• KJAN, Atlantic  .73″
• 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  1.34″
• Near the I-80/Highway 71 intersection  2.25″
• 1 mile SW of Greenfield 2.5″
• Audubon 2.2″
• Guthrie Center  1.2″
• Massena  .95″
• Elk Horn  .85″
• Avoca  .9″
• Oakland  .2″
• Schleswig  .95″
• Denison  1.2″
• Woodbine  1.31″
• Missouri Valley  1.35″
• Logan  .6″
• Clarinda  .41″
• Red Oak  .28″
• Glenwood  .32″
• New Market  .75″
• Council Bluffs  .33″
• Bagley  .75″
• Churdan  .8″

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today (Monday) commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service.  The report is released weekly from April through October. Northey said “In general, crops remain in very good condition with both 83 percent of corn and soybeans rated in good or excellent condition.  Fortunately, most areas of the state have adequate moisture as we head into August, which is a critical time, especially for soybean development.”

The weekly report is also available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov or on USDA’s site at www.nass.usda.gov/ia.  In summary…Relatively dry conditions throughout the week were ideal for crop development and allowed Iowa farmers 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending July 31, 2016, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included cutting hay and aerial spraying of corn with fungicide and insecticide.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 2 percent very short, 10 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2 percent very short, 12 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.

Ninety-five percent of the corn crop reached the silking stage, five days ahead of last year and almost two weeks ahead of the five-year average. Thirty-five percent of the corn crop reached the dough stage. Isolated reports of corn starting to dent were received from across the State. Corn condition rated 83 percent good to excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 90 percent, 6 days ahead of the previous year. Sixty-four percent of soybeans were setting pods, 5 days ahead of last year. Soybean condition rated 83 percent good to excellent. Seventy-eight percent of the oat crop for grain or seed was harvested, 2 days ahead of both last year and the average.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 93 percent, more than 2 weeks ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of normal. The third cutting of alfalfa hay was 28 percent complete, 6 days ahead of average. Hay condition was rated 73 percent good to excellent, while pasture condition was rated 61 percent good to excellent. Reduced temperatures improved livestock conditions which were reported to be good.

The statewide average precipitation last week was .18″ (of an inch), while normal for the week is .94″ (of an inch). It was the driest week in eleven weeks (since mid-May).

• KJAN, Atlantic  .13″
• 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  1.17″
• Massena  .59″
• Elk Horn  .11″
• Audubon  1.15″
• Avoca  .3″
• Oakland  .2″
• Missouri Valley  .05″
• Woodbine  .32″
• Council Bluffs  .02″
• Creston 4.25″ (24-hour total)
• Afton 3.25″
• Kellerton (Ringgold County), 4.1″ total
• Greenfield, 2.1″
• Mt. Ayr, 4.5″ (Flash Flooding reported at 9:30-a.m. 6″+ rain in some areas)
• Adair, 2.6″
• Blockton (Taylor County), 2.82″
• Clearfield (”    “), 3.5”
• Benton (Ringgold County), 5.6″
• Diagonal (Ringgold County), 4.4:
• Ellston (” “), 3”
• Redding (” “), 7”
• Delphos (” “), 5.3”
• Malloy (” “), 4.6”
• Lake View (Sac County), numerous 1′ diameter trees down during a thunderstorm, one fell onto a truck (approx. 7:30-a.m.); Several 1′ diameter trees also down near Schaller, in Sac County.

n annual Iowa pheasant population survey starts today (Monday) and it’ll be done by people in all 99 counties, driving up and down rural roads, looking for the birds and counting them. Todd Bogenschutz, a wildlife research biologist at the Iowa D-N-R, says indications show the popular game bird’s population is at least stable and is likely growing. “We’ve got a real good correlation between what we count on the roadside routes and what pheasant hunters ultimately harvest,” Bogenschutz says. “The weather conditions this past winter and spring were favorable for pheasants. There’s optimism about what we’re going to see next week when we start running the routes.”

The roadside survey is done every year during the first two weeks of August, or sometimes a little longer, depending on the weather. “We’ve got about two routes in every county and they’re three miles long,” he says. “We’ve been doing these same routes since the 1960s, usually the same staff run them every year and it gives as a real good index of the population. We have no way of counting all the pheasants out there but if we do it the same way every year, it gives us a real good trend indicator.”

Bogenschutz said the survey records the numbers of other animals the spotters see, including: quail, Hungarian partridges, cottontails and jackrabbits. The results of the survey will be released in early September. Iowa’s pheasant hunting season begins October 29th.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will hold a 2016 land leasing and valuation workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 2nd.  The workshop is a key source of information to landowners and tenants on land value and rental rate trends.  There will also be discussion of different ways to determine a cash rent, how to establish a flexible cash rent, and considerations to have a successful land rental rate negotiation.

Lower cash prices for crops has tightened margins on producers and put downward pressure on land values and rents.  The workshop will also discuss the cost of crop production for 2017, so that tenants can plan accordingly and landowners are aware of the costs tenants face outside of just paying the rent.

Officials say if there will be any change to a land lease agreement for 2017, notice that the 2016 lease will terminate must be given in writing before Sept 1st.  ISU Extension is offering this unbiased workshop to help both landowners and tenants make informed and mutually advantageous land leasing agreements.

The cost is $20 per person with pre-registration, and includes the updated land leasing handbook.  Shelby County Extension will be holding this workshop starting at 9:30 am Tuesday (August 2nd) at the Shelby County Extension Office located at 906 Sixth Street in Harlan.  Call (712) 755-3104 to pre-register, or for questions. United Bank of Iowa will sponsor a light lunch following the session.

DAYTON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say one of the founders of the Dayton Rodeo has died during a fire at his Dayton home. The Webster County medical examiner pronounced 98-year-old Allen Porter dead at the scene Thursday. Dr. Dan Cole told The Messenger that Porter’s body was found in a hallway. An autopsy has been ordered.  Fire officials say Porter’s caretaker escaped through a window. The fire cause is being investigated.

A Dayton Wranglers Saddle Club account of the rodeo’s history says Porter helped started the event in 1937 with Duane Vegors and Vern Danielson. They began with rope trucks in the city park. Porter will be honored during an empty saddle ceremony at the rodeo. It’s scheduled for Sept. 5 at 1:30 p.m.

MARION, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say the chemical that rained down on a northeast Marion neighborhood was a fungicide. Several people called 911 Tuesday night after noticing a white substance on vehicles and houses. The Marion Fire Department said in a news release Thursday that tests show the substance has components commonly found in a field treatment used by farmers.

Iowa public health officials say that after 12 hours, lawns or vegetation exposed to the fungicide weren’t expected to pose health risks to people. Officials say exposed hard surfaces should be cleaned with soapy water, and all clothes and bare skin that were covered by the substance should be washed. The incident is still being investigated.

Dozens of hot air balloons will be flying over south-central Iowa over the next 9 days and nights. Indianola has hosted the National Balloon Classic, billed as “one of the largest and longest hot air balloon events in the Midwest,” for over 40 years. Jim Fromm, who serves on the National Balloon Classic board, says spectators will watch nearly 100 balloons decorate the sky.

“We had 86 registered pilots, so around 90 or so balloons will be here,” Fromm said. This year’s event launches tonight (Friday) and runs through August 6. There are evening flights combined with live music each night beginning at 6 p.m. The morning launches are scheduled each day at 6:30 a.m., but balloons will also fill the sky even earlier in the morning on both Saturdays and next Wednesday morning.

“There’s ‘Dawn Patrol,’ which is an unusual happening with balloons. Typically, we don’t fly with any aircraft lights on, but for (dawn patrol) we do hang lights on…and launch before sunrise, in the dark,” Fromm said. “We launch and fly for an hour or two, until the sun comes up. Everytime we hit the burner, the whole balloon lights up and that is very impressive.”

Similarly, “Nite Glow” events are scheduled after sunset this Sunday, next Wednesday (8/3), and next Friday (8/5). Learn more at: nationalballoonclassic.com.

(Radio Iowa)

Area residents have several opportunities to enjoy a FREE outdoor movie over the next few weeks, complete with popcorn. Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Seth Staashelm says the first movie will be held tomorrow (Friday) night beginning at 8 o’clock. The movie “Inside Out,” is a 2015 American 3D computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film, set in the mind of a young girl named Riley Andersen, where five personified emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust – try to lead her through life as her parents move from Minnesota to San Francisco, and Riley has to adjust to her new surroundings.

Staashelm says there are fun things taking place before the film is shown. There’ll be a Scavenger Hunt at 6:30-p.m., for the kids, where they will search for characters from the movie, and a chance for them to use the new playground equipment. The movies will be shown just down the hill from the Kiddie Korral Shelter at Sunnyside Park.

Seating for the movies will be on the grass, so bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets. You can also sit at the picnic tables in the shelter to view the movie. And, bring your soft drinks to wash down the popcorn. Movies will be shown on Friday nights for four weeks. The next movie is “Big Hero 6,” on August 5^th. Seth says they hope kids – and adults — dress-up for the movie as their favorite “Super Hero.”

The remaining movies in the park include, on August 12th: “Little Giants,” and on August 19^th, “Despicable Me.”  The movies are hosted by the Atlantic Parks & Recreation Department. Staashelm says also, the new Kiddie Korral and nearby playground equipment, as well as some finishing touches put on the Schildberg Park Connector Trail by KJAN, are just a few of the improvements that are continuing to be made in the Atlantic Parks System.

For more information, or questions about the summer movie series, or anything to do with the Atlantic Park system, call 712-243-3542.