The value of average Iowa farmland is now estimated to be $7,633 per acre after having dropped in value for the second consecutive year. That’s according to the 2015 Iowa Land Value Survey conducted by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at Iowa State University and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

According to the survey, Per acre value declined $310, or 3.9 percent, since last
year’s survey. Farmland values have now fallen almost 13 percent from the historically high 2013 values. Results from the survey are similar to results by the US Department of Agriculture, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and the Realtors Land Institute.

The $7,633 per acre, and 3.9 percent drop in value, represents the state as a whole, although values are also determined by crop reporting districts (district hereafter) and each of Iowa’s 99 counties individually according to low-, medium-, and high-quality farmland ratings. Farmland values hit a historic peak of $8,716 per acre in 2013, but declined 8.9 percent to $7,943 the following year. The drop in value this year is smaller than that of last year, but now marks the third time values have fallen since 2009.

The 3.9 percent decline may seem less than what many people speculated, but according to Dr. Wendong Zhang, Assistant Professor of Economics at Iowa State
University who led the survey this year, this is not out of line due to a mix of factors, including a lot of cash in hand for many farmers, market expectation of this decline early on, robust livestock returns, and strong recreational demand.

In southwest Iowa, the lowest declines in land value were noted in Adams, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, Page and Taylor Counties, where the decrease ranged from 1.26 to 1.51-percent. For Pottawattamie, Cass, Adair and Audubon Counties, land decreased in value anywhere from 2.12- to 2.65-percent. Harrison and Shelby Counties came in with a decrease of just over three-percent, while Guthrie County had the largest decrease in area land value, at 4.18-percent, followed by Dallas County, with 5.36-percent.

Despite decreasing again, farmland values are still more than twice the reported values from 10 years ago, and almost 14 percent higher than 2011 values. For the third year in a row, Scott and Decatur counties reported the highest and lowest farmland values, respectively. Decatur County reported a value per acre of $3,514, a drop of $73, or about 2 percent, from last year’s report. Scott County reported the highest value at $10,918 per acre, however, values there declined about $700 per acre, higher than this year’s statewide average, and just over 6 percent from last year.

The value of all qualities of farmland fell across the state, with high-quality farmland losing 5 percent ($490 per acre) of its value, medium-quality land falling 3.2 percent ($232 per acre), and low quality farmland falling 0.9 percent ($44 per acre). Statewide averages for high-, medium-, and low quality farmland are now $9,364, $7,127, and $4,834 per acre, respectively.

(Read more at http://www.card.iastate.edu/land-value/2015/ )

Officials with the EPA Region 7 headquartered in Lenexa, KS, said Monday the IKM-Manning Community School and Sioux City (Iowa) Community School Districts have been awarded a total of $60,000 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to replace or retrofit three older diesel school buses. IKM-Manning CSD will receive $40,000 for two buses and Sioux City CSD will receive $20,000 for one bus.

The Iowa awards are part of more than $7 million in rebates to replace or retrofit 400 older diesel school buses. The rebates are going to 85 school bus fleets in 35 states, each of which will receive rebates through EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funding.

The new and retrofitted buses will reduce pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that are linked to numerous health problems, including asthma and lung damage.This was EPA’s third round of the rebate program aimed at replacing older diesel school buses. Applicants replacing buses with engine model years of 2006 and older will receive rebates between $15,000 and $25,000, depending on the size of the bus.

This year, applicants also had the option of retrofitting school buses with engine model years 1994 to 2006 with a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst plus Closed Crankcase Ventilation system (DOC plus CCV) to reduce toxic emissions. EPA will fully fund the cost of these devices up to $3,000.

EPA has implemented standards to make newer diesel engines more than 90 percent cleaner, but many older diesel school buses remain in operation and pre-date these standards. Older diesel engines emit large amounts of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which are linked to instances of aggravated asthma, lung damage, and other serious health problems.

Since 2008, the DERA program has funded more than 650 clean diesel projects across the country, reducing emissions in more than 60,000 engines.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Ames police are investigating the death of an Iowa State University student as a possible hit-and-run. The Des Moines Register reports an Iowa State police officer found 18-year-old Emmalee J. Jacobs, of Urbana, Iowa, about 7 a.m. Monday on a street bordering the campus. The officer started cardiopulmonary resuscitation until medics arrived. She later died at an Ames hospital.

Ames police Commander Jason Tuttle says the nature of her injuries indicated she was hit by a vehicle that left the scene. Tuttle says no one apparently saw what happened and there are no suspects. Officials are checking nearby security cameras to see if they recorded anything helpful.

Sunnyside Park here in Atlantic was supposed to have closed for the season at 4-p.m. Monday, but the with temperatures forecast to be in the 40’s to near 50 begining later this weekend, Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring and Assistant Director Seth Staashelm made the decision to keep the park open, and the Parks and Rec Board Monday evening, agreed.

Atlantic Parks & Rec Asst. Dir. Seth Staashelm (Left) & Director Roger Herring (right), at the Parks & Rec Board mtg. 12/14/15

Herring said Sunnyside Park will remain open until further notice, but that “Once we close it, it’s gonna stay closed (for the season), but I want it to be cold.” Meaning the weather would have to be less conducive to outdoor activities than it is now, despite the short term cold wave we’re currently experiencing.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a two-vehicle accident occurred in Red Oak on Monday.  At 1:27pm officers responded to a two-vehicle property damage only accident at the corner of 4th Street and East Reed Street in Red Oak.  Upon arrival it was determined that a 1997 Acura Integra driven by 25-year-old Micheal David Jones of Red Oak was stopped at the stop sign headed west and left the stop sign too soon causing a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 21-year-old Aniessa Rae Baylor of Red Oak to strike the rear end of the Integra.  Jones was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign and No Insurance Accident Related.  Jones’ vehicle received an estimated $2,000 damage and was privately towed from the scene due to the right rear tire being disabled.  The Baylor vehicle sustained an estimated $1,000 damage.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak Teen on Monday.  At 1:00pm officers arrested 16-year-old Tannah Piper Halvin of Red Oak on a charge of Simple Assault.  No further details were released at this time.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says it has received recent reports of previously telephone scams resurfacing in the area. One of the scams was a person calling a resident, and claiming to be that person’s grandchild. The “grandchild” said they needed money wired to them right away.Usually, they claim they are in trouble with the law and need bailed out. They also don’t want their parent(s) to know.

Another scam was a message left on a person’s answering machine. The caller said  they were from the IRS, and the person called was to return the call immediately because money was owed on their taxes.The Better Business Bureau reports the Tax Scam call tops the list of the most frequent types of scams people fall victim to, or are the target of. The BBB says there have been at least 2,413 reports of this type of scam, during which you may receive a phone call from someone who claims to be with the IRS (U.S.) or CRA (Canada). They claim you owe money in back taxes and will be arrested or face legal consequences if you do not pay (usually by wire or prepaid debit card). The caller ID is spoofed to appear to be a government agency or the police.

The IRS will not contact you by phone. The Sheriff’s Office warns that if you get a call from someone claiming to be your grandchild asking for money to double-check on the identity of the caller. Call them or their parents directly.

Be aware, vigilant, and protect yourself from identity thieves and scams, by never giving out personal information on inbound calls, and verifying accuracy of calls from alleged family members.

Deputies in Cass County arrested an Anita man Friday on a moving violation. 38-year old Robert Lee Atkinson was taken into custody on a charge of Driving While Barred. Atkinson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Saturday, of 38-year old James William Bates, from Shenandoah. Bates was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, no serious injuries were reported following a rollover accident late Friday night. Authorities say Brady Smith, of Emerson,was driving a 2006 Ford truck eastbound on Marh Avenue, towards the intersection with 390th Street, when he swerved to miss a deer on the road. Smith told authorities when he took evasive action and applied the anti-lock brakes, they failed, causing the vehicle to fishtail and go out of control. The truck entered the south ditch and rolled over before coming to rest on its top.

Smith was able to free himself from the vehicle and walk to a neighbors house. He denied any injuries, except for suffering from some shoulder pain. No citations were issued.