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(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors were asked Tuesday morning, to get on with the business of writing and passing a hazardous pipeline ordinance. Jan Norris, a West Township resident, implored the Board to act, said the urgency to do so is because of next month’s Iowa Utilities Board meeting with Summit Carbon Solutions.

The proposed 706-mile long pipeline passes through 30 counties, including the western third of Montgomery County. In June, a representative for the pipeline told the Supervisors about 75% of the easements needed had been secured, or about 13.4-miles, and $4.6-million in easement payments had been issued.

Jan Norris said if the Board is set against passing an ordinance, whether their opinion is based on legal advice or not – they should communicate their intentions to the public.

Maggie McQuown, a 4th generation resident of Garfield Township, living on her family farm. She also serves on the Montgomery County Board of Adjustment. She said while the individual Board members are entitled to their opinion on the carbon pipeline, but it is more so important to do “everything in [their] power to prepare Montgomery County for the CO2 pipeline, for safety of the residents.

She told the Board “Don’t be bullied,” by the threat of a lawsuit from Summit Carbon Solutions, should the County enact an ordinance.

She said the ordinance guidelines can be adjusted to allow for variances to be granted, but a “life-threatening incident” can’t be undone. The Board thanked both women for their input, but because the matter was not on their agenda, no action was taken at this time.

OMAHA, NEBRASKA – July 18, 2023 – While cropland continued to gain value in the first half of 2023, Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) reports signs that the real estate market is stabilizing. FCSAmerica, a financial cooperative, appraises 63 benchmark farms twice a year to monitor trends in real estate in its four-state territory of Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. FCSAmerica’s July 2023 Benchmark Farmland Report was released today.

The chart below reflects the average change in value for multiple land types: dryland and irrigated cropland farms, crop-pasture farms and pasture-ranch operations. The number of benchmark farms appraised in each state is indicated in parentheses.

Benchmark values in the first half of 2023 remained strong in markets where the availability of land was limited and were steadier in areas with a consistent supply. Higher quality cropland also supported higher values, while average to below-average ground saw smaller increases. This is indicative of a more stable market.

Values on pasture and ranchland were supported by high demand and limited supply. Since July 2022, South Dakota has seen pasture values rise 12.2%, much of the increase happening in the past six months. Wyoming values are up 15.5% year-over-year. Nebraska pasture, by comparison, is down slightly.

For all agricultural land types, values remain at record highs. The steepest gains occurred in the last half of 2020 through 2021. The market has remained resilient in the past year despite successive interest rate hikes and drought in much of the region.

“The other driver in real estate is farm profitability and the overall financial health of agriculture, which has been extremely strong,” said Tim Koch, executive vice president of business development for FCSAmerica. “Profitability and optimism in agriculture have more than offset the negative pressures created by the increased interest rates.”

Profit margins continue to tighten because of higher input costs and lower commodity prices. Producers generally are planning for 2023 profits near break-even levels. This could result in a flattening of land values, with some areas possibly seeing a slight decline, Koch said.

“There is lots of liquidity on farm balance sheets and overall leverage is down significantly,” he said. “So even if profit margins, on average, return to break-even levels, the overall financial strength of producers will lead them to stay in the real estate market. We still could see instances of aggressive bidding for the right farm in the right location.”

Below are state-by-state trends in benchmark farmland values for the first half of 2023:

Iowa Values for 15 of the state’s 21 benchmark farms increased by less than 5%, and four declined slightly. The highest increase was 9.1%, the greatest decline, 6.3%. The overall year-over-year gain of 4.0% compares to increases of 37% and 12.8% in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Nebraska Seven of the state’s 18 benchmark farms increased in value by at least 5%, with two experiencing double-digit hikes, including a northeast Nebraska farm with an 18.3% gain. Nine farms saw little to no change and two declined in value. The year-over-year increase of 8.4% statewide compares to gains of 22.1% and 14.3% in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says election year politics could be helpful in getting a bipartisan bill through the U.S. Senate. The bill calls for price disclosure in the cattle market, so people who aren’t selling cattle under a contract with one of the four big meatpackers can find out if the price they’re being offered is fair.

“When it comes to Midwestern people that don’t want a contract, they want a daily market, sometimes they can’t get a price,” Grassley says. “If they get a price, it’s only about 11% of the daily kill and they don’t know if it’s a fair price because the contract price isn’t in that daily average and this bill would put it in that daily average.”

Ten Democrats and a dozen Republicans are co-sponsoring the bill. Grassley met with Montana Senator Jon Tester and other key senators in his office last week to discuss a strategy for getting Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to bring the bill up for a vote.

“We’re counting on Tester, being a Democrat up for reelection…having more of a voice with Schumer than we Republicans would have to hopefully move that bill,” Grassley says.

The bill did clear the Senate Ag Committee last year, but it was never considered in the full Senate.

• KJAN, Atlantic  .06″
• Atlantic Airport  .06″
• 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .13″
• Massena  .61″
• Anita  .04″
• Corning  .67″
• Bridgewater  1.1″
• Red Oak  .09″
• Clarinda  .28″

(Atlantic, Iowa) – As with years past, the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department is having to deal with issues of vandalism to Parks property. Assistant Parks Director Jeff Christensen, Monday, told the Parks & Rec Board, that the incidents have been destructive, and disgusting.

Board member John Krogman said noticed someone smashed a light on the waterless restroom at the Schildberg Park.

Christensen said they are actively pursuing, with the Police Department, the suspects involved in some of the incidents.

There’s also been damage to the floating docks at the Schildberg Recreation Area. The list of incidents, Christensen said, go on and on.

He said there were incidents last Summer, as well, including mirrors broken and pulled-off the walls at some park restrooms, a tree and a slide was spray painted.

On a more positive note, Christensen said new playground for the Harl-Holt Park should be arriving this fall. Jeff said he would be reaching out to officials with Pour-N-Play, and get a price quote on their safety material to prevent injuries from falls that might occur while kids use the playground equipment.

Pour-N-Play lasts longer than other such materials, such as wood chips and rubber chips.

(Avoca, Iowa) – The 127th Annual Pottawattamie County Fair is gearing up for a six-day run, in Avoca. The Fair runs from Wednesday, July 19th through Monday, July 24th. Some, pre-fair events took place late last month and early this month. On Sunday, the 4-H/FFA Shooting Sports Competition took place. On Tuesday (7/18), there’s a 4-H/FFA Pie & Pizza contest at 8-a.m., at Riverside High School. Wednesday (7/19), features 4-H Static Judging at 8-a.m., and Working Exhibits at 2:30-p.m.

This Thursday’s Schedule (7/20) includes the following:

• 8:00-a.m. until 4:00-p.m., Open Class Entries drop-off
• 9:00-a.m., 4-H/FFA Poultry Show
• 10:00-a.m., 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest
• 4:00-p.m., Open Class Judging
• 5:00-to 8:00-p.m., Vendor Food Truck night
• 6:00-p.m., Pre-Fair Awards & Queen Competition
• 7:00-p.m., Free Grandstand Area – DJ/Karaoke.

Check out the complete Pottawattamie County Fair Schedule on Facebook, HERE.

(Red Oak, Iowa) –

Monday, July 17
8:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horse Show Entry Time – Horse Show Arena
9:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horse Show – Horse Show Arena
3:00 PM Awardrobe Clothing Event Judging – Wilson Performing Arts Center
4:30 PM 4-H Table Setting Event Judging and Display – Wilson Performing Arts Center
5:00 PM Educational Presentations, Extemporaneous Speaking & Working Exhibits – Wilson Performing Arts Center
7:00 PM Program and Announcement of Awards: Fashion Show participants & Share the Fun – Wilson Performing Arts Center

Tuesday, July 18
9:00 AM Entry and judging of 4-H Ag & Nat. Resources, Creative Arts, Family and Consumer Sciences, Personal Development & STEM Exhibits – 4-H Exhibit Bldg.
4:00-6:00 PM Enter, weigh-in and check papers for 4-H/FFA Poultry – Livestock Pavilion
6:30 PM 2023 Fair Welcome: Andrew Herzberg, President Montgomery Co. FairBoard – Fairgrounds Auditorium:

• Montgomery County Fair Hall of Fame; Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame
• Presentation of County Youth Council Scholarship
• Rotary Club “Service Above Self” Awards
• Presentation of John Hossle Scholarship
• Bake Sale of Food and Nutrion Exhibits
• Announcements and Crowning of Fair Queen
• 4-H Pie Auction

Following the Welcome: Religious Rally – Fairground Auditorium
8:00 PM Montgomery County Youth Council Gaga Ball Tournament – Gaga Ball Pit

(Harlan, Iowa) –  The Shelby County Fair has entered the last full day of activities. It will conclude Monday, with the 4-H & FFA Livestock. Here’s the schedule for today and Monday:

SUNDAY, JULY 16
7:30 a.m……………………..Market Beef Exhibitors Meeting
8:00 a.m……………………..Pen of Three Judging by Pens 4-H/FFA Market Beef to follow in Show Ring
9:00 a.m……………………..Church Service – Tent
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m……..Antique Tractor/Machinery Show
10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m…….Little Hands on the Farm Exhibit
11:45 a.m……………………4-H Style Show Exhibitor Meeting 12:00 Noon-Style Show Begins in the tent
12:45 p.m……………………Share the Fun, Public Speaking and Extemporaneous Exhibitor Meeting –  Tent Contest at 1:00 pm
1:00 p.m……………………..Bill Riley Talent Search
3:30 p.m……………………..Pedal Tractor Pull
4:00 – 5:00 p.m…………….Release 4-H/FFA Static Exhibits (must be removed by 5:30 pm.); Release Open Class Exhibits (must be removed by 5:30 pm.); Release 4-H/FFA Horses and all Livestock not being sold (must be removed by 5:30)
4-H & Open Class Buildings open 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Nishna Valley Model Railroad open 1:00-4:00 p.m.

MONDAY, JULY 17
5:30 pm………………..4-H/FFA Livestock Auction

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Preparation for the Montgomery County Fair continues, in Red Oak. On Friday, the Red Oak Chamber & Industry Association hosted an “After Hours” – Livestock Pavilion
in conjunction with the Fair Board, Red Oak Ambassadors, Mills/Montgomery County Cattlemen, and Montgomery County Farm Bureau. The Fair runs Monday (July 17) through Sunday (July 23). Checkout the complete schedule HERE.

The schedule for today and Monday is as follows:

Sunday, July 16
12:00 PM Pre-Fair Set Up Lunch hosted by the Red Oak Ambassadors – Gold Fair Bldg.
1:00 PM Fair Set Up

Monday, July 17
8:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horse Show Entry Time – Horse Show Arena
9:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horse Show – Horse Show Arena
3:00 PM Awardrobe Clothing Event Judging – Wilson Performing Arts Center
4:30 PM 4-H Table Setting Event Judging and Display – Wilson Performing Arts Center
5:00 PM Educational Presentations, Extemporaneous Speaking & Working Exhibits – Wilson Performing Arts Center
7:00 PM
Program and Announcement of Awards: Fashion Show participants & Share the Fun – Wilson Performing Arts Center