Employees with the Cass County Conservation Service invite the public to join them Thursday morning, for a clean-up effort at the West Nodaway Wildlife Area. AmeriCorps Habitat Specialist Rebekah Karsch says from 9am-until Noon, conservation staff and other volunteers will be working to cut down invasive cedar trees to improve the grassland habitat for pheasants and quail.

Karsch says if you have a chainsaw, and are skilled in operating it, you’re welcome to bring it along. Otherwise, you’ll need gloves, bottled water, a long-sleeved shirt and pants, because you’ll be helping to drag the cut trees off to the side.

The West Nodaway Wildlife Area is located 4-miles south and 2-miles west of Massena, on Victoria Road, in the Edna Township. The public land is available for hunting and picnics.

If you have any questions about the clean-up effort taking place Thursday morning, call Rebekah Karsch at 712-243-3180, extension 134.

Commercial manure applicators who have not fulfilled their 2011 manure applicator certification training requirements can attend the three hours of annual continuing instruction required to maintain their manure applicator certification on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, from 9 a.m. to noon. Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will conduct a statewide re-show of the 2011 Commercial Manure Applicator Certification training. There is no fee to attend the workshop, but commercial applicators must register by Aug. 24 by calling the Cass County ISU Extension Office at 712-243-1132.

Commercial applicator business owners and managers are reminded that existing or previously certified employees must meet certification requirements prior to hauling or land applying manure. New employees can work for the first 30 days of employment without meeting the certification requirements, but must be actively seeking certification status. Applicators who are unable to attend the Aug. 31 training need to schedule time at their local ISU Extension office to watch the training DVD. Due to scheduling conflicts, many ISU Extension offices will no longer accept walk-in appointments to watch the DVD. If meeting training requirements by attending the 3-hour training session is not convenient, commercial applicators may contact their local DNR field office to schedule an appointment to take the certification exam to meet certification requirements.

Commercial manure applicators that have already completed training for 2011 are not required to attend.

If you have questions about this training session or the Manure Applicator Certification program, contact the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or go to
http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/immag/mac.html

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will allow promiscuous fishing to take place in waters bodies left behind from the 2011 Missouri River flood, beginning on Aug. 15. These waters bodies need to be completely isolated from the river, unlikely to be connected to the river during normal flows, did not exist before the flood, and are less than 5 feet in depth if on public land. Anglers will need permission to access water bodies on private land.

Promiscuous fishing regulations for isolated water bodies in Missouri River flood plain in Iowa will remain in effect until on or about November 30, 2011.

Anglers with a valid fishing license will be allowed to harvest any size or number of fish species from these isolated flood waters. Any number of fishing poles, jugs or nets will be allowed. Anglers must remain in sight of these lines at all times, and follow all other fishing regulations and area rules. Trot lines will be allowed (name and address must be attached), however lines may not be set across entire water body and at least one end must be above the water level and visible.

Dynamite, poison, or electric shocking devices, or any stupefying substances will not be allowed. It is illegal to sell fish or stock captured fish into public waters.

If anglers capture a sturgeon fish species the DNR asked that they be returned to the river as quickly as possible. Pallid sturgeon is listed as an endangered species in the Missouri River and is protected under federal law.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Iowa’s cropland value has increased by nearly 24 percent in 2011 over the previous year. The rise in cropland value in Iowa was the highest in the nation. Nationally, cropland values increased by a little over 9 percent.The average cropland value in Iowa was $5,700 an acre.

Iowa State University economist Mike Duffy says the increased value isn’t surprising due to low interest rates and high prices for corn and soybeans.

Tom Olsen, Iowa State University Extension Farm Management Specialist, spoke to a
crowd of 48 area landowners, tenants and agriculture professionals during the
Farmland Leasing Meeting on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at the Guthrie Activity Center
in Guthrie Center. Olsen presented current leasing information including the latest
land value survey and cash rent survey. The program was organized and sponsored by
the Guthrie County Extension Office.

Iowa farmland values increased by at least 15 percent during 2010.  ISU Extension
research indicates that the average age of farmland owners continues to rise.
Fifty-five percent of Iowa's farmland is owned by people over the age of 65, while
28 percent of the land is owned by individuals over age 75. The research found that
children and surviving spouses of farmers are less likely to continue operating the
farm themselves. That's a major reason why farmland leasing continues to increase.

USDA Report from the Cass and Audubon County FSA and NRCS offices.  Denny Heflin Reports.

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w/ Kate Olsen

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AMES, IOWA –  The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association will hold its Southwest Regional meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the Armstrong Research Farm in Lewis. The event starts at 10:30 a.m., and will include discussions of industry issues and policy proposals for ICA before adjourning at 3:30 p.m.  Key business issues will include the election for the regional representative to the ICA state nominating committee, and policy discussions that will be brought to the ICA Annual Meeting in December. 

The person currently up for election of regional representative is Roger Brummett of Bedford. His first two-year term is expiring, and he will be eligible for re-election. There will also be discussion about the new ICA Carcass Challenge program that is being shepherded by this year’s class in the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program. 

Besides elections and policy issues at the business meeting, ICA’s new Chief Executive Officer, Matt Deppe, will be on hand to speak to cattle producers in the region.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The heat wave continues to take a toll on Iowa’s crops and livestock.

In the weekly crop report on Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says 75 percent of the corn crop is in good to excellent shape, a decrease from 80 percent the week before. Seventy-three percent of the soybean crop is in good to excellent condition, a slide from 79 percent.

The report says along with livestock losses, the hot and humid weather is slowing weight gain and lowering milk production.

Reports of over 14 inches of rain in the Dubuque area last Wednesday and Thursday caused flash flooding that damaged property and crops.

State climatologist Harry Hillaker says preliminary data shows that July was Iowa’s warmest month since August 1983 and the warmest July since 1955.

Weekly from the Cass and Audubon County FSA and NRCS offices.

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