(Atlantic, Iowa) – Nishna Valley Trails is holding a Kids Bike Ride this Saturday, August 13^th, 2022.  The event starts at 10:30 AM, from the Schildberg Rec. Area West Parking lot. Check in and start the ride at the West Parking lot of the Schildberg Rec. Area. Three age groups, ride length according to age. FREE, and all ages welcome.

Co-sponsored by Atlantic Parks and Recreation, Cass County Conservation, Fareway, and West Side Diner in Atlantic, IA.

Questions: Call Atlantic Parks & Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen at 712-243-3542. After the ride check out Atlanticfest going on downtown!

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa State University researcher’s pilot study shows chickens who view virtual reality scenes might be healthier. Associate professor, Melha Mellata says she knew of studies that showed viewing certain things calmed humans, and decided to see if it worked with chickens by showing them scenes of free-range animals.

“We measured the immunity in the blood, we measure the microbiota. There are compounds of the body that are usually involved in fighting infectious disease,” she says. She says they had a control group and the group of chickens which watched the virtual reality scenes. She says the blood of those exposed to virtual reality could kill bacteria more than the blood from the chickens not exposed to the virtual reality — which let them know there’s something in the blood that was stimulated to fight infectious disease.

They also tested the microbiota in the gut that helps to digest food and also fight infections. “We did see some impact, we did see some changes. So it’s possible to use virtual reality, to trigger chemical changes in to help fight infection,” she says. The virtual reality video also showed the chicken’s behavior where the other chickens were not pecking each other.
“We were hoping when we show them positive behavior, they will mimic this positive behavior, reduce aggressivity in chickens, which is a big problem in the commercial poultry farm,” Mellata says. 

She says there were positive results there, and that combined with the changes in the ability to fight disease is a big plus.
“It will reduce infection, reducing the stress will increase productivity, and it will improve the welfare of animals in general,” she says.

Mellata says they are now trying to raise more funding to continue the study and try to build on what they have already found.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Utilities Board has determined the Webster County Fairgrounds will be the site of the public hearing on the Summit Carbon Solutions request for a permit to build a carbon pipeline. The order sets the place for the hearing — but the date has not been set as I-U-B staff are continuing to review the information submitted with the permit request.

Webster County was chosen as the site for the hearing because it is at the middle of the proposed 681-mile pipeline. There was some discussion about using the Webster County Fairgrounds because the site is four-thousand yards outside the corporate limits of the county seat, which is Fort Dodge. But the I-U-B determined the site substantially complies with Iowa code hearing requirements.

DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 11, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Matt Russell, today (Thursday) announced that 39 Iowa Counties are now authorized for emergency haying or grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for fiscal year 2022. FSA’s fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.

The 27 counties approved for emergency haying or grazing include: Adair, Adams, Cass, Clarke, Crawford, Harrison, Humboldt, Iowa, Jasper, Jefferson, Keokuk, Kossuth, Lucas, Mahaska, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Page, Polk, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, Wapello, Warren, Washington.

With 12 Iowa Counties restricted under Emergency Haying Criteria Based on Livestock Forage Program (LFP) Triggers:

Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Ida, Monona, O’Brien, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sioux, Sac, and Woodbury.

For more information and to request approval for emergency haying or grazing use of CRP acres, contact your local USDA Service Center.

The Iowa State Fair opened today (Thursday) the chair of the Fair board started things off.

“Find Your Fun” is the theme of the 11-day fair. State Fair C-E-O, Gary Slater, says there’s plenty to watch and do.

He says the State Fair is still recovering from the pandemic. Governor Kim Reynolds says she expects there will be good attendance this year as people look for some entertainment.

Reynolds is heading to Dyersville later today for the Field of Dreams Major League baseball game. It was announced that there won’t be a game next year. Reynolds says she’s confident the game will eventually return.

The governor this week announced more than 12 million dollars in funding for a permanent ballpark near the Field of Dreams site. She says it will help build on what they are doing there to draw in people.

Opponents of the governor question the spending — but she says the money has been spread out in a lot of areas.

Reynolds says there has been other money provided for roads and infrastructure as well.

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream
• 1 cup (8 oz.) 4% cottage cheese
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• strawberry or blueberry syrup
• sliced fresh strawberries, optional

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt.  Stir in the sour cream, cottage cheese and eggs until blended.

Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a greased hot griddle in batches; turn when bubbles form on top.  Cook until the second side is golden brown.  Serve with syrup and strawberries, if desired.

YIELD:  12 pancakes

Today (Thursday) is 8-1-1 awareness day to remind you to call that phone number if you plan on any digging on your property. Iowa Utilities Board spokesman, Don Tormey, says the observance happens now because it’s — August 11th — or 8-1-1.

He says any type of digging requires a call — it doesn’t have to be a major project with excavators.

Tormey says there are all types of lines buried across the state, from sewer lines to fiber optic lines that each pose problems if they are cut.

Not only do you face a potential danger from hitting something underground, you can face fines for not calling before digging. Get more information at iowaonecall.com

Last weekend’s showers dumped up to seven inches of rain on parts of Iowa, while many areas stayed dry, but even with the scattered downpours, drought conditions persist over wide sections of the state. Angie Rieck Hinz (REEK HINES) is an Iowa State University field agronomist and says that’s typical and it’s bringing a drastic variation in crop conditions statewide.

Rieck Hinz is touring parts of north-central Iowa to inspect crops and says the drought isn’t keeping insects away from the fields.

Soybean aphids are problematic for some growers, while soybean gall midges are being found for the first time this season in three more counties: Kossuth, Humboldt and Webster. Rieck Hinz says a few crop diseases are thriving in the heat.

A new report is expected later this (Thursday) morning from the U-S Drought Monitor. Last week’s map shows more than 60 of the state’s 99 counties in some form of drought, with 13 northwest Iowa counties in either severe or extreme drought conditions.

The Corning Center for the Fine Arts will be hosting a natural basket weaving demonstration with artist Sandy Maxa on Saturday, August 20th. The demonstration will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and admission is free.

Sandy Maxa will show off some of the baskets she has created using materials gathered right here in Southwest Iowa. She was demonstrate one of the techniques that she employs to make a basket.

The Corning Center for the Fine Arts is located at 706 Davis Avenue in Corning.