AMES, Iowa – Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) is once again working with experienced farmers across the state to offer aspiring farmers on-farm job opportunities through the Labor4Learning program. For the 2018 season, 14 experienced farmers from around the state have signed on to hire an employee through the program and to provide additional training on topics critical to successfully running a farm business. To qualify as a trainee, applicants must have a strong desire to learn; apply to and be hired by a trainer farm; and be or become a member of Practical Farmers of Iowa.

Locally, 2018 Labor4Learning Farms include:

• Dale and Marcie Raasch – Bridgewater Farm – Adair County (Bridgewater) – Certified organic vegetables and fruits; hay, cattle, hogs, broilers, laying hens
• Denise O’Brien and Larry Harris – Rolling Acres Farm – Cass County (Atlantic) – Produce, cover crops, poultry
• Jon Bakehouse – Maple Edge Farm – Mills County (Hastings) – Corn, soy, alfalfa, beef cattle, pasture, small grains

Officials with PFI say having sufficient on-farm work experience is vital to the success of new farmers just starting on their own. Most on-farm employment opportunities, however, are limited in scope and don’t expose employees to the full range of skills needed to be successful.

Now entering its sixth year, Practical Farmers’ Labor4Learning program helps fill the need by connecting aspiring farmers seeking paid on-farm training with experienced farmers looking for eager employees. In addition to their normal job responsibilities, those in the program receive training on topics such as record keeping, marketing and other skills important for running a farm business. At the start of employment, the trainer and trainee agree on a set of learning outcomes to address during the course of employment, beyond the normal job-related work activities.

Complete job descriptions and program details can be found at practicalfarmers.org/labor4learning.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency is asking fire departments and businesses in the county to “Please keep your local fire danger signs in the Moderate category through the weekend. Some precipitation will occur Friday, but any sunshine and wind will quickly dry the dead vegetation. Fire trucks and larger vehicles are not able to get into many fields this time of year due to the soft conditions as the frost leaves the ground. Please use caution and plan your burn before striking the match.!”

The National Weather Service has issued a “Red Flag Warning,” for the southwest corner of Iowa. The warning currently affects Fremont and Page Counties, where potentially dangerous fire weather conditions will exist this afternoon. The warning is in effect from 1-p.m. today until 7-p.m.

Gusty southwest winds (at 15-to 25-mph) combined with low relative humidity values and dry fuels, will result in dangerous fire weather conditions across parts of southeastern Nebraska and southwestern Iowa this afternoon. As temperatures climb well into the 60s today, humidity levels will drop below 20 percent. These low relative humidity values, along with southwest winds gusting to 25 mph, will make any fires that develop difficult to control.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials have set new goals for monarch butterfly habitat to help keep the insect from being listed as an endangered species. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Iowa Department of Natural Resources wants to have 480,000 to 830,000 acres of habitat across the state. That’s room for about 127 million to 188 million new milkweed stems, which is the only plant monarch butterflies lay their eggs on. The goal: plant about double Iowa’s estimated amount of milkweed.

It would be part of a national effort to get 1.3 billion new milkweed stems for the monarch’s migration. Resources department director Chuck Gipp told station KCRG that, without adequate action to increase the monarch numbers, it could get listed. Iowan landowners then would have to contend with national species protection laws.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a semitrailer filled with hogs tipped over on a northeast Des Moines interstate exit, forcing 10 of the injured animals to be euthanized. Lt. Rich Blaylock of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the truck was leaving Interstate 80 around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday when it tipped. The driver wasn’t injured.

Tom Colvin with the Animal Rescue League of Iowa says around 140 hogs had to be removed from the trailer, and 10 had to be euthanized. He also says it’s possible some hogs had died by the time veterinarians and volunteers arrived to get them out of the trailer.

A makeshift fence was used to guide the hogs into another trailer after they got out of the damaged trailer.

w/Kate Olson.

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An official with the beef production plant, which became the FIRST to ship beef to China when that market reopened last summer, says sales to the country are going well. Jerry Wiggs is the senior director of export sales and marketing for Greater Omaha Packing Company. “Like any new market, it has its challenges,” Wiggs said. “However, if I do a comparison of where I was in the first eight months of, say, shipping to Europe, compared to where we are eight months into shipping beef to China, we are probably a 1,000-percent more…shipping into China than what we were into the European Union.”

Many cattle producers in southwest Iowa supply animals to the Omaha facility. According to Wiggs, there’s great potential for U.S. beef in China because of its growing middle class population. “I’ve been to China now three times in the last six months and it is amazing the growth that is going (on) over there,” Wiggs said. Mexico is one of Greater Omaha Packing’s biggest customers. Wiggs claims the disputes over NAFTA and the border wall, so far, have not hurt their business with Mexico. One of the company’s fastest growing markets for beef, according to Wiggs, is the Middle East – especially Saudi Arabia. “The beef into Saudi Arabia – it’s been legal to ship there for a while, but they put up some regulations that a lot of the packers…aren’t willing to jump through some of these hoops,” Wiggs said. “A lot of times we’re willing to do what, say, a major beef packer may not be willing to do.”

The Greater Omaha Packing Company processes around 2,300 head of cattle per day and employs over 1,000 people. The company ships beef to all 50 states and 70 countries around the world.

(Radio Iowa)

For nearly 30 years, Alliant Energy’s Iowa utility and Trees Forever have partnered through Branching Out to help Iowa communities plant a diverse mix of trees. These efforts have allowed trees to live longer and provide decades of energy savings to those communities.  Thanks to the latest round of Branching Out grants, 35 communities will complete 38 tree-planting projects this spring. More than $150,400 in grant money was awarded. Additional projects will be funded after another round of grant applicants submit fall proposals, which are due June 1st.

Among the area grant recipients:

• Atlantic received a $3,030 grant for the Schildberg Quarry City Park
• Creston received $9,900 for the Greater Regional Hospital, Harmony Cemetery, Southwester Community College, High Lakes shooting range, the middle- and elementary schools.
• Greenfield received $1,600 for the East Elementary School, Adair County Health and Fitness Center, Purdy Sports complex, the Greenfield Manor, and along the streets.

Branching Out is an energy efficiency program that brings together community volunteers, Trees Forever and Alliant Energy. Community leaders create specific tree-planting projects, and Alliant Energy provides funding for the trees. Experts from Trees Forever assist in the correct placement, planting and care of the trees for energy efficiency and aesthetic appeal. Doug Kopp, president of Alliant Energy’s Iowa utility says, “When you plant a tree, you’re creating a legacy. Fifteen years from now you can come back and see what you’ve done and it is impressive. These trees provide a benefit to the community in terms of energy efficiency and carbon reduction for years to come and we’re proud to be a part of it.”

“Our efforts help trees live longer!” said Meredith Borchardt, Trees Forever program manager. “Branching Out helps community volunteers select the best species for each location. Then we assist each community in developing a care and maintenance plan to help ensure these trees will live for decades. That’s important because the energy savings continue to grow as the trees get older and older.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Trump administration is withdrawing a federal rule that would have required organic meat and egg producers to abide by stricter animal welfare standards.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday it has withdrawn the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule published in January 2017 by former President Barack Obama’s administration.

The regulation was to ensure that organically grown livestock had enough space to lie down, turn around, stand up, fully stretch and had access to fresh air and proper ventilation.

The USDA says the rule exceeds the department’s statutory authority and could increase food costs. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says nearly two decades of collaboration between farmers and consumers have been reversed and millions of animals will continue to suffer each year.

Shelby County Emergency Management officials are asking fire stations and participating businesses in the County, to place their Local Fire Danger signs into the “Moderate” category. EMA Coordinator Bob Seivert says the forecast call for blue skies and a warming trend, which will increase the drying of vegetation and create a higher risk for controlled burns to become out of control.

Next update on the fire conditions will be Thursday March 15th.