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(Radio Iowa) – Union workers at a dozen John Deere plants in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas will vote Sunday on a new, six-year contract. The agreement would cover more than 10-thousand John Deere employees. United Auto Workers leaders have said the deal would provide significant economic gains and it includes a minimum starting wage of 19 dollars an hour that could range as high as 30 dollars an hour if the worker has experience.
John Deere’s Iowa factories are in Ankeny, Davenport, Dubuque, Ottumwa and Waterloo. The last time Deere workers went on strike was in 1986, during the upheaval of the Farm Crisis.
(Radio Iowa) – A man died in a weekend accident at a hog facility in Northern Kossuth County. According to the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office, a 9-1-1 call came in Saturday reporting a farming-related accident about two miles south of the Minnesota border. When emergency personnel arrived they determine that a man was dead.
An investigation determined that the victim, identified as 37-year-old Ryan Chad Adams of Ledyard, and another individual were attempting to work on a manure pump when the accident occurred. It was determined a piece of equipment disengaged under pressure and struck Adams in the head.
DES MOINES, Iowa (Oct. 4, 2021) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today (Monday) on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly from April through November. Naig said “This past week, western Iowa experienced above-average rainfall, which slowed fieldwork. However, the entire state saw a return to summer-like weather as temperatures felt more like late August as opposed to early fall. Overall, final October outlooks show the possibility of warmer and wetter conditions and minimal chances of an early frost.”
Crop Report:
Harvest made good progress even with variable precipitation late in the week, allowing Iowa’s farmers 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 3, 2021, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting hay, soybeans and corn. Topsoil moisture levels rated 13 percent very short, 32 percent short, 53 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 17 percent very short, 36 percent short, 46 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.
Eighty-seven percent of the corn crop has reached maturity, six days ahead of normal. Corn harvest for grain reached 19 percent statewide, eight days ahead of the 5-year average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain fell to 20 percent. Iowa’s corn condition rated 60 percent good to excellent.
Soybeans dropping leaves or beyond reached 92 percent, eight days ahead of normal. Producers harvested over 20 percent of Iowa’s soybean crop during the week ending October 3, with the total harvested reaching 40 percent, ten days ahead of the five-year average. Farmers in central and east central Iowa have now harvested half of their soybean crop. Soybean condition was rated 64 percent good to excellent.
Pasture condition rated 27 percent good to excellent. Spotty precipitation helped keep some pastures green for cattle to continue grazing, but water for livestock continues to be an issue.
Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Unseasonably warm temperatures blanketed the state over the reporting period with some stations observing seven-day temperature departures close to 15 degrees above normal. The statewide average temperature was 70.1 degrees, 11.6 degrees above normal making it the warmest week since late August. Widespread rain also fell across Iowa with a majority of western Iowa stations reporting above-average totals; stations in northwestern Iowa observed positive departures of two to four inches.
Warm conditions and gusty southwesterly winds continued through Sunday (26th) afternoon under sunny skies as temperatures pushed into the mid to upper 80s. As winds died down overnight, lows ranged from the low 50s north to mid 60s south; the statewide average low was 53 degrees, six degrees above normal. Monday (27th) was another hot day with daytime highs in the mid 80s and low 90s at a majority of Iowa’s reporting stations as winds shifted behind a weak frontal boundary. Overnight lows reported at 7:00 am on Tuesday (28th) were slightly cooler than the previous morning with winds out of the east under clear skies. Unseasonable warmth persisted throughout the day as high temperatures varied from the low 80s east to low 90s west as winds gradually shifted to a southwesterly direction. A stationary front draped north to south in western Iowa was a focusing mechanism for isolated showers in the southwest corner early in the afternoon on Wednesday (29th). Temperatures remained in the mid 80s as cloud cover increased in western Iowa. The first wave of showers and thunderstorms formed over the state’s western half overnight into Thursday (30th) and persisted through the morning hours before dissipating in northwestern Iowa just after noon. A secondary wave formed later in the evening over the same region as overnight temperatures were held in the 60s under overcast skies. Rain totals for the event were highest across western Iowa while much of eastern Iowa missed out. Nearly 100 stations reported an inch or more with 30 measuring above two inches; Atlantic (Cass County) reported 2.02 inches and Estherville (Emmet County) observed 3.21 inches with general totals across the region around 0.22 inch.
As the low pressure center pushed east Friday (1st) morning, light showers formed behind the system into the afternoon hours. Sunshine peeked between gaps in the clouds as light rain and drizzle fell across much of Iowa through the evening hours. Stations reported totals below a few tenths of an inch though a handful of north-central and southeastern stations observing over a 0.50 inch; Donnellson (Lee County) measured 0.52 inch with Estherville picking up another 0.94 inch. Afternoon temperatures varied from the low 70s west to low 80s east, where more sunshine was present. Cloud cover and fog were present overnight into Saturday (2nd) with dreary and damp conditions hanging on throughout the day. Winds shifted to a westerly direction as isolated showers formed in southeastern Iowa. A majority of stations reporting rain had under a tenth of an inch, though De Witt (Clinton County) measured 0.49 inch. Clouds began to clear in western Iowa at sunrise with lows in the 50s northwest to mid 60s southeast on Sunday (3rd) morning.
Weekly rain totals ranged from no accumulation at several eastern Iowa stations to 4.15 inches at Estherville. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.55 inch while the normal is 0.70 inch. Red Oak (Montgomery County) observed the week’s high temperature of 95 degrees on the 28th, 21 degrees above normal. Eldora (Hardin County) reported the week’s low temperature of 37 degrees on the 27th, seven degrees below normal.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board is asking…”When do you think the first Trumpeter Swan will arrive at the Schildberg Quarry?” Call in your prediction (by November 11th) to the Conservation Board at 712-769-2372, leave a message and return phone number if their staff are not in. Duplicate dates will not be allowed. For example, if a caller predicts November 25th, no one else will be allowed to predict that arrival date. So, call anytime until November 11th to make your prediction! One prediction per family, please.
The sponsors of this contest will determine the official arrival of more than 6 trumpeter swans to Lake 4. The winner will receive a Trumpeter Swan 8×10 print from the Cass County Conservation Board. Sorry, this contest is only for residents of Cass County.
Officials say Trumpeter Swans have visited the Schildberg Quarry for, at least, Twenty-two out of the last twenty-three winters. Arrival and departure dates of the swans have been as follows:
1997/1998 December 18 – January 2
1998/1999 Nothing on record
1999/2000 December 25 – February 15
2000/2001 November 23 – March 6
2001/2002 December 25 – February 24
2002/2003 November 23 – March 15
2003/2004 November 26 – March 21
2004/2005 November 25 – March 18
2005/2006 November 17 – March 5
2006/2007 October 30 – March 9
2007/2008 November 22- February 14
2008/2009 November 18- March 12
2009-2010 November 19 – January 5
2010-2011 November 5 – February 10
2011/2012 November 17 – February 21
2012/2013 November 24– March 4
2013/2014 November 12- April 7
2014/2015 November 11- April 6
2015/2016 November 22- March 24
2016/2017 November 19- March 9
2017/2018 November 9- March 20
2018/2019 November 11- January 23
2019/2020 November 8- March 3
2020/2021 November 30- February 13.
Chris Parks is joined by Cass and Adair County Conservation Officer Grant Gelly to talk all things outdoors in the Nishna Valley.
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Healthy Cass County, Atlantic Parks & Rec, and Royal Neighbors are organizing a public walk at the Schildberg Recreation Area on October 6 at 10:00 AM. Everyone in Cass County is welcome to join!
Early October is a beautiful time of year to spend time outdoors in Iowa, but if that’s not reason enough to join the walk, the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Royal Neighbors, and Cass County Iowa State University Extension will be providing free water bottles and other
giveaways to participants.
The walk at Schildberg is just one of many walks taking place in Iowa on October 6. October 6 is Iowa’s 11th Annual Healthiest State Walk. All Iowans are encouraged to get outside and walk for half an hour on October 6, whether or not they are joining in a public walk.
The Healthiest State Walk is spearheaded by Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with the goal of making Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. On their blog, Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative shares many benefits to walking including increased energy levels and better sleep, as well as increased blood flow that leads to better cognitive functioning, improved memory, and reduced anxiety and depression. Lastly, Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative points out that walking is a great way to connect with others.
Healthy Cass County encourages people who cannot attend the Schildberg walk to consider registering their own public or private walk and inviting a friend, family member, coworker, or neighbor to join them in walking. Individuals and organizations may register their October 6 walks at www.iowahealthieststate.com/events/annual-walk/.
(Radio Iowa) The latest drought monitor reflects the lack of rain we’ve seen in the state in September. The D-N-R’s Tim Hall some areas that were in D-1 moderate drought have now moved to the D-2 severe drought category.
Only about 24 percent of the state is reporting NO drought conditions — down from about 25 percent last week. Hall says we shift at the end of September from the growing season — or “water year” concerns to the subsoil moisture concerns.
He says the need to bank moisture for next year varies across the state.
Hall says one positive is the plants are not pulling water from the ground and the cooler weather leads to less moisture lost from evaporation.
He says there can be replenishing rains in October and November — but the odds get worse deeper into fall.
Halls says 2020 was also a dry year — so the state started out behind and hasn’t been able to fully replenish the groundwater through this year.
A survey of real estate agents finds the price of tillable Iowa farm land is increasing significantly. The Iowa chapter of the Realtors Land Institute releases survey data in March and September. The latest report shows Iowa farm land values have jumped nearly 19 percent since the spring. Compared to a year ago, the average price for Iowa farm land is up 26-point-six percent. The Realtors Land Institute cites high commodity prices, a good harvest and favorable interest rates as factors driving up farm land prices. The group reports farmers are the primary buyers, but investors are very competitive at public auctions of farm land. Farm land prices are rising throughout the corn belt. According to the Chicago Federal Reserve, the dollar value of good Iowa farm land rose 18 percent between July of this year and last July.
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