Officials with the Cass County Conservation Department report tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) Soiree with the Swans will not take place at the Schildberg Recreation Area, as originally planned. Instead, you may join Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning for the Soiree with the Swans at the Atlantic Public Library. Lora will be giving ten-minute presentations regarding the Trumpeter Swans at the from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. with a light lunch available.

Hot chocolate, cookies, Sandwiches, and other snacks will be provided free of charge with donations being accepted (for swan care). The event is sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Atlantic Public Library.

Despite the brutal cold weather and a sharp increase in demand from farmers and homeowners, liquid propane prices are -not- bounding in Iowa, according to Paul Ovrom, an ag marketer at the Iowa Department of Agriculture.

“The average price for the state right now is coming out at $1.49 a gallon,” Ovrom says. “That is just two cents higher than a week prior to that.” While two pennies a gallon is a very small rise, he says it’s typical to see price spikes during the wintertime.

“The cold snap that we’re having hasn’t influenced the prices too much yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that changes within the next week or two,” Ovrom says. “Sometimes there’s a lag in the pricing.” Propane prices are up substantially from a year ago, about 27-percent higher. Ovrom says several factors may be coming into play. Ovrum says L-P prices often bounce between October and March as that’s when much of the product is exported to nations like China.

“Propane is tied to crude oil,” Ovrom says. “Crude oil production, a byproduct of that is propane and as crude oil prices go up or fluctuate, that impacts the price of propane.” Even with the cold weather, he does not expect the record demand Iowa saw in 2013 when then-Governor Terry Branstad declared an energy emergency as propane prices averaged as high as $4.71 a gallon.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES — Iowa received a statewide annual precipitation of 33 inches in 2017, more than two inches less than normal, according to the latest Water Summary Update from the Iowa DNR. The year began with a wetter than normal spring, followed by drier than normal summer and fall months, with the exception of a very wet October. “The distribution of rainfall was uneven this year, with some areas of southeastern Iowa ending the year more than 10 inches short on rainfall,” said Tim Hall, the DNR’s Hydrology Resources Coordinator. “Good spring rainfall will help to restore soil moisture and shallow groundwater in those areas.”

Streamflow has been generally normal for the second half of the year. Southeastern Iowa remains an area of concern after two consecutive years of drier than normal conditions.  Meanwhile, 2017 was an unusually warm year with a statewide average temperature of 49.9 degrees Fahrenheit, or 1.8 degrees above normal. This ranks as the eighth warmest year on record.

For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, go to www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.

w/Max Dirks.

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A high school student from Audubon County was one of four winners in an essay contest for active FFA members, sponsored by Growmark. Anna Campell, of Hamlin, joined students in Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin as State winners in the contest, the theme for which was “How can cooperatives demonstrate their value to the next generation of agriculturists?”​

2018 is the 25th year for the essay contest sponsored by GROWMARK and participating FS member cooperatives. The goal of the contest is to encourage students to develop writing skills, learn about current issues impacting agriculture and understand the unique role of cooperatives. You can view her essay under a pdf of her essay, here:  2018-Iowa-Winning-Essay

State winners receive a $500 award. The FFA chapter of the state winner receives $300 award, and four runners-up per state: each receive a $125 award.

This Year’s Topic: The average age of farmers in the United States is 55 years old, meaning many current farmers are nearing retirement age. Cooperatives have played a vital role in agriculture for many years, offering products, services, and expertise to help farmers increase efficiency and profitability, while keeping up with a rapidly changing industry. As a younger generation steps up to fill their shoes, they will need a wide variety of resources and technology to be successful. What does the next generation of agriculturists need from a cooperative partner, and how can cooperatives work with young farmers to remain relevant?

FARLEY, Iowa (AP) — Frigid temperatures are creating challenges for Iowa farmers who say animals can endure cold winter conditions but need extra attention to stay healthy and productive. Iowa entered 2018 with subzero temperatures. The National Weather Service reported a Jan. 1 record temperature in Dubuque of 21 degrees below zero (-29 Celsius). And wind chills on the first two days of the year reached negative 30 degrees.

Dairy farmer Wayne Kramer tells the Telegraph Herald that his livestock needs to be partially protected from the frigid conditions. He says the cold weather can make cows uncomfortable and cut into productivity. Livestock farmer Craig Recker says the wind poses a threat to his cattle. Recker uses corn stalk fodder for his cattle’s bedding, which he says helps them generate heat.

One of the changes in regulations for the paddlefish season this year in western Iowa is the lifting of the restrictions that allows you to keep so-called rough fish that are snagged in the process. Fisheries biologist Ryan Hupfeld says the surveys they took following the paddlefish season singled out one particular fish. “We got a lot of comments saying that people wanted to harvest Asian carp — an invasive species — so we should utilize that resource as well, so we opened up the harvest for them.” Hupfeld says.

Paddlefish feed on plankton at the bottom of the river and are caught by snagging them on a treble hook. Asian carp are caught on the same hooks and now they can be kept. Hupfeld says it should be a positive thing. “Asian carp are having a lot of negative impacts on our fish populations, especially with paddlefish because they are feeding on the same food resource,” Hupfeld says.

He says allowing the taking of the Asian carp in the paddlefish season could help cut their populations. “If we can promote harvest on Asian carp and reduce their numbers and hopefully create a commercial market for them then we can hopefully manage their populations to a certain extent,” Hupfeld says. “Asian carp is actually very good to eat, so I would suggest anglers get out there and harvest some of these fish and try them.”

You have until January 7th to buy a paddlefishing license. The season on the Big Sioux and Missouri River opens February 4th and runs through April 30th. A resident paddlefish license sells for 22 dollars and you must have a valid Iowa fishing license to buy the special license.

(Radio Iowa)

w/Kate Olson.

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Officials with the Golden Hills R-C and D in Oakland, say in 2016, a three county region of Harrison, Pottawattamie and Mills Counties, completed a community-led, comprehensive plan to address the future of the tri-county region’s parks, trails, and cultural assets to enhance overall economic and community vitality. Regional plan development was supported through the Iowa Parks Foundation and former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad’s Green Ribbon Commission, to “enhance, promote, sustain, and connect” the region’s cultural, natural and park assets.

The Iowa Parks Foundation was founded in 2008 by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and former Congressman Neal Smith. Iowa is preparing to celebrate its park system’s 2020 centennial. One of the primary goals of the initiative is to offer a premier parks system to help Iowa attract and retain young people who are interested in a vigorous lifestyle, which will help stimulate the state’s economy and help attract and retain businesses. The Parks to People initiative will leverage public and private resources by supporting regional projects identified in the plan.

The Loess Hills Missouri River Region Plan identifies five key focus areas: the Loess Arts and Nature Loop, Frontier Iowa Trails Network, the Loess Discovery Web, Ridges and Rivers: Explore, and WanderLoess.com, an online platform to promote attractions and recreational opportunities in the region. The focus areas support collaborative, regional projects to enhance:

• Economic development and tourism,

• Public health and social vitality,

• Natural resources (habitat, water) health, parks, and trails, and

• Overall regional vibrancy

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will speak about the Loess Hills Missouri River Region 2:30-p.m. Friday, January 19th, at the Iowa West Field House, 4 Arena Way, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. At that time, the first private investment by the MidAmerican Energy Foundation will also be announced.

Pesticide Applicators with a private license can choose to re-certify by attending a continuing instruction course (CIC) each of the three years during their renewal cycle.  Iowa State University Extension and Outreach—Montgomery County will be hosting two CICs on Wednesday January 10, 2018.  They will be held at the Stanton Community Room; participants can choose to attend the two hour session at either 9:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.  There is a $20 registration fee.  Pre-registration is not necessary.  Contact Angela Silva at 712-623-2592 with any questions.

If this date doesn’t work for you, applicators can attend in another county.  In addition, certification can be renewed via testing every three years.  Please check the IDALS Pesticide Bureau website for testing dates and locations at www.iowaagriculture.gov/pesticide/pesticidetesting.asp