(Radio Iowa) – Competition in the meat supply chain is the subject of a U-S Senate Judiciary Committee hearing scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday), and at least three Iowans will be in the chamber. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley calls the hearing “long awaited” as he says he’s been expressing strong reservations about consolidation within agriculture and the livestock industry for more than 20 years. “We have two Iowans as witnesses and I look forward to their testimony,” Grassley says. “Family farmers are very important to rural communities across America. We’ve got to keep the family farmer strong and from the standpoint of cattle feeders, they’re on life support.”

The two Iowans who are scheduled to testify are: Jon Schaben, owner of Dunlap Livestock Auction, and Shane Miller, group president of Fresh Meats at Tyson Foods. Tyson joins J-B-S, Cargill and National Beef as the four largest meatpackers which, Grassley says, control 80-percent of the marketplace.  “According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for every one dollar Americans spend on food, farmers only get 14.3 cents,” Grassley says. “Meantime, the retail price of beef for consumers has increased and remains very high.”

The pandemic has brought to the forefront the U-S-D-A’s inability to preserve our nation’s beef supply chain, Grassley says, calling on the agency to be more engaged and aggressive in policing anti-competitive activities. “I’m not upset about paying more for my beef but I’m upset that farmers are not getting a fair price,” he says. The Senate hearing, called “Beefing up Competition: Examining America’s Food Supply Chain,” is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:30 PM/Central time.

(Radio Iowa) – A new breed of tick is being found in the U-S for which Iowans, especially cattle producers, need to be watchful. Professor Grant Dewell, an Iowa State University Extension beef veterinarian, says it’s called the Asian longhorned tick but to see its tiny antennae which resemble horns, you’d need a magnifying glass. “It could potentially be here,” Dewell says. “It’s really hard to see, compared to other ticks. Most ticks we’re familiar with are the size of a pencil eraser or something like that. This Asian longhorned tick is about the size of a sesame seed.”

The tick is native to East Asia and it is spreading across the United States. It’s been identified as far east as Arkansas and as far north as New York. “It’s something that we could easily miss if it was here, if we’re not really paying attention to it,” Dewell says. “As much as we move cattle nowadays, where cattle are moved all over the U.S., somebody sure could have imported a breeding animal from the East Coast and brought (the tick) here, so it’s just something we need to keep an eye on.”

Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are associated with most ticks. Dewell says the Asian longhorned ticks may carry those and other blood-borne diseases that are not common in the U.S. People should be aware of the risks, but he says cattle producers need to be vigilant for this tiny-but-dangerous insect. “They tend to target livestock. They will attach to people if given the opportunity but they don’t target people,” Dewell says. “Like most ticks, whatever you offer them, but they tend to focus on livestock. They’re typically in tall grass and brushy areas where they can easily move from that forage onto the host.”

A single Asian longhorned tick female can essentially start a new tick population on her own, as Dewell says she can lay up to 2,000 eggs without ever finding a mate. That’s why he says identifying new infestations and preventing the spread is essential. If you think you’ve found one, contact the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State University.

(On the web at https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/pidc)

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A crop update says the lack of precipitation is causing some stress on crops. The U-S-D-A says the crop stress is most notable in the northern third of the state — which has the worst drought conditions. The overall condition of the corn crop was reported at 65 percent good to excellent. That’s down three percentage points from the previous week.

Stressed-Corn-ISU-photo

The soybean condition was rated 61 percent good to excellent — and that is down five percent from the previous report.

The Washington G.E.M. 4-H Club is celebrating 100 years as a club.  Spokesperson Melanie Petty says the club is asking both present and past members and leaders please join in on Thursday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. during the King and Queen contest, for a celebration.  Afterwards Washington G.E.M. past and present club members and leaders are invited to stop at the 4H Food Stand for an ice cream social to reminisce about the club’s history and thoughts for the future.

Petty says “We are sure there are many stories to be told and heard.” You can also take time during the fair to view the glass case in the entry of the community center building displaying some wonderful pieces of the club’s history.

The Cass County Fair begins Wednesday, July 28^th and runs through Tuesday, August 3^rd.  The fair is free to all ~ come out and enjoy what we have to offer!

SUNDAY, July 25th

6:30 – 7:30 am Release all swine.
7:30 – 8:30 am All swine exhibitors clean swine barn
7:30 am Cattle Dog Trials (U.S. Border Collie National Qualifying for Finals) – Horse Arena
8:00 am Biscuits/Gravy Breakfast (Greenfield Methodist Church) – Courtyard
9:00 am 4-H Archery Speed Shooting Fun Match – northwest corner of fairgrounds
10:00 am Open Archery Tournament (registration 9 am) – northwest corner of fairgrounds
10:30 am Release all Cow/Calf Pens/Jr. Feeders not selling or participating in carcass
(All Cow/Calf Pens must leave; pens must be empty and clean by 1:30 pm)
11:00 am Future 4-H’ers Livestock/Pet Show (Registration 10:30 am) – Mid American Arena
12:00 pm Pigtail Contest – Courtyard
Bags Tournament – old ball field area
Ice Cream Social (Adair County Republicans) – Courtyard
Pizza Party for Winning Herdsmanship Barn Exhibitors – Gazebo
Farm Bureau Cookout Contest Judging (Registration 8 am)– Courtyard
12 – 3 pm Antique Tractor, Lawn Tractor, Pedal Tractor and Car Show – NE of Fair entrance
(Registration 11:00 am)
12:30 pm Check Out 4-H/FFA Livestock Exhibits Not Being Auctioned
12:00 – 12:30 pm Enter Beef Performance
1:00 pm Silent Auction (end time: items must be picked up by 3:00pm) – 4-H/FFA Center
2:00 pm Livestock Sale – Mid American Arena (Swine, Champion Market Broilers,
Champion Single Fryer, Rabbit, Market Beef, Junior Feeder Pens, Sheep/Meat Goats)
3:30 – 4 pm Open Class Check-out
Commercial Exhibits Dismissed
4:00 pm All poultry and rabbit pens must be empty and cleaned
4 – 4:30 pm 4-H/FFA Center Exhibits Check Out
7:00 pm Wright Rodeo Company (slack begins at 2:00 pm)

Here are the results from the Sheep Show at the Adair County Fair in Greenfield on Friday, July 23, 2021.

Champion Market Lamb Feeder Pen:  Colt Douglas. Reserve:  Montana Douglas

Champion Rate of Gain Market Lamb Feeder Pen:  Colt Douglas. Reserve:  Derek Raasch

Champion Bottle Lamb:  Colt Douglas. Reserve: Montana Douglas

Champion White Face Influence Market Lamb:  Nora Newbury. Reserve:  Montana Douglas

Champion Purchased Market Lamb:  Clay Hohertz. Reserve:  Clay Hohertz

Champion Home Raised Market Lamb:  Cash Suhr. Reserve:  Cash Suhr

Grand Champion Individual Market Lamb:  Clay Hohertz. Reserve:  Cash Suhr

Grand Champion Rate of Gain Individual Market Lamb:  Brandon Raasch. Reserve:  Ellie Brewer

Champion Pen of 3 Purchased Market Lambs:  Josie Sackett. Reserve:  Bella Rubio

Champion Pen of 3 Home Raised Market Lambs:  Brandon Raasch. Reserve:  Terrin Gettler

Grand Champion Pen of 3 Market Lambs:  Josie Sackett. Reserve:  Brandon Raasch

Champion Grade Ewe:  Cash Suhr. Reserve:  Krista James

Champion Supreme Breeding Ewe:  Cash Suhr. Reserve:  Krista James

Champion Advanced Sheep Showman:  Carter Goetz.

Champion Senior Sheep Showman:  Brandon Raasch. Reserve:  Bella Rubio

Champion Intermediate Sheep Showman:  Cash Suhr. Reserve:  Krista James

Champion Junior Sheep Showman:  Melanie Kilborn. Reserve:  Creighton Suhr

Here are the results from the Meat Goat Show at the Adair County Fair in Greenfield on Friday, July 23, 2021.

Champion Market Doe:  Mazee Funke. Reserve:  Cameron Christensen

Champion Market Wether:  Mazee Funke. Reserve:  Mazee Funke

Grand Champion Market Meat Goat:  Mazee Funke. Reserve:  Mazee Funke

Grand Champion Rate of Gain Meat Goat:  Ty Rardin. Reserve:  Colt Douglas

Champion Kid Meat Goat:  Lukas James. Reserve:  Madison Christensen

Champion Junior Doe Meat Goat:  Mazee Funke. Reserve:  Mazee Funke

Champion Aged Doe Meat Goat:  Mazee Funke. Reserve:  Mazee Funke

Grand Champion Breeding Doe Meat Goat:  Lukas James. Reserve:  Madison Christensen

Champion Advanced Meat Goat Showman:  Mazee Funke. Reserve:  Madison Christensen

Champion Senior Meat Goat Showman:  Kamryn Nourse. Reserve:  Jennifer Holliday

Champion Intermediate Meat Goat Showman:  Lukas James. Reserve:  Chloe Rardin

Champion Junior Meat Goat Showman:  Hadley Christensen. Reserve:  Thomas Mikkelson

(Atlantic) – Mark your calendar for August the 4^th at 7-p.m., as the date and time for “Art in the Park for Adults,” at Sunnyside Park, in Atlantic. Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen said they’ve been running an “Art in the Park” program for YOUTH, every Wednesday at 9-a.m. The event has been held at different parks each week in Atlantic, since the program began. That continues through the end of July. He said the success of the program sparked an interest in having a program specifically for adults.

Simply show-up, and “freestyle” your art’s – or hearts – desires.

Other activities you may be interested in participating in, include a “Treasure Hunt” with a cool treat as your possible reward.

Bryant says later this Fall or early Next Spring, they are hoping to have an even bigger treasure hunt, like those held by bigger cities.

He says the Parks and Rec Dept. will have a booth at the 2021 Cass County Fair, where their staff will answer your questions about the parks, take suggestions for things you’d like to see, and promote the all the different recreational items available for you to check out, including the shelters and sports equipment, like bicycles.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s dry conditions held about the same in the last week with around 70 percent of Iowa in some form of drought — and around 25 percent with severe drought conditions. D-N-R hydrologist, Tim Hall, says the overall picture is still better than we had one month ago. “The numbers are better from this time in June until now. We’ve reduced the coverage of drought across the northern part of the state — so the rains have helped,” Hall says. “All of southeastern Iowa across the southern tier of counties is free from drought and dryness.” Hall says.

He says the average stream flows across the state are around normal — which is a little misleading.”It’s really wet in southeastern Iowa. It’s kind of dry in north-central Iowa — so the average number belies the fact that there are areas of the state on either end of the extreme. Still the area that we are concerned about that were are trying to keep a careful watch on is north-central Iowa down through central Iowa through the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River.” Hall says the long-term forecast is a concern.

“So taking us through the end of July there’s very little rain in that forecast for most of the state of Iowa. So, dry conditions, not a lot of rainfall. We might expect to see a deterioration on the landscape that would be reflected in the drought monitor,” Hall says. Hall says we are in a situation where things can flip in a real positive direction or go the other way in a real negative direction depending on how much rainfall does come.

“We might expect to see some downgrading of parts of the state here in the next couple of weeks unless we get some rain,” according to Hall. The new drought monitor will come out on Thursday.

7:00 am Free 4-H/FFA Breakfast (Agriland FS) – Foodstand
8:00 am Dairy/Dairy Goat Show – Swine Show Ring
8:30 am Junior Feeder Calf Pen Show Cow/Calf Pen – Pens by scale Breeding Heifer, Lead Cow/Calf, and Feeder Calf Shows – Mid American Arena
Kid’s Rabbit/Cavy Show – West end Dairy Barn
9:00 am Open Fun Jackpot Horse Show (Registration 8:00 am) – Horse Arena
4-H/FFA Rabbit/Cavy Show – West end Dairy Barn
Feeder Calves must be on fairgrounds
(Feeder Calf Exhibitors check-in announcer’s stand between 9:30–10:00 am)
10:00 am Baby Show – 4-H/FFA Center
10 am – 4 pm Hands on the Farm Activities – Varied Industries Building
10 am – 4 pm Toby KID Strolling Entertainment
10 am – 5 pm Quilt Show – Varied Industries Building
11:30 am Pedal Pull – in front of 4-H/FFA Center
12:00 pm Junior & Senior Cowgirl Queen Contest – Horse Arena
12 – 1 pm Cat Show – Gazebo
Adair County Youth Council-Water Baseball
1 pm – 7 pm Mobile Glass Studios (glass blowing creations), location TBD
12:30 pm Ice Cream Social (Adair County Democrats) – Courtyard
1:00 pm Market Beef, Beef Showmanship – Mid American Arena
2:00 pm Animal Demonstration – Gazebo
2 pm – 4 pm Discover the Fair Scavenger Hunt, Courtyard
4:00 pm Share the Fun Contest – 4-H/FFA Center
6:45 pm Supreme Showman Winners Announced – Grandstand
7:00 pm Fontanelle American Legion Color Guard and National Anthem
Concert – Tribute to George Strait, Willie Nelson
and Waylon Jennings– Grandstand