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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!
(Radio Iowa) — The U-S Ambassador to China visited the Iowa State Fair over the weekend. Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad says the escalating trade troubles between the U-S and China are top-of-mind for many people, from politicians to ag producers. Ambassador Branstad was asked how long the trade war between the nations will likely continue. “I wish I knew,” Branstad says. “We’re back at the bargaining table but we’ve got some big differences including things involving protecting intellectual property rights, stopping the stealing of technology and just getting access to their market in many areas.”
The Trump Administration plans to impose another 10-percent tariff on 300-billion dollars worth of Chinese goods starting September 1st, and China is retaliating. Branstad says agriculture has been “really hurt” by that retaliation, as China has asked its state-owned companies to halt all purchases of U-S ag goods. “There’s a lot of threats being made but they really need quality, reliable food from America,” Branstad says. “The Chinese people do appreciate both the quality as well as the dependability of American food. They have not always had that.”
There are some indications the Chinese may be stalling any resolution until after the 2020 presidential election, but Branstad says that’s a mistake on several levels. “This is not going to change just because there’s a change in party because both parties are tired of the way China is handling the situation,” Branstad says. “They want reciprocity and fairness and it’s a bipartisan issue. It doesn’t make sense for them to stall. They’re only hurting their own people as well as hurting the world economy.”
Branstad says it will take persistence and patience for the two countries to strike a deal.
Harlan, IA (August 12, 2019) – The Shelby County Conservation Board and City of Harlan are interested in improving public access to the West Nishnabotna River in Shelby County. Golden Hills RC&D and Iowa Department of Natural Resources are helping assess the possibility of developing approximately 18 miles of the river as a state water trail from just north of the city of Harlan (Reinig Access) south to the county line, connecting with the existing state water trail in Pottawattamie County.
The meeting will be held on Monday, August 19 at 6:30-p.m. at Nishna Bend Recreation Area (514 Maple Rd, Harlan, IA 51537).
Here are some of the changes that may occur if the river becomes a state water trail:
• Improved access and parking
• Wayfinding signage and interpretive panels, a brochure with a map.
• Greater maintenance and management of the river resource
• More on-water opportunities for interpretive/educational programs.
• Educational campaigns available for safety, river etiquette, and litter control.
• Access to funding and technical assistance for access improvements and interpretive materials (brochures, maps, interpretive panels, etc).
• Hazard mitigation and streambank stability opportunities.
• Broad partnership among public land managers for problem solving.
River recreation has increased significantly in recent years, and this meeting will be a way for river users to learn about Iowa’s water trail program, ask questions, and express concerns. Canoeists, kayakers, inner-tubers, and anyone else who currently uses the West Nishnabotna River for recreational purposes in and around Shelby County are welcome to attend. Questions should be directed to Lance Brisbois, Project Coordinator at Golden Hills RC&D: Lance@goldenhillsrcd.org or 712.482.3029.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The eastern Iowa city of Cedar Rapids is preparing for its annual Urban Deer Hunt, which allows some deer hunting inside city limits.
This year’s season opens on Sept. 14 and runs through Jan. 10. Hunting is limited to those using archery equipment, and participants must complete a bow hunter’s class and attend an urban deer hunting rules and regulations class. Participants must also pass an annual proficiency test and complete a special application before being issued a permit for the urban hunt. Participants must also provide a completed land owners permission form.
The intent of the urban hunt is to thin populations of deer living within city limits and residential areas. More information can be found on the city’s website at http://bit.ly/2YBizSw .
LAKE VIEW, Iowa (AP) — Western Iowa authorities say a 58-year-old man died after becoming trapped in a grain bin. Firefighters, medics and Sac County deputies were sent to the Lake View location around 3:40 p.m. Thursday. Officials say Garry Leonard became stuck after he entered the partially filled bin to break up some corn clotting. Another worker tried to pull him free but failed. The corn was removed, and firefighters were able to get him out about 45 minutes later. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Leonard lived in Lake View.
(Radio Iowa) — The 2019 Iowa State Fair’s Big Boar tipped the scales yesterday (Thursday) at 1254 pounds. They call him Captain. Tricia Britt, of Monticello, says “We wanted to come up with a name that had authority.” It’s the first time she and her husband, Bryan, have entered one of their boars in the biggest of big state fair contests.
“We’ve never been here before and we’ve never watched the ‘Big Boar’ show, but we knew about it,” Tricia Britt says. “Brian has a cousin that has done it.” Captain, who is three-and-a-half years old, was the heaviest of six boars entered in Thursday’s State Fair competition.
Each entrant was paraded into the Swine Barn’s show ring and weighed as a crowd on bleachers watched and cheered.
DES MOINES — A second consecutive month of below normal precipitation has about 36 percent of the state rated as abnormally dry, according to the latest Water Summary Update. “It seems surprising that after the wet winter and spring that we would be thinking about drought conditions, but recent dryness has pushed parts of the state in that direction,” said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources. “So far, streamflow and shallow groundwater are at normal levels, but we will continue to monitor those conditions.”
The data show two-thirds of Harrison County, all but the southeast corner of Pottawattamie County, the eastern half of Page County, nearly all of Taylor County, the northern half of Adair and Madison Counties, and most of Guthrie and Dallas Counties, to name a few, are abnormally dry.
July averaged 3.35 inches of rainfall around the state, which is 1.15 inches less than normal. June and July together were 2.3 inches below normal for rainfall. Despite this recent dry weather, the previous 12 months were the fourth wettest on record. Iowa temperatures averaged 75.1 degrees, or 1.5 degrees above normal, ranking this as the 51st warmest July. The month’s high temperature of 99 degrees was reported on July 19 in Little Sioux in Harrison County, which was 13 degrees above average for that date. Cresco in Howard County reported the month’s low temperature of 48 degrees on July 31, 11 degrees below average.
For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, go to www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.
The report is prepared by technical staff from Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.
Celebrating its 40th year in Iowa, the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program will hold its core training sessions this fall for local individuals interested in becoming Master Gardener volunteers. The Master Gardener program in Cass County is looking for people who are passionate about volunteering and gardening. No previous garden knowledge is required. The program equips participants to grow in knowledge about gardening best practices. After the training, Master Gardeners volunteer in their community, making significant contributions such as giving vegetables to food pantries and maintaining demonstration gardens at Iowa’s county fairgrounds. 
“Master Gardeners provide volunteer service across Iowa,” said Susan DeBlieck, ISU Extension and Outreach Master Gardener coordinator. “They are excellent community resources who create partnerships in their community to enhance school gardens, provide educational opportunities, and host plant sales.”
The Cass County Extension office will hold training sessions starting on Tuesday, September 3 at the Extension Office and other locations around Cass County to allow for hands-on learning. Classes will be held each Tuesday evening in September and October from 6-8 PM, with an additional extended class scheduled for Saturday morning September 28. The Class on Campus training session will be held in Ames on October 19, bringing all Master Gardener trainees across the state together for hands-on workshops with ISU Extension and Outreach instructors.
The expanded flipped classroom model that was implemented in 2018 will continue this year. Lectures that were previously given during classroom sessions are now available to be watched at home, freeing up class time for hands-on activities and tours of local gardens. This is the first time this format has been offered for training in Cass County. Those interested in the course can apply online at https://mastergardenerhours.hort.iastate.edu/application-form.php. A link to the application form is also available on the Cass County Extension Website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass or you can call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 for assistance with registration. Training fees of $195 are due in the fall once participants are accepted into the class. Because Master Gardener volunteers work with many community partners, applicants will also be required to successfully pass a background screen before being accepted into the program.
After completing the course, Master Gardener trainees volunteer within the community, volunteering 40 hours. To maintain Master Gardener volunteer status, they volunteer 20 hours per year and build their gardening know-how by participating in ten hours of continuing education. Cass County has an active Master Gardener group that participates in many projects throughout the year, so opportunities to learn and volunteer are plentiful! Individuals not interested in becoming a Master Gardener volunteer can still receive training. The ProHort program allows individuals to gain knowledge while earning a certificate of completion. Cost for the ProHort program is $550 and does not include any volunteer requirements.
By becoming a Master Gardener, trainees will join the nearly 2,000 Master Gardeners who were active across Iowa in 2018, compiling over 113,000 volunteer hours. Master Gardeners volunteered nearly 60 hours each, significantly more than the 20 hours required. Those volunteer hours are valued at $2.7 million collectively. For more information about the Master Gardener training, or Master Gardener activities in Cass county, 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.
Region 17 Table Setting Contest: Region 17 Table Setting Contest was held Thursday, August 1 at 4:00pm the Council Bluffs Public Library in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The Region 17 Table Setting Contest is an event bringing the best of the best from each county in Region 17 together to compete for the top table setting in each category and age division. Counties in Region 17 include Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, East Pottawattamie and West Pottawattamie.
During each county fair, each county holds a Table Setting Contest where youth choose a theme for either a formal or casual table setting. They plan a menu of what would be served, arrange a full single table setting with flatware, stemware, and dinnerware as needed to serve the planned meal at their dinner or party. They create a centerpiece to fit the theme. Finally, they set up the table setting, menu and centerpiece on a card table, or for informal table settings such as a picnic, arrange everything on a blanket on the floor. They youth wear clothing that goes along with the theme to strengthen the presentation. A judge then talks to the participant and judges them on their planning skills, ability to set a proper table, manners, ability to develop a theme, the menu, centerpiece and clothing choices, hospitality skills and communication throughout the judging process.
Youth are divided into age groups of juniors (grades 4-6), intermediates (grades 7-8) and seniors (grades 9-12) and then are divided again into the categories of formal or casual. At the end of each county fair, their top junior, intermediate and senior in both casual and formal are selected to participate in the Region 17 Showcase night. Youth came together, set up their tables and were judged. The top junior, intermediate and senior in both casual and formal were selected and received an award at the end of the showcase evening.
Region 17 Showcase Results:
Junior Casual Participants: Angelina Cain, Cadence Jahn, Ella Johnson, Summer Maher, London Schueman, Sophia Stroud
Junior Formal Participants: Lexie Clark, Lilly Kurth, Ailey Marburger, Evelyn Stoakes
Intermediate Casual Participants: Cale Clark, Rebecca Cody, Paige Goodspeed, Lea Hendrickson, Jaiden Jahn
Intermediate Formal Participants: Cora Killpack, Emily Newby, Allyee Pierson
Senior Casual Participants: Mariah Cain, Kandalyn Davies, Camryn Pierson, Camryn Schafer
Senior Formal Participants: Bailey Maher, Anna Newby
Healthy & Homemade: Healthy and Homemade is a series focused on strategies for using your time, money and skills wisely to save money and prepare nutritious and safe foods. Explore the benefits of using the slow cooker, food safety tips, and meal ideas. Discover how planning can reduce stress, save money, and provide your family nutritious home-cooked meals. Tour our virtual grocery store and learn how to identify and purchase the most nutritious food items. Healthy and Homemade will be held at the Guthrie County Extension Office from 6:00- 7:00 pm on November 7, 14 and 21, 2019. Register by November 4, 2019 at http://bit.ly/hh13242.
Silent Auction Donations: Guthrie County 4-H’ers are asking for your donation to the 4-H Silent Auction taking place during the 2019 Guthrie County Fair. Last year’s auction was a big success & we are hoping to raise even more funds this year to offset the rising cost of 4-H enrollment fees. If you would like to donate or have any questions, please contact the Extension Office at 641-747-2276.
Cy-Hawk Tailgate: Guthrie County Extension is partnering with Guthrie County Corn Growers Association to host the 8th Annual Cy-Hawk Tailgate Party on Friday, September 13th from 11:00 am- 1:00pm! Help us celebrate Iowa’s biggest game of the year and team rivalry! Whether you’re a Cyclone fan or Hawkeye fan, come and enjoy free grilled hot dogs, chips, cookies and bottled water. We have added tailgate games this year! Register for a chance to win an ISU tailgate package!
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