A ban on open burning in Page County is set to end at Noon today (Thursday). That’s according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The ban is being lifted at the request of Page County Emergency Management Coordinator Kris Grebert, and on behalf of the county’s fire chiefs.

Grebert requested a prohibition on burning nearly two weeks ago because of a rash of brush fires in the county due to high winds and extremely dry soil conditions.

(Radio Iowa) – The U.S. House is expected to take up a pair of bills soon dealing with immigration reform, both of which could have a significant impact on Iowa’s largest industry. Mitch Schulte, executive director of the Iowa State Dairy Association, says there is a critical shortage of labor in all sectors of U-S agriculture.”We pay extremely competitive wages and we offer several different benefits out on our dairy farms,” Schulte says. “Housing is sometimes even included, but it’s still hard to get people to be an active labor source for us and a reliable labor source. In a lot of situations, we have no choice but to turn to foreign labor.”

Schulte says much of what’s contained in the Farm Workforce Modernization Act would help solve the ag labor problems which dairy producers are facing. “We need ag labor reform. We need a reliable workforce,” Schulte says. “I strongly urge all of our representatives to look into this, see the benefits that it would provide for our dairy industry and our ag community.” Some lawmakers say they’ll oppose any immigration reform until the legislation includes securing the U.S. border from undocumented immigrants.

Schulte says he believes both border security and ag labor reform can be achieved. Besides the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, the House is also expected to discuss a DACA measure that would impact young people who have entered the U-S illegally.

(By Atlantic FFA Reporter Aspen Niklasen) – Each year, the Southwest District and Iowa FFA officers plan and facilitate Greenhand Fire Up Conferences for FFA members in the Southwest District. The workshops were leadership focused with an emphasis on the experiences that occur in the lives of beginning high school students These workshops are geared toward engaging members into FFA as the year kicks up. Atlantic welcomed FFA chapters from all over the Southwest District on Wednesday, March 10th.

Front Row left to right
Roth DenBeste, Thomas Leonard, Tate Niklasen, Colton Rudy, Colton Becker;
Back Row left to right
Chris Keegan, McKenna Sonntag, Lola Comes, Dani Bennett

Atlantic FFA member Dylan Comes and Atlantic FFA Alumni member Tyler Comes helped facilitate the event. Dylan the newly elected Southwest State Treasurer for the Iowa FFA Association, helped with other officers prepare and facilitated workshops of: authenticity, balancing priorities, communication, and FFA opportunities – in order to provide the first-year FFA members with skills they would use both within and outside of FFA. Comes said “It was a lot of fun learning to how to facilitate a workshop and work with the current State FFA President Mickayla McGill”

The goal was to engage FFA members in learning about the tools that would allow them to be successful in anything they are part of through high school and beyond. The goal was to engage FFA members in learning about the tools that would allow them to be successful in anything they are part of through high school and beyond. Chris Keegan, a member from the Atlantic chapter that attended the event, said that “It was a great way to meet new people and we did a lot of new activities to introduce ourselves.” Other member Thomas Leonard that attended said, “I learned that there was a lot more to FFA than just farming. I also liked meeting new people and I had a lot of fun.”

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Sheriffs in two central Iowa counties say their offices are investigating after cattle were found slain and dumped along gravel roads in their jurisdictions. The Ames Tribune reports that two cows and a calf were found dead in Boone and Greene counties on March 10. Investigators said the calf, found in Boone County, had its front legs bound with twine. Boone County Sheriff Gregg Elsberry said a red shorthorn cow was found a short distance away in a creek with its throat slashed.

The carcass of the other cow, also a red shorthorn, was found in a Greene County ditch. Authorities say that scuff marks on the animals’ hides indicated they were dumped on the roads from a vehicle.

Grow Another Row Cass County invites local farmers and gardeners to plant a few more rows of produce to share this year. 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 because these were the items that were in highest demand last year, and the team knows these items will get used in Cass County.

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. After a successful first
year with lots of positive feedback from people who enjoyed produce, the planning team is excited to continue the project in 2021.

Emily Paulsen, with Brun Ko Garm, a Grow Another Row leadership team member, says “We know some folks are already planting seeds in greenhouses and others will start gardens later. We invite any grower—big or small, seasoned or green–to join us.” She noted, “You don’t have to sign up for the email newsletter to participate in the program, but you might want to.” Growers can sign up for the Grow Another Row newsletter by emailing Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or visiting https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/content/grow-another-rowcass-county.

Grow Another Row is seeking a Program Coordinator for 2021. This temporary position is made possible through AmeriCorps funding. The coordinator will manage produce donations and distributions throughout Cass County. Cass County ISU Extension is seeking to fill the position immediately. Interested individuals should visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/ for more
information and to apply.

w/Kate Olson.

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(Iowa DNR News) – Channel catfish move close to shore and are eager to bite in many lakes and the large reservoirs across Iowa just after the ice is gone. The bite starts sooner in southern Iowa impoundments since they lose ice a week or two before northeast Iowa natural lakes. After eating light during the winter, channel catfish put the feed bag on in early spring cleaning up small fish that died over the winter. Search for actively feeding fish on windblown shorelines and points where dead fish are piled up and the shallow water warms quickly. Keep the wind in your face and move often until you find actively feeding fish.

Use cut bait or shad sides fished on the bottom. To keep the bait on the hook, try using a 1/0 to 3/0 bait holder hook and enough weight (3/8th to ½ ounce) to cast into the wind. Bring along disposable latex gloves to handle the bait and help keep the smell off your hands.

Ice-out catfishing can be good in any lake that has an abundant catfish population.  Iowa’s flood control reservoirs, Rathbun, Red Rock, Coralville and Saylorville usually offer the best action. Try catfishing in Storm Lake, East Okoboji, Clear Lake, North Twin, or Black Hawk Lake in northwest Iowa soon after the ice is gone.  Small impoundments in southern Iowa, like Don Williams, Big Creek, Lake Darling, Lake Wapello, Green Valley Lake, Lake Manawa or Lake Icaria, also offer good early spring catfishing.

Catfish can be found in almost every body of water across Iowa. Check the weekly fishing report to find out where catfish are biting.

The water level at Viking Lake near Stanton was lowered eight feet during the summer of 2019 to improve the fish population. Now a year and a half later, the lake’s water level has yet to return to normal levels. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) closed the outlet gate in January 2020, after repairs to the gate were completed. Viking Lake’s water level was on the rise with normal rainfall last spring. Then the rains stopped in July and drought conditions set in for the remainder of 2020.

Lake drawdowns are a common fish management practice that crowds the fish population for a period of time. “Crowding fish into a smaller area makes them more susceptible to predation by largemouth bass and reduces the number of small bluegills in the lake to improve growth in the coming year,” said Bryan Hayes, DNR fisheries management biologist.

ATLANTIC, IA (March 14, 2021) – Anyone thinking about being a vendor at Produce in the Park this summer is invited to attend the 2021 Vendor Meeting Friday, March 19 at 6 PM. The meeting can be attended in person or virtually. Those attending in person are asked to bring their own lawn chairs, and mask and distance. Those interested in attending virtually should contact Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-
249-5870 for connection information. RSVPs are appreciated but not required.

Produce in the Park is held every Thursday evening (4:30-6:30 PM) from the beginning of June through the end of September in the beautiful Atlantic City Park. Both food and craft vendors are welcome. Vendors can register for the entire season, or sign up for just a few weeks. Fullseason vendor registration fees are $75 for vendors registered by June 1. More information on Produce in the Park can be found at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

Spring Celebration Market
Produce in the Park continues to welcome vendors for Spring Celebration Market. Spring Celebration Market is a pre-order only market. Pre-orders will be accepted from March 25 –April 1, and customers will drive-through pick-up their purchases at the Cass County Community Center on Saturday, April 3 from 12-2 PM.

Spring Celebration Market is being held the day before Easter, so customers can pick up treats for Easter Baskets and local foods for Easter meals. The market will offer baked goods including Miss Nini’s pies and macarons and The Kringleman’s Danish Kringle, in addition to local meats, produce, eggs, and more.

Vendors interested in participating in Spring Celebration Market should contact the market manager at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870 by March 19. Spring Celebration Market event details, including vendors, and information on pre-orders will be posted on Produce in the Park’s website www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com and on the Produce in the Park Facebook page www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark.

Produce in the Park 2021 farmers markets are sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, First Whitney Bank & Trust, and Cass County Tourism.

(Left to right) Emily Plagman, 2021 Cass County Pork Ambassador; Paige Jensen, 2021 Cass County Pork Queen.

Cass County Pork Producers, Sunday, crowned Paige Jensen as Cass County Pork Queen and Emily Plagman as County Pork Ambassador. Paige is a Junior at CAM High School who is involved in 4H and FFA. Her parents are Ryan and Eva Jensen. Emily is a Senior at CAM. She’s the daughter of Mike and Kristi Plagman, and is also actively involved in 4H and FFA. Paige Jensen will act as a role model for the youth of Cass County, attend parades if it’s safe to do so (with regard to COVID), and help the pork producer board with promoting pork in Cass County. She will receive a scholarship as an additional reward for her involvement in the pork industry.

She explained why she wanted to be involved in the pork industry this year.

She started showing pigs in her 5^th Grade year, and have developed a bond with the swine she’s had, and with the various leadership opportunities that have been presented to her. Agriculture, she said, runs in her blood.

Emily Plagman will promote pork, attend parades if they are safe, assist in promoting pork within the county, and she’ll also receive a scholarship for future schooling or advancing in the pork industry. She said she’s had a love for pigs since she was young, and this was a natural progression in that passion.

She too has always been involved in 4H and FFA ever since she was young, and growing up on a farm, and she wants to spread a message about pork.

Paige Jensen says her message is simple.

The Junior says after high school she plans to study Ag Communications, Marketing or Business in college, and afterward start raising beef and swine on a family farm. Emily says she wants to get an Associates of Agriculture Degree at a community college, then transfer and get a double major in Ag Media and Ag Education, with a Minor in Communications. She says she wants to stay in a rural area and promote ag the best she can.