(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s wineries are trying to hold on from the pandemic that’s dealt a double hit to their business. Iowa Wine Growers Association, marketing director, Nicole Eilers says it is a business tailored to public interaction. “They had to shift their whole business plan from bringing people into the tasting rooms and giving them the experience that Iowa wine is kind of known for,” Eilers says, “to how do we survive, how do we get the product in their hands when we are not supposed to be around people — so it has been really tough.”

Sales of wine and liquor have been up during the pandemic — but Eilers says local wineries aren’t gaining from that trend. “It’s just getting the product into consumers’ hands, that’s the tricky part. Because most wineries in Iowa — if not all — self distribute,” she says. The second hit to the wineries has been a loss of the added features they provide customers not directly related to selling wine. “Most of them are also functioning event venues. so a lot of them have spaces for weddings and private events. They do live music, all sorts of things,” according to Eilers. “And so,with COVID and a lot of the mandates in place, that has really taken a toll on businesses. Because that really sort of helps offset the decreased wine sales.”

Eilers says some may not be able to stay open. “I haven’t really heard of any wineries for sure closing down due to COVID specifically — but I anticipate that most likely that will be the case for some,” Eilers says.  Eilers says they have a report that comes out at the end of the year that details sales and that will give a better idea of where the industry stands.

Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh reminds area residents, that “As September ends, “Grow Another Row, Cass County!” is wrapping up, but Cass County pantries continue to welcome donations.”

“Grow Another Row, Cass County,” a Healthy Cass County campaign by a group of local growers to encourage residents to grow and share more food in 2020, saw success this summer. Many people helped Grow Another Row have a good year. The planning committee thanks everyone who contributed. While gardens are winding down with the cooler weather, Cass County food pantries continue to welcome donations.

Local pantries continue to see increasing numbers, and appreciate both food and monetary donations. See below for specific information on how to support Cass County food pantries this fall. 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 (closes at 3:00 PM) 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 Hours: 2nd and 4th Tuesday, 11:00am – 2:00pm Produce Donations: contact (712) 778-4178 Monetary Donations: mail checks to “The Lord’s Cupboard” (55546 Wichita Rd. Griswold, IA 51535)

Cass County COVID-19 Mobile Food For All: Cass County COVID-19 Mobile Food For All will continue to accept produce donations through October. Donations can be dropped at the back of Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022) Mondays between 10:00am – 11:00am.; Produce Donations: contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh (712)249-5870 or hoeghb2@iastate.edu.

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.

BEIJING (AP) — The departing U.S. ambassador in Beijing is defending a tough approach to China that has riled relations between the world’s two largest economies. Terry Branstad says the Trump administration has made progress on trade and that he hopes it will extend to other areas including China’s treatment of diplomats and journalists. Branstad downplays the strained relationship, noting it has weathered ups and downs in the past. He concedes, though, that there is concern that pressure on China could lead to a downward spiral of growing restrictions.

U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad speaks during an interview at the U.S. embassy in Beijing on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. The departing U.S. ambassador on Tuesday defended a tough approach to China that has riled relations between the world’s two largest economies, saying the Trump administration has made progress on trade and that he hopes it will extend to other areas. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

The longtime former Iowa governor is returning to Iowa this weekend after three years and three months as ambassador. No successor has been named.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa farmers had nearly seven days suitable for fieldwork last week and made the most of it. The U-S-D-A reports says 12 percent of the corn has been harvested — up from four percent — and almost three weeks ahead of last year and nine days ahead of average. The soybean harvest was at 30 percent complete — up from seven percent last week. The bean harvest is 19 days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of average.

It is the largest percentage of soybeans and corn harvested by September 27th since 2012 when 48 percent of the corn and 41 percent of soybeans been harvested. Farmers in the northwest and west-central Iowa continue to lead the way with almost half of their soybean acreage harvested.

Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman reports a ban on open burning went into effect 5-p.m. Monday (Sept. 28th). The BURN BAN means all open and controlled burning in Montgomery County is prohibited unless an official burn ban permit has been issued by the proper fire chief.

Hamman says the current drought conditions throughout the county in combination with unharvested crops present an increased risk for the potential of rapid fire spread. Controlled fires can quickly become uncontrollable and pose an immediate risk to the life and safety of our residents. Montgomery County is currently listed in Severe drought conditions (D2) in the northern part of the county and in Moderate Drought conditions(D1)throughout the rest.

More information on current drought conditions can be found at https://www.drought.gov/drought/states/iowa. Citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris, grass/agricultural ground and set-asides or other items during this ban.

Small recreational camp fires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fire place of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fire place is prohibited.Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban.

The Mills County Emergency Management Agency reports a BURN BAN will be placed into effect beginning today (Monday), at 4-p.m.  The proclamation was issued after receiving reports from all fire districts within Mills County. Conditions within Mills County are such that open burning presents a danger to life or property. The burn ban will be in place until such time that the conditions dangerous to life or property no longer exists.

Residents wishing to conduct a prescribed burn must obtain written approval from their fire chief prior to conducting a burn. If the fire chief gives approval for a prescribed burn, residents must then contact the Mills County Communications Center at the start and completion of the burn. The Mills County Communication Center may be reached by calling (712) 527-4871.

Residents failing to obtain the proper authorization may be subject to a criminal charge under Iowa Code §100.40(2). This does not include the use of outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, properly supervised landfills or the burning of trash in incinerators or trash burners made of metal,concrete, masonry, or heavy one-inch wire mesh, with no openings greater than one square inch

(Atlantic) – The recent rains and the more moderate temperatures make this fall a great time for gardening projects. And, if you’re looking for late-season additions to your yard and garden, the Cass County Master Gardeners have just the event for you!  Their second annual Fall Plant Sale will be held Saturday, October 10th, at the Cass County Community Center, (805 W 10th Street, on the Cass County Fairgrounds).  The sale begins at 8 AM, and will be held in the front parking lot of the Community Center. Interested gardeners are encouraged to arrive early for best plant selection, as the annual spring and fall sales occasionally sell out before 10 AM.

The sale will be open to the public to purchase divided perennials suitable for fall planting. Plants already confirmed to be on the sale include hosta, spring-flowering bulbs, daylilies, perennial geranium, sedum, ornamental grasses, and Naked Lady bulbs. Additional plants will continue to be added to the sale, as well as possibly some garden tools and decor.

The Master Gardeners were unable to hold their annual Spring Plant Sale this year due to the COVID pandemic, so a large selection is anticipated as this will be the only opportunity to purchase from the group this year.  Due to the pandemic, several safety measures will be in place for this sale, including recommending the use of masks, spreading out sale items to allow for social distancing, a one-way traffic flow for shoppers and, if necessary, limiting the number of people shopping at any given time.  Hand sanitizer stations and options for drive-through pickup will also be available.

The Master Gardeners appreciate the great response to the group’s Bulb Sale, consisting of pre-orders for tulip and narcissus (daffodil) bulbs. As of the latest report, all of the tulip bulbs have been sold, while roughly half of the narcissus (daffodil) bulbs are still available.  Order forms and photos of the variety colors can be found at the Cass County Extension Office or on the Extension website at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.  All pre-ordered bulbs will be available for pickup at the plant sale, and any remaining bulbs will be available for purchase that day. Bulbs will be sold in bags of 5 mixed colors for $5/bag. Pre-orders are still being taken, and are encouraged to guarantee availability of bulbs.

Cass County Master Gardeners will be bringing a variety of plants from their own gardens, as well as plants dug from gardens around the community, for this sale.  Community members are also welcome to donate plants to this event, and members may even help you dig! Please call in advance and make arrangements to drop off donated plants before the date of the plant sale.

For more information about these events and about Master Gardener activities in Cass County, please call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, or email Cass County Extension Director and Master Gardener Coordinator Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu.  In addition, you are invited to follow the Cass County Master Gardeners at their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CassCoMG to keep up with local events and tips for gardening!

• KJAN, Atlantic  .06″
• 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .04″
• Massena  .26″
• Anita  .13″
• Audubon  .02″
• Oakland  .09″
• Red Oak  .26″
• Bridgewater  .35″
• Clarinda  .2″
• Shenandoah  .16″
• Creston  .24″

The Cass County Conservation Board is holding their 6th Biennial Lighted Halloween Campground on Oct. 24th. The until then, the Board is looking for people, groups, or organizations to sign-up for a site in the campground to decorate (non-Scary) with Halloween decorations.

Prizes will be for the top three voted sites, and for some special categories. Deadline for decorating a site sign up is October 16th, and the groups will have Saturday (Oct. 24th) from Noon-on, to decorate. You do get Saturday night camping for FREE. (if you choose to camp- not required) You DO NOT have to have a camper (Naturalist Lora Kanning says they’ve seen some great sites done with tents and easy-ups, etc.) Message, call, or email CCCB with your Name, email and Phone number.

The event will take place from 7-until 9-p.m. Oct. 24th, at Cold Springs State Park, in Lewis. It’ll be a great non-scary, Family Friendly, FREE drive into the night!  Call the Cass County Conservation Office to get involved @712-769-2372! The event will be cancelled if there is inclement weather.

For more information, follow Lighted Halloween Campground on Facebook.

(Radio Iowa) – The harvest is underway this year weeks ahead of last year and a safety expert says that’s important. Iowa State University professor Charles Schwab says rushing to get crops out of the fields creates more dangerous situations for farmers. He says we have a better window this year to get things done, but there could be some issues with downed corn this year. Millions of acres of corn were knocked down or bent over by the August 10th derecho.

Schwab says the earlier harvest gives more time to deal with that and other situation that arises.  Schwab says not rushing to get the crops in before the first snow is good — although he says you never know with the weather. Schwab says worrying about the timing of the harvest can take a toll. “I don’t think a lot of them realize the amount of stress that comes from that and how that stress impacts your body and how that impacting your body does things that put you at risk. It’s a key element,” Schwab says.

He says farmers need to eat right and get enough rest to stay healthy and not having such a tight window to get the crops in should allow them to do that.