United Group Insurance

KJAN Programs

Heartbeat Today 5-15-2024

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

May 15th, 2024 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with Sharon Guffey-Lewis about recent renovations and the upcoming season at the Hitchcock House near Lewis.

Play

Cass County Extension Report 5-15-2024

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

May 15th, 2024 by Jim Field

w/Kate Olson.

Play

Iowa DNR to ask Attorney General to file charges in approximate 750,000 fish kill

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – At the Iowa Environmental Protection Committee’s next meeting (May 22nd), the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will present a litigation report in which they ask the Attorney General to seek penalties relating to March 11th, 2024 fertilizer spill in Montgomery County. The Iowa DNR announced approximately two weeks later that the spill resulted in nearly all the fish being killed in a 50-mile stretch of the East Nishnabotna River to the Missouri border.

New Cooperative notified the Iowa Department of Natural Resources following the spill that approximately 1,500 tons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer (32% solution) had discharged into a drainage ditch. Officials say the release occurred due to a valve left open on an aboveground storage tank overnight. The fertilizer then traveled from the drainage ditch into the East Nishnabotna River.

According to the Iowa DNR’s litigation report, Iowa Code states that those liable for polluting water of the state are in violation of state law and should be liable to pay restitution for injury caused to a wild animal due to the pollution.

You can read the full litigation report HERE.

Forney Lake management is topic of June 4 public meeting

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Hamburg, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), next month, is hosting a public meeting to discuss past and future management of the 1,317-acre Forney Lake Wildlife Area. The meeting takes place June 4th, from 6-8 p.m., at the Wa-Shawtee Lodge within Waubonsie State Park, located at 2635 Wa-Shawtee Rd., northwest of Hamburg.

Staff with the Iowa DNR will give a presentation on Forney Lake, and then listen to comments and concerns from the public.

If you have special requirements such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments, please contact the DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.

Heartbeat Today 5-14-2024

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

May 14th, 2024 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with Sheryl Burroughs about the opening of the new season at the Cass County Historical Museum in Griswold.

Play

Local 24-Hour Rainfall Totals Reported at 7:00 am on Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Ag/Outdoor, Weather

May 14th, 2024 by Jim Field

  • KJAN, Atlantic  .19″
  • 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .11″
  • Massena  .42″
  • Elk Horn  .08″
  • Bridgewater  1″
  • Villisca  1.55″
  • Logan  .18″
  • Clarinda  1.15″
  • Shenandoah  1.05″
  • Creston  .59″

Iowa Food Pantries Receive $43,000 Worth of Food from Pork Producers

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

CLIVE, IOWA – Pork producers across Iowa donated more than $43,000 worth of pork to local food pantries during the past few months. It was done in conjunction with the Pork in the Pantry program, organized by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA). Now in its second year, Pork in the Pantry provides funding of up to $1,000 to each county pork producer organization that participates. Counties are responsible for purchasing the pork and donating it, and IPPA reimburses them. This year, 38 county producer organizations participated in Pork in the Pantry. IPPA President Matt Gent says “Food insecurity remains a major issue in Iowa and these donations to local food pantries will help. Pork producers care a lot about their communities, and this is one of the many ways we show it.”

Along with donating much-needed protein to local food pantries, many county producer organizations purchased the pork from local vendors. So not only is Pork in the Pantry helping those in need, the program is also supporting local businesses. Food pantries are frequently short of meat products, so this is a great way to get nutritious protein into the diets of food-insecure Iowans. Iowa Food Bank Association Executive Director Linda Gorkow says “Hunger is rising in Iowa,” and “This Pork in the Pantry program is an incredible opportunity to ensure greatly needed protein is provided to families, individuals and seniors who don’t have enough food to eat. Protein is one of the highest requested items at food banks and pantries across the state so every ounce of the pork donated to the pantries serving Iowans will make an incredible impact.”

The $43,000 worth of pork will provide an estimated 55,000 servings of protein for Iowans who are facing food insecurity. Last year’s Pork in the Pantry program resulted in more than $40,000 worth of pork being donated to local food pantries.

Among the county pork producer organizations that participated in Pork in the Pantry in 2024, were those in Adair, Adams, Madison, Page, Ringgold and Taylor Counties.

Crop progress slowed again this past week by wet conditions

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Planting progress was slowed again last week by wet conditions. The U-S-D-A crop report says there just two days suitable for field work due to the rain. The amount of corn planted went from 47 to 57 percent — which is now one week behind last year — after being just two days back the week before. Soybean planting moved from 30 to 39 percent complete, and is now also one week behind last year’s pace.

While the rain has slowed planting, it has helped continue to push back the drought conditions. D-N-R Hydrologist Tim Hall says the timing of the rain has been important. “We haven’t gotten you know a month’s worth of rain in one day. We’ve had several significant rainfall events that have been spaced out far enough so that moisture has time to get into the system,” Hall says. He says there has been some flooding, but the lack of soil moisture has kept that down. “The fact that the soil has been very dry has really taken the hard edge off some of the flooding,” he says.

The U-S-D-A weekly report shows 92 percent of topsoil moisture is now adequate or at a surplus — compared to 73 percent that showed adequate or surplus moisture one week ago.

Heartbeat Today 5-13-2024

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

May 13th, 2024 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with Kelsey Beschorner about RAGBRAI preparations in Atlantic.

Play

Local 24-Hour Rainfall Totals Reported at 7:00 am on Monday, May 13, 2024

Ag/Outdoor, Weather

May 13th, 2024 by Jim Field

  • KJAN, Atlantic  .66″
  • 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .35″
  • Massena  .87″
  • Exira  .5″
  • Elk Horn  .53″
  • Neola  .5″
  • Bridgewater  1″
  • Missouri Valley  .82″
  • Creston .39″
  • Shenandoah  .65″
  • Clarinda  .38″