(Radio Iowa) – Congressman Randy Feenstra has gotten language included in a House ag bill for wildfires and hurricanes that would also cover the 2020 derecho-related losses. “I am very pleased to see the committee come together working on this bipartisan legislation for our farmers and our producers. I am also so very pleased to see the legislation include production losses caused by high winds and derechos,” Feenstra says. Feenstra has been pushing for several months to get the derecho coverage after the derecho caused the loss of 850-thousand acres of crops.

“This was the most costly thunderstorm in U-S history — costing about seven-point-five BILLION (dollars). I am very pleased that our committee is continuing these efforts to ensure that Iowa farmers and farmers across the country receive disaster relief they need to offset these massive losses by these events,” Feenstra says. Feenstra is a Republican from Hull.

The Montgomery County Recreational Trails Committee is hosting a Three Community Trails Bike or Walking Event on Friday, August 20 and Saturday, August 21, 2021, in Villisca, Stanton and Red Oak. Organizers say there is no charge to participate, but donations will be accepted and all the fun you will have is absolutely FREE. The first community event will be on Friday night, August 20 as Villisca hosts their “Every Street Bike Ride”. Participants will gather starting at 7:00 PM at the Park Shelter House, at the intersection of 3rd St. and 3rd Ave. A leisurely evening bike ride, lasting around an hour and a half, will take riders down and up every street and avenue in Villisca past well known historic attractions including the Ax Murder House. Bikers may also choose to ride only streets or only avenues, either of which takes about 40 minutes. There will also be a 2-mile and a ¾ mile walking route.

The next morning, August 21, participants will be able to ride or walk the Stanton Greenbelt Trail. The event will start anytime between 8 and 9 AM from Anderson Park. Participants will be able to also visit the Swedish Heritage and Cultural Center and enjoy a cup of coffee and pasties or lunch at the new Fika Coffee Hus on Main Street. The event will then travel to Red Oak for a 2:30 PM for the Historic Heritage Hill ride or walk including the WWII depot museum, and the scenic Red Oak Trail. Begin the journey at the Montgomery County Court House at 2nd and Coolbaugh St. ending at the “518” Building at the corner of Red Oak Square, 4th and Reed for wonderful music and drinks of all kinds.

For those who participate in all three communities, a FREE commemorative T-Shirt will be awarded.

Get a commemorative T-shirt for participating in all 3 rides! (Photo from the MCRTC Facebook page)

Those who choose to do only one or two segments will be able to make a suggested donation and get the same T-Shirt. Each community will have a separate route for biking and walking. Their purpose is to introduce to you the three participating communities and the NEW Montgomery County Recreational Trails Committee. We will also share the work of connecting our county from North to South and East to West through a new system of trails.

Pre-Registration is encouraged, but not required. You can register at Montgomery County Recreational Trails Face book page. Remember, when bicycling, “Think Safety. Wear your Helmet”.

Activities at the FREE 2021 Cass County Fair get underway bright and early Wednesday morning. From 9-a.m. Until 2:30-p.m., there is 4-H/FFA Static Exhibit Judging, and from 10:30-a.m.until 12:30-p.m., “Bucket of Junk” judging. Cass County ISU Extension Director Kate Olson says the event is sponsored by Weirich Welding

The projects created by the kids using the scrap metal are left on display throughout the week in the Community Center. On August 2nd, awards will be presented by the judges for technical effort and creativity, and a “People’s Choice” award, for the most creative bucket.

She said it should be a record-setting year for the Bucket of Junk Contest, with a good number of participants. Clover kids Showcase entries will also take place Wednesday, from 9-a.m., until Noon. Olsen says something different this year, than in years past, is that the Food Sale has been moved from Wednesday to Thursday, beginning at 5-p.m.

Another change this year, is the addition of a table-setting contest at the Community Center on the Fairgrounds.

The weather should be a little less hot and humid toward the end of the week, but some may be concerned about the welfare of the livestock, not to mention their handlers. Kate Olsen says their exhibitors know how to handle their animals, and watchful eyes will make sure both participants and animals are safe.

And, Olsen says with regard to COVID, there will be a lot of hand sanitizer available on the grounds, social distancing will be possible due to most of the events being outdoors, but a mask will not be required. You may of course, wear a mask at your discretion.

Some of the big events taking place during the Cass County Fair, include:

Little Miss/Mister Contest, 7-p.m. Thursday
King & Queen Contests, 7:30-p.m. Thursday
Senior Recognition, 8-p.m. Thursday
A Bull ride on Friday at 8-p.m.
Tractor Pulls 6-p.m. Saturday
Golf Cart Races Sunday at 7-p.m.
And, the Grand Champion Beef Selection takes place 6:30-p.m., Monday.

View the complete Fair Schedule HERE

(Radio Iowa) – Competition in the meat supply chain is the subject of a U-S Senate Judiciary Committee hearing scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday), and at least three Iowans will be in the chamber. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley calls the hearing “long awaited” as he says he’s been expressing strong reservations about consolidation within agriculture and the livestock industry for more than 20 years. “We have two Iowans as witnesses and I look forward to their testimony,” Grassley says. “Family farmers are very important to rural communities across America. We’ve got to keep the family farmer strong and from the standpoint of cattle feeders, they’re on life support.”

The two Iowans who are scheduled to testify are: Jon Schaben, owner of Dunlap Livestock Auction, and Shane Miller, group president of Fresh Meats at Tyson Foods. Tyson joins J-B-S, Cargill and National Beef as the four largest meatpackers which, Grassley says, control 80-percent of the marketplace.  “According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for every one dollar Americans spend on food, farmers only get 14.3 cents,” Grassley says. “Meantime, the retail price of beef for consumers has increased and remains very high.”

The pandemic has brought to the forefront the U-S-D-A’s inability to preserve our nation’s beef supply chain, Grassley says, calling on the agency to be more engaged and aggressive in policing anti-competitive activities. “I’m not upset about paying more for my beef but I’m upset that farmers are not getting a fair price,” he says. The Senate hearing, called “Beefing up Competition: Examining America’s Food Supply Chain,” is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:30 PM/Central time.

(Radio Iowa) – A new breed of tick is being found in the U-S for which Iowans, especially cattle producers, need to be watchful. Professor Grant Dewell, an Iowa State University Extension beef veterinarian, says it’s called the Asian longhorned tick but to see its tiny antennae which resemble horns, you’d need a magnifying glass. “It could potentially be here,” Dewell says. “It’s really hard to see, compared to other ticks. Most ticks we’re familiar with are the size of a pencil eraser or something like that. This Asian longhorned tick is about the size of a sesame seed.”

The tick is native to East Asia and it is spreading across the United States. It’s been identified as far east as Arkansas and as far north as New York. “It’s something that we could easily miss if it was here, if we’re not really paying attention to it,” Dewell says. “As much as we move cattle nowadays, where cattle are moved all over the U.S., somebody sure could have imported a breeding animal from the East Coast and brought (the tick) here, so it’s just something we need to keep an eye on.”

Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are associated with most ticks. Dewell says the Asian longhorned ticks may carry those and other blood-borne diseases that are not common in the U.S. People should be aware of the risks, but he says cattle producers need to be vigilant for this tiny-but-dangerous insect. “They tend to target livestock. They will attach to people if given the opportunity but they don’t target people,” Dewell says. “Like most ticks, whatever you offer them, but they tend to focus on livestock. They’re typically in tall grass and brushy areas where they can easily move from that forage onto the host.”

A single Asian longhorned tick female can essentially start a new tick population on her own, as Dewell says she can lay up to 2,000 eggs without ever finding a mate. That’s why he says identifying new infestations and preventing the spread is essential. If you think you’ve found one, contact the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State University.

(On the web at https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/pidc)

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A crop update says the lack of precipitation is causing some stress on crops. The U-S-D-A says the crop stress is most notable in the northern third of the state — which has the worst drought conditions. The overall condition of the corn crop was reported at 65 percent good to excellent. That’s down three percentage points from the previous week.

Stressed-Corn-ISU-photo

The soybean condition was rated 61 percent good to excellent — and that is down five percent from the previous report.

The Washington G.E.M. 4-H Club is celebrating 100 years as a club.  Spokesperson Melanie Petty says the club is asking both present and past members and leaders please join in on Thursday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. during the King and Queen contest, for a celebration.  Afterwards Washington G.E.M. past and present club members and leaders are invited to stop at the 4H Food Stand for an ice cream social to reminisce about the club’s history and thoughts for the future.

Petty says “We are sure there are many stories to be told and heard.” You can also take time during the fair to view the glass case in the entry of the community center building displaying some wonderful pieces of the club’s history.

The Cass County Fair begins Wednesday, July 28^th and runs through Tuesday, August 3^rd.  The fair is free to all ~ come out and enjoy what we have to offer!

SUNDAY, July 25th

6:30 – 7:30 am Release all swine.
7:30 – 8:30 am All swine exhibitors clean swine barn
7:30 am Cattle Dog Trials (U.S. Border Collie National Qualifying for Finals) – Horse Arena
8:00 am Biscuits/Gravy Breakfast (Greenfield Methodist Church) – Courtyard
9:00 am 4-H Archery Speed Shooting Fun Match – northwest corner of fairgrounds
10:00 am Open Archery Tournament (registration 9 am) – northwest corner of fairgrounds
10:30 am Release all Cow/Calf Pens/Jr. Feeders not selling or participating in carcass
(All Cow/Calf Pens must leave; pens must be empty and clean by 1:30 pm)
11:00 am Future 4-H’ers Livestock/Pet Show (Registration 10:30 am) – Mid American Arena
12:00 pm Pigtail Contest – Courtyard
Bags Tournament – old ball field area
Ice Cream Social (Adair County Republicans) – Courtyard
Pizza Party for Winning Herdsmanship Barn Exhibitors – Gazebo
Farm Bureau Cookout Contest Judging (Registration 8 am)– Courtyard
12 – 3 pm Antique Tractor, Lawn Tractor, Pedal Tractor and Car Show – NE of Fair entrance
(Registration 11:00 am)
12:30 pm Check Out 4-H/FFA Livestock Exhibits Not Being Auctioned
12:00 – 12:30 pm Enter Beef Performance
1:00 pm Silent Auction (end time: items must be picked up by 3:00pm) – 4-H/FFA Center
2:00 pm Livestock Sale – Mid American Arena (Swine, Champion Market Broilers,
Champion Single Fryer, Rabbit, Market Beef, Junior Feeder Pens, Sheep/Meat Goats)
3:30 – 4 pm Open Class Check-out
Commercial Exhibits Dismissed
4:00 pm All poultry and rabbit pens must be empty and cleaned
4 – 4:30 pm 4-H/FFA Center Exhibits Check Out
7:00 pm Wright Rodeo Company (slack begins at 2:00 pm)

Here are the results from the Sheep Show at the Adair County Fair in Greenfield on Friday, July 23, 2021.

Champion Market Lamb Feeder Pen:  Colt Douglas. Reserve:  Montana Douglas

Champion Rate of Gain Market Lamb Feeder Pen:  Colt Douglas. Reserve:  Derek Raasch

Champion Bottle Lamb:  Colt Douglas. Reserve: Montana Douglas

Champion White Face Influence Market Lamb:  Nora Newbury. Reserve:  Montana Douglas

Champion Purchased Market Lamb:  Clay Hohertz. Reserve:  Clay Hohertz

Champion Home Raised Market Lamb:  Cash Suhr. Reserve:  Cash Suhr

Grand Champion Individual Market Lamb:  Clay Hohertz. Reserve:  Cash Suhr

Grand Champion Rate of Gain Individual Market Lamb:  Brandon Raasch. Reserve:  Ellie Brewer

Champion Pen of 3 Purchased Market Lambs:  Josie Sackett. Reserve:  Bella Rubio

Champion Pen of 3 Home Raised Market Lambs:  Brandon Raasch. Reserve:  Terrin Gettler

Grand Champion Pen of 3 Market Lambs:  Josie Sackett. Reserve:  Brandon Raasch

Champion Grade Ewe:  Cash Suhr. Reserve:  Krista James

Champion Supreme Breeding Ewe:  Cash Suhr. Reserve:  Krista James

Champion Advanced Sheep Showman:  Carter Goetz.

Champion Senior Sheep Showman:  Brandon Raasch. Reserve:  Bella Rubio

Champion Intermediate Sheep Showman:  Cash Suhr. Reserve:  Krista James

Champion Junior Sheep Showman:  Melanie Kilborn. Reserve:  Creighton Suhr

Here are the results from the Meat Goat Show at the Adair County Fair in Greenfield on Friday, July 23, 2021.

Champion Market Doe:  Mazee Funke. Reserve:  Cameron Christensen

Champion Market Wether:  Mazee Funke. Reserve:  Mazee Funke

Grand Champion Market Meat Goat:  Mazee Funke. Reserve:  Mazee Funke

Grand Champion Rate of Gain Meat Goat:  Ty Rardin. Reserve:  Colt Douglas

Champion Kid Meat Goat:  Lukas James. Reserve:  Madison Christensen

Champion Junior Doe Meat Goat:  Mazee Funke. Reserve:  Mazee Funke

Champion Aged Doe Meat Goat:  Mazee Funke. Reserve:  Mazee Funke

Grand Champion Breeding Doe Meat Goat:  Lukas James. Reserve:  Madison Christensen

Champion Advanced Meat Goat Showman:  Mazee Funke. Reserve:  Madison Christensen

Champion Senior Meat Goat Showman:  Kamryn Nourse. Reserve:  Jennifer Holliday

Champion Intermediate Meat Goat Showman:  Lukas James. Reserve:  Chloe Rardin

Champion Junior Meat Goat Showman:  Hadley Christensen. Reserve:  Thomas Mikkelson