Corn planting in Iowa is getting close to being done.  The latest U-S-D-A report shows 96 percent of the corn crop has been planted — which is two days ahead of last year and six days ahead of the five-year average.  Seventy-five percent of the corn has emerged from the ground — which is four days ahead of normal. The first corn condition rating of the season showed 73 percent was in good to excellent conditions.

Soybean planting is now reported to be 74 percent complete, almost one week ahead of last year. Twenty-one percent of the soybeans have emerged — which is two days behind last year — but equal to the five-year average.  Iowa State University extension agronomist Joel DeJong says farmers in northwest Iowa are contending with too much rain.

He says about 10 days ago they had some very heavy rains, including four to six inches in one area that pounded the ground and caused some emergence problems. He says field flooding was an issue too. DeJong says some of the early corn got drowned out and farmers are looking at replanting. He says there are some acres on the Missouri River bottom south of Sioux City where it’s going to be tough to get the water off of it. De Jong says in some areas of  O’Brien, Cherokee and maybe in Osceola County, it will be hard to find a window to replant.

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Bob Bebensee and Brian Smith.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (10.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) — The DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is hosting a special turkey hunt this month. The hunt will take place Saturday and Sunday. Other activities such as mushroom hunting will be prohibited during the turkey hunt to ensure public safety.

The refuge is located north of Omaha, Nebraska, along on U.S. Highway 30 near Missouri Valley, Iowa. An entrance permit is required for all vehicles. The daily entrance fee for private vehicles is $3. Permits are available at pay stations near the entrances or at the Visitor Center. The charge for commercial vans and buses is $20, or $30 if 21 or more people are aboard.

Annual permits are available at the visitor center.

Deere & Company is reporting lower second quarter profits and sales. The world’s largest farming-equipment maker, based in Moline, Illinois, had net income of $495 million and adjusted earnings per share of $1.56. Deere CEO Samuel Allen says the company’s second-quarter performance reflects the continuing downturn in the global farm economy and further weakness in construction equipment sales.

The company has cut back its expected full-year net income forecast to $1.2 billion from $1.3 billion. Even so, Allen says the company is continuing to perform at a much higher level than in previous downturns. Deere is Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa DNR reports six public hearings will be held from May 23rd to June 3rd, to gather input on proposed rule changes for animal feeding operations. The proposed rule incorporates recent legislation, allows marketing solids from open feedlots as bulk dry animal nutrients, provides clarification of requirements in the rules, and repeals unnecessary and outdated rules, lists and internet addresses.

Written or oral comments can be made at any of the hearings. In the KJAN listening area, a hearing will be held 10-a.m. May 24th, in the downstairs meeting room at the Carroll County Courthouse, 114 E. Sixth St., in Carroll.

Send written comments to Gene Tinker, DNR, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319; or by e-mail to Gene.Tinker@dnr.iowa.gov.

Officials with ISU Extension in Montgomery County, say the Montgomery County Fair Queen, sponsored by the Montgomery County Fair Board, will be crowned on Tuesday, July 12^th, at 7:30-pm at the Fairgrounds Auditorium.  To qualify, contestants must be at least 16 years of age and not more than 21 years of age on August 13, 2016 (the first day of the State Fair), have not been married, be enrolled in school (or be a high school graduate), and be an active member of at least one worthwhile organization in her community.

If you are interested in running for the honor and title, stop by the Montgomery County Extension and Outreach Office at 400 Bridge Street for the application form, or you can also download the information at www.extension.iastate.edu/montgomery

Please be sure to access all information if you do so online, including the information letter, rules, and entry form.  Applications are due at the Extension and Outreach office by noon on Wednesday, June 22^nd.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today encouraged Iowa students who are in kindergarten through 8^th grade to take part in the “Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt” again this year.  Students can take part at any of the 35 participating farmers markets across the state.

To participate in the scavenger hunt students should look for the bright blue “Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt” banner at a participating market.  As part of the hunt students will be asked to look for 37 fruits and vegetables and identify which ones are available at the market.

Students completing the scavenger hunt form will receive a free piece of fruit or vegetable from the market and be in a drawing for books, cookbooks or cooking supplies.

Among the farmers markets participating in the program are those in: Atlantic, Highway 34 (rural Glenwood), Madison County (Winterset), Main Street (Council Bluffs), and the Welcome Center (Missouri Valley).

In the fall, classroom teachers will be given the opportunity to participate in another great initiative called “Farm to School…to Market” where they will have the opportunity to receive funds to buy produce from the local farmers market and incorporate it into classroom lessons.  Teachers will also receive classroom supplies (books or bulletin board tools).

The initiative will be open to all teachers and market sign up is not required.  More information about the Iowa Farm to School program and other upcoming events can be found at: http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/AgDiversification/farmToSchoolProgram.asp.

The Iowa DNR said today (Wednesday), cleanup was underway at a Taylor County farm following reports of an overflowing manure pit Tuesday afternoon. Barrans Farms, owned by Steve Kerns, will work with a contractor to empty the manure basin and clean up spilled manure on the site. The farm is a small hog finishing farm about three miles southwest of Lenox.

While investigating Tuesday, DNR field staff saw a path where manure flowed into an unnamed tributary of the East Fork of the One Hundred and Two River. However, DNR staff have not observed any dead fish.

The DNR will be on site today (Wednesday) as it continues to investigate the incident.

• KJAN, Atlantic  Trace
• Massena  .34″
• Elk Horn  Trace

w/Kate Olson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS