The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association is hosting two, free, area educational events for feedlot and cow/calf producers in the month of January. Each forum will include a free meal, a tradeshow, an update from the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa Beef Industry Council, and educational sessions.

Feedlot Forum – Wednesday, January 15; Carrollton Inn, 1730 US-71 Carroll, IA; 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 
The Carroll Feedlot Forum will give area producers the opportunity to learn about ways to manage risk and incorporate EID’s into their beef business. In addition to those topics, Carl Babler of Atten and Babler Commodities will be providing a cattle and grain market outlook with his presentation called “Producing Cattle in a Global Marketplace; with a plan to manage price risk”.

Cow/Calf Forum – Thursday, January 16 – Southwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative Building, 1502 W. South St. , Mt. Ayr,; 5:00 p.m.  – 8:30 p.m.
If you’re a cow/calf producer, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to hear about how to improve cow nutrition and calf performance from expert Dr. Allison Meyer of University of Missouri. Lee Schulz of Iowa State University will be providing the market outlook, letting producers know what to expect in the cattle markets in the next year.

(Another Cow/Calf Forum will be held Friday, January 17th, at the Lee Co. Fairgrounds- Youth Learning Center, in Donnellson, from 5-until 8-p.m.)

Producers can RSVP by calling 515-296-2266 or email kate@iacattlemen. Walk-ins are always welcome, and you do not need to be a member to attend.

(By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer) – Impossible Foods has something new on its plate. The California plant-based meat company is unveiling Impossible Pork and Impossible Sausage at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas. They’re the company’s first new products since 2016, when its Impossible Burger went on sale. Like the burger, Impossible Food’s pork and sausage are soy based and will be sold ground. Burger King plans to test Impossible Sausage breakfast sandwiches in five U.S. markets starting later this month. Impossible Foods isn’t yet saying when the products will be available at grocery stores.

Officials with the Association of Iowa Fairs have announced the organization’s Board of Directors has chose the 2019 Cass County Fair as the recipient of a Blue Ribbon Award. The award was presented at the Association’s 2019 Conference and Annual meeting held Dec. 13-15 in Des Moines. The Cass County Fair was chosen to receive the award from all Fairs in the Association’s Southwest District. Thomas Barnes, Executive Director of the Iowa Fair Association, said “One member Fair in each of the Association’s six fair districts in Iowa is presented with this award each year. The Fair that receives this award must have shown progress in providing service to the youth programs in their community, plus show distinguished service to the community in both the Fair and interim events.”

2019 Blue Ribbon Fair, SW District – Cass County Fair, Atlantic (Via www.iowafairs.com)

Barnes said he and his wife Sue visited the Cass County Fair several times, and “Found that it does indeed serve very well the community as outlined in the guidelines of this award.” Cass County Fair President Curtis Bierbaum said “We are very excited to have received the 2019 Blue Ribbon Fair Award. Cass County being one of the few all-free fairs in Iowa is something to be proud of.” Bierbaum said also, “We could not have the successful fair that we do without the Superintendents, volunteers, parents, Extension staff, FFA Advisors and County support.”

The 2020 Cass County Fair will be held July 22nd through the 28th, in Atlantic.

LEHIGH, Iowa – The DNR is again reminding Iowans of deteriorating ice conditions after another extremely dangerous situation took place at Brushy Creek Lake on January 2, 2020.

The DNR reported that a man had fallen through the ice on Brushy Creek Lake approximately 50 yards from the north boat ramp. Fortunately, a nearby friend was able to push a sled to the man and pull him out of the water.

Although the ice may appear safe and thick enough for people to walk on, with the rollercoaster of temperatures lately, the ice conditions are deteriorating. With the freshly fallen snow from Friday into early Saturday it is impossible to see the ice below.

Brushy Creek Lake is a popular spot for ice fishing and draws in anglers from all across the state, but officials warn anyone coming to the lake or any others across the state.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department is challenging you to explore and enjoy the City’s Parks, and earn a chance of winning $25 in Chamber Bucks. There are a list of activities you can participate in, from having a picnic, to racing along the many miles of trails, or taking pictures of wild life. In order to be eligible for the Chamber Bucks, all you have to do is take pictures of yourself having fun with the many available activities. Complete 25 activities (any combination, as listed below) and post those pictures to the Parks & Rec Facebook page (https:///www.facebook.com/atlanticparksandrecreation/)

Schildberg Recreation Area activities (post pictures of any of the following):

• A Wild Rose (Iowa’s State Flower); From a bench overlooking Lake #1; Walking/biking/riding along the trails; Using the Dog Park; Using the Playground Equipment; Kayaking; A Beaver Dam; A Bird; Having a picnic; Participating in the Brown’s Shoe Fit Walk; Participating in AtlanticFest.

Sunny Park photo op’s:

• An Oak Tree (Iowa’s State Tree); Disc Golfing (The Parks Dept. has discs you can use); Having a picnic; Playing Horseshoes; Act like you’re singing on the Bandshell stage; Playing Tennis; Using the Ice Skating Rink

Downtown City Park photo opportunities include: Produce in the Park; The Easter Egg Hunt. Mollett Park (east end of 3rd Street Place): Having a picnic; Picking a vegetable from the Parks & Rec-Sponsored raised bed (seasonal)’ or flying a kite. Pellet Park: A picture of you sledding down the hill, or playing on the equipment. Bull Creek Pathway: Walking/running/biking along the pathway; Picture of the artwork along the trail; Get some milkweed from the Parks & Rec office and plant it along the trail; Take a pic of wildlife seen along the trail.

Harl Holt Park: Take a pic of yourself of someone playing basketball; Having a picnic; Swinging, or, from atop the Lookout. Nishna Park: Picture of a cattail and/or playing a game of “Tag.” East Ridge Park: A picture looking off the bridge; a Red Wing Blackbird; A flower, and/or a pic from the gazebo. And, at Cedar Park: Take a picture of someone playing on the equipment, and or having a picnic.

The Atlantic Parks & Rec Dept. wishes you a Happy New Year, and urges you to enjoy Atlantic’s parks.

Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning reports the “Soiree with the Swans” event set to take place tomorrow (Saturday), has been moved from the Schildberg Recreation Area to the back-up location: The Atlantic American Legion Memorial Building (2nd and Poplar Streets). Kanning will be giving ten-minute presentations regarding the Trumpeter Swans at the Atlantic American Legion Memorial Building, from 11:30 a.m.-until 1:00 p.m., Saturday, with a light lunch will be available for free, but you are encourage to make a free-will donation.

The donations are being accepted (for swan care). Atlantic is celebrating 20 winters of the Trumpeter Swans wintering here. The event is being sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board, Atlantic Parks and Recreation, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and ARISE.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa agriculture officials are taking comments on proposed new rules that will regulate hemp production in the state. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says comments on the administrative rules that will regulate the planting, growing and harvesting of commercial hemp will be accepted until Jan. 22.

The state submitted its proposed hemp production program to the USDA on Dec. 11. The USDA has 60 days to review it. Once the USDA approves the program and the online licensing system is operational, Iowa agriculture officials will start accepting hemp grower license applications. Licensed farmers will be able to grow up to 40 acres of hemp per season.

Celebrating its 40th year in Iowa, the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program equips participants to grow in knowledge about gardening best practices. Once the training is completed, Master Gardeners volunteer in their community, making significant contributions such as giving vegetables to food pantries and maintaining demonstration gardens at Iowa’s county fairgrounds. The Cass County Extension office held training sessions this past fall, with classes held throughout September and October at the Extension Office and other locations around Cass County to allow for hands-on learning. At their year end meeting and potluck on November 19, the Cass County Master Gardeners congratulated the 5 trainees who successfully completed the course and are beginning their internship year.

(L to R): Karen Mailander and Todd Turner were promoted to Full Master Gardener Status, and Christy Wood, Michelle Behrends, Jim Varley and Nancy Varley were recognized for successfully completing the training and achieving Intern status. Not Pictured: LaNita Kirby was also recognized for completing the Fall 2019 Master Gardener Training. (Photo courtesy Cass Co. ISU Extension)

After completing the course, Master Gardener interns volunteer 40 hours within the community to finish their training.  At the November meeting, two trainees from the Fall 2017 Class were also awarded their completion certificates, moving them up to full Master Gardener status. To maintain Master Gardener volunteer status, they volunteer 20 hours per year and build their gardening know-how by participating in ten hours of continuing education annually. Cass County has an active Master Gardener group that participates in many projects throughout the year, so opportunities to learn and volunteer are plentiful!

By becoming Master Gardeners, trainees join the nearly 2,000 Master Gardeners who were active across Iowa in 2018, compiling over 113,000 volunteer hours. Master Gardeners volunteered nearly 60 hours each, significantly more than the 20 hours required. Those volunteer hours are valued at $2.7 million collectively. For more information about the Master Gardener training, or Master Gardener activities in Cass county, call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or email Cass County Extension Director and Master Gardener Coordinator Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu. You can also keep up with Cass County Master Gardner activities throughout the year by following the group on Facebook at Cass County IA Master Gardeners.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says 2019 could best be characterized as a roller coaster ride for farmers — and not the kind you enjoy. “Certainly trade has impacted markets, we have seen some up and down in terms of renewable fuels policy. And I think the dominant issue for our farmers this year was absolutely the weather and the historic delays in planting and harvest, and really historic flooding,” Naig says.

Naig says there were bright spots too — including some good yields at harvest. “Even though we had historic delays in planting and historic delays in harvest progress — for the most part I’m hearing some pretty good things in terms of corn yields in particular. And beans yields are okay — all things considered,” according to Naig. He says one of the issues that continued in 2019 was the preparation and build up of defenses against animal diseases. “African Swine Fever has been active in China and parts of Asia now since August of 2018 and is very much on the minds of our pork producers. One is to of course keep it out of the United States — keep it out of North America — and two is really heightening biosecurity on farms. So if it were to come to North America that folks could keep it off of their operations.”

Naig says there is hope that the prices farmers get for their goods will increase in the new year. Naig says commodity prices have been below the cost of production or just enough to break even since 2018.”That of course is just not a sustainable situation,” he says. “So, what we’ve needed to correct that is of course to increase demand here and around the world. And also to bring some certainty back to the marketplace.”

Naig hopes the pending trade deals will help with that goal of increasing demand in 2020 and lowering the amount of uncertainty.

You’re invited to join Cass County Conservation Staff at Atlantic’s Schildberg Recreation Area- Lake 4, on Saturday, January 4th 2020. Staff will be giving ten-minute presentations regarding the Trumpeter Swans every half-hour beginning at 11:00 a.m. with the last one being presented at 2:00 p.m. There will also be time to view the swans through spotting scopes and witness random swan feeding sessions. Hot chocolate, cookies, grilled hotdogs, and other snacks will be provided free of charge with donations being accepted (for swan care).

The Schildberg Recreation Area is located on the northwest edge of Atlantic, Lake 4 is on the north side of Highway 83. Atlantic is celebrating 20 winters of the Trumpeter Swans wintering here. The event is not to be missed! IF THE WEATHER IS “BAD” OR THE SWANS ARE NOT AT THE PARK…the program will be held at the Atlantic American Legion Memorial Building from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. with a light lunch available.

The event is being sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board, Atlantic Parks and Recreation, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and ARISE.