(Radio Iowa) – You may know the song that includes the line, “Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch,” but most Iowans have never tasted or even seen the fruit from trees that once thrived in our state. An effort is underway to educate Iowans about pawpaws and bring the trees back from obscurity. Jason Taylor, executive director of the Bur Oak Land Trust in eastern Iowa, says pawpaws have a long history in Iowa and across much of the country. “This is the largest fruit that is native to North America and they’re similar in shape to a potato,” Taylor says. “They taste between a mango and a banana, so they have a very tropical flavor to them. These are trees that used to be very prevalent in Iowa and unfortunately, today, there’s very few of them left.”

In recent years, monarch butterflies have become the subject of much concern as their numbers are dwindling, and milkweed plants are key to the survival of the monarch, an important pollinator. There’s a similar story about pawpaws and a threatened insect. “What we want to do is bring the pawpaw back to Iowa and the reason for that is not just because it’s an awesome tree that is no longer around, but there’s also a specific butterfly species, called the zebra swallowtail. The caterpillar of that butterfly actually eats the leaves of the pawpaws and nothing else,” Taylor says. “So, if the pawpaw goes away, this butterfly goes away.”

Pawpaw Tree (Via Arborday.org.)

The pawpaw is known by a variety of names, including the Appalachian banana, the custard apple and the banango. Taylor says many people who’ve had pawpaws love the flavor and use the fruit in a variety of recipes, from ice cream to cocktails and specialty beer brews.  “If you like mangoes, you’d probably like a pawpaw,” Taylor says. “The problem with pawpaws is that the fruit goes from fresh off the tree, where it’s the best and most ripe, to pretty much rotten within about three days, so it’s a fairly difficult fruit to actually sell to market.”

The trust is launching the “Foster a Pawpaw” project, where participants can register to care for pawpaw seedlings from May 1st through early October. Hundreds of the seedlings will be planted this weekend as part of an Eagle Scout project. “We’re going to have community members take those seedlings and grow them over the summer for us, just to be a part of the action,” Taylor says. “Then we’re going to take them back for the wintertime, and then next spring, we’ll work with volunteers to plant those seedlings on our properties.”

The cost is $25 for a crate of nine potted pawpaw seeds. The nonprofit Bur Oak Land Trust, based in Iowa City, was created in 1978 to protect and conserve natural areas for future generations. It owns or manages nearly 900 acres of land in Johnson, Poweshiek and Washington counties — where pawpaw patches will be planted in 2022.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture is signing up those interested in getting a license for the second year of industrial hemp growing. Robin Pruisner oversees the program and says this year they have an online system that potential growers can use.  “We are able to license and send them their license right to their email. No mailing things back and forth. We are continuing to build out that software program where people will do their planting reports online, those pre-harvest notifications,” Pruisner says, “and we are just trying to make this very sleek and very efficient, instead of a lot of emails that might get lost.”

Pruisner says they now have the final federal rules and that will bring some changes.She says last year once the crop was tested, growers had just 15 days to harvest everything. Now under the U-S-D-A, they have 30 days. The hemp has to have a T-H-C level of point-three or lower to be acceptable. Pruisner says there are some more options available beyond just destroying the hemp if the crop fails to pass the test. She wasn’t sure what to expect in the first year. “In 2020 we issued 86 temp licenses in total over the course of the year. I would estimate that somewhere between 70 and 75 actually grew hemp,” Pruisner says.

Pruisner says there are a lot of reasons why someone may get a license and then not grow a crop. “I think some of it has to do with getting their hands on the seed or the transplants. I also know that there is an enormous amount of manual labor involved in hemp production,” according to Pruisner. “I think some realize earlier than others the amount of labor and maybe they weren’t prepared for that and maybe they don’t get it all done in time to get their crop in the ground.” Pruisner says finding a way to process and sell the hemp is an issue too. “I know of at least one hemp processor who has gone through the licensing process through the Department of Inspections and Appeals. But finding those buyers and processors is very difficult for people raising hemp,” she says.

Pruisner says many of the license applications she’s getting this year are from new growers who didn’t apply in the first year. She says that is not unusual based on what she has heard from other states. The application process is open through May 1st.

w/Kate Olson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa – Emerald ash borer has been confirmed in Fremont, Lyon and Wright counties for the first time. This invasive insect has now been found in 80 of Iowa’s 99 counties. Insect samples were collected from ash trees in rural Farragut (Fremont County), rural Inwood (Lyon County) and rural Dows (Wright County). Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service confirmed these samples positive for EAB.

EAB is a significant threat to all species of ash trees. The wood-boring pest tunnels just beneath the bark in the vascular tissue, disrupting the transport of water and nutrients. Infested trees usually die within two to four years. Indicators of an infestation may include canopy thinning, leafy sprouts shooting from the trunk or main branches, serpentine (“S”-shaped) galleries under the bark, bark splitting, woodpecker damage and 1/8 inch D-shaped exit holes.

Emerald Ash Borer

Now is the time to decide a course of action for ash trees at risk of EAB attack (within 15 miles of a known infestation). Landowners and managers can choose to wait and see what happens, remove declining ash trees and replace them with other species, or use preventive insecticide treatments to preserve and protect valuable and healthy ash trees. Spring, from mid-April to mid-May, is the best time to treat for EAB. Insecticides are most effective when the ash tree is actively growing and uptake is at its peak. Tree service companies can apply insecticide trunk injections through the summer if soil moisture is available.

See Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication PM2084, Emerald Ash Borer Management Options, for more details about EAB treatment. The State of Iowa monitors the spread of EAB on a county-by-county basis. Before a county can be declared positive, a life stage of the insect must be collected and confirmed. Anyone who suspects an infested ash tree in a new location is encouraged to contact one of the following:

• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, State Entomologist Office, 515-725-1470.
• Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Entomology, 515-294-1101.
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 515-725-8453.

The beetle flies short distances on its own, but people have contributed to the spread of this pest by moving infested material, including firewood. EAB can unknowingly be transported beneath the bark of firewood. Use locally sourced firewood where it will be burned to help limit the spread of EAB.

Additional information on EAB, including known locations in Iowa, can be found at iowatreepests.com.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Spring is in the air, and plans are underway for gardening projects in Cass County. Local groups planning community gardening, beautification or education programs will again be eligible for assistance from the Cass County Master Gardeners. The group is offering grant money to be used in the 2021 growing season, to encourage gardening to grow food for education or donation, and/or for gardening projects to improve local communities. The money may also be used for gardening education purposes. The Cass County Master Gardener Memorial Grants are offered in remembrance of the many years of service to the community provided by long-time Master Gardener volunteers who have passed.

Any Cass County not-for-profit group may apply. Schools, churches, libraries, 4-H clubs, Scouts, or other organizations/individuals working to improving their communities can apply for money to begin or improve gardens or landscaping for community benefit, or to provide education for their members or the public. To ensure the money is helping a wide variety of community organizations, those who were funded by 2020 grants will not be eligible to apply in 2021. Each grant has a maximum value of $300. Applications must include plans for teamwork and sustainability. Consideration for the environment is also an important factor in selection. All grant recipients will be expected to submit a report at the end of the growing season, detailing how the money was spent. Recipients will also be given a sign to place in their garden area for the 2021 growing season.

Applications must be received by 4:30 PM on Friday, April 30 for consideration. They may be submitted by mail or email. Grant recipients will be informed of their application status no later than Saturday, May 8. For more information, or with questions, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or email keolson@iastate.edu. You may also contact Master Gardener Donna Reimers. Application forms can be printed from the Cass County Extension website- www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. You can also call or email the office to request a form be mailed to you, or stop by 805 West 10^th Street in Atlantic to pick an application up.

The Master Gardener program trains volunteers to develop their knowledge and skills in horticulture. These volunteers then give back to their communities through gardening service and education. The program is available in all 50 states and Canada through land grant university Extension programs such as Iowa State University Extension. Education courses are available throughout Iowa on a regular basis, with the next statewide training class beginning in August of 2021. For more information on the program, contact Cass County Extension Director Kate Olson, at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu.

(Radio Iowa) – The weekly crop report shows some seeds got into the ground for the first time this year. The U-S-D-A’s crop report says most of last week was favorable for fieldwork and once soil temperatures warmed up enough that work turned from the preparation of the soil to planting in some areas. The report says four percent of the projected corn crop is in the ground. There were scattered reports of soybeans planted. The most progress was made with oats — as two-thirds of that crop has been planted.

(Atlantic) – Grow Another Row, a program started last year to encourage, support, and network local growers for food donation, is back in 2021 with plans to expand! Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh says grow Another Row Cass County is a Healthy Cass County campaign started in 2020 by a group of local growers to encourage residents to grow and share more food. Grow Another Row Cass County invites local farmers and gardeners to plant a few more rows of produce to share again this year.

Hoegh said expansion started with filling a dedicated coordinator role. This temporary position is made possible through AmeriCorps funding.

2021 Grow Another Row Coordinator Claire Smith.

New Grow Another Row Coordinator, Claire Smith, said “I am extremely excited to get started and I love the mission of this program.” Smith is currently a student at Northwest Missouri State University where she is majoring in agronomy with an emphasis in horticulture and a minor in adapted & recreational gardening. She said she has always loved gardening and has her own home garden where she grows a variety of flowers and vegetables such as petunias, zinnias, roses, marigolds, tomatoes, peppers, and more!

In high school, Claire was active in FFA and 4-H and showed in the Iowa State Fair FFA Floriculture show for four years.
All growers—large and small—are invited to share food with others as part of Grow Another Row. According to Brigham Hoegh, “Even just a few tomato plants can end up producing a lot more than a household can consume, so we encourage all growers to join us.” Sign up for the Grow Another Row newsletter by emailing Grow Another Row Coordinator Claire Smith at claires2@iastate.edu or visiting https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/content/grow-another-row-cass-county.

Not sure what to grow to share with others? According to ISU Extension, the 13 best produce donations are: tomatoes, winter squash, zucchini, potatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers, melons, broccoli, cabbage, sweet potatoes, carrots, and beans. The Grow Another Row leadership team requests additional potatoes, carrots, melons, and green beans in 2021 because these items were in highest demand last year. Grow Another Row Cass County 2021 donation sites are being
finalized and will be publicized at a later date, but Cass County food pantries are sure to be included in the line-up.

• Cass County Food Pantry Information:
  Anita Food Pantry:
  Phone: (712) 762-3645
  Address: 208 Chestnut St, Anita, IA 50020
  Hours: 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9:00am – 11:00am
  Produce donations: Tracey Lett (712)249-4996
  Monetary donations: mail checks to “Anita Food Pantry” (PO Box
  96, Anita, IA 50020)
• Atlantic Food Pantry:
  Address: 19 W. 4th St., Atlantic, IA 50022
  Hours: Thurs., drive-through 1:00pm – 2:00pm (or until line
  ends)
  Produce Donations: Pre-bagged produce requested. Contact:
  (712)243-1820
  Monetary Donations: mail checks to “Atlantic Food Pantry” (19 W
  4th Street. Atlantic, IA 50022)
• Cumberland Care & Share Pantry:
  Phone: (712) 774-5818
  Address: 317 Monroe St, Cumberland, IA 50843
  Hours: 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 4:00pm- 5:30pm
  Produce Donations: contact (712) 774-5818
  Monetary Donations: mail checks to “Cumberland Care & Share”
  (317 Monroe St, Cumberland, IA 50843)
• Lord’s Cupboard of Griswold
  Phone: (712) 778-4178
  Address: 100 Cass St., Griswold, IA 51535

For information on Cass County food pantries, farmers markets, and other locally-driven food initiatives, follow the Cass
County Local Food Policy Council on Facebook @CassCountyLocalFood. Healthy Cass County is a community-focused volunteer network formed to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. Follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty (https://www.facebook.com/HealthyCassCounty/). Reach out to Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or call 712-249-5870 for more information.

Wilkinson & Oathoudt

Draper & King

Atlantic, IA. – The SW Valley student anglers of Joey Oathoudt and Owen Wilkinson of Corning, IA captured top spot in Powerade High School Series at the McDermott & Son Roofing Company SAF SWIFT bass tournament at Lake Anita on Saturday. The teams total of 5 fish weighing 7.51 pounds, gave them 2.74-pound margin victory over the second-place team of Drey Newell of Atlantic and Braden Smith of Atlantic who brought 5 bass to the stage weighing 4.77. Third went to Dylan Comes and Cooper Jipsen both from Atlantic with 1 bass, 4.38.

Cooper Jipsen – Big Fish

Emmett of Panora, IA and AJ Draper of Linden, IA scored the win in the Fairlire Yup Junior Series with 5 bass weighing 4.61 pounds. Second place went to Hunter Quist of Atlantic, IA., and Adien Smith, Elliot, IA hauled in 3 bass at 4.56 lbs., and rounding out the field in third place was the team of Jake Wailes of Wiota, IA and Brentyn Hoolver of Anita, IA their total was 5 bass 3.97 lbs.

Fishing conditions were tough and presented many challenges for the thirty-two student anglers, but the students launched their boats at 7:30am and navigated across 159-acre Lake Anita for seven in half hours on the hunt to put a 5 bass limit in the boat.  At the official weigh-in there were a total of 35 were caught, and all bass were safely returned to the lake.

Cooper Jipsen from Atlantic earned the AM Cohron & Sons Big Fish of the tournament with his bass weighing in at 4.38 pounds.

Powerade High School Boat Series results from the McDermott & Son Roofing Company SAF SWIFT tournament at Lake Anita on Saturday.

1^st – Joey Oathoudt, Corning, IA and Owen Wilkinson, Corning, IA, 5 bass, 7.51- Boat Captain- Bob Harris
2^nd– Drey Newell, Atlantic, IA and Braden Smith, Atlantic, IA, 5 bass, 4.77 lbs., Boat Captain- Brendon Atkinson
3^rd– Cooper Jipsen, Atlantic, IA and Braden Smith, Atlantic, IA, 1 bass, 4.38 lbs., Boat Captain- Dent Petty
4^th Tie- Vicente Butcher, Corning, IA., and Conner Britten, Red Oak, IA., 1 bass, 1.20 lbs., Boat Captain- Jim Robinson- Villisca
4^th Tie– Mason McCready, Macedonia, IA and Caden Forristall, Carson, IA, 1 bass, 1.20 lbs., Boat Captain- Eric McCready
6^th– Korben Brunt, Anita, IA and Owen Hoover, Anita, IA, 1 bass, 1.04 lbs., Boat Captain- Butch Spence Elk Horn
7^th– Jake Oathoudt, Corning, IA and Dakota Breaud, Corning, IA, 1 bass, .96 lbs., Boat Captain- Chuck Elmquist
8^th– Colton Rudy, Atlantic, IA and Colin Rudy, Atlantic, IA, 0 bass, 0 lbs., Boat Captain- Chuck/Jill Rudy

Fairlire Yup Junior Boat Series results from the McDermott & Son Roofing Company SAF SWIFT tournament at Lake Anita on Saturday.

1^st- Emmett King, Panora, IA., and AJ Draper, Linden, IA., 5 bass, 4.61 lbs., Boat Captain-Jeremy King
2^nd– Hunter Quist, Atlantic, IA., and Adien Smith, Elliot, IA., 3 bass, 4.56 lbs., Boat Captain-Kyle/Braden Quist
3^rd-Jake Wailes, Wiota, IA and Brentyn Hoover, Anita, IA,5 bass, 3.97 lbs. Boat Captain- Rob Clausen
4^th–Cody Swank, Harlan, IA and Braxton Hass, Atlantic, IA, 5 bass, 3.46 lbs.,  Boat Captain- Don Switzer
5^th: Grayson Molgaard, Atlantic, IA and Owen Miller, Atlantic, IA, 1 bass, 2.48 lbs., Boat Captain- Peter Molgaard
6^th: Gavin Dougherty, Lewis, IA and Garrett Stetzel, Atlantic, IA, 1 bass, .96 lbs., Boat Captain- Koby Stetzel
7^th: Letty McSorely, Carson, IA and Colton Krueger, Carson, IA, 0 bass, 0 lbs.,- Boat Captain- Adam Krueger
8^th: Brody Hughes, Red Oak, IA and Bently Hughes, Red Oak, IA, 0 bass, 0 lbs., -Boat Captain- Bill Hughes

The next event for SWIFT will be Sunday May 2^nd at Lake of Three Fires.
For complete details and updated information visit www.southwestiowafishingteam.teamapp.com.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow on SWIFT’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

WASHINGTON—During National Parks Week, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are pushing for support for the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA)—an affiliate of the National Park Service (NPS)—to ensure the organization can continue to preserve and tell the history of Iowa and American agriculture and its global significance.

“Iowa’s agriculture heritage is an instrumental part of our state and nation’s history and our prominence on the world stage. At the start of National Parks Week, I’m glad to team up with Senator Grassley to ensure the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area can continue to share the story of agriculture and highlight the rural communities that are and will continue to be the backbone of our country,” said Senator Ernst. “Iowa has a rich history of agriculture and rural traditions. Our National Heritage Area provides educational opportunities to folks in Iowa and tourists from around the country,” Grassley said. “Silos and Smokestacks is a great resource so that the next generation can learn about Iowa history.”

Background:

The Protecting the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area Act reauthorizes SSNHA through 2031. The Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area preserves and tells the story of American agriculture and its global significance through partnerships and activities that celebrate the land, people, and communities of the area. It is one of 49 federally designated heritage areas in the nation and is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service (NPS).

(Press Release from Sen. Ernst’s office)

(Radio Iowa) – A court challenge is expected quickly to what opponents are calling an “ag gag” law that won final Iowa legislative approval this week. Adam Mason, state policy director for Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, says the bill which criminalizes certain types of trespassing on agricultural properties is waiting on Governor Kim Reynolds’ signature. Mason says if she signs it into law, there will be lawsuits.

“Because this one specifically addresses photo and video evidence, we assume it to be unconstitutional and that was one of our arguments in fighting them,” Mason says. “We do anticipate a court challenge. The question is, who that will be coming from.” While I-C-C-I is considering its next step, Mason says he’s heard animal rights activist Matthew Johnson, who was arrested on trespassing charges at an Iowa pork operation, will likely be taking the issue to court. Mason says his group has multiple worries about the bill.

“Folks who have concerns, either about environmental violations at factory farms,” Mason says. “Or because this law is pretty broad, it could prevent workers inside packing plants or other food processing facilities from documenting workplace violations.” Mason fears this type of measure could have far-reaching impacts and it will take time for the various courts to unravel all of these surrounding issues.

“If folks see something wrong, they should be able to say something but this bill tries to turn that into a crime,” Mason says. “That’s a huge concern for us and it’s going to prevent folks from speaking out when they see either environmental violations or workplace violations.”

Under the bill, knowingly entering private property without the owner’s consent and taking soil and water samples or samples of an animal’s bodily fluids would become an aggravated misdemeanor on the first offense. It carries a maximum sentence of up to two years in prison. A second offense would be a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.