Iowa farmers, based on their location, are having much different experiences during the early part of this growing season. Bruce Rohwer is growing corn and soybeans in northwest Iowa’s O’Brien County, where snow delayed planting. Once he could get in his fields, rain interrupted his progress. “We are completed on planting of corn and beans. It’s just a little bit later than usual, but the weather is doing its best to make up for the calendar,” Rohwer says. While there’s flooding in some areas of northern Iowa from recent torrential downpours, Rohwer is thankful his crops are getting “adequate” rain. “As a farmer, you always hope it will continue that way throughout the year,” Rohwer said. “But, you’re also a farmer, and you know that Mother Nature can change the hand at any time. We’re looking good at this point.”

Areas of southern Iowa could use some of that rain. Kyle Phillips, who has a 4,000 acre corn and soybean operation near Knoxville, says the dry conditions helped with planting. “We were done planting the earliest in history, we were done the 9th of May,” Phillips said. According to Phillips, the little bit of rain Marion County got over the weekend won’t be enough to keep his crops moving in the right direction. “We need a lot more rain,” Phillips said. “We have an excellent stand, both corn and soybeans, but we’ve got to have substantial rain to bring this crop home.”

The USDA crop report released Monday shows 81-percent of Iowa’s corn crop in good to excellent condition. Ninety-seven-percent of the corn has emerged. Eighty-nine percent of soybeans have emerged, with 78-percent of the soybean crop rated in good to excellent condition.

(Radio Iowa)

• KJAN, Atlantic  2.61″
• Anita  3.45″
• Massena  .67″
• Elk Horn  .61″
• North edge of Elk Horn  5.3″
• Audubon  1.03″
• Guthrie Center  1.84″
• Corning  .87″
• Lenox  .8″
• Oakland  .27″
• Missouri Valley  .58″
• Logan  .61″
• Irwin  .84″
• Underwood  .28″
• Manning  1.48″
• Kirkman  1.53″
• Carroll  .53″
• Cresrton  2.38″
• Murray  1.47″
• Earlham  1.83″
• Minburn  1.85″
• Waukee  1.93″
• West Des Moines  2.09″
• Winterset  2.24″

There’s still time to sign up for the first-ever Iowa Outdoor Learning Environments Conference which will be held in Ames later this month. One of the organizers, Carly Sabus, explains the focus of outdoor learning environments, or OLEs (pronounced OH-lees).

Sabus says, “We define an outdoor learning environment as a deliberately-designed outdoor space for intentional learning and an intentional setting for exploration, inquiry, and learning to empower environmental literacy and education and STEM learning.”

An OLE can be located at a school or other community location like a library, park, protected natural area, or other places where the outdoor setting can enhance educational opportunities for youth and community members. The two-day conference will zero in on helping Iowans create more OLEs. “We will be having a whole line-up of workshops and speakers from all over the region who are local experts on these outdoor learning environments,” Sabus says. “We’ll be tackling subjects like gaining community support for your outdoor learning environment, helping get funds, how you get volunteers.”

Workshops will also teach participants how to create educational programs, design, implement and maintain OLEs. The event will be held June 18th and 19th at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. The event is sponsored by Prairie Rivers of Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) –  more at www.prrcd.org

Front Row Rookies are L to R, Trenton Boots, Austin Eblen, Ayden Goetz, Tristan Williamson, and Creighton Kinzie. Second Row Intermediate Entry (IE) are L to R, Brandon Raasch, Eyon Steffensen, Jack Sargent, Dalton Reed, Kaden Herr, and Jordan Brewer. Third Row Intermediate Advance (IA) are L to R, Logan Eilts, Ty Eblen, Brady Goetz, Michael Maas, Brett Dreager, and Cayden Jensen. Back Row Coaches are L to R, Corey Stephenson, Cliff Aupperle, Paul Upmeyer, and Chuck Kinzie.

The CAM Shooting Sports team and few other area shooters competed at the Iowa Youth Trapshooting Championships on Wednesday in Cedar Falls. The event is hosted by the Iowa DNR and Iowa State Trapshooting Association at the ISTA home grounds just north of Cedar Falls.

CAM Shooting Sports team results

ROOKIES
Placed 7th out of 13 Squads
Squad score 283/500
Creighton Kinzie 75/100 placed 22nd out of 82 shooters
Ayden Goetz 59/100 placed 53rd out of 82 shooters
Austin Eblen 57/100 placed 60th out of 82 shooters
Trenton Boots 50/100 placed 68th out of 82 shooters
Tristan Williamson 42/100 placed 77th out of shooters

INTERMEDIATE ENTRY LEVEL
Placed 32nd out of 51 Squads
Squad score 632/1000
Brandon Raasch 163/200 placed 73rd out of 310 shooters
Eyon Steffensen 47/200 placed 305th out of 310 shooters
Dalton Reed 110/200 placed 273rd out of 310 shooters
Jordan Brewer 151/200 placed 139th out of 310 shooters
Kaden Herr 161/200 placed 83rd out of 310 shooters

INTERMEDIATE ENTRY LEVEL
Jack Sargent 89/200 placed 295th out of 310 shooters

INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED LEVEL
Placed 23rd out of 49 Squads
Squad score 849/1000
Ty Eblen 186/200 placed 38th out of 298 shooters
Logan Eilts 178/200 placed 91st out of 298 shooters
Cayden Jensen 180/200 placed 71st out of 298 shooters
Michael Maas 155/200 placed 210th out of 298 shooters
Brett Dreager 150/200 placed 228th out of 298 shooters
(Ty Eblen had two perfect rounds where is shot 25/25 and Logan Eilts had a perfect round shooting 25/25 also.)

INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED LEVEL
Brady Goetz 127/200 placed 278th out of 298 shooters

Other top area competitors

INTERMEDIATE ENTRY LEVEL
Chase Dimmitt, Harlan- 184/200. 8th out of 310 shooters.
Will Devine, Underwood Youth Trap Club- 169/200. 51st out of 310 shooters.

INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED LEVEL
Boys
Hugh Griffith, Harlan- 191/200. 12th out of 298 shooters.
Joshua Kenkel, Harlan- 190/200. 21st out of 298 shooters.

Girls
Avery Carter, Harlan- 141/200. 42nd out of 56 shooters.

Check out full results here.

The Neely-Kinyon Research Farm Field Day is scheduled for Tuesday June19, 2018, 9:30 to 1:00 at the Neely-Kinyon Research Farm near Greenfield, Iowa. The public is invited to attend at no cost. This year’s program will begin at 9:30 AM, featured speakers are Tim Youngquiest, Agriculture Specialist II, speaking on SPRIPS Project that are underway this year on the Farm and Randall Cass, Extension Entomologist, will be discussing honey an native bee health in soybean and prairie landscapes. Complimentary lunch will be served at 12:00.

The Neely-Kinyon Farm is located 2 miles south of Greenfield on Highway 25, half mile east on 260th St, and half mile north on Norfolk Avenue. For more information contact the Wallace Foundation at 712-769-2650 or raelynb@iastate.edu.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today (Thursday) announced that applications for the Farmers Market Nutrition Programs are now available for eligible WIC recipients and low-income older Iowans. The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs provide eligible Iowans with checks that can be redeemed for fresh, locally grown produce at authorized farmers markets and farm stands from June 1 through Oct. 31, 2018.

Naig said “The Farmers Market Nutrition Programs are designed to give WIC participants and low-income seniors better access to the fresh and nutritious fruits and vegetables that can be found at farmers markets and farm stands throughout the state.” The Farmers Market Nutrition Programs are administered through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Department on Aging.

The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides eligible WIC recipients with nine checks valued at $3 each. WIC FMNP checks will be distributed statewide on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible individuals may pick up checks at arranged appointments or at regularly scheduled clinic appointments. A combination of state and federal funds will be used to make benefits available to more than 16,000 eligible WIC recipients this year. Eligible individuals include children ages 9 months through 4 years, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and post-partum women that participate in Iowa’s WIC Program. The state’s 20 local WIC agencies have begun to distribute checks and nutritional education information. WIC recipients with questions can contact their local WIC clinic or visit https://idph.iowa.gov/wic/families for more information.

The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides eligible seniors with 10 checks for $3 each. In addition to produce, locally produced honey can also be purchased with Senior FMNP checks. The checks are available on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible recipients through Area Agency on Aging offices. A combination of state and federal funds will be used to make benefits available to more than 18,000 eligible seniors this year. Eligible seniors must be 60 years of age or older with a household income less than $22,459 if single or $30,451 for a married couple. Iowa seniors will be asked to complete a one-page application verifying their eligibility. The Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) have begun to distribute checks and nutritional education information. To find an Area Agency on Aging near you, contact the Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging (i4a) toll free at 866-468-7887 or at www.i4a.org.

The president of the National Pork Producers Council says pig farmers are taking a financial beating as the Trump Administration seeks to reduce the U.S. trade deficit.  “The president has said he wouldn’t abandon farmers and we’ve taken him at his word, but we need him to end these trade disputes now.” That’s Jim Heimerl, an Ohio hog farmer who leads the organization. Heimerl is in Des Moines this week for the World Pork Expo. He had this message for reporters during a news conference.  “I wanted to come here wearing band aides to get the point across to you, to say that, you know, we are bleeding,” Heimerl said. According to an Iowa State University analysis, hog futures have plummeted 18-dollars per head since China first proposed retaliatory tariffs.

“That’s a $2.2 billion dollar industry loss on an annualized basis,” Heimerl said. Heimerl says while that drop isn’t completely due to trade issues, it’s the dominant factor and involves more than just the impasse with China. Mexico imposed tariffs on U.S. pork this week. “Now, with Mexico’s action, the toll on rural America will mount. We need to get this fixed now. Mexico is the number two export market for pork and China is number three,” Heimerl said. “We appreciate all the trade issues the administration is balancing, but we are starting to take on water fast.” Heimerl Farms is located outside of Columbus, Ohio, and operates 140 livestock barns and a feed mill. About 20-thousand people are attending the World Pork Expo in Des Moines. A thousand of them are international visitors, representing 40 different countries.

(Radio Iowa)

• KJAN, Atlantic  .14″
• Elk Horn  .02″
• Massena  .05″
• Audubon  .49″
• Oakland  .05″
• Villisca  .83″
• Corning  .91″
• Kirkman  .11″
• Bedford  .47″
• Irwin  .26″
• Manning  1.27″
• Guthrie Center  .65″
• Carroll  1.05″
• Woodbine  .5″
• Council Bluffs  1.23″
• Red Oak  .43″
• Creston  .75″
• Clarinda  .7″
• Shenandoah  .4″

The City of Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department is seeking a part-time Park Foreman. The right person will assist with the maintenance and management of the Parks and Recreation Department. For full job Description email sstaashelm@cityofatlantic.com

Salary- Part-time position at $15 an hour, 1,500 hours a year maximum.

Special Training, Certifications and Licenses:

• You must have  a valid Iowa Driver’s License
• Include a list of any power tools or power equipment that you may already be trained to operate.

Please send Resume with cover letter by June 18 before 5pm to:

Seth Staashelm- Director

23 E. 4th St.

Atlantic, IA 50022

Email: sstaashelm@cityofatlantic.com

Office- 712-243-3542

Park cell- 712-254-0637

Clarinda, Iowa – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training program on June 20, 2018 at Wibholm Hall on the Page County Fairgrounds. The program will cover numerous best management practices and will qualify producers for BQA certification. Iowa beef producers, veterinarians, feed industry personnel, and anyone interested in beef cattle production are invited to participate. The program will include a general overview of the BQA program and cover all the major production practices required for BQA certification.

“There is growing demand from packers and retailers that producers become BQA certified. It may soon become necessary for producers, especially those marketing fed cattle, to become certified in order to maintain market access,” says Chris Clark, ISUEO Beef Field Specialist. “Beyond that, the program does include a lot of really good information. BQA has evolved into a pretty comprehensive program and there should be value in the content for those that attend.”

The meeting will run from 6:00 pm to approximately 8:00 pm at Wibholm Hall on the Page County Fairgrounds in Clarinda. There is no cost to attend and a meal will be provided. Page County Cattlemen will begin serving meals at 5:30 pm. To assist organizers with planning, please preregister by June 18 by calling Kimberly Cavalier at the Page County Extension Office at (712) 542-5171.