(Radio Iowa)  – Dry conditions are lessening — ever so slightly — in Iowa, according to the latest report from the U-S Drought Monitor. The new map shows roughly 87 of Iowa’s 99 counties are in some level of drought, that’s down from 89 counties last week. More than 80 counties are in either moderate or severe drought, while portions of 14 counties in western and southeastern Iowa are in extreme drought. Almost all of the remainder are considered abnormally dry, while moisture levels are only considered normal in parts of Osceola and Dickinson counties in northwest Iowa.

During June, which is typically Iowa’s wettest month, Iowa got less than three inches of rainfall statewide. About five-and-a-half inches would’ve been normal. (Click on the map to enlarge)

(Radio Iowa) – Summer’s here and Iowans are hitting the beaches. Dan Kendall, senior environmental specialist with the Iowa D-N-R, says there’s a whole crew of people who are spending the season testing the water quality in our many lakes, some 246 of them. “No swimming” advisories have already been issued for a few locations in the state, but Kendall says that’s not unusual for this time of year. He says it’s a snap to find the latest beach and lake condition reports on the agency’s website, Iowa-D-N-R-dot-gov (Iowadnr.gov).

Just type in “beach” in the window and it will take you to an alphabetized list of all beaches statewide and a wealth of data about the water quality of each one. Those reports are issued every Friday throughout the summer.

(Audubon, Iowa) – Officials with the State Fire Marshal’s Office said Thursday afternoon, that at the request of Audubon Fire Chief Tyler Thygesen, a Burn Ban that was in effect since June 1st, is officially rescinded (effective at Noon, 7/6/23).

The Fire Chief’s have looked at all information including drought conditions, water supply for fire protection, and recent rainfall to make the decision to rescind the burn ban for Audubon County.

The Audubon County Emergency Management Agency advises residents of the County, that “When you are performing a controlled burn (following Iowa open burning laws) please remember that you must notify Audubon County Dispatch at 712-563-2631.”

(Radio Iowa) – The new law allowing the sale of raw milk went into effect on July 1st, but it is unclear how much of the unpasteurized product will be sold here. Iowa State University Extension Dairy Specialist, Fred Hall, says they’ve been getting questions since the law passed. “What we’re hearing from are the questions that are coming from the folks who are currently milking one or two cows. Maybe they would fit in the homesteader category if you had to pigeonhole them,” Hall says.

Milk sold in Iowa was required to be pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria before the new law. Hall says it’s unlikely the large-scale dairy producers will sell raw milk because it can’t be delivered to stores for re-sale. “That’s one of the provisions in the legislation, that it has to be sold directly to the consumer. There’s not, you know, any milk truck gonna pick it up and, bring it to a central market,” he says. “In fact, they cannot take milk to a farmers market or central market or the Casey’s.”

I-S-U will present a webinar on raw milk in conjunction the Iowa State Dairy Association on July 12th from 6 to 9 p-m. Hall says they will have an expert on the webinar who can answer some of the questions. “Mark McAfee is owner and operator of the largest raw milk dairy in the country. He’s in California,” Hall says. “And we’re asked him, just tell us how you did do this? You know, give us some of the guidelines. So folks don’t have the same pitfalls that maybe you experienced early on.” They will also have an expert on handling the milk. “How do you process it so you make sure that you’re keeping the integrity of that product safe when you bottle it when you hand it off,” he says.

Raw milk. (Iowa Dairy Assoc-photo)

Hall says those who are thinking of running a raw milk dairy would have to be in a community that is large enough to have a viable market. “I would say 70-thousand people in metropolitan area or the town probably is a good start,” Hall says. “The other side of that is if you are in the community, and you have lots of family, and you have five or six family members who want to buy milk from me, that’s another niche that I think is very workable.”

Those interested in the webinar on July 12th are asked to pre-register at least one hour before it starts. Go to www.extension.iastate.edu to find the link.

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A’s weekly report on Iowa crops shows 61 percent of the state’s corn is rated good or excellent, a slight improvement from last week and soybean conditions rose to 53 percent good or excellent. The southern third of Iowa had above average rainfall last week. Topsoil moisture levels statewide are 17 percent very short and the subsoil ratings are even drier.

Last Thursday’s Drought Monitor shows parts of two counties in northwest and southwest Iowa are in extreme drought and in southeast Iowa, extreme drought conditions are reported in all or parts of seven counties.

(Moravia, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says a mechanical malfunction likely led to a boat motor explosion injuring five at Lake Rathbun on Sunday, July 2, 2023.

The boat engine exploded during start-up at the Buck Creek Arm of Lake Rathbun around 3:00 PM on Sunday. One adult female received moderate to severe burns and was evacuated by helicopter to the University of Iowa Hospital. An adult male and three juveniles were taken to Mercy One in Centerville by ambulance for minor burn-related wounds.

During this busy holiday weekend, the DNR encourages boaters to keep safety in mind by wearing life jackets, designating a sober operator, and having a fire extinguisher on board.

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A has given two California companies the go ahead to begin selling chicken that’s grown from animal cells in a lab, but it will be a while before what’s called cultivated chicken lands in Iowa grocery stores. Chad Hart, an economist with Iowa State University Extension, suggests there are some headwinds for the product. “This is an alternative that some may wish to pursue that’s going to be substantially higher cost for quite some time,” Hart says, “and may not have as big an audience as some folks think.”

Hart points to what’s happened with plant-based products marketed as meatless meat. Products like “Beyond Meat” were introduced in 2019, but data recently released by the Plant Based Foods Association shows meatless meat sales in U-S grocery stores declined by one percent in 2022, after zero growth in 2021. “You know, the Impossible Burger is not as hot as it once was,” Hart says. “It does have an audience. It does have a core group that are looking for it, but for the most part those that want to eat meat find the meat that they’ve traditionally ate.”

Hart made his comments during a recent appearance on Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S.

(Lewis, Iowa) –  The Cass County Conservation Board is once again holding a “Stand Up Paddleboard” (SUP) Demonstration. The public demonstration will be held 9-a.m. and 10:30-a.m., Saturday, July 22nd, at the Cold Springs Park Beach, near Lewis. There is no charge, but children must be 16 years or older, and paddler’s must weigh LESS than 250-pounds. You MUST CALL to reserve your spot, at 712-769-2372. The program will be cancelled if there is unsafe weather conditions on the Lake.

SUP is the fastest growing sport in the paddling community not only across the country, but especially right here in land-locked areas like Iowa. It’s fun, healthy as a total body work-out and offers a unique perspective when it comes to being on the water. After a quick demonstration try out the boards for yourself! If you do not bring a life jacket one will be provided to you. The CCCB Stand Up Paddleboard programs are held monthly, ending after the Labor Day Weekend on Saturday, September 2nd.

Available slots (as of June 29th):

Saturday July 22nd

9AM- 5 spots

10:30AM- 5 spots

August 26th

9AM- 5 Spots

10:30am- 5 Spots

September 2nd

9am- 5 Spots

10:30am- 5 Spots

(Massena, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board is holding a Guided Blooming Prairie Hike this weekend. The program will start at the Outdoor Classroom shelter, located near Massena, at 76977 Tucson Road, beginning at 10-a.m. Saturday, July 8, 2023. The program is FREE, and all ages are welcome.

You’re invited to join Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning, for a hike in the prairie. Explore blooms throughout the numerous prairies inside the park.

GREENFIELD, Iowa – The water level of Meadow Lake near Greenfield in Adair County is being lowered 3 feet . The Iowa DNR says the process to help improve the size of bluegills in the lake, began this past week. The water will be released slowly over the next two weeks to avoid any downstream impacts. A water level draw-down is a common fisheries management technique used to improve the size of panfish.  Meadow Lake has an abundance of 7-inch bluegills that lack the quality anglers are looking for.

“Crowding the fish into a smaller area makes them more susceptible to predation by largemouth bass and reduces the number of small bluegills,” said Bryan Hayes, fisheries management biologist. The reduced number will improve growth in the coming year. “Draw-downs in 2016 and 2019 had this effect,” Hayes noted.

The draw-down is expected to have minimal effect on public access to Meadow Lake. The boat ramp will be usable and the lake will remain open during the draw-down. Meadow Lake will be allowed to refill starting in September.

Meadow Lake is a 34-acre lake in the middle of the 317 acre Meadow Lake Fish and Wildlife Area located in the north central part of Adair County.  It has a maximum depth of 20 feet and an average depth of 7.3 feet.