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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!
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican senators say President Donald Trump will allow year-round sales of renewable fuel with blends of 15 percent ethanol as part of an emerging deal to make changes to the federal ethanol mandate.
The Environmental Protection Agency currently bans the 15-percent blend, called E15, during the summer because of concerns that it contributes to smog on hot days. Gasoline typically contains 10 percent ethanol. Farm-state lawmakers have pushed for greater sales of the higher ethanol blend to boost demand for the corn-based fuel.
Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley is calling the proposed deal good news for farmers and drivers alike.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz says the deal will save the jobs of thousands of blue-collar workers at refineries in Texas, Pennsylvania and other states.
AMES, Iowa (May 8, 2018) — Landus Cooperative today (Tuesday) announced it has signed an asset purchase agreement with ADM to acquire ADM’s grain facility in Manilla, Iowa. Under the purchase agreement, Landus Cooperative gains more than 2.3 million bushels of grain capacity for its first wholly-owned Crawford County, Iowa location including
· 775,000 bushels of upright storage
· More than 1.5 million bushels of bunker storage
· 32,000 bushel per hour receiving capacity
Pending final documentation, Landus Cooperative is slated to take possession June 1, 2018. Milan Kucerak, chief executive officer for Ames, Iowa- based Landus Cooperative said in a news release, “This Manilla, Iowa site is a strategic purchase for Landus Cooperative and farmers in western Iowa,” explained . “While this grain asset has been well cared for, we expect to improve efficiency on behalf of the customer utilizing best practices from our nearly 60 grain locations in Iowa. Our domestic and international grain end-users continue to demand high-quality corn and soybeans, and we know Crawford County, Iowa farmers can help meet that demand.”
Under terms of the purchase agreement, ADM and Landus Cooperative plan to honor all outstanding grain contracts. Landus Cooperative also plans to host a grower meeting shortly after final documents are signed, and the facility changes ownership. According to the North American Grain & Milling Annual ranking of the largest grain companies in North America based on storage, ADM ranks 2nd and Landus Cooperative ranks 6th.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Although spring storms initially slowed spring planting progress in Iowa and Nebraska, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports farmers have nearly caught up to five-year averages in the past week.
Iowa farmers have 40 percent of the corn crop planted, about three days behind the average at this point in the season. Three percent of corn plants have emerged, a slower pace than the five-year average of 9 percent.
The USDA said Monday in its weekly crop update that Iowa soybean planting is at the average of 12 percent completed. Farmers in Nebraska have 42 percent of the corn planted, near the 46 percent average. About 2 percent of the plants emerged behind the five-year average of 10 percent. Soybean planting is slightly ahead of schedule with 16 percent completed.
The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency reports the grassland/field fire Danger Index will be in the “Moderate” category, this week. Persons wanting to conduct an open burn on their property should pay attention to the weather conditions (Including wind direction), and notify their local fire chief of your intentions. The next update on the danger index will be Thursday morning.
Spring has finally arrived, and just in time for the annual Cass County Master Gardener Plant Sale! The sale is being held at the Cass County Community Center north parking lot, Saturday, May 12 beginning at 8 AM and lasting until the plants are gone. Cost is a free will offering for most plants.
The sale consists of perennial flowers and plants from local Master Gardeners’ own beds- hostas, iris, yarrow, sedum and day lilies, to name a few. Plant selection changes each year depending on what is being dug and divided by our gardeners! The plants this year may be a little smaller due to a late spring, but should be hardy and catch up in no time. All plants will be labeled with information on color, height, and shade vs sun preference, to assist you in finding the perfect spot to plant them in your own landscape.
Besides perennials there will be books from the 2018 Spring Garden Seminar available for purchase; authored by our garden seminar presenter, J. Schwanke, these would make great Mother’s day gifts. There will also be yard art, garden supplies, and other garden books to buy.
It’s recommended that you come in the first hour for best selection, as plants go fast! Cass County Master Gardeners use funds from the plant sale to support their scholarships and community grants, as well as projects they do around the county each year. For more information on the sale, you can find a flier at the Cass County Extension office, or on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.
You can also call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or email xcass@iastate.edu. Mark your calendar now, and plan to join the Cass County Master Gardeners for their annual Plant Sale on May 12, from 8 AM until the plants are gone!
Pack up the tent and sleeping bags, as Iowa’s state parks are hosting Camping Kickoff Weekend this Friday through Sunday. Todd Coffelt, the state parks director at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says everything is ready for Iowans to enjoy. “We’ve got all of the facilities hooked up, the water and utilities, and we want people to get out and enjoy the outdoors,” Coffelt says. “Our state parks system is nearing 100 years old so it’s an opportunity for people to take a look at it with a different lens.”
Iowans can use either of two websites to make reservations for camping spots. “They can do a search on the DNR webpage, www.iowadnr.gov, to find a place to visit,” Coffelt says, “or they can go to iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com, and that will be the direct line where they can set a reservation at their favorite park.” Iowa has more than 47-hundred state park campsites and 75-percent of them can be reserved in advance. Coffelt said there are two parks that have temporarily closed their camping facilities for renovation — Ledges and Marble Beach at Gull Point — but Iowans will notice plenty of improvements elsewhere.
“Pleasant Creek will have more water in it and it’s a park that’s been closed with our Lakes Restoration Program and people will now be able to get access there,” Coffelt says. “You’re going to see Lake MacBride is back up and moving, Lake Wapello is back open, and Waubonsie, down in southwest Iowa. We’ve made a lot of effort to get these parks up and running.” More than 30 state parks are hosting special activities this weekend (May 4-6), including kayaking clinics, fun runs, night sky hikes, volunteer projects and more.
(Radio Iowa)
NEW VIENNA, Iowa (AP) — A dairy farmer has agreed to pay more than $24,000 in restitution and a penalty for manure runoff that Iowa authorities say killed more than 60,000 fish.
The fish kill was reported Oct. 9 after carcasses were spotted in two creeks in Dyersville. Officials searched the area upstream and determined that the fish kill was caused by manure from the dairy farm, which sits about 3 miles east of New Vienna.
An Iowa Natural Resources Department settlement signed last week says farm owner John Hoefler and the department agreed that he would pay a $2,000 penalty and restitution and investigative costs of more than $22,400 and take steps to ensure the spill doesn’t recur.
Among the dead fish were minnows, white suckers and creek chubs.
The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund has donated $500 to Josh Peach for the upcoming kids fishing clinic. The clinic takes place Saturday, June 2nd. at Lake Anita State Park. The Friends of Lake Anita will begin registration for the event at 9:30, with fishing to start at 10. There will be a short program held prior to fishing. Each participant will receive a prize and the event is finished off with a hot dog, chips and water provided to the participants.
Lake Anita Park Mgr. Josh Peach (Left), receives a check from Melanie Petty with the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund. (Photo submitted)
Fund spokesperson (and Trevor’s mom) Melanie Petty, says “We are happy to help sponsor this wonderful event that gets kids out into the great outdoors. Fishing is a great sport that you can enjoy all of your life. If you are new to fishing, the group even has a few fishing rods that they will loan out for the event.”
Petty reminds you also, that the 10th Annual TFred Memorial Golf Outing will be held on Saturday, August 11th at Nishna Hills Golf Club. This is the only fundraising event for the year. If you are interested in entering a team please call or text Melanie Petty at 712-249-3696. She says “We look forward to a great day of golf and friendship.” All monies raised are donated back to the community that Trevor loved.
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