Info from the Atlantic Animal Shelter

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w/ Dr. Keith Leonard

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w/ Denny Heflin

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The Iowa DNR reports an informational public meeting on state and federal floodplain permit processes, as well as post-flood sediment disposal, will be held Dec. 10th, at the Waubonsie State Park lodge. The meeting, jointly hosted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will take place in the lodge’s meeting room from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The park is located at 2689 State Highway 2 near Hamburg.

A short informational presentation on how to gain appropriate state, federal and local approvals for projects along the river and in the floodplain will begin at 2 p.m. The presentation will provide details on the different types of approvals and the step-by-step application processes.

The Corps of Engineers and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will have staff available before and after the presentation to answer specific project questions and provide technical assistance as needed.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say heading into Iowa’s busiest outdoor “opening day,” shotgun deer season hunters should expect to see fewer deer. While that downturn is by design, the DNR says hunters should still fill plenty of tags, during the December 1st-through the 5th first shotgun season, or the December 8th-through 16th, second season. Tom Litchfield, DNR deer research biologist, says “Deer numbers are projected to be down at least ten percent from last year.” Litchfield says they “Have been working to decrease deer numbers since 2003. On a statewide basis, the herd is very close to objective,  which would be the levels seen in the mid to late 1990s.”

With a relatively short season (five or nine days), shotgun hunters often must adapt to the weather. Looking ahead to the next week, seasonal temperatures and a continued brown—not white—landscape lie ahead for hunters holding about 172,000 paid first season, paid second season and landowner tags. One strategy that remains constant is hunting with the wind. Deer rely primarily on their noses, to warn of danger. Hunters should keep that in mind, especially as they set up drives.

Somewhat of a ‘wild card’ this fall and winter in conducting the deer harvest, according to officials,  will be the impact of Epizootic Hemorrhaging Disease (EHD) across much of the state. Nearly 3,000 reports of suspected EHD have been received; with concentrations in central and southwest counties and several more western counties through the Loess Hills. In all, 63 counties have at least one suspected case. The hot weather, insect-carried disease has essentially run its course for this year; with heavy frost killing off the midge, which spreads it.

Still, hunters may find more dead deer, as they fan out across the landscape. With the emphasis on downsizing the herd, Litchfield sees about 60 of Iowa’s 99 counties ‘at objective.’ Another 20 should reach it after this season. The remainder likely would fall into place after 2013-14. He is concerned, however, that the EHD outbreak could change that dynamic—lowering hunter harvest and post-season counts—for some counties.

w/ Kate Olson

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DENVER, Iowa (AP) — Farmland sales are happening at a brisk pace this fall partly because farmers are worried about the tax increases that may take effect January 1st if Congress can’t address the fiscal cliff. The worries about possible increases in capital gains and estate taxes are adding to the normally busy time for farmland sales after harvest in Iowa and Nebraska. Des Moines lawyer Bill Hannigan of the Davis Brown firm tells the Des Moines Register that anyone thinking of selling farmland should do so before the end of 2012.

Jim Hain, vice president of agricultural sales for Omaha-based Lund Company says his firm is the busiest it has been with farmland sales. He says the possible tax law changes and the current high prices have prompted more people to sell.

An Iowa State University scientist says if this coming spring is dry, record high temperatures are likely for the summer of 2013. Christopher Anderson is the assistant director of Iowa State University’s climate science program.”Our recent history tells us what can be predicted with certainty,” Anderson says. “Iowa’s wet years will become wetter and dry years will become drier (and) hotter.” Anderson says Iowa’s “deep, organic soils” help “modulate” the temperature in the summer — but only if the ground is moist.  “In Iowa, wet springs lead to cool summers. It seems counter intuitive, but the reason is because of our great soils. Recent examples are 2008, 2010 and 2011,” Anderson says.

“In 2012, rainfall was much below normal and we didn’t have floods, but instead July temperatures ranked third highest in the 140-year record.” According to Anderson, the summertime “cooling mechanism” that Iowa’s soil provides when it’s moist may be altered, however, by more frequent springtime floods that sweep away the topsoil. “The clearest trend that we’re seeing in Iowa’s climate records is in the spring rainfall,” Anderson says. “Our spring rainfall is much higher than it has been in the 140-year record and so what happens when there’s more spring rainfall is there’s potential and there is actual soil loss and if we lose our soil, we lose this ability to keep ourselves cool in the summer.”

There are about 450 different types of soil in Iowa. The average depth of topsoil in Iowa is between six and eight inches.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa otter season officially closed at 2-p.m., Saturday, Nov. 24, when the quota of 850 otters was reached.  The otter call-in line was updated reflecting the season quota had been filled and the grace period to move traps is underway. Trappers may keep otters captured prior to midnight Nov. 25th.  Otters captured after the grace period must be turned over to the DNR without penalty.
The harvest quota numbers are updated regularly on the DNR website www.iowadnr.gov or by calling the Iowa DNR at 515-281-5918.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A lawsuit filed by three farmers is aimed at ending electrical inspections at Iowa farm facilities. The Carroll County farmers are challenging the state Electrical Examining Board’s authority to require inspections and permits for electrical installations on farm property. The lawsuit says farm property is immune from board regulations and those issued the Iowa Department of Public Safety regarding the permits or inspections.

In defending the state, the Iowa Attorney General’s Office says the board did not err in determining that electrical installations at farm buildings were regulated commercial applications that weren’t exempt.   Court records don’t show a trial date.