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KJAN Ag/Outdoor

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Posted County Prices 8/28/18

Ag/Outdoor

August 28th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Cass County: Corn $2.98, Beans $7.61
Adair County: Corn $2.95, Beans $7.64
Adams County: Corn $2.95, Beans $7.60
Audubon County: Corn $2.97, Beans $7.63
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $3.01, Beans $7.61
Guthrie County: Corn $3.00, Beans $7.65
Montgomery County: Corn $3.00, Beans $7.63
Shelby County: Corn $3.01, Beans $7.61

Oats $2.52 (always the same in all counties)

(Information from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency offices)

Local 24-Hour Rainfall Totals ending at 7:00 am on Monday, August 27

Ag/Outdoor, Weather

August 27th, 2018 by Jim Field

  • KJAN, Atlantic  .32″
  • 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .26″
  • Massena  .59″
  • Elk Horn  .21″
  • Oakland  .69″
  • Audubon  .45″
  • Guthrie Center  .24″
  • Corning  .82″
  • Villisca  .8″
  • Kirkman  .16″
  • Manning  .27″
  • Carroll  .13″
  • Red Oak  .57″
  • Creston  .73″

Senator Ernst hoping for news soon on trade

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 25th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she expects to hear something soon on the trade deal with Mexico. The Republican from Red Oak says she knows everyone is anxious to hear something. “Iowans come to me every day to talk about trade, trade, trade, and the R-F-S,” Ernst says. Ernst says she doesn’t know all the details of what is being discussed — but she says it is important to make progress. “What do I want to see? I want to see the deal done,” Ernst says, “let’s get that in the rearview mirror. I think that will be really important for our farmers and ranchers.”

Ernst says the Mexico deal could be the path for other trade deals to come together. “Mexico has been a wonderful trade partner to us, I will not deny that, they have been very good for agriculure,” Ernst says. “So, if we can continue that wonderful relationship between our farmers and ranchers and the folks in Mexico — let’s do it, let’s get it done. Let’s move on, let’s get Canada done, and then we can focuse on the larger issue, which is China.”

Ernst made her comments during her weekly conference call with reporters.

USDA Authorizes Emergency Haying and Grazing of Conservation Reserve Program Acres for 22 Iowa Counties

Ag/Outdoor

August 23rd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES, Iowa), Aug. 23, 2018 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Amanda De Jong today (Thursday) announced that 22 Iowa Counties are authorized for emergency haying and grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for fiscal year 2018. FSA’s fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. The counties approved for emergency haying and grazing include: Adams, Appanoose, Clarke, Clay, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Dickinson, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Louisa, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, and Wayne.

Unlike previous years, counties are not automatically approved for CRP emergency grazing when they reach the D2 (severe drought) level on the U.S. Drought Monitor. If there is a need for emergency grazing, each local FSA office must request approval from the Iowa FSA state committee. The 90-day emergency grazing period for these counties will end Sept. 30, 2018. The emergency haying authorizations end 60 calendar days from the authorization date, not to exceed August 31, 2018.  De Jong said “Eligible producers who are interested in emergency haying and grazing of CRP must request approval before haying and grazing eligible acreage and must obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service that includes haying and grazing provisions. Current provisions allow grazing on 100 percent of a field, up to the 75 percent stocking rate.”

There will be no CRP annual rental payment reduction for 2018 emergency haying and grazing authorizations.  To take advantage of the emergency grazing provisions, authorized producers can use the CRP acreage for their own livestock or may grant another livestock producer use of the CRP acreage. The eligible CRP acreage is limited to acres located within the approved county.  In counties that are authorized for emergency haying and grazing, producers are reminded that the same CRP acreage cannot be both hayed and/or grazed at the same time. For example, if 50 percent of a field or contiguous field is hayed, the remaining unhayed 50 percent cannot be grazed; it must remain unhayed and ungrazed for wildlife. In addition, participants are limited to one hay cutting and are not permitted to sell any of the hay.

For more information and to request approval for emergency haying or grazing use of CRP acres, contact your local USDA Service Center.

Northern Iowa county approves new hog confinement operation

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 23rd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

GARNER, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa county has approved a construction permit for a new proposed hog confinement operation. The Globe Gazette in Mason City reports that the Hancock County Board of Supervisors approved the permit unanimously on Monday after hearing no comments from the public.

The public hearing was set after the county received an application from Summit Pork II LLC, of Alden, for an operation northwest of Crystal Lake. The plans call for two new confinement buildings to house nearly 5,000 hogs. County Supervisor Jerry Tlach, the board chairman, says the site appears to have been well-chosen because no one has complained about it.

USDA Report 8-23-2018

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

August 23rd, 2018 by Jim Field

w/Beth.

Play

Stand Up Paddleboard demonstration set for Saturday at Cold Springs Park near Lewis

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

August 22nd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Conservation Board is holding “Stand Up Paddleboard” (SUP) demonstration this Saturday, August 25th, from 9-a.m. to Noon. The FREE event takes place at Cold Springs Park beach.  After a quick demonstration, you can try out the boards for yourself. If you do not bring a life jacket one will be provided to you. You must weigh less than 250lbs. Children must be 16 years or older. The final paddleboard demonstration event is Sept. 1st, with times available at 1-p.m. and 2:30-p.m. The program will be cancelled is there is unsafe weather or conditions on the lake. Reserve your spot for either date by calling the CCCB at 712-769-2372.

SUP is the fastest growing sport in the paddling community not only across the country, but especially here in land-locked areas like Iowa. It’s described as a fun, healthy as a total body work-out and offers a unique perspective when it comes to being on the water.

Cass County Extension Report 8-22-2018

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

August 22nd, 2018 by Jim Field

w/Kate Olson.

Play

Local 24-Hour Rainfall Totals ending at 7:00 am on Tuesday, August 21

Ag/Outdoor, Weather

August 21st, 2018 by Jim Field

  • KJAN, Atlantic  .52″
  • 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .45″
  • Massena  .81″
  • Elk Horn  .95″
  • Audubon  1.18″
  • Oakland  .56″
  • Guthrie Center  1.45″
  • Kirkman  1.49″
  • Corning  .24″
  • Logan  2.65″
  • Woodbine  1.63″
  • Missouri Valley  3.12″
  • Underwood  1.27″
  • Manning  1.48″
  • Carroll  1.85″
  • Denison  1.65″
  • Shenandoah  .66″
  • Red Oak  .39″
  • Creston  .12″
  • Council Bluffs  1.64″

Company to pay $500K fine for spill protection violations

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha-based company has agreed to pay a $500,000 fine levied by federal regulators citing spill protection violations at production facilities in Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says Ag Processing Inc. didn’t have adequate Clean Water Act protections at several vegetable oil and biodiesel production facilities. The facilities are in Algona, Eagle Grove, Everly, Manning and Sheldon, Iowa; Hastings, Nebraska, and Dawson, Minnesota.

AG Processing also will be installing an electronic monitoring system on seven large crude soybean oil storage tanks at its Everly and Emmetsburg, Iowa, facilities. The settlement’s consent decree is subject to 30 days of public comment and review by a federal court.