Iowa now has around two-thirds of the state in some sort of dry pattern running from the northwest to the southeast corner. The Iowa D-N-R’s Tim Hall says the state is in a little better shape than the last time we had widespread drought conditions in 2012. He says we went into that year with very little reserve in groundwater after a dry 2011. “At least in 2016 we crossed over into 2017 after a really wet fall and early winter. So, things are not as dramatically bad this year — primarily because we started the year in much better shape,” Hall explains.

He says that is not a reason to dismiss what’s happening now. “In general, there’s a lot of folks in the state that need to be paying attention to the soil moisture conditions and the groundwater condition, and being aware that things are pretty dry,” Hall says. Hall says we have been well behind normal July rainfall totals in parts of the state and relief isn’t expected anytime soon. “There doesn’t appear to be a real significant chance for broad rains over the next couple of weeks,” Hall says. “So a couple of dry weeks, some really hot temperatures, the vegetation is pretty active and it tends to pull a lot of moisture out of the soil as it grows. So, the pieces are in place for things to get certainly not better over the next couple of weeks — and certainly perhaps deteriorate even more.”

South-central Iowa has been the driest part of the state thus far, but Hall says northwest Iowa has the fewest options for drawing groundwater, and they need to keep an eye on the conditions.

(Radio Iowa)

HULL, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials say improper disposal of a pesticide and other chemicals led to a fish kill in northwestern Iowa. Officials say in a written release that DNR investigators looking into a fish kill in a small creek in Hull traced the problem upstream to Hull Coop Association. There, officials say, an employee rinsed out chemicals Wednesday morning after spraying corn. The rinse water containing fungicide and insecticide ran into a storm sewer, flowed under Highway 18 and entered the creek.

DNR fisheries staff estimates about 3,600 fish, mostly minnows, chubs and darters, were killed along 4,200 feet of stream. The DNR will seek appropriate enforcement action, including fish restitution.

The Cass County Fair continues today, in Atlantic. Here’s a look at the schedule of activities for today:

• 8-a.m, Sheep Show & 4-H Exhibits open
• 10-a.m. Pet Show
• Doyle Chainsaw Artistry, 10-a.m. until 1-p.m., and 3-until 5-p.m.
• Noon, Working Exhibits, Extemporaneous Speaking, Educational Presentation.
• 2-p.m., Meat Goat/Dairy Goat show
• 4-p.m., Youth Water Fights
• 6-p.m., Tractor Pull

The FREE Cass County Fair continues through the Livestock Sale Tuesday morning.

Leaders of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association are asking supporters to turn out in force and comment on the E-P-A’s renewable fuel standard volume obligations for 2018. Association spokeswoman Cassidy Riley says it’s a simple process for people to submit their opinions and the deadline is next month. “We’ve launched a webpage where people can just go on and click to support corn ethanol or support biodiesel or support both and sign our petition to tell EPA to hold strong with the 15-billion gallon statutory level for conventional corn ethanol,” Riley says. “Really, we’re hoping to see that biodiesel number increased.”

The effort needs as many backers as possible as Riley suspects the deep-pocketed petroleum industry will be calling for reductions. “The 15-billion-gallon level for conventional corn ethanol, we’re pretty happy with that but we’re expecting that big oil is going to be fighting to have that number lowered,” Riley says. “On the biodiesel number, 2.1-billion gallons, flat-lining it there is really not acceptable.”

Riley says the current E-P-A proposal for bio-mass biodiesel at 2.1-billion gallons is too low, given the fact 2.9-billion gallons were produced last year. To submit comments, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website is iowaRFA.org. “There’s a link right on that homepage you can click on or you can go directly to IowaRFA.org/rfs,” Riley says. “You’ll be able to find all of the information about how you can comment and Iowa-produced, homegrown ethanol and biodiesel.”

The comment period ends August 31st. Iowa is the nation’s number-one ethanol producer with 43 plants churning out more than four-billion gallons a year, or almost one-third of the nation’s ethanol.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Fair continues its week-long run in Atlantic, today. An opportunity for you to receive a coupon for free ice cream is available today, to persons who purchases a lunch or supper plated meal at the 4-H Food Stand. The coupon is courtesy First Whitney Bank in celebration of their 110th anniversary.

Here’s a look at the schedule of activities for today:

• 8-a.m. to 10-a.m., Beef weigh-in
• 9-a.m., Rabbit and Horse show
• 10-a.m. 4-H Exhibits open
• Doyle Chainsaw Artistry, 10-a.m. until 1-p.m., and 3-until 5-p.m.
• Noon, Dog Show
• 3:30-p.m., Clover Kids Animal Show
• 5:30-p.m., Share-the-fun
• 6:30-p.m., Mutton Busting
• 8-p.m., Bull Ride.

The FREE Cass County Fair continues through the Livestock Sale Tuesday morning

The 2017 Cass County Fair King and Queen Contest was held on Thursday night at the Cass County Fairgrounds. 11 candidates competed for the title of Queen and 8 candidates vied for King.

2017 Cass County Fair Queen Mariah Murphy

Mariah Murphy, daughter of Doug and Kristi Murphy, was crowned the 2017 Cass County Fair Queen. Mariah is a member of the Benton Franklin 4-H club and the CAM FFA. Paige Henderson, Daughter of Mike and Beth Henderson was named Princess. Paige is a member of the Benton Franklin 4-H Club as well. Miss Congeniality was awarded to Sydney Steffen, Daughter of Andy and Jody Steffen.

2017 Cass County Fair King Riley Smith

Riley Smith, son of Don and Amy Smith, was crowned the 2017 Cass County Fair King. Riley is a member of the Griswold Clubsters 4-H Club and the Griswold FFA.  Cody McCreedy, son of Marty and Shelby McCreedy, was named Prince. Cody is a member of the Cass County RAMS and the Atlantic FFA. Mr. Congeniality was awarded to Eric Plagman, son of Mike and Kristy Plagman. Eric is a member of the Benton-Franklin 4-H Club and the CAM FFA.

The night got started with the Little Miss and Little Mister contest which had 16 Miss Contestants and 5 Mister Contestants. After introductions a winner for each title was drawn from a bowl. Leah Ohms was named Little Miss and Cooper Andersen was named Little Mister.

Dennis and Karen Oathoudt were honored as this year’s Cass County 4-H Hall of Fame inductees.  The Benton-Franklin 4-H Club was honored as the banner club of the year and they will receive special seating at the bull ride event on Friday night. Senior recognition awards were also handed out before the crowning of the King and Queen.

All royalty winners received Atlantic Chamber Bucks from Deb Schuler and Lana Westphalen and Gift Certificates from Renew Ag Supply. The Prince received an engraved belt buckle courtesy of Kirchoff Land Improvements. The King received an engraved belt buckle as well courtesy of Marcellus Insurance.  The Princess was given a tiara courtesy of Hanson’s Fine Jewelry and a sash pin from the family of Arlene and Harold Wickey. The Queen received a tiara courtesy of Hanson’s Fine Jewelry, a sash pin in memory of Matthew Rogers by his family, and a trophy from Smith Heating and Plumbing, Inc. Flowers courtesy of Special Occasions were also given to the Princess and Queen.

2017 Cass County Fair Queen Candidates

2017 Cass County Fair King Candidates

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Drought conditions are getting worse in several states, and extreme heat and weeks with little rain have begun to stress corn, soybeans, wheat and livestock in some areas. The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says nearly 11 percent of the continental United States is in moderate drought or worse. The most severe drought area is centered on portions of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The United States Department of Agriculture has designated several counties in those states as areas of natural disaster, paving the way for emergency loans for producers.  Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas also are seeing stressed crops and farm animals. About half of U.S. spring wheat, 15 percent of corn and 14 percent of soybeans are in drought.

A question Tim Eggers, Field Ag Economist for Iowa State University Extension, was asked in his first year on the job was, “What’s a fair lease rate?” Over 20 years later that question continues to be relevant. Given the competitiveness for access to farm land and changing economic pressures on farm operators, the number for one farm and one year is not the same for that farm the next year or another farm in the same year.

ISU Extension will be holding Farm Leasing Arrangements meetings across southwest Iowa August 1-10. The meeting in Atlantic is set for August 9 at 6:30 pm. at the Cass County Community Center on the fairgrounds. Contact the Cass County ISU Extension office at 712-243-1132 to pre-register. There is a $20 registration fee. Participants receive a copy of the presentation and a booklet with ISU Extension leasing publications.

In addition to the methods to find fair rents and provisions, legal issues related to farmland leases will be addressed. ISU Extension leasing survey results will be shared, and through discussion participants will put those results in context. Hands-on activities will help participants become active learners as they use the “size of the pie” notion to help illustrate the changes landowners and tenants are each managing.

In preparation for this year’s leasing meeting, ag lenders across southwest Iowa have been visited by Tim Eggers and the southwest Iowa Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Intern Haley Carlson. “Every lender has mentioned flexible cash leases this year, so we’ll spend time visiting about setting an appropriate base,” says Eggers. Carlson will cover boundary by acquiescence using materials from the Iowa State University Center for Ag Law and Taxation.

If you are a landowner, tenant, or agricultural professional concerned about the fairness of your lease, consider registering for the August 9 Farm Leasing Arrangements meeting in Atlantic. Cass County ISU Extension staff would be glad to take your registration information via email at lander@iastate.edu or over the phone at 712-243-1132. For a list of all meeting across the state, visit the ISU Ag Decision Maker Website at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/meetings.html.

Iowa State University’s Armstrong Research and Demonstration farm will feature a variety of agricultural topics at a field day August 17th. The field day will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon, with lunch following. Registration begins at 9 a.m. There is no charge for attending the field day.

Mark Licht, ISU Extension assistant professor and cropping systems specialist, will begin the program speaking about yield response to delayed corn and soybean planting dates. Tim Youngquist, ISU STRIPS project farmer liaison, will feature the soil, water and wildlife benefits of row crops integrated with prairie strips. A high-tech cattle feed bunk that measures individual feed intake will be demonstrated by Garland Dahlke, ISU assistant scientist.    

The Armstrong Research Farm is located 13 miles southwest of Atlantic on Highway 6, one-half mile south on 525th Street, and three-quarters of a mile east on Hitchcock Avenue.

DES MOINES – An invasive beetle that kills ash trees, the emerald ash borer (EAB), has been confirmed in Ringgold County, making it the 52nd county in Iowa where this highly destructive insect has been found. The recent EAB infestation was discovered by a tree service that reported suspect ash trees to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Insect larvae were collected from this rural site west of Tingley, and positively identified as EAB.

EAB-infested ash trees can include branch dieback in the upper crown, water sprouts along the trunk and main branches, vertical bark splits, D-shaped emergence holes, S-shaped tunneling under loose bark, as well as woodpecker damage. EAB is difficult to detect in newly-infested trees.

All ash tree species are susceptible to attack by EAB. The larval stage of this insect kills ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves water and nutrients throughout the tree.

Mike Kintner with the Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land Stewardship EAB & Gypsy Moth Coordinator, says “We are already up to 13 new counties confirmed with EAB this year. As we continue to track EAB’s spread across the state, people are encouraged to report suspect trees in counties that have not yet been declared positive.”

EAB is native to Asia and was first identified in the U.S. in 2002 and in Iowa in 2010 in Allamakee County. Much of the pests’ spread can be attributed to humans inadvertently transporting it to new areas under the bark of firewood, logs and tree debris.  At this calendar date, the treatment window for soil-applied preventive treatment measures (soil injection, soil drench or granular application) and basal bark sprays has ended.

Trunk injections can be done now through the end of August if a landowner is interested in protecting a valuable and healthy ash tree within 15 miles of a known infestation. Good ground moisture is essential for systemic insecticide movement in a tree. Full details are available in Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication PM2084:   https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/13114

To learn more about EAB and view maps of its distribution, please visit www.IowaTreePests.com.