Farmland owners and tenants have an opportunity to get valuable information at a series of Farmland Leasing Meetings hosted by Iowa State University Extension. The workshops are 2 and a half hours in length and will cover topics that include current land value and cash rental rates, types of farm lease arrangements, determining a fair cash rent, strategies for writing and terminating a farm lease, economic outlook, and other resources.  Iowa State University Extension Regional Education Director Alan Ladd said the meetings are very timely with deadlines coming up.

Meetings in our area are coming up on August 23rd in Carson and Shenandoah and August 24th in Mount Ayr and Humeston. One meeting has already been held in Greenfield. Ladd said the same information will be covered at each site.

Ladd wanted to stress that these meetings are not just for current land owners.

Attendees are asked to register at least 2 days prior to the meeting they plan to attend and there is a registration fee.

The meeting in Carson is August 23rd at 9:00am at the Carson Community Center, 316 S. Commercial Street. The Shenandoah meeting is August 23rd at 1:30pm at the Shenandoah Public Library, 201 S. Elm Street. The Mount Ayr meeting will take place August 24th at 9:00am at the Ringgold County Extension Office, 101 North Polk. A meeting in Humeston will be held on August 24th at 2:00pm in the Humeston Community Center on Broad Street. Register by calling the County Extension Office hosting the workshop or 641-673-5841.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — People attending the Iowa State Fair have selected the Apple Egg Roll as the best new concession food for 2018.

A panel of celebrity judges named three finalists from which to choose: the Apple Egg Roll from Applishus, the All Iowa Belly Up Burger from The Rib Shack and the Brown Sugar Pork Belly on a Stick from Iowa Pork Producers.

Fairgoers tried the three and voted from Aug. 9 through Tuesday, and the winner was the Apple Egg Roll.

Apple Egg Rolls are two crispy egg roll wrappers filled with apples and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and served with caramel sauce for dipping.

DES MOINES – Alliant Energy residential customers can purchase landscaping trees for their homes at a deep discount this fall. Customers may reserve up to two trees per address and pick them up at Operation ReLeaf events in Cerro Gordo, Decatur, Hamilton, Linn, Poweshiek, and Winneshiek counties in October.

Operation ReLeaf is an energy-efficiency program from Alliant Energy that helps customers save energy by using trees to shade their homes from the summer sun and winter winds. For maximum energy efficiency, trees should be planted within 30 feet of the east and west sides of the house. Evergreens should be planted as a windbreak on the north and west sides.

“We enjoy trees for their beauty and environmental benefits, and they can become a family legacy,” said Doug Kopp, President of Alliant Energy’s Iowa utility. “When you plant a tree as a family and get the kids involved, it can be fun and meaningful. Ten, 15 years later, you can look back and see how it’s grown and changed with you.”

Operation ReLeaf makes high-quality landscaping trees affordable. The trees retail for $65 to $125 each, but are available for just $25 through Operation ReLeaf on a first-come, first-served basis.

“This is a great way for homeowners to get a quality tree at an affordable price,” said Jeff Goerndt, state forester with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

For best results from your planting projects, the DNR recommends variety. “Planting a diverse mix of trees on your property and in your neighborhood will reduce the likelihood of losing a large number of trees to forest health threats,” said Goerndt.

Operation ReLeaf is an Alliant Energy program administered by the Iowa DNR with assistance from local partners. Order forms and tree species are available at alliantenergy.com/releaf.