Western Iowa is starting to see more widespread cases of trees becoming infested with the emerald ash borer. The first case was discovered in Woodbury County last year and that’s where Lindsay Meylor (MY-ler) works as a horticulture educator with the I-S-U Extension and Outreach. Meylor says her office is now fielding frequent calls from people, wondering what they can do to save their trees.
Meylor says insecticide is best applied before any signs of damage, and treatment — which can cost hundreds of dollars per application — will have to continue throughout the life of the tree. The insect can kill a tree within two years of infestation.
The D-N-R says when the invasive pest first appeared in eastern Iowa in 2010, there were an estimated 54-million woodland ash trees and another three-million planted in urban areas. It’s unclear how many survived. The emerald ash borer has been detected in all but one of Iowa’s 99 counties. Emmett in northwest Iowa is the only county without a confirmed case.
(Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio)
Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News | Comments Off on Tree-killing insect is infesting more trees in western Iowa
(by Maddy Anderson, Atlantic FFA Reporter) – The Atlantic FFA Chapter competed in the annual Iowa FFA Horse Judging Career Development Event held at Kirkwood Community College on June 11, 2024.
Atlantic FFA had a team and individual that participated in this year’s Career Development Event. Team members Kayedance Sturm, Clara Kennedy, Rylan Martin and Paislee Klever earned a silver medal. Callie Rudy also competed in the middle school division.
The Horse Judging CDE is designed to provide the student an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of Equine Science. Each team member evaluated halter and performance classes. They also answered questions over the classes and gave oral reasons to explain their placings. A written examination was included along with a team problem solving competition. In the Performance division, Kayedance scored a nearly perfect score of 149 out of 150 possible points.
A unique part of the Horse Judging CDE is allowing 8th graders to participate. This year Atlantic FFA had 4, 8th grade members compete on the team. Team members Clara Kennedy, Pailsee Klever, Rylan Martin and Callie Rudy. When asked about their experiences Kennedy said, “I was impressed with our placing because ¾ of the team are 8th graders and this was our first FFA contest”. Rudy also said, “I thought it was a lot of fun. This event pushed us outside of our comfort zone and we all tried our hardest with the work paying off.” Klever said, “For doing this for my first time and trying something new I thought it was a great experience. I was a little rusty on something’s but I thought we did good. Overall I thought it was a fun experience.” Martin finished by saying, “For this being my first time competing in a FFA contest and not really knowing what to do or what to expect I was impressed with how we did. Although some parts were a little rough, I was proud of myself and the team for trying our hardest and putting in as much effort as possible.”
The Iowa FFA Horse Career Development Event was made possible with support through the Iowa FFA Foundation Gold Standard Partners. The Horse Career Development Event was coordinated and held at the Iowa Equestrian Center in Cedar Rapids. Kirkwood Community College also provided lunch to all participants. The official judge was Mary Pohlmann from Truro.
Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News | Comments Off on Atlantic FFA Chapter competed in the annual Iowa FFA Horse Judging Career Development Event
(By Atlantic FFA Reports Maddy Anderson) – The Atlantic FFA Chapter competed in the annual Iowa FFA Floriculture Career Development Event held at Kirkwood Community College on June 11, 2024, placing 34th earning a Silver rating.
Addalyn Sonntag, Lily Wilrich and Maggie Cohrs participated in this year’s Career Development Event designed to provide students an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of floriculture. The event consisted of a general knowledge exam, problem solving and decision making, plant identification, floral design, pesticide use and application, floral production, and a team activity.
This is the first year Atlantic FFA has competed in a contest like this. Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller said, “I was impressed with how hard the team has worked. This year we focused on the hands-on, practical part of the event. Next year, we will have a better idea what to prepare for.” The Atlantic FFA team would like to thank Ann Johnk from Farmhouse Flowers in Atlantic for helping train the team.
Picture Left to Right Lily Willrich, Addalyn Sonntag, Maggie Cohrs
The Iowa FFA Floriculture Career Development Event was coordinated and conducted by Bob Smith, Hannah Dunlap and the faculty and staff at Kirkwood Community College. Kirkwood Community College also provided lunch to all participants. Official judges of the floral design components of the event include Karen Garrett, Debbie McCallister and Stacie Hoag from Flowers on the Avenue as well as Jill Kinsinger, former graduate of the Floral Careers program at Kirkwood.
Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News | Comments Off on Atlantic competes in State FFA Floriculture CDE
PALISADE, Colo., June 14, 2024 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today (Friday) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $50 million to 141 awardees in 40 states and Puerto Rico, through the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP Program), reaching 177 unique agricultural operations and over 11,000 workers. The awards will help improve the resiliency of the U.S. food supply chain by addressing agriculture labor challenges and instability, strengthen protections for farmworkers, and expand legal pathways for labor migration. Vilsack says the program delivers on a commitment made as part of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection and furthers the Administration’s commitment to a regional approach to migration in the hemisphere.
In northwest Iowa’s Woodbury County, Greg Smith Farms, LLC, in Lawton, was awarded $200,000 from the FLSP Program, to “lift up employees, and ensure cattle and crops are cared for in the best way possible: Implementing new bonus and loyalty bonuses, creating a paid sick leave policy and establishing an employee working group to ensure ideas are heard from throughout the operation. Additionally, FLSP will help bolster their recruitment strategy to employ an additional 10 farm workers.”
Ag Secretary Vilsack says “These awards will largely support small and mid-sized farms to ensure they can hire and retain the workers they need to be competitive in the market, while also lifting up rural communities across the country.” Vilsack said “Farmworkers make an incredibly important contribution to food and agriculture and ensure we have food on our tables every day. Improving working conditions and quality of life for farmworkers, both U.S. based workers and those that come to our country to work, is one key step in building a stronger, more resilient food supply chain. The Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to supporting employers and farmworkers alike.”
USDA announced the FLSP Program in September 2023, in coordination with other federal agencies, to help address workforce needs in agriculture; promote a safe and healthy work environment, as well as ethical recruitment for farmworkers; and support lawful migration pathways for workers, including expansion of labor pathways for workers from Northern Central America, through the H-2A visa program. FLSP was designed with significant input from immigration, labor, and agricultural stakeholders – informed by the experiences of farmworkers and farmers themselves.
The FLSP Program grants will support a range of required and elective supplemental commitments to expand benefits and protections for all employees.
Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News | Comments Off on NW Iowa farmer awarded $200,000 from the USDA in support of farm workers
Jim Field visits with M.J. Brown about Tori’s Angels, a group holding a fund raiser in Panora Sunday to help families with children undergoing life-saving medical treatment.
(Radio Iowa)- The weed commissioner in a northern Iowa county is sounding the alarm after discovering a toxic plant at two sites that could pose a threat to livestock. Hancock County Weed Commissioner Jason Lackore (luh-COR) found poison hemlock at the yard waste dump in Garner last week.) “It’s really dangerous,” Lackore says. “…It can kill you.”
Last year, Lackore found the poisonous plant at Eagle Lake Nature Area near Britt after some work was done on a drainage ditch. “I’m guessing that contractor came from a county where hemlock is present and brought it here,” Lackore says. Both sites where the plant has been found are in public areas, which Lackore says is a big concern. “If it was any other plant, I wouldn’t be making such a fuss, but this plant — all parts are extremely poisonous to humans, domestic animals,” Lackore says. “And you hear a lot about livestock, cattle, ingesting small amounts. It’s fatal.”
Poisonous Hemlock (Iowa State University Extension Service photo)
According to the U-S-D-A, cattle can die after eating very small amounts of green or dried poison hemlock. Lackore says the site near Britt where he found poison hemlock is upstream from a major wetland complex where cattle are grazing. “At the other site, the plant is also upstream from a major river and drainage ditches and there are several cattle producers in that area just downstream where their cattle graze, pasture in these streams, in this major river where this plant is going to be traveling to,” Lackore says, “and that’s not going to be good.”
Poison hemlock, which starts growing in the early spring, has clusters of white flowers that develop into a green, ridged fruit that contains seeds. It’s most dangerous to livestock and pets. However, humans can be poisoned if they accidentally ingest poison hemlock. Symptoms include vomiting, seizures and respiratory failure. Poison hemlock was brought to the United States in the 1800s as a flowering plant for gardens. According to the U-S-D-A, it has spread to every state BUT Hawaii.
Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News | Comments Off on Weed commissioner warns poison hemlock is near cattle grazing ground
(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – State regulators are seeking to severely restrict the hunting of female deer in several southwest Iowa counties in an effort to increase the animal’s population in that area. Hunters in six counties would be barred from shooting white-tailed does during the first shotgun season, and none of the counties will have additional doe licenses available for other seasons.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has proposed changes to antlerless license quotas for 2024. (Courtesy of Iowa DNR)
Those counties include Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Pottawattamie and Shelby. The new restrictions already exist in 17 counties of northwest Iowa, where some have been in place for a decade. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has been gradually reducing the number of licenses for antlerless deer in the southwest counties in recent years.
“This is in response to what we’ve noticed is a sustained population decline,” said Jace Elliott, the DNR’s deer biologist. “The hunters in that area, what I’m hearing from them is, it’s about time. I’m always surprised when we propose relatively large changes, and I don’t get a single person reaching out from that part of the state that’s even confused about why we’re going in that direction.”
Also, no doe licenses would be issued for Cass and Page counties, and the number of available licenses will be reduced for Adams and Montgomery counties. The department might finalize the new restrictions next month as it hosts a series of meetings that are part of its Western Iowa Deer Initiative, which is meant to solicit input from hunters and landowners.
The new restrictions represent a significant reversal of the state’s policies two decades ago, when there was a robust deer population in southwest Iowa. The DNR had made thousands of antlerless licenses available and also allowed hunters to use powerful rifles during special January seasons to encourage more participation. Tim Powers, an Iowa field director for Whitetails Unlimited, a group that promotes hunting and habitat conservation, said he trusts that the DNR’s decision to impose new restrictions is necessary to increase deer numbers.
The restrictions have worked in north-central Iowa, where they have been lifted or loosened in some counties in recent years as populations recovered, Elliott said. It will likely take at least five years to notice an appreciable improvement in southwest counties. Those with the quickest gains are typically adjacent to counties with larger populations and have more available habitat.
The following DNR public meetings are scheduled to go from 6:30 to 8 p.m.:
— July 8: Atlantic, at The Venue, 307 Walnut St.
— July 9: Denison, at the Lookout Shelter at Yellow Smoke Park, 2237 Yellow Smoke Road
— July 10: Council Bluffs, at Bass Pro Shops, 2901 Bass Pro Drive
— July 11: Shenandoah, at the Shenandoah Public Library, 201 S. Elm St.
— July 15: Onawa, at the Onawa Public Library, 707 Iowa Ave.
— July 16: Sioux Center, at the Sandy Hollow Clubhouse, 3395 400th St.
— July 17: Sioux City, at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, 4500 Sioux River Road
— July 18: Cherokee, at the Cherokee Community Center, 530 W. Bluff St.
Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News | Comments Off on DNR proposes new deer hunting restrictions for southwest Iowa
(Atlantic, Iowa, via Atlantic FFA Reporter Maddy Anderson) – Each year the Southwest district and Iowa FFA officers plan and facilitate Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conferences for FFA members in the Southwest district. Atlantic High School welcomed almost 200 FFA members and advisors from 28 FFA chapters from all over the Southwest district on Tuesday June 4th, 2024.
While at Atlantic, on Tuesday, district and state officers lead four interactive workshops for FFA Chapter leaders, many of which are officers, for the annual COLT Conference. The workshops facilitated were local FFA Chapter programs focused in the areas of advocating for the agriculture industry, connecting with stakeholders, recruiting for the local chapter, and working as a cohesive team. FFA leaders also received training relative to their specific officer duties within the local chapter.
Atlantic FFA President Lola Comes said, “The chapter officer leadership training camp was a great opportunity that gave me new perspectives from other officers all around Southwest Iowa. This experience taught me several critical career skills, including professionalism, teamwork, and provided me with additional insight on the agriculture industry. My team and I plan to use these new skills to strengthen our chapter and increase community service time.” Atlantic FFA Officer team will spend some time together working on providing opportunities for the members, recruiting new members into the chapter and coming up with new activities for the chapter.
Left to right Lilian Johnson, Joaquin Walies, Frank Freund, Lauren Comes, Hayden Kleen, Maddy Anderson, Lola Comes
Southwest District Secretary and Atlantic FFA member Lauren Comes said, “I had a lot of fun facilitating Colt and meeting new members all across the Southwest District. I loved seeing all the different personalities in one room and learning new things about the members I will be serving this year!”
Iowa FFA President, Colin Bauer, stated, “COLT conference provides a chance for FFA members to learn more about their responsibility as a local leader and is a conference for members to meet and connect with state, district and other chapter officers.”
COLT conference programming is designed as a two-year rotation of local leaders training. The focus areas of next year’s program include agriculture literacy, time management, professionalism, and self-confidence. The goal is to engage FFA members in learning about the tools that would allow them to be successful in anything they are part of through high school and beyond.
COLT conference is made possible with support from Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance of Iowa through the Iowa FFA Foundation.
Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News | Comments Off on FFA Leaders Attend District Conference
Jim Field visits with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agronomist Aaron Saeugling about the Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm Field Day from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on June 27.
Klever said, “
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSS