(Radio Iowa) — Iowa farmers who need propane to dry their grain, as well as to keep their livestock and homes warm, will soon be seeing relief from the recent shortage of the fuel. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, has approved two pipeline tariff amendments aimed at boosting Midwest propane supplies. Iowa Propane and Gas Association C-E-O Deb Grooms says the ruling will help provide adequate propane to Iowa customers.

“Enterprise agreed to extend the period for shippers to utilize propane service into the Chicago area that it had previously proposed, and FERC had approved on a temporary, an emergency basis,” Grooms says. “And then the ONEOK offered to make a filing with FERC that would permit shippers to release their pipeline capacity to other shippers on a commercially-negotiated basis.” Grooms says an extension of an emergency waiver was granted regionally which will help with any transportation issues.

“It’s going to help fill up those bulk plants of the propane marketers out there so they can continue to keep serving our customers,” Grooms says. “Also, the regional waiver was extended to January 10th so that will help with the transportation also to get more propane to the state.” While the corn harvest is very nearly finished in Iowa, and the soybean harvest is complete, Grooms says any additional propane needs for drying crops is now available, along with supplies to help heat homes and livestock barns.

Iowans can buy 2020 resident hunting, fishing and other licenses on Dec. 15.  Licenses purchased for 2019 expire on Jan. 10. The menu of license options includes the popular Outdoor Combo annual resident hunting/fishing/habitat combo license for $55; the Angler’s Special three-year fishing license for $62; and the Hunter’s Special three-year hunting license with habitat included for $101. Also available is the Bonus Line option for $14 letting resident and nonresident anglers to fish with one more line in addition to the two lines allowed with the regular fishing license.

Upgrade your paper license to a durable hard card with custom art from Iowa artists for only $5. The Iowa DNR now offers a GoOutdoorsIowa mobile app for iPhone and Android devices that allows you to buy and access your license information, no matter where you are. You may download multiple customer licenses to offer one secure digital license document location for families, groups, and more. Licenses are available at 700 locations across the state, and on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/GoOutdoorsIowa.

Hunting and fishing are often enjoyed with family and friends. A fishing or hunting license makes a great stocking stuffer.

The Iowa DNR reports Iowa anglers can buy the Missouri and Big Sioux River paddlefish license and tags starting Dec. 15 through Jan. 7. Buy your special paddlefish license and tags on the Iowa DNR online licenses sales website at https://gooutdoorsiowa.com. A resident license sells for $25.50. You must also have a valid Iowa fishing license. You can buy up to two tags – one from Dec. 15 to Dec. 31 and an additional tag from Jan. 1 to Jan. 7, or two tags if you didn’t buy one in December.

The license, harvest tag(s), and regulations will be mailed to purchasers in mid-January. Purchasers will be asked to complete an electronic survey that helps the Iowa DNR evaluate the success of the paddlefish season. Please complete the survey whether you harvested a paddlefish or not.  The Iowa DNR is always working to improve the paddlefish season for anglers; any input provided is considered and is greatly appreciated.

The Missouri and Big Sioux River paddlefish season opens Feb. 4 and runs through April 30.

LOGAN, Iowa—Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) report DNR conservation officers were notified Sunday about a property damage incident in Logan, and later determined a hunter in hunting party was shot during a deer drive. Authorities say 18-year old Chase Maguire, of Logan, was shooting at a deer over a hilltop with a .450 Bushmaster when he missed the deer hitting a house in the distance.

Within the same group, 38-year old Craig Brenden, of Logan, was shot in the lower leg by another member of his hunting party. While the hunter was shooting a deer that had been wounded by another hunter of the party, Brenden was wounded.  Investigators are still trying to determine which hunter fired the shot that hit Brenden. Brenden was transported to a local hospital and then air lifted to the University of Nebraska Medical Center and is currently in stable condition.

The investigation into this incident is on-going and no charges have been filed at this time.

[Iowa News Service – Roz Brown] DES MOINES, Iowa – Farmers who want to weigh-in on changes to the nation’s Conservation Stewardship Program have five weeks to submit comments to the United States Department of Agriculture. CSP offers farmers five-year paid contracts on working lands in an effort to control soil erosion, improve water quality, protect wildlife habitat and support other conservation practices. Paul Ackley farms 800 acres in southwestern Iowa and said the program helped him improve profitability.

“My attitude was, I thought that we needed to do something different. This gave us some financial cushion in case things didn’t work out those first few years,” Ackley said. “We found out that cover crops and the longer rotation was covering the costs and then some.” Farmers and ranchers interested in the program must submit comments by January 13 on changes included in the 2018 farm bill. Anna Johnson is the policy manager at the Center for Rural Affairs and said farmers who qualify for a five-year CSP plan can significantly improve the state’s conservation activities. “Cover crops are a really big, important practice that we’re trying to get more of in Iowa,” Johnson said. “There’s obviously a learning curve for a lot of folks but they offer a lot of benefits for both building soil health and also protecting soil over the winter.”

When Ackley planted his first crop more than 50 years ago, he said nitrogen fertilizer was considered necessary. But it eventually caused reduced plant growth and aggravated soil erosion. He said he’s seen improved soil from using cover crops and adaptive grazing, and compared conservation practices to checking a bank statement for accuracy. “And that’s essentially what erosion is, whether it’s wind or water. It’s an unnecessary withdrawal of wealth, and the soil is the wealth of the farm, the wealth of the community, it’s the wealth of the state and the nation,” Ackley said.

The federal government will make $725 million available for CSP enrollment in 2020. Iowa has more than 3,000 active contracts.

(Radio Iowa) — Most Iowans will be off work and out of school on January 1st and they’re encouraged to begin 2020 with a healthy New Year’s Day hike through a state park. Todd Coffelt, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ State Parks Bureau, says this will be the ninth year for the so-called First Day Hikes in Iowa and there are dozens of options from which to chose. “It’s a fantastic event for family, for friends, for something to do to get the new year started the right way,” Coffelt says. “The big part of this year, we have 49 different hikes all across the state and it’s the kickoff of our 100th anniversary for Iowa State Parks, so it’s a big deal to be a part of it.”

With more than four-dozen hike locations, each event is offering its own take on the trek through the woods, though most are just a mile long with options for longer hikes, depending on conditions. “We have lodges in several of the parks, but not all of them. Those lodges give us a chance to warm up because it’s not going to be 60-degrees and sunny, we all know that,” Coffelt says. “But it gives us a chance to come in there for fellowship, for community gathering, there’s hot cocoa, there’s coffee, there’s snacks.” Last year, Coffelt says more than 14-hundred people took part in New Year’s Day hikes across Iowa, hiking more than 11-hundred total miles at dozens of state parks.

“Every park is different so every park has something to offer that’s unique to its location and its resources,” Coffelt says. “With the right people, they can give a hike, whether it’s 8 in the morning at Ledges, 9 o’clock at Walnut Woods or in the evening at Prairie Rose where they’re going to do an Owl Prowl.” The hikers can expect to be surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, he says, while experiencing spectacular views, beautiful settings and the cultural treasures offered by Iowa’s state parks.

More online at www.iowadnr.gov/firstdayhikes

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Deere & Co. plans to lay off nearly 60 more workers at its Davenport Works plant. The company said Monday that it notified the workers Dec. 2 and said the cuts would be effective Jan. 6. Deere announced earlier this fall that it was laying off more than 110 workers from the plant.

Deere spokesman Ken Golden says the cuts were a result of reduced building activity that is expected to lower sales of equipment. He says each Deere factory must balance its workforce number with customer demand for products from that factory.

The Moline, Illinois-based company makes equipment for construction, agriculture and landscaping.

Officials with the Cass County ISU Extension report grain marketing is a hot topic among local farmers, and an upcoming meeting on the topic is being moved to a larger location on Dec. 10th, to accommodate interest from area producers.

Farmers often mention that their crop marketing is challenging and needs improvement. The upcoming workshop focuses on a full 18-month marketing plan to help producers understand the big picture of effectively marketing their crop. Titled “How to Get $4 Corn: Learn Crop Marketing from Start to Finish”, this two-hour workshop is coming to Atlantic on Tuesday evening December 10th.

The workshop has been moved to the American Legion Memorial Building, also known as the Armory, located at 201 Poplar in downtown Atlantic. The time has not changed, and the meeting will still be held on Tuesday, December 10 at 6:30 PM, with doors opening at 6 PM. There is no cost to attend the meeting. Pre-registration is encouraged to help plan for materials and seating. Walk-in registrations are also welcome, but materials are not guaranteed. Local sponsors of this program include First Whitney Bank, Cass County Farm Bureau and Cass County Extension.

Developed by the Center for Farm Financial Management and Iowa Farm Bureau, the workshop teaches the long view in crop marketing. The workshop, including crop marketing simulation, will be facilitated by Ed Kordick of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, and hosted locally by Patrick Hatting, Farm Management Specialist for Southwest Iowa with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Seven other locations will also be offered across Iowa throughout the winter.

For more information or to pre-register, or call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or email Lori Anderson at lander@iastate.edu. You can also visit https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/Article/How-to-get-4-Corn-workshop for information on other locations around the state, or to register online.

(Radio Iowa) — A central Iowa man may face stiff fines after killing six trumpeter swans. Acting on a tip, the Iowa DNR sent a conservation officer to Paul Errington Marsh, near Ankeny, on Friday where the officer witnessed a man shooting a trumpeter swan. As the officer approached, the man shot a second swan and had several others dead nearby. The DNR says 28-year-old Loai Abdulal, of Ankeny, says he mistook the swans for geese. Abdulal’s shotgun was seized and if convicted, he’ll face a $1,500 civil penalty for each of the six birds.

(Submitted By Lora Kanning Cass County Conservation) — August 16, 2008 was my (Lora Kanning’s) first Breakfast with the Birds as our Cass County Naturalist. I remember being excited to have Kay Neuman confirmed for the program with a Great Horned Owl to release in Sunnyside Park. I also remember being disappointed by only 13 people coming out that year to the program. Fast forward 11 years, To August 2019, I was contacted by a homeowner Brenda Nelson who lived south of Atlantic, about a Great Horned Owl who she’s named “Henry” always lived near her property for the past 4 years. At the time, Henry was just oddly hanging out closer to her house instead of the woods, we chatted about how he was acting, all seemed fine. Until 8 days later she contacted me again with a video of him, super close to her house, on the ground, and frankly looked a little roughed up! I loaded up my Conservation vehicle and headed out that morning. After a little bit of poop, and a little chase, I rescued “Henry” and he was safely inside a carrier. I then called Kay Neuman with SOAR- (Saving Our Avian Resources) out of Dedham. I have learned my lesson don’t call Kay until the bird is in the carrier, there has been many a rescue where it takes more people or time to rescue the injured wildlife. When I was catching him, and putting him in the carrier, besides the skunk smell, he had some “extra jewelry” a bird band! Kay was available to meet up and safely transfer him to SOAR’s care. This is an example of a bird band encounter. If you find a banded bird you should report the band number and location to reportband.gov. The band encounter was reported and this great horned owl was banded by Kay before being released on the southwest edge of Atlantic, Iowa… 11 years ago! This is dispersal information, dispersal from release location for this owl, was Sunnyside park to where he was found was about 10 miles. This is important for a raptor rehabilitator to know – great horned owls may not travel or disperse very far from where released. The great horned owl pictured here is that banded owl in a flight pen regaining flight skills.

(HenryFlightPen.jpg Photo credit: SOAR)

Why band birds?
The data collected from the bird bander and from people that have an “encounter” with an already banded bird provide useful information for scientific research and management activities. Bird banding data helps biologists understand dispersal, migration, longevity, behavior, productivity, and more.

This great horned owl’s band encounter adds to the collection of reports for longevity. Curious about how long has a certain species has lived? Visit the BBL longevity search page: https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/longevity/Longevity_main.cfm Great Horned Owls like “Henry” can live up to 30 yrs old in the wild. He is estimated to be approximately 12 years old.

Differences between banding birds and using telemetry?
Both bands and telemetry must be put on the bird by someone with the banding permit. Data collected from band encounters is not (hopefully) quickly known by the bander. With raptors, band encounters may happen through research projects including hawk banding stations, through birds being admitted to a rehabilitator, or by birds being found dead in the field.

A telemetry unit permit is most often associated with a large-scale research project that has substantial funding and partner agencies. Tracking a bird with telemetry varies depending on the type of unit — a UHF unit that can be monitored using a handheld antennae, a telemetry unit that utilizes satellite technology, or a GPS-GSM telemetry system where data points are downloaded when the unit has cellular signal.

But back to “Henry”… Cass County Conservation was given updates on Henry every couple weeks to know his progress. Most likely “Henry” lost a fight with a skunk, Great Horned Owls are the #1 predator of Skunks in Iowa. Recovery from the spray probably directly to the eyes and a head injury. November came around, it started to look like he was getting very close to coming “home” to Cass County. We discussed dates, of course, mother nature with her high wind events pushed off his release a little bit. December 5th 2019 was a great day to come home, of course with the help of SOAR, Cass County Conservation Board and the homeowner Brenda, “Henry” was released right back where we found him.  We would also like to thank Sandy McCurdy for volunteering to take the photos of the release. “Henry” of course was ready to go, he came right out of the carrier.  He flew into the forest and sat in a tree for us for awhile. Checking out that he was back somewhere familiar! You can also checkout his release video on Cass County Conservation’s Facebook Page.

Many times wildlife rescue does not end with a happy story. Which is one of the reasons why we wanted to share “Henry’s” story with the residents of Cass County. Another reason is to raise awareness on how lucky we are in Cass County to have wildlife rehabbers regionally close to us like SOAR. SOAR runs on donations as a 501(c)(3) organization established in 1999 dedicated to saving our avian resources through raptor rehabilitation, education, and research. Your year-end donation will help us, stock freezers with the high quality food needed for our patients and ambassadors, buy blood lead testing supplies, and medications. Coming up on year end donations consider donating to SOAR, www.soarraptors.org.