Atlantic FFA Director Eric Miller reports that on February 6th 2019, six members of the Atlantic FFA Chapter participated in a variety of events at the Southwest District FFA Review night at Boyer Valley High School. Tyler Comes and Nathan Behrends had their Iowa FFA Degrees reviewed by a team of FFA Advisors. In order to receive this prestigious awards, FFA members must complete all of the following: be an FFA member for two years, complete two years of high school, invested at least $1,500 in their SAE or 300 hours in excess to class time work or a combo of the two.  Recipients must have committed 25 years to community service, performed 10 procedures of parliamentary procedure, given a six-minute speech relating to agriculture, served as an officer or other satisfactory position held by chapter, and had a strong enough school record, as deemed by their superintendent or principal. Both Comes and Behrends applications passed and they will receive their Iowa FFA Degree during the final session at the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference at Ames in April.

Tyler Comes and Taylor McCreedy applied for FFA Proficiency awards this year. Tyler’s proficiency area of Beef Production – Entrepreneurship earned a Gold and advanced to State. Tyler has a cow calf operation that he began in 8th grade and has continued throughout high school. Taylor’s Equine Science – Entrepreneurship earned a Silver and also advanced to State. Taylor has taken her love of animals and turned her passion into an opportunity to work with others as she trainers horses. Proficiency Award nominees have excelled in their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Programs. These awards encourage members to develop specialized skills that will apply toward a future career. The district winners will advance to the State FFA competition where they will compete against winners from the other FFA Districts in Iowa.

The last part of Review Night is the District FFA Officer Interviews. This year Atlantic FFA had 3 members apply for the 2019-20 District FFA Officer team. Juniors Adriana Mendez, Corri Pelzer, and Tate Den Beste began the night with an FFA knowledge test. After waiting in the holding room with other candidates from various schools. The candidates then had an individual interview with the seven member nominating committee. The committee asked each candidate a few questions. Then the candidates had a one on one interview with four members of the committee. Each one-on-one interview was only one minute, so the candidate had to think on their feet.

After all the candidates were done the committee met and selected the ballot for the 2019 District FFA Convention. Adriana Mendez was balloted for the District FFA Reporter and Corri Pelzer was balloted for the District Sentinel. Adriana and Corri will each give a speech and answer 2 questions in front of the District FFA Delegates on Saturday March 2nd in Glenwood.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — One of two men accused of stealing around 150 pigs in northern Iowa has been sentenced. Winnebago County District Court records say 21-year-old Robert Morales, of Thompson, Iowa, on Tuesday was given 10 years in prison, suspended, and five years of probation and fined $1,000. He also was ordered to make restitution of nearly $22,000.

The pigs were reported stolen Nov. 4, 2017, from a Christensen Farms operation near Lake Mills. The other man charged, 35-year-old David Cortez Jr., has pleaded not guilty to theft and burglary. His trial is scheduled to begin April 10.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Attorney General’s Office is appealing the district court ruling that threw out Iowa’s Ag Protection Fraud Law, the so-called “ag gag” law. Drew Mogler, public policy director for the Iowa Pork Producers Association, says his organization thinks the state has an excellent argument to protect farmers from imposters and intruders from animal rights groups.

“When we look at some of the pressures our industry is facing with foreign animal diseases in other countries,” Mogler says, “I think we’re all aware of the issue of African swine fever moving around lots of countries in Asia, biosecurity and protecting biosecurity in this state is definitely in the state’s interest.”

Mogler says the state’s livestock producers need to be shielded from activists’ attacks, including the use of undercover videos on farms and ranches. “This law is designed to protect farmers from folks who are really driving an agenda to end meat production and meat consumption in this state and in this country,” Mogler says. “Farmers deserve that protection because they’re caring for their animals each and every day.”

Mogler says if the court of appeals rules in favor of the state, then the ag-gag law will be reinstated. “If this appeal gets overturned in the Eighth Circuit, then the Ag Protection Fraud Law is back on the books here in the state of Iowa,” he says, “and producers will have protection under that statute.”

Mogler says those who challenged the Iowa law originally claimed it was a violation of free speech rights, but he says that wasn’t the intention of the law, as it aimed to protect ag operations.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The nation’s farmers are struggling to pay back their loans after years of low crop prices, with nearly one out of five loans in a government farm program now delinquent for the worst January default rate in at least nine years. The bulk of the nation’s agricultural loans typically come due around Jan. 1 for seasonal and tax planning purposes. Figures recently compiled show an overall jump nationwide in delinquencies for producers with direct loans from the Agriculture Department’s Farm Service Agency. David Schemm, executive director of the Kansas Farm Service Agency, says 19.4 percent of FSA direct loans nationwide were delinquent in January, compared to 16.5 percent the same month a year ago.

(Radio Iowa) — It’s the snowiest February on record for several Iowa communities and it’s been a harsh winter, especially for wildlife. Todd Bogenschutz, an upland wildlife research biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says snowfall — just this month — equals what we often get from December through March. There were some warm-ups, he says, but not enough.

“We just melted the snow that was there but we didn’t melt it to the ground and then it got cold with the blizzard on top of it,” Bogenschutz says. “It turned it to ice and then we got the new snow on top, making it very difficult for the birds to dig through that now to get down to any waste grain on the ground.” Pheasant and quail populations will most certainly take a tumble this winter, he says, as it’s difficult for them to survive in these unforgiving conditions.

“The birds that have made it through now are relegated to eat what they can find above the frozen layer,” Bogenschutz says. “They’re probably out there searching but they’re having to go out there a long ways to find a meal.” Pheasant hunting seasons in Iowa run from late October through early January and this past season drew between 50- and 60-thousand hunters.  “Generally, getting the birds, even when they’re abundant, is challenging,” Bogenschutz says. “It seems like when we say the populations are better, we see an increase in hunter numbers and an increase in the harvest. Then, when we say bird numbers are down, it seems to make the hunting even tougher and we see even fewer hunters.”

As the birds scrounge for food farther from their nests, they’re facing longer exposure to the bitter cold, plus, the brown pheasants are against a white background, making them more obvious to predators. “A lot of folks are asking, ‘What can we do for the birds?’ and I say it’s really about providing good habitat. If you’ve got good winter cover and a good food plot, buy it. That’s where we’re going to see our best survival.”

While southwest Iowa has enjoyed a multi-year run of record quail populations, the heavy snow and ice will likely mark an end to that, he says. Bogenschutz predicts significant declines in the pheasant and quail populations this coming year, adding, this is easily the toughest winter in five years.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s cold and snowy winter has been especially difficult on livestock producers, who have often struggled just to reach their animals. State Climatologist Justin Glisan tells The Des Moines Register that Iowa so far has seen a February snowfall average of 21 inches. That’s just short of a record 22.2 inches set in 1962. Rancher Trent Thiele says he had to ride a snowmobile 50 miles Sunday to check on his pigs. He says blowing snow made the trip treacherous.

He says the heavy snow is causing an overwhelming amount of maintenance issues as farmers work to ensure machines in animal facilities are providing fresh air, food and water. Iowa has a $13.6 billion livestock industry and leads the nation in pig and egg production.

w/Kate Olson.

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The Cass County Conservation Board is holding a Snowshoes 101 Program at Cold Springs State Park in Lewis, this Saturday March 2nd at 1pm. The event will be held at the Beach Parking lot. Come out at learn all about snowshoes and try on a pair for yourself! FREE, and all ages welcome. Snow shoe sizes from 5 year olds to adult are available.

And, the Cass County Conservation Board is holding a Bluebird Nest Box Program at the Outdoor Educational Classroom Lodge near Massena, on Saturday March 9th at 4:00 PM. Come out to learn from Iowa Bluebird Conservationist President Chris Parks and you may win a door prize. Learn all about placing a bluebird box, and discussing on how to increase the success of your bluebird box. Discussion will focus on bluebird box design, correct placement, and maintenance practices that will increase the success of your efforts. The event is FREE, and all ages are welcome to attend.

A study finds an early tool of genetic engineering in crops shows benefits beyond its original intent. So-called B-T seeds are engineered with genetics from soil bacteria that kill specific insects. Researchers now say B-T seeds provide additional environmental benefits. Steve Naranjo, with the U-S-D-A Agricultural Research Service, is one of the paper’s authors. Naranjo says, “Because we can now control certain major pest insects in the crop through this gene being expressed in the plant, that eliminates -largely- the need to spray insecticides to do the same job.”

Naranjo cautions that insects are adaptable and can develop resistance to even the best tools, so he suggests farmers use technology alongside crop rotation and other strategies. Iowa State University entomologist Erin Hodgson, who was not involved with the study, says B-T has been fairly successful in corn. “Eventually, over time, I think the insects will win,” Hodgson says. “So, in some cases like corn borer, it’s worked really well. In other cases like corn rootworm, it hasn’t held up as strongly.”

The review of hundreds of studies shows B-T seeds offer protection even to adjoining fields where the seeds haven’t been planted. Globally, B-T crops have been grown on more than one-billion acres.

(Thanks to Amy Mayer, Iowa Public Radio)

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Is the “ugly produce'” trend already reaching the end of its shelf life in supermarkets? Walmart and Whole Foods in recent years tried selling some blemished fruits and vegetables at a discount, produce they said might otherwise be trashed because it’s not quite the right size, shape or color. But the two chains and others quietly ended their tests, suggesting dented apples and undersized potatoes may not be all that appealing in stores where better looking fruits and vegetables are on display. “Customers didn’t accept it as much as we had hoped,” said Mona Golub of Price Chopper, a grocery chain in the Northeast that also discontinued its offering of ugly produce.

Still, some stores and home delivery startups haven’t given up on the idea of selling less-than-perfect produce to reduce food waste and say they’re doing well. At a Hy-Vee store in Iowa, a recent display of “Misfits” produce included packs of apples, lemons and oranges that were either too big or small, or otherwise substandard in appearance. A sign explained that “6 million pounds of fresh produce goes unused each year,” though the packages didn’t specify why the produce might have otherwise been thrown away. “I like the cost savings and it is good to help and not throw so much away,” said shopper Brian Tice, who bought a pack of small oranges.

Another shopper, Jamie Shae, said she didn’t realize there was anything special about the fruit “I happened to see the bags of lemons,” said Shae, who was in a rush and grabbed two bags. Shopper Joan Hitzel, who was browsing other produce nearby, said she thought the Misfits were a good idea given the tons of food that gets thrown away, but didn’t plan to buy any that day. The supplier of the Misfits produce to supermarkets, Robinson Fresh, said about 300 grocery locations still sell the fruits and vegetables, including the Hy-Vee stores. Kroger also said it still plans to introduce its “Pickuliar Picks” this spring.

But among other regional chains that have stopped carrying ugly produce are Meijer in the Midwest, Hannaford based in Maine and Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle, which cited “inconsistent customer interest” for pulling the plug on its “Produce with Personality.” Walmart no longer offers the damaged “I’m Perfect” apples it introduced in Florida in 2016. The efforts channeled growing interest in reducing food waste. Government agencies say the best way to reduce waste is to stop producing too much food. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 31 percent of the 430 billion pounds of the nation’s food supply goes uneaten. That does not include the fruits and vegetables that get tossed at the farm level, before foods reach stores.

For fruits and vegetables that don’t meet supermarket standards, some may get processed for products like juices and some go to food banks. Startups delivering ugly produce say there’s so much they’re not taking from food banks. Shopper preferences may not be the only challenge for ugly produce in supermarkets. “Retailers really prize their produce sections,” said Imperfect Produce CEO Ben Simon, whose company had partnered with Whole Foods on a test at the chain. Grocers might worry that cheaper produce will cannibalize sales of regular produce, or give off a bad image, he said. Delivery startups say they’re seeing interest in their services. But they are up against shoppers who inspect the fruits and vegetables they buy and those who worry about all the packaging.

“I’ve been food shopping online, and I started thinking about all the boxes, all that cardboard,” said Nyasha Wilson, a New York City resident who carefully selects apples for ripeness at a farmer’s market.
The companies say they might at least change shoppers’ views on discarded produce. Evan Lutz, CEO of the startup Hungry Harvest, said most of it is just too small or slightly discolored. “The vast majority that would go to waste isn’t really that ugly,” he said.