a machine shed where they discovered three mature white-tailed deer along with several antlerless deer that were allegedly illegally harvested. Officers identified two individuals who were charged with hunting over bait, using firearms and crossbows in archery season and multiple deer tagging violations. Both individuals face the possible loss of hunting privileges as well as the loss of the firearms, bows and crossbow used to take the deer.

Potential fines and civil damages from these cases could exceed $100,000. All individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty.