CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Iowa Agribusiness Network!
CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!
CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Iowa Agribusiness Network!
CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!
Officials with the Cass County Fair Board, Monday (today), said “As we all adapt to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cass County Fairboard recognizes that these are unprecedented times and wants to thank our supporters for their patience and their concern as we work hard to make the best decisions possible for the 2020 Cass County Fair.”
The CCFB is monitoring the situation carefully and working closely with Extension Staff and their FFA partners to provide the best possible experiences for our youth and community members. “We recognize our youth have been working on their exhibits for months and want to ensure that they are able to showcase their hard work this year. We also recognize the Cass County Fair is a community celebration, enjoyed by residents of all ages.”
Officials say “At this time, the Cass County Fair will not be making any changes to the events planned from July 22-28, 2020. As our fair dates approach, we may be making needed adjustments to honor the safety of our exhibitors and guests. We will be looking at each individual event closely, to consider the needs of our youth, volunteers and community supporters. We plan to be flexible as requirements from the state and other governing bodies will certainly change as the summer progresses.”
The Cass County fairbook is posted at extension.iastate.edu/cass with current schedule and contest and event rules. Any updates will also be posted at this website. The Cass County Fair Board says “Again, we want to reassure our Cass County Fair supporters that we are working to provide the best possible opportunities for all during this COVID-19 pandemic.”
(Atlantic, IA) — What do chicken hatching, garden club and The Mindful Teen all have in common? All are new ways to join Cass County Extension for fun virtual learning opportunities. Extension staff say they are excited to be offering a Youth Garden Club for any youth in grades K-6 grades. Youth receive a garden journal with activities and 3 hands on lessons.
The first week’s lesson is posted on the Cass County Extension Facebook page. Weekly Zoom meetings will be held to check in and share what is happening so far in the “Garden in a Glove” Activity. And, while they have started the first lesson, but it’s not too late to join!Cost to participate is free. Materials can be picked up at the office or use what you have at home!
Check out the Cass County Extension Facebook page as they have started a 21-day journey to hatching chicken eggs. They are over halfway through the hatching process, and all videos are online. You can go back and watch them at any time or join in as they are in the final week of hatching.
For youth in grades 7-12, the Extension is are offering a virtual Mindful Teen program. The program is a six-week series working with youth to develop skill to help the handle stress and take one moment at a time. This opportunity is open to 15 youth so register early! Each youth will get a book, journal and package of goodies for the course. Cost to participate is free. Closed group discussion will take place each week.
Registration forms for all programs are available by calling the Cass County Extension Office or online at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/. “The Cass County Extension staff has worked very hard to put these hands-on, fun-filled, interactive activities together for the youth of the community, and we hope you will be able to join us!” says Shelby Van Horn, County Youth Coordinator.
The virtual learning opportunities promise exciting, hands-on learning while meeting new friends. For more virtual learning opportunities for youth follow us on the Facebook page Cass County Extension or the website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. Questions? Please call Cass County Extension at (712)243-1132.
Cass County Conservation was recently awarded a “Trees for Communities” Grant. The Conservation Department will have FREE tree seedlings available for Cass County Residents. Limited quantities of the following Tree Species available: Black Cherry, Black Oak, Black Walnut, Bur Oak, Red Oak, Swamp White Oak, Shagbark Hickory, and Highbush Cranberry. You must call our office to sign up, with your preferred tree species, Name, Phone number and zip code where trees will be planted. Limit 2 trees per address.
All trees must be picked up during designated times at the CC Conservation offices in Lewis – Cold Springs Park. unless prior arrangements made. Designated pick up times will be: Thursday May 21st 8 AM-6 PM OR Friday May 22nd 8AM-7PM. Be prepared to have your residency checked at pick up.
They will also have extra native plants leftover from our native plant sale. Species include New England Aster, Hairy Mountain Mint, Culvers root, Purple Prairie Clover and Prairie Smoke. Call to reserve yours 712-769-2372 and Designated pick up times are the same: Thursday May 21st 8 AM-6 PM OR Friday May 22nd 8AM-7PM. Prices and form can be found here: https://www.atlanticiowa.com/county/download/17558/
(Radio Iowa) — I-S-U economist David Swenson has done a new study that finds agriculture and manufacturing account for 38 percent of the state’s gross domestic product. “I have a kind of economic analysis that we can do that tracks the entire supply chain for the industry as they sell primarily what we call export sales — and that’s domestic export if we are selling to Chicago — or of course international export if we are selling to China or Germany,” Swenson says.
Swenson says those agriculture and food processing account for many jobs when you look at them together.He says when you look at both agriculture and the food processing sectors entire supply chain — the number of jobs dependent on the two sectors is 17-point-on percent. He says the job impact gets even bigger when you figure in things like farm equipment manufacturers. “Agriculture plus all of its ag-related industries explains about 19 percent of jobs and about 20 percent of the state’s G-D-P. That’s a number then that people can use and declare how important is agriculture and those related industries? Nineteen percent of jobs, 20 percent of G-D-P,” Swenson says.
He says the pandemic has hit all those areas hard. Swenson says the state should be able to recover once we are able to get beyond the COVID-19 impact. “That national economy was really strong as we went into this period with the pandemic,” according to Swenson. “The Iowa economy wasn’t growing — but it was stable at the time we went into this pandemic. It has basically gone into a time of zero growth, but relative stability. So, we have reasonably good foundations for recovery once recovery comes.”
Swenson says there should be hope for the future. “We have something good to return to — this hasn’t destroyed a lot of the economy. But, it remains to be seen how this all plays out and how many businesses actually survive,” Swenson says. He says the ripple effect through the economy from the impact on ag could take some time to turn around when the coronavirus situation goes away.
(Radio Iowa) — The U.S. government is going to start buying three BILLION dollars of meat, dairy and produce from farmers, to supply food banks. The announcement came after Vice President Mike Pence heard sobering assessments of the farm economy during a forum in West Des Moines on Friday. Senator Chuck Grassley says farmers are losing a lot of money. “Things aren’t very good out there on the farm,” Grassley said. Senator Joni Ernst says farmers from corner to corner of the state are impacted.
“Hearing the distress in the voice coming from our beef cattle producers, our dairy farmers, our egg and poultry farmers, especially our hog farmers,” Ernst says, “even those folks engaged in row crops and biofuels like ethanol.” American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall says farmers are experiencing a perfect storm with a pandemic in the middle of a trade war with China.
“We had high hopes and now we’re wondering whether or not the president’s going to be able to keep their feet to the fire and make them come good on the commitments of buying $40 billion worth of agricultural products,” Duvall said.
Duvall and both of Iowa’s U.S. senators also called for an investigation of allegations that meat packers are engaged in price fixing.
(Radio Iowa) — Vice President Mike Pence’s Friday afternoon forum about the nation’s food supply featured the C-E-Os of two of the nation’s major meat packers, allegations of price fixing in the industry from other panelists and the revelation that another packing plant worker has died of COVID-19. Smithfield C-E-O Ken Sullivan was near the end of the list of speakers.
“I’d like to use the time I’ve got to thank our employees,” Sullivan said, “who are heroes.” Sullivan said he spent Friday morning visiting one of his company’s plants and just before the forum with the vice president stsarted, he’d been notified one of Smithfield’s employees had died.
“Our employees have been showing up day after day, in close quarters. They’ve been harvesting animals. They’ve been keeping the food supply in this country and they’re doing it in a selfless way and I think they deserve a lot of recognition for that,” Sullivan said. “It’s gutwrenching for us as companies to have the choice between maintaining the food supply in this country and asking our employees to go into plants to do that.”
Pence, who whispered an affirmation during Sullivan’s remarks, led the crowd in applause after Sullivan stopped his. “These employees really deserve a lot of gratitude,” Sullivan said, adding: “That’s all.” Pence responded: “Ken, I’m sorry for your loss. I hope you convey our deepest sympathies to the family of that employee, but I appreciate the strength of emotion in your voice and the American people are grateful.” Pence then began punctuating his remarks by thumping the table with his hand. “They’re grateful for the people that have been coming to work every day in our meat processing plants throughout this epidemic. They’ve absolutely been essential.”
Pence convened the event at HyVee headquarters in West Des Moines by praising grocery stores, truckers and meat packers. Pence said processors of beef, pork and poultry industry had faced coronavirus challenges, but 14 previously closed plants were resuming operations. “How about a big round of applause for all these great meat processing plants that have stepped up and partnered with us to keep our food supply strong?” Pence asked. The panel on stage, along with a crowd of about 70 Hy-Vee employees, joined Pence to applaud.
Tyson Fresh Meats C-E-O thanked Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, who was also on the panel. “The safety of our team members are paramount to us,” White said, “and without your involvement providing the tests, supported by the federal government, the PPE that you’ve been able to provide has been paramount to us enabling to get back to work.” At least 730 employees at Tyson’s plant in Perry tested positive for COVID-19. Black Hawk County Public Health officials say more than a thousand employees at Tyson’s Waterloo plant tested positive for the virus. Both plants are back in operation.
Both of Iowa’s U.S. Senators and a national Farm Bureau leader were part Friday’s panel — and all three raised the issue of price fixing in the beef industry. Senator Chuck Grassley bluntly said farmers want an explanation from meat packers. “How come we’re losing hundreds of dollars on our cattle and the price (for) consumers are going up?” Grassley said. Zippy Duvall, the American Farm Bureau’s C-E-O, said farmers are frustrated by the “rock bottom” prices for live cattle and the “sky high” wholesale prices for beef carcasses.
“The farmers and ranchers are coming unhingened when they see that difference in that price because they’re facing losing their farms,” he said, “and it is a very difficult thing to explain.” President Trump this week said he’s asked the Department of Justice to investigate allegations of market manipulation by Tyson, Smithfield, J-B-S and Cargill. The four companies account for about 80 percent of the beef market.
WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa turkey plant that is the site of a coronavirus outbreak says that hundreds of employees will be furloughed this fall due to the nation’s economic collapse. West Liberty Foods says that roughly one-third of its 994 employees could be temporarily laid off for months, likely from from November through February.
The company confirmed that 136 employees have tested positive for coronavirus, after mass testing at the West Liberty plant last week. The company says restaurant closures have dramatically reduced demand for many of its products, resulting in a glut of supply.
DES MOINES, Iowa — As campgrounds begin opening up today (Friday) to walk-in, first come, first served, campers with self-contained restrooms, and visitors continue to take advantage of state parks, the DNR is encouraging everyone to check the DNR website for temporary closures before traveling to any of these areas.
Some parks and campgrounds have closures due to construction or maintenance projects, maintenance etc., so it’s important to check the closure website ahead of time.
DNR parks staff will be closely monitoring parks and campground areas and remind visitors and campers to obey physical distancing guidelines and other guidelines released earlier this week by the DNR.
Some pit latrines in high use areas will be open, but all other restrooms, drinking fountains and shower houses will remain closed. Park visitors for day use areas, should utilize specific and designated parking lots and not park on the sides of roads or trails, as well as obey all posted signage.
The DNR’s reservation system for reservable campgrounds opened up online today (Friday), to begin making reservations starting Monday, May 11.
Iowa has 68 state parks and 4 state forests for visitors to enjoy with hiking trails, lake recreation and camping, to learn more visit: www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks or www.iowadnr.gov/Things-to-Do/Camping
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — As coronavirus hotspots erupted at major U.S. meatpacking plants, experts criticized extremely tight working conditions that made the factories natural high risk contagion locations. But some Midwestern politicians have pointed the finger at the workers’ living conditions, suggesting crowded homes bear some blame. The comments include a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice’s remark that an outbreak didn’t seem to have come from “regular folks.” Outraged employees and advocates call the comments elitist and critical of immigrants in the meatpacking workforce. The remarks came amid public gratitude for other essential workers like police officers, health care professionals and grocery store workers.
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