Rabbit season got underway in Iowa this month. Iowa Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist, Todd Bogenschutz says hunters shouldn’t have any trouble finding targets. “On our roadside surveys they’re actually a little bit down from last year, not much, basically unchanged,” Bogenschutz says. “But our rabbit numbers are 20 percent above the long-term average right now — so we’ve got plenty of bunnies in Iowa.”

While the population is doing well, he says fewer hunters are looking to hunt rabbits.
He says the number of hunters has been trending down and he is not sure if that is following the pattern of more people moving from rural to urban settings. “There’s just a lot more opportunity for other species right now, 30 years ago we didn’t have a turkey season or deer season, or giant Canada geese,” Bogenschutz says. He says rabbits are a good way to get a young person started in hunting.

“For beginning hunters, there’s nothing easier than cottontails and squirrels. All you need is a 22, and you don’t need any camo, you just need a place to go and sit in the woods,” Bogenschutz says. Rabbit season runs through February 28th, with a daily bag limit of 10 rabbits and a possession limit of 20. Shooting hours are sunrise to sunset.

Hunters looking for places to go rabbit or squirrel hunting should use Iowa’s online hunting atlas at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Conservation Board has scheduled a second public hearing over a proposal to open the east half of the Turkey Creek Wildlife Area to public hunting. The first hearing was held Aug. 27th. The next hearing takes place 5-p.m. Sept. 17th at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Office at Cold Springs State Park, at Lewis. Input will be taken at that time with regard to a proposal to open the area to public hunting.

The Turkey Creek Wildlife Area is located between Atlantic and Lewis, just off Highway 6. The area is currently not open to public hunting, and the Conservation Board feels the area is underutilized.

If you have any questions, please call Micah Lee with the Cass County Conservation Board, at 712-769-2372.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s corn and soybean crops endured the hottest week of the year so far last week but largely remain in good shape. The U.S. Department of Agriculture in its weekly crop report released Tuesday says 10 percent of Iowa’s corn crop is mature. That’s three days ahead of last year but nine days behind the five-year average. Seventy-nine percent of the crop is in good to excellent condition.

Farmers report some fields are showing signs of disease stress. Soybean development is three days ahead of last year but a day behind average with 76 percent of the crop in good to excellent condition. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says the first week of September was the hottest week of the year. Temperatures as a whole averaged 10 degrees above normal.

A national survey of land ownership shows just over two-percent of farmland will be available for beginning farmers and ranchers in the next year, perhaps ten-percent over the next five years. Traci Bruckner, senior policy associate at the Center for Rural Affairs, says land access is a long-standing problem for those just starting to farm, though she calls the U-S-D-A report “really disturbing.”

“The continual unaffordability of land and then just what the survey is saying, there’s only going to be 2% available for new entrants that don’t have a natural, direct access to land,” Bruckner says. “That is an issue and Congress needs to start taking it seriously. They need to have policies that are more meaningful to help a new generation get started.” Bruckner says the land access problem needs help at the federal level, with changes that will help young producers who want to farm.

“We need to be serious about beginning farmer policy, not just throwing a few million dollars here and there to help create training and mentoring,” she says. “We need to actually have some meaningful reform on some of the main conventional commodity market-driven programs, like the farm program and the crop insurance program.” Bruckner says the student loan forgiveness program that is in the works would help beginning farmers with their cash-flow issues.

“But at the end of the day,” she says, “if we don’t do something about land access, then none of our other efforts are worthwhile.” While land values have come down some, she notes they’ve been rising for years to levels that make it impossible for beginning farmers and ranchers to buy. The Center for Rural Affairs is based in Lyons, Nebraska.

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Kate Olson

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Officials with West Central had announced back in May it would close its agronomy business operations in Massena. Now, the cooperative has finalized the sale of its property, officially ending business in Massena. West Central regional manager, Brad Woodard said “We appreciate our customers’ and cooperative members’ business in the Massena area over the last five years.”  West Central purchased the Massena location from Pelgrow in 2010.

Woodard added “Closing a cooperative location is never an easy decision, however, our assessment of the location determined it no longer offered the efficiencies our customers’ businesses deserve. We thank our West Central Massena employees, who are now serving customers at other West Central locations, for their commitment to our growers through this transition.”

West Central’s regional agronomy field marketers remain available to work with area growers. They include:

· Scott Small in Atlantic at (712) 243-3582

· Nick Richter in Adair at (712) 250-9200

· Brett Westergaard in Exira at (641) 740-0421

· Sid Skank in Oakland at (712) 741-3200

Assets from the site were relocated to other West Central locations or sold. The property, including the office, dry fertilizer facility and NH3 plant were sold to Massena Livestock Sales.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — John Deere says it will lay off 30 employees at its plant in Davenport. The company said Monday that the workforce reduction at Davenport Works affects employees who make construction and forestry equipment.

Spokesman Ken Golden tells the Quad-City Times that the layoffs are effective Oct. 2. The company on Monday also announced plans to lay off 150 people at its plant in East Moline in neighboring Illinois. Those layoffs are effective Sept. 18.

___

Work on the Nishna Valley Trail Connector Project in Atlantic continues, despite some setbacks in funding for the project. Nishna Valley Trails President Dave Chase told KJAN’s Jim Field on the “Heartbeat Today” program, that progress is being made, and a pedestrian bridge over the Troublesome Creek just west of the KJAN Studios, is closer to reality, but there have been some “bumps in the road,” financially.

Chase said this past week, a couple of major grant applications they were counting on that were pending approval, went unfunded. The applications that were rejected include those from the Wells Fargo and Wellmark Foundations. He said while disappointing, there was no guarantee the grants would have been approved to begin with, and it does NOT stop the project from moving forward.

Work continues on the Nishna Valley Trail connector project near the KJAN studios.

He says also, there are other funding opportunities that they are exploring, and they still feel as good about their financial position, as they did when they “pulled the trigger” on the project in June. Chase says fundraising efforts will continue as well. Individuals and organizations who have already contributed to the project, according to Chase, have promised to do more if needed to help out. He says right now, they’re about $160,000 short of the funds necessary to pay for the project.

Donations for the project are tax deductible, because Nishna Valley Trails is a 501(c) 3 tax exempt organization. If you would like to contribute to the cause, mail your donation to P.O. Box 496, Atlantic, IA 50022, or call Dave Chase at 712-249-3059. There are other ways to contribute as well, so give Chase a call to find out more.

Chase said work on clearing the path for the trail is nearly complete, and a pre-construction meeting with contractors was held Monday, with the plan being to start work on the trail and the bridge next Tuesday, which is earlier than anticipated. It’s expected construction will be completed in about 40-days from the start, weather permitting. The trail is expected to be in use later this fall, instead of next spring, as originally anticipated.

Iowa farm history will come to life September 12th & 13th, at the 33rd Annual Carstens Farm Days. From threshing to the saw mill, from the food to the crafters and vendors to the quilt show, from the tractors and equipment to the historic memorabilia of the Farm there is something for everyone to enjoy. The Carstens 1880 Farmstead is an 80-acre working farm museum exhibit located between Minden and Shelby, in Pottawattamie County.

You’re invited to see steam engines powering antique threshing machines, antique machinery, a parade, crafts, and entertainment. Over two hundred restored antique tractors will be on display. The original Carstens farm buildings will be open for tours. The buildings will be alive with demonstrations that will bring back memories for older visitors and teach valuable history lessons to young people.

To start Farm Days off right, a pancake breakfast is planned at 6:30 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. The proceeds from the pancake breakfast go to the Shelby Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department volunteers will also serve lunch both days. Various non-profit local groups will be offering refreshments and delicious desserts all weekend.

The original 1880 horse barn has been restored this summer and will be open for all to see during the 2015 edition of Carstens Farm Days which takes place September 12 & 13, 2015.

A pork supper will be held on Friday evening, Sept. 11th,  from 5 – 7 p.m. Proceeds from the pork supper will benefit the Friends of the Trail Committee in Shelby in support of the Old Stone Arch Nature Trail. On Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. enjoy Staley’s Chicken for a delicious dinner. Proceeds from the chicken dinner will go toward on-going maintenance at Carstens 1880 Farmstead. Beginning at 6 p.m. Tamie Hall and Band will entertain visitors on the front lawn of the farmhouse.

Farmall tractors and equipment and related brands will be the featured line this year. All Farmall tractors & equipment owners are invited to bring their exhibits to display throughout the weekend. Horsepower-testing, sawmill operations and field demonstrations will occupy tractor exhibitors all day. Nearly 250 pieces of vintage equipment were on display during the 2014 Farm Days show. Visitors will enjoy watching most of the restored tractors as they go through the parade each afternoon at 2 p.m.

All vintage and classic car owners are encouraged to show and shine their vehicles during Farm Days. Bring classic cars, pick-ups or works in progress. A car display area will be available to showcase the many fine vehicles from the area. This is not a judged show, so you can come out and simply have some fun.

A colorful display of quilts, wall hangings, wearable art and other types of quilting projects will be featured in the special event building at the farm. Many talented quilters from around the area will allow their works of art to be displayed for all to enjoy. Even if you have never displayed a quilt before, consider joining the fun and bringing a quilt to display. Exhibitors are asked to deliver their quilts on Friday, September 11th. For details about the quilt show or to inquire about adding your quilt to the collection, please call Jan Hursey at 712-544-2662 or Marilyn Evans at 712-544-2266.

A quilt made especially for the 2015 Carstens Farm Days show will be raffled on Sunday evening. Raffle tickets can be purchased at area businesses. The quilt is now on display at the Shelby County State Bank in Shelby.

Foggy Mountain Cloggers will perform on Saturday, Sept. 12th at 12:30 p.m. on the farm’s main stage. On Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m., the River City Shakers will entertain young and old farmstead visitors alike. Various music acts will add to the fun and folksy atmosphere of Farm Days.

There will be over fifty crafters and vendors on hand. A special display of vintage seed corn sacks will be in the corn crib. A wide array of crafts will be available. From unique wooden creations to homemade jams and jellies, there will be something for everyone. A very healthy crop of farm-grown potatoes will also be available for purchase. Proceeds from the sale of potatoes will help make improvements to the farmstead.

On Sunday morning, Sept. 13th, a non-denominational worship service will take place at 9:00 a.m. on the lawn in front of the Carstens home. Worship will be led by Kirk Parsons of the Community of Christ Church in Persia. Everyone is welcome to join in the worship service.

Admission is $5 per day for everyone nine years and older.For more information visit the web site: www.carstensfarm.com