Poultry farmers in Iowa and across the Midwest continue to follow strict biosecurity practices as they try to prevent a repeat of 2015’s devastating avian influenza (AI) outbreak. Russ Yoder, who raises turkeys near Wayland in southeast Iowa, says biosecurity is a part of everything they do on the farm. “Disinfecting boots all the time, washing clothes, washing pickups and tires — it’s a never-ending battle,” Yoder says. “And when you go to town, you don’t wear your boots into the gas station, you don’t wear your boots into the feed mill, or anywhere. Then, when you get out to the farm, you change your boots and you disinfect. You’re only as strong as your weakest link and all it takes is once.”

Yoder, who serves as president of the Iowa Turkey Federation, was able to avoid the disease in his operation in 2015. But, this spring’s A-I outbreaks in the southeastern U.S. have him and other poultry farmers on high alert. Yoder says warmer weather would help alleviate some of those concerns. “A 48-degree, cold, damp day, they say AI can live up to 30 days in those environments. Where, you get an 85-degree, warm, sunny, dry day, it can live up to three hours,” Yoder says. “So, weather is a part of it. This time of the year is the big challenge. So, we just need to keep working on biosecurity.”

Except for one case of low pathogenic avian flu in a Wisconsin turkey flock last month, all of this spring’s outbreaks have been confined to broiler houses in the Southeast. Avian flu can be carried by wild birds as they migrate north. It is NOT a food safety issue for humans.

(Radio Iowa w/reporting by Ken Anderson, Brownfield Ag News)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A small-town Iowa newspaper editorial writer has won the Pulitzer Prize for taking on powerful agricultural organizations after a water utility sued the paper’s home county and two others over farm pollution. Art Cullen, who owns the Storm Lake Times with his brother John, says his editorials were about government transparency.

The counties sued by the Des Moines Water Works secretly received money from agricultural groups to fight the lawsuit and the 3,000-circulation twice-weekly newspaper pushed in its reporting to lift the veil of secrecy on who was paying to fight the lawsuit.

The 59-year-old Cullen says he feels vindicated the information was released and he’s proud of the Pulitzer, which recognized him for “tenacious reporting, impressive expertise and engaging writing that successfully challenged powerful corporate agricultural interests in Iowa.”

Dolly Bergmann of Atlantic was recently honored as an Outstanding Volunteer by the Iowa Urban Tree Council. The presentation was made Thursday, April 6 at the 27th Annual Urban Forestry Awards Luncheon in Des Moines.

Bergmann has been a part of the Atlantic Trees Forever since 1999 and is currently serving as president. She has raised $156,000 for trees through grants and donations, translating to approximately 3,900 trees planted in the Atlantic community. The trees are planted throughout Atlantic — at entry signs, the hospital, assisted living facilities,the high school and middle school, the YMCA, the fairgrounds, parks, cemetery and in many city and highway rights of way.

Paul Tauke, State Forester (left) and Heath Ellis, President of the Iowa Urban Tree Council (right)

In addition to writing grants, Bergmann has applied for the Tree City Award every year on behalf of Atlantic. She organizes and leads Arbor Day events with the Atlantic School District, planting a tree with the local 4th graders every year for the past decade. Each year she provides an educational program, teaching the importance of properly planting and maintaining newly planted trees.

“Dolly Bergmann is an outstanding example of Iowa’s community forestry volunteers,” said State Forester Paul Tauke. “Her volunteer efforts will enhance our forest resources and benefit Atlantic for future generations.”

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says with the lack of rain this weekend it is still dry in the fields and grassy areas, therefore fire will spread more rapidly than anticipated. The Local Fire Danger Index will be in the HIGH Category until at least Thursday.

Seivert thanks the public for calling their planned/controlled burns in ahead of time. That reduces the number of unnecessary response by volunteer firefighters and others. He asks you to  continue calling 712-755-2124 with your burn information, and to inform your local fire chief.

As we move into spring and the weather warms up and the leaves start popping out on the trees — a destructive pest is also emerging from winter and putting some trees in danger. Iowa Department of Natural Resources Emerald Ash Borer coordinator, Mike Kitner, says you should start thinking about protecting your ash trees. He says mid-April is the time for people in the emerald ash borer zones to start thinking about protective treatments. Kitner says some very effective treatments have been developed if you want to try and save your ash tree.

“There’s a variety of treatments available — both to the homeowner and also as a professional. The professional treatments are generally geared more toward larger trees,” Kitner says. “Anything above 20 inches in diameter at breast height — with is four-and-a-half feet off the ground — those trees should really be treated by a professional.” He says you should plan now so you don’t miss the optimal window for treatment.

“Studies have shown primarily that treatments are best done in the springtime as opposed to fall. So, you really need to discuss with your provider what options are best for you,” Kitner explains. The D-N-R doesn’t have a list of preferred tree doctors. Kitner’s advice is to ask questions and do a little research to find the best one for you.

“Like anything else with your house, if you are getting a new deck on or whatever, call around check around, go over their references, just do a little homework on who you chose.” Kitner says. “Just do a little homework with who you choose and make sure they explain to you why the are doing it and why it is going to work.” The state is also taking action to combat the emerald ash borer. Kitner says for the first time last year they released wasps that are the enemy of the beetles and kill them.

“Those should be gearing up in about a month or so. We’ll be starting the releases for 2017 and as time goes on, probably more and more sites will be added for the parasitic wasp,” Kitner says. The state has confirmed E-A-B infestations in a total of 45 of the 99 counties in the state.

(Radio Iowa)

The City of Atlantic was recently honored with the 2016 Tree City USA Award at the 27th Annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon in Des Moines. The award was presented by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Forestry Bureau April 6th at the Forte Banquet & Conference Center.

“The Tree City USA award is a symbol for communities who have made a commitment to the management of public trees,” says state forester Paul Tauke. “The City of Atlantic has provided an outstanding example for other Iowa communities by enhancing our forest resources and demonstrating the great value of trees in providing multiple benefits for future generations.”

Atlantic was one of 80 Iowa communities to qualify for Tree City USA status. To receive the award, a city must, at a minimum, have either a city forester or an active city tree board; have a tree ordinance; spend at least $2 per capita annually for its community forestry program; and have a tree planting and maintenance plan.

left to right:Chuck Gipp, Director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Seth Staashelm, Atlantic Parks and Recreation Director, John Lund, Atlantic City Administrator, Dolly Bergmann, President of the Atlantic Trees Forever, Dave Bergmann, Atlantic Trees Forever Member, and Paul Tauke, State Forester (Photo provided)

Bob Beebensee and DNR Captain Brian Smith talk about all things outdoors as the weather begins to warm up.

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Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources are asking for your help in tracking down the activities of a man whose body was found in the lake at Lake Anita State Park, Thursday. Capt. Brian Smith with the DNR says 63-year old Roland “Rollie” Henderson, of Wiota, died from an apparent drowning during an accident involving a kayak, but it’s not clear when the man died.

He says that’s because there’s confusion as to when he actually entered the water.

(Smith says some witnesses saw him with the kayak Wednesday evening, but he wasn’t in the water at that time. He says it’s possible the man went into the lake Wednesday evening or earlier that afternoon.)

Anyone who might have seen Henderson enter the water is asked to call Brian Hayes at 712-254-0550.  The man’s overturned kayak was discovered by a passer by who reported it to the Park Manager at around 3-p.m., Thursday. Not longer afterward, Park Manager Josh Peach found the Kayak’s paddle. A little further down the shoreline, authorities discovered Henderson’s body.

An autopsy will be performed at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny. Investigators did not find a personal floatation device at the scene.
DNR law enforcement will continue to investigate. Brian Smith says that Henderson’s death at Lake Anita was the first he’s heard of since the Lake opened 52-years ago.  He says outdoor enthusiasts need to take the proper precautions when they’re around large bodies of water.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A Plains farm aid nonprofit that has steadily grown since being launched in North Dakota a dozen years ago is expanding into its sixth state. Farm Rescue will provide free haying and hay-hauling help to Nebraska farmers in need this year, as it continues providing services to farmers in both Dakotas, Montana, Minnesota and Iowa.

In those states, the organization has provided crop planting and harvesting assistance and hay help for more than 400 farm families since 2005. Farm Rescue doesn’t dole out cash. It has about 1,100 volunteers from around the country who do the actual physical work for farmers who have suffered a major injury, illness or natural disaster. The organization is currently taking applications for spring assistance in all of the states in which it works.

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says the recent rain the county has received is great, but wind and abundant sunshine over the next few days will rapidly dry out dead grasses in the area, therefore, the County field and grassland Fire Danger index is being upgraded from “Low,” to “Moderate” until next Monday, (April 10th). Seivert advises businesses and local fire stations should placetheir fire danger signs in the Moderate category through the weekend.

Property owners considering a controlled burn should notify their local fire chiefs.