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!
The Cass County Conservation Board is holding a youth fishing derby at Cold Springs Park on June 9th 2018. The event is open to the first 50 youths age 15 and under to register for the event. Check-in will run from 8:15am to 8:45am with the derby starting at 9:00am and running till 11:00 am. Prizes will be awarded for the most total weight, heaviest single fish, longest single fish and shortest single fish. There will also be a raffle following fishing. The Conservation board with have some live bait for use and a limited number of fishing poles for use as well.
Lunch will be available for purchase after the event provided by the Lewis Improvement Committee. We would like to thank all those that donated items for the event: Weirich Welding for the trophies, Cappel’s Ace Hardware, Scheels, Bass Pro Shops, and Sportsman’s Warehouse for prizes. To register or for further details please contact Micah Lee with the Cass County Conservation Board at 712-769-2372.
Iowa farmers spent a lot of time pulling planters last week. With at least four days of good planting weather across the state, the U-S-D-A says 86 percent of the corn has now been planted. That compares to 65 percent last week. Lots of beans were planted too — with 58 percent of the expected ten million acres of soybeans now in the ground. That compares to the 33 percent planted last week. Northwest and north-central Iowa did a lot of catching up this past week — with 70 percent of the corn now planted — compared to 25 percent last week. Those areas still have less than one third of their projected soybeans planted.
(Radio Iowa)
FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 20-year-old man has been accused of stealing around 150 pigs from a confinement near Lake Mills in northern Iowa. Winnebago County Court records say Robert Morales, of Buffalo Center, is charged with theft and burglary. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 8. The pigs were reported stolen Nov. 4 from a Christensen Farms operation.
Iowa’s governor, the state agriculture secretary and the leaders of 11 state ag groups are sending a letter to President Trump, urging him to resolve the trade dispute with China. Bill Shipley of Nodaway, president of the Iowa Soybean Association, says the trade war caused by the U-S tariffs imposed on Chinese steel and aluminum must be ended — and soon. “They need to get the issues resolved and work hard at it, not just sit around and twiddle their thumbs for a couple of weeks,” Shipley says. “Farming is a time-dependent industry compared to a lot of things. Find your markets. Work on them. Don’t sit around and wait for things to happen. You have to be proactive.”
Shipley says one-third of the state’s five-billion dollar soybean crop is exported to China and Iowa farmers can’t afford to lose that market. “Iowa would be the hardest-hit state with these tariffs going into effect on ag of any state in the nation,” Shipley says. “Our income’s been cut 40 to 50% in the last six years. Can you name any other industry that’s had their income cut that much — and still, we’re out here doing it?” Shipley says it’s taken decades to nurture a trade relationship with the Chinese and he notes, both nations benefit from the partnership. “We worked so hard to build the Chinese market,” Shipley says. “Thirty-five years ago, they didn’t buy any soybeans. Now, 40% of their usage comes from the United States. That’s a huge change. It’s a market we need and they need us. They need soybeans to feed their livestock and feed their people.”
In the letter to the president, the Iowa group says the state’s citizens and economy depend on having a quick resolution to the trade dispute.
(Radio Iowa)
Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Seth Staashelm, Monday, told the Parks and Rec Board, that with regard to the Schildberg Recreation Area campsite availability for this upcoming Memorial Day Holiday, “We’re gonna be booked-up this weekend.” Staashelm said there are three open spots, but two of those are already reserved, with the remaining spot available on a first-come, first-served basis.
He said all sites at the campground this year are on the same basis. Many of the sites are already in use by crews working at the Elite Octane Ethanol site, and Seth says “It feels like they’re bringing more people in, so I don’t know when they’re gonna be done out there.” Board member John Krogman said the completion date keeps getting pushed back, and Staashelm said it appears they may be there through the summer, which puts a crimp on persons wishing to camp for recreation.
That’s the only drawback to having construction crews camp at Schildberg. On the plus side, their use of the site has brought in much more money than the City ever expected, to the tune of $58,000 already, when it was optimistically estimated at the onset, only $700 would be generated. And, even though the Parks Department is over budget on municipal water, electric and garbage removal, Seth says “Our percentage is huge right now. As much as I like having the income come in it’s gonna be nice when they’re all out of there and we can maintain the place and make everything look nice.” That includes grading the ruts out, spraying, reseeding and other necessary maintenance.
Staashelm said also, the Grand Opening for the Sunnyside Pool is 1-p.m. Saturday, May 26th, and the Sunnyside Park Block Party takes place June 1st, from 5-until 9-p.m., at the Kiddie Korral. Local organizations including the ARISE, Kiwanis, Lions Club and 1st Church of Christ are helping out for the event. Free hot dogs will be available, along with 150 free cotton candy’s to tie-in with Atlantic’s 150th Anniversary (Sesquicentennial). And, movies in the park will be held at the Kiddie Korral June 8th (“The Lion King”) and July 11th (“Coco”), with activities at 7-p.m. and the movie at 8:30-p.m. On August 17th, the movie will take place in the Shelter at the Schildberg Recreation Area, with a showing of “Jumanji.” Local groups, Royal Neighbors, Atlantic Rising and Megan Roberts State Farm are helping run the events, with free popcorn being served. All shows are free and fun for the family to enjoy.
Leaders of an initiative to help startup companies involved in agriculture have identified the program’s sophomore class. Megan Vollstedt, executive director of the Iowa AgriTech Accelerator, says they received many great applicants from around the country and world. “Agriculture is everywhere. It’s the base of so many communities and industries. The innovations that we see can affect agriculture in any location, customers are everywhere for these innovations,” Vollstedt said. Five early stage ag tech companies were selected by a board of directors comprised of agribusinesses that invest in the Accelerator program. “Solving legitimate problems in the industry with a solution that really resonates with the industry and the need that’s there,” Vollstedt said.
The five ag tech startups chosen to participate in the 100-day Accelerator are Osceola, Iowa-based U.S. Design Consultants, Krobel Corp of Mankato, Minnesota, AgHelp in Grand Rapids, Michigan, VakSea, based in Baltimore, and Nigerian company BirdPreneur. The program will begin May 29 and conclude on August 30. The five startups will receive intensive mentoring and $40,000 in seed funding.
(Radio Iowa)
The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Board will hold a regularly scheduled meeting 5:15-p.m. Monday (May 21st), in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. On their agenda are updates from Parks & Rec Director Seth Staashelm, with regard to:
In his regular report to the Board, Staashelm is expected to mention the Sunnyside Pool will open this Saturday, May 26th, beginning at 1-p.m. He’ll also talk about: Summer Programs, the Sunnyside Park Block Party on June 1st, Movies in the Park, featuring “The Lion King,” and provide an update on the campgrounds.
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