(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University’s student-run farm, known as Ag 450, is marking eight decades in operation. Skyler Rinker, an I-S-U ag ed professor, says students get to learn about the day-to-day work required to run a farm, everything from the financial side to feeding livestock to fine-tuning combines. Rinker says the farm was founded in 1943 and still runs on the premise of taking the science and putting it into practice.

Ag 450 focuses on farm management and operations, and many facets of production agriculture, with soybeans, corn and hogs. The farm was started on the Ames campus with 187 acres, while it’s grown to more than 600 acres today, with 80 to 100 students enrolling in the course every year.

(Radio Iowa) – The trapping season is in its first full week across Iowa. D-N-R Furbearer Biologist, Vince Evelsizer, says there are a couple of positives for those venturing out. “A lot of the furbearer populations are doing well, they’re stable to slightly increasing,”Evelsizer says. “The weather is another story, it’s quite good to here, so though the weather’s good to be outdoors doing some trapping.” The drought could have an impact depending on the type of animal you are pursuing. “For those that trap water for things like beavers and muskrats and mink, things like that, otters, some of their favorite places may have low water levels or even be dry,” he says. “We have gotten some timely rains this fall so that has helped.”

The season was extended from the end of January through the month of February this year. Evelsizer says you aren’t going to make a lot of money from trapping right now, but you still get enjoyment out of the process. “The fur market is not very strong right now. So it’s a really good time to take your focus off of worrying about what fur prices are and have fun with it,” Evelsizer says. “Take a beginner out, whether that’s a kid or an older person that wants to try it out. It’s a good time to do that. It’s also a good time to try different methods for you know, some species that you maybe haven’t tried for in the past.”

He says raccoons have been one of the popular animals for trappers in Iowa. “Lately beavers are getting attention to and then it can vary from region to region — but otters and bobcats are still pretty popular,” he says. “And then in the northwest and parts of north- central Iowa, muskrat trapping on the marshes is still somewhat popular, if there’s water this year in the marshes.”

The D-N-R saw 15-thousand-300 furharvester licenses purchased in 2022 and Evelsizer says that number has been fairly stable over the past seven years. The Iowa Trapper’s Association and the D-N-R are offering a ‘learn to furharvest’ workshop for beginners this fall on November 18th in St. Charles.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Produce in the Park, in Atlantic, say the 10th Annual Harvest Market – a Produce in the Park holiday farmers market – will take place November 20th (Thanksgiving week), from 3-until 6-p.m., at the Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th St.). The event features drawings for $20 gift cards every hour.

Products on-hand during the Harvest Market will include: local produce and meats; farm-fresh eggs; baked goods; seasonal candles; decorations; holiday gifts, and more. A food truck from “Game Time Eats” will be on-site, serving Cheesesteaks, Burgers, and Nachos.

A reminder: Harvest Market accepts SNAP/EBT/Food Stamps and Double Up Food Bucks.

If you have any questions, Harvest Market can be reached at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com. You can also check them out on Facebook @ProduceInThePark.