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CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!
An Iowa State University study finds there’s not enough evidence to show fertilizer companies are taking advantage of inflation to raise prices. The study was requested by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller earlier this year because of fertilizer price spikes. I-S-U ag economist Chad Hart, one of the study’s authors, says several factors caused fertilizer prices to rise, including supply chain problems, energy market fluctuations and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The price of ammonia is up 126-percent compared to a year ago. Farmers use nitrogen, phosphate and potassium-based fertilizers to help their plants grow. Hart says there was a “perfect storm” of factors but there’s not enough evidence to say whether fertilizer companies are using their market power to hike prices.
The I-S-U study predicts fertilizer prices will decline in the second half of this year but they won’t return to where they were in mid-2020 because farmer demand is high and supply chain problems still exist.
Applications are now being accepted for anyone interested in the Iowa Master Gardener training, which will be offered in many locations across the state, including Cass County, beginning in mid-August. Applicants have from June 3 to July 8 to apply for the fall session. Online training begins August 22, with a local orientation session scheduled for Monday evening, August 15th. The program will be delivered in a hybrid format this fall, with many lessons taking place online, but several face-to-face learning opportunities also offered for trainees to connect and participate in hands-on learning activities as a group.
“Throughout the pandemic, many of our programs have been forced into virtual formats and participants have missed out on peer-to-peer interactions,” said Alicia Herzog, Master Gardener Statewide Coordinator with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We find immense value in the learning that happens when our participants interact with each other, their county Extension and Outreach staff, and experts in their local communities. We’re happy to be able to offer the best of both worlds with this hybrid format.”
Iowans wishing to complete Master Gardener training should complete the initial registration online by July 8, and then will be contacted by their local extension office to complete a background screening and finalize payment and registration. Once accepted into the program, trainees will participate in online learning modules at their own pace through their home computer, and should also plan to attend at least 4 in-person training sessions organized by their county office to complete the training.
A total of 17 educational modules will be offered online by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, on topics that include houseplants, pollinators, vegetables, and perennial flowers. Each course module includes a book chapter, lecture video, online discussion board for trainees to connect and discuss the topic and a follow up quiz. Participants will also take an online pre-test and post-test to gauge knowledge gained through the course.
Applicants for the 2022 training must apply online by Friday July 8. The online class begins on Monday, August 22. An in-person orientation class will be held at the Cass County Extension Office on Monday August 15th to distribute materials and discuss the hands-on training schedule. Apply and learn more about the program online at www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener.
The fee for the training is $150 and covers all class materials. The fee will be payable to the Cass County Extension Office upon acceptance into the program. Because Master Gardener volunteers work with many community partners, applicants will also be required to successfully pass a background screen before being accepted into the program. At the end of the course, there is an open-book test that participants will need to pass to complete the course and receive their certificate.
The Master Gardener program is open to anyone who is passionate about volunteering and gardening. No previous garden knowledge is required. The program equips participants to grow in knowledge about gardening best practices. After the training, Master Gardeners volunteer in their community, making contributions such as donating vegetables to food pantries, leading community beautification projects and maintaining demonstration gardens at local parks and county fairgrounds.
After completion of the MG Training, participants have 13 months to complete 40 volunteer hours to finish their “internship” and become a full Master Gardener. Annually, Master Gardener status can be maintained with 20 volunteer hours per year and ten hours of continuing education. Cass County has an active Master Gardener group that participates in many projects throughout the year, so opportunities to learn and volunteer are plentiful! Examples of local Master Gardener volunteer projects include educational workshops and seminars, maintaining community parks and demonstration gardens, and donating fresh produce to food pantries. Iowa State has offered Master Gardener training since 1977, engaging more than 15,000 people in learning about gardening best practices.
Iowans who want professional development training for their job and who do not plan to volunteer can participate in the ProHort option, for a fee of $550. No background check is required for this option.
Local extension staff can help anyone with questions about joining Master Gardener training this year, including details of when and where in-person meetings will take place locally.
For more information on the class, or the Master Gardener program in general, contact the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, or email Cass County Extension Director and Master Gardner Coordinator Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu. Online program registration can be completed at www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener.
Survey numbers from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources show hunters bagged around 375-thousand pheasants this year. Wildlife biologist, Todd Bogenschutz, says that’s around a 25 percent increase over last year.
He says the information from hunters confirmed their August roadside survey — which show bird numbers up in the northern third of the state and across the central portion — while tough winter conditions dropped bird numbers in south.
Bogenschutz says he was shocked to see an increase in the number of hunters.
While bird numbers have trended up the last couple of years — Bogenschutz says habitat and weather remain the key factors that determine the trend will continue.
The D-N-R will conduct its roadside pheasant survey again in August. Bogenschutz says the weather conditions this spring have been good for nesting and he expects the numbers will stay strong.
ATLANTIC, IA – Produce in the Park continues to be a popular spot this summer. According to Market Manager Brigham Hoegh, weekly food trucks are believed to be playing a role in increased attendance. On June 23, A-Town SmokeShack will be at the park. A-Town SmokeShack is expanding their menu this week to include pulled pork nachos, hot dogs,
and kids meals, in addition to their traditional brisket and pulled pork barbeque sandwiches and meals, sides including cheesy potatoes and baked beans, chips, and ice-cold drinks.
In addition to food trucks, an increased number of visiting organizations and vendors is also drawing more people to the park. The Nishna Valley Family YMCA is the June sponsor of Produce in the Park and continues to bring bounce houses and activities to the park every week this month. The bounce houses are a kid favorite, and parents and guardians are reminded there are just two weeks left in the month of June to enjoy the fun. 
Other activities at the park on June 23 include coloring with Cass County PROSPER as part of Self-Care Summer, yard games with Atlantic Parks & Recreation, and gardening information from Cass County Master Gardeners. Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services and the Cass County chapter of the American Cancer Society will also be at the park, the Guest Chef will be sharing free samples of kale chips, and Sarah Selders will be performing live. Lastly, nearly 20 vendors will be at the park on June 23, including popular dessert vendor Frosting Inc.
On June 16 Produce in the Park introduced a new market layout to help with traffic flow. Additional sidewalks and shady spaces are now being utilized. Produce in the Park thanks Atlantic Parks and Recreation for maintaining a beautiful city park and encourages shoppers to bring blankets or lawn chairs to relax, hang out, and picnic in the park.
Event: Produce in the Park Bounce Houses & BBQ
Date: June 23, 2022
Time: 4:30-6:30 PM
Location: Atlantic City Park (10 W. 7th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022)
For updates on Produce in the Park, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/), or visit the Produce in the Park website to sign up for the e-newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.
CARROLL, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports untreated wastewater overflowed from a manhole near St. Anthony Regional Hospital on the southeast side of Carroll Monday morning.
An unknown amount of untreated wastewater reached the Middle Raccoon River before hospital and city staff stopped the spill about 11 a.m. City staff helped identify the likely cause of the discharge, a collapsed sewer pipe owned by the hospital.
DNR staff were onsite Monday afternoon to take water samples and look at the river. Residents should keep children and pets out of the river for the next 24 to 48 hours. DNR will monitor cleanup and consider appropriate enforcement action.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic FFA Chapter competed in the Iowa FFA Horse Career Development Event held at Kirkwood College on June 14, 2022. The Atlantic FFA Chapter team included: Callee Pellett, Colton Rudy and Joaquin Wailes. Their agriculture education instructor and FFA advisor is Mr. Eric Miller. Callee Pellett said, “I really enjoyed the contest. It was a lot of fun to judge horses for the first time. I also had fun meeting lots of new people.”
FFA teams from 38 chapters participated in this year’s Career Development Event designed to provide the student an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of Equine Science. The 121 individual contestants evaluated halter and performance classes. They also answered questions over the classes and gave oral reasons to explain their placings. A written examination was included along with a team problem solving competition. Joaquin Wails said, “I had a lot of fun. This was a good experience and hopefully will help us build a better team in the future.”
Picture
Colton Rudy, Callee Pellett, Joaquin Wailes (photo & story submitted by FFA Advisor Eric Miller)
The team placed 26th in the Halter Classes, 25th in Performance Classes, 19th in the Reasons & Questions class and 9th in Problem Solving and Team Test. Atlantic FFA member Colton Rudy said, “This year’s contest was an interesting experience to say the least. My favorite part was the team test and tac ID.”
The Iowa FFA Horse Career Development Event was made possible with support through the Iowa FFA Foundation Gold Standard Donors. The Horse Career Development Event was coordinated and held at the Iowa Equestrian Center in Cedar Rapids. The official judge was Nikki Ferwerda, Associate Professor of Teaching at Iowa State University.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Each year the Southwest FFA District and Iowa FFA officers plan and facilitate Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conferences for FFA members in the Southwest District. Atlantic High School welcomed 140 FFA members from 29 FFA chapters from all over the Southwest district on Monday June 6th. While at Atlantic, district and state officers lead four interactive workshops for FFA Chapter leaders, many of which are officers, for the annual COLT Conference. The workshops facilitated were local FFA Chapter program focused in the areas of advocating for the agriculture industry, connecting with stakeholders, recruiting for the local chapter, and working as a cohesive team. FFA leaders also received training relative to their specific officer duties within the local chapter.
Atlantic FFA Secretary Claire Pellett said, “the day was very fun. I learned a lot about my role as a chapter officer and what I can do to improve my abilities in that area.” Iowa FFA President, Sam Martin, stated, “COLT conference provides a chance for FFA members to learn more about their responsibility as a local leader and is a conference for members to meet and connect with state, district and other chapter officers.”
Front row left to right
Claire Pellett and Charli Goff
Back Row Left to Right
Dylan Comes, Jackson McLaren ,Daniel Freund, DJ Shepperd, Colton Rudy (photo & story submitted by FFA Advisor Eric Miller)
COLT conference programming is designed as a two-year rotation of local leaders training. The focus areas of next year’s program include agriculture literacy, time management, professionalism, and self-confidence. The goal is to engage FFA members in learning about the tools that would allow them to be successful in anything they are part of through high school and beyond. COLT conference is made possible with support from Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance of Iowa through the Iowa FFA Foundation.
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa is now part of an international network of radio receiver stations, stretching from Canada to South America, tracking long-distance migration patterns of birds, bats and insects. Anna Buckardt Thomas, an avian ecologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says it’s called the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, “motus” being the Latin word for movement.
“The focus of this system is to track small animals with large movements,” Buckardt Thomas says. “So it focuses on birds and bats, dragonflies, they’ve also been put on monarch butterflies before, so the size of the animal will determine the size of the tag it can receive and how long that tag will be emitting a radio signal.” Iowa now has seven of the receiving stations scattered statewide, with an eighth going online this fall, and plans to add four or five more.
Trackers in Iowa have recently picked up signals from birds that are migrating from Jamaica and even as far away as Columbia. “The system is integrated with basically any other researcher in the hemisphere,” Buckardt Thomas says. “There’s folks in Central and South America all the way up to Canada and we’re all operating on the same frequencies. So anyone could put a tag on a bird or bat or an insect, and if it moves through Iowa, it would be detected.”
As yet, the Iowa D-N-R isn’t tagging any flying creatures, but that’s something that’s being planned for the near future. For now, experts in Iowa tracking stations are keeping an eye — or an ear — on many thousands of creatures that have been tagged elsewhere. While we may already know a lot about the big picture of migration patterns, Buckardt Thomas says these stations will help us to understand even more about where various species winter and threats they may face.
“Learning more about individual species and individual animals will tell us about how fitness plays into migration,” she says, “how different resource availability plays into migration, exact kind of flight speeds and patterns of migration on the finer scale, which can help us be more effective in our conservation of those species.” Iowa’s seven tracking stations are located in areas that met elevation requirements and were placed on buildings owned or leased by the Iowa D-N-R.
There’s one at Lewis and Clark State Park, with six more near the towns of Early, Boone, Swisher, McGregor, Wapello, and Burlington. The state started installing the stations in August of 2021.
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