w/ Kate Olson

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As Cow calf and feedlot operators continue to deal with issues related to the drought this past summer, ISU Extension and the Iowa Beef Center have been and will continue to offer a series of educational opportunities to address these issues. On Tuesday, November 27th, Cass County Extension will host the meeting “Drought – A Game Changer for Beef Operations- Strategies to Move Forward”. The meeting will be held at the Cass County Community Center from 6:30 to 9:00 PM.

Extension Beef Field Specialist Chris Clark says “These fall meetings will focus on managing feed costs and alternative feeds for winter feeding of the cow herd or feedlot. Developing feeding programs that utilize available feeds and keep feed costs in check is the goal.”  With corn costs relatively high, producers are searching for ways to reduce corn use but still maintain performance. Chemically treating lower quality forages and supplementing the forage or drought stressed corn silage will be a part of the discussion as well.

A situation update on beef outlook, current beef supply and demand, and feed price outlook will also be provided by Lee Schulz, ISU Extension Livestock Economist via a recorded presentation. A short update on precipitation outlook from Dr. Elwynn Taylor will be shared via a recorded presentation as well. The meetings will also give an introduction to planning for the next year and beyond for beef producers and highlight factors producers should be considering. Additional meetings are being considered for later in the winter.

Topics for the meetings will be determined as the weather and economic situation develop. There will be a $10 per person fee for this meeting to cover refreshments and other costs. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. Contact the Cass County Extension office to register by calling (712) 243-1132 or emailing xcass@iastate.edu. Contact your local extension office, regional beef field specialist, or the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association for more information. Additional dates and locations are scheduled in Southwest Iowa earlier in November. More information on those can be found on the Iowa Beef Center website, www.iowabeefcenter.org, or by calling the Cass County Extension Office.

The Shelby County Extension will host a Fumigation Continuing Instructional Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators on Tuesday, Nov. 27th. Officials say the program will be shown at locations across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pest Management and the Environment (PME) program.

The local site for the Nov. 27th CIC is 906 Sixth Street, Harlan, IA. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by sessions from 9 to 11 a.m. The registration fee is $35 on or before Nov. 20 and $45 after Nov. 20. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact Pam Jacobsen at the Shelby County Extension office by phoning 712-755-3104.

The 2012 course will provide continuing instructional credit for commercial pesticide applicators certified in categories 7C (Fumigation) and 10 (Demonstration and Research). The course will cover topics including equipment calibration and safe application, resistance and fumigant labels.

Additional information and registration forms for this and other courses offered through the PME Program can be accessed at www.extension.iastate.edu/PME.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has threatened to take over protection of Iowa’s waterways from the state.  The Des Moines Register reports that a federal investigation shows the state has been lax in requiring that livestock operations follow rules to keep manure out of Iowa’s creeks and rivers, ponds and lakes.

The EPA report says the state hasn’t properly inspected livestock facilities and failed in its duties about half the time when responding to livestock pollution.  The Iowa Natural Resources Department says the EPA criticism is misplaced.   DNR spokesman Kevin Baskins says his agency has been encouraging compliance, rather than imposing fines and other penalties as punishment for failure to follow environmental rules. And Baskins says there’s evidence the strategy is working.

Atlantic is one of three cities to host public meetings across the state in the next three weeks, to gather input on proposed water quality standards designated use changes for a fourth batch of select rivers and streams. The meetings, which are hosted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), are being held to gather input on changes designed to help protect aquatic life and recreational uses. The meeting in Atlantic will take place from 3-to 6-p.m. Tue., Nov. 13^th, at the historic Rock Island Depot at 102 Chestnut Street.

Those not able to attend the meetings may submit written comments or questions through Dec. 10 to: Rochelle Cardinale, DNR, 502 East Ninth St., Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034; by fax to 515-281-8895; or by email to rochelle.cardinale@dnr.iowa.gov.

For a list of stream designations being revised in the water quality standards, please refer to the list posted at: www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/RegulatoryWater/WaterQualityStandards/DesignatedUses/UseAssessments.aspx

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The U.S. Agriculture Department has lowered its predictions for the drought-stunted corn crops in Iowa and Nebraska. The USDA says that, based on Nov. 1 conditions, it expects a Nebraska crop of 1.27 billion bushels. That’s down more than 2 percent from the October forecast and 17 percent below last year.  In Iowa, a corn crop of 1.90 billion bushels is expected, which is more than 1 percent less than October and down 19 percent from last year.

The Nebraska soybean crop is forecast at 203 million bushels, the same figure as October and 22 percent below 2011.  In Iowa, a soybean crop of 409 million bushels is expected, more than 2.5 percent higher than the October figure but still 14 percent under last year.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency, Thursday (Nov. 8th), reduced the grassland and field Fire Danger Index to “Low.” The threat of rapidly spreading fires due to outdoor burning of timber and other materials will remain low, due in-part to precipitation that’s expected across the area over the weekend.

The Missouri River Recovery Program is launching a new interactive online tool designed to provide insight to the river’s natural environment and efforts being made to preserve it. Steve Fischer, the program’s senior manager, says the tool is called the Missouri River Basin Explorer. It lets computer users explore the waterway’s different regions, from the Rocky Mountain foothills, along Iowa’s western border to the lowlands of Missouri. “You can take a look at each one of those different regions on the river,” Fischer says. “You can click on different tabs on the website and it’ll show links based on whatever topic you might have selected. It’s helping to show folks how things are interacting together.”

He says the tool was developed with plenty of input from stakeholders all along the Missouri River Basin. Fischer says the tool can help the public to better understand what takes place on the river. “As we engage with the stakeholders in a variety of different venues up and down the river, for example our Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee, our 70-member stakeholder group that we work with,” he says. “It’s a tool for them to go back and share with their constituents as well as for us to share with other basin stakeholders.”

The river serves many interests, including: agriculture, commerce, energy, natural resources, navigation, recreation and water supply. Overuse of the river, the group claims, has led to problems with the ecosystem — 51 of 67 native fish species now rare, uncommon or decreasing; reproduction has largely ceased for cottonwoods, historically the dominant floodplain tree; and aquatic insects, a key link in the food chain, have been reduced by 70-percent. The group says three-million acres of natural river habitat have been altered. Learn more at the website: www.MoRiverRecovery.org

(Radio Iowa)

Info from the Atlantic Animal Shelter

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w/ Dr. Keith Leonard

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