Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert today (Thursday) advised the Fire Danger Index in his County is currently rated as “High.” Seivert says he expects winds to be strong this afternoon, and if there are any active fires, they will monitor the weather components very closely, and advise the local Incident Commander of dangerous conditions. Seivert says there should be NO OPEN BURNING in Shelby County today. The next local Fire Danger notice will be on Monday, Oct. 15th, unless unexpected changes in conditions occur.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced today (Thursday), that four Louisiana men face 76 counts and nearly $86,000 in fines and civil damages for allegedly killing five deer illegally in southwest Iowa last November. The DNR says 41-year old James Keith Moore,  of Hammond, La., and 45-year old Michael D. Fralick,  of Ponchatoula, La., were charged with 32 counts each of deer related violations in four different counties in southwest Iowa. Moore and Fralick were each fined $6,123.90. The state is also seeking $25,000 in civil damages from each man for the deer they allegedly killed illegally. In addition, 46-year old Stanley B. Russell, of Roseland, La., and 39-year old William H. Chambliss,  of Kentwood, La., were charged with six counts each of deer related violations in Montgomery County. Russell and Chambliss were each fined $1,823.40.  The state is seeking $10,000 in civil damages from each man for their role in the alleged poaching activity. The state has also requested forfeiture of four rifles the individuals used to shoot the deer.

The investigation began in late November when the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department received a TIP call from a concerned citizen about the activities of these men. The information led authorities to possible illegal activity in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources received a TIP call about illegal deer activity around the same time that linked the two cases together. Deb Howe, state conservation officer for the Iowa DNR, said “These men came to Iowa specifically to road hunt trophy bucks during the rut. They did not have any licenses or tags to hunt in Iowa during the time they were here.”

A 10 month investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Louisiana Department of Game & Fish, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks culminated in the 76 wildlife-related counts being filed against four Louisiana men.  Fralick, Russell and Chambliss face similar charges in Kansas. An initial court date will be scheduled for November.

Information received through the TIP hotline in both Iowa and Kansas was critical in this investigation.  If you have information on wildlife crimes please call TIP of Iowa at 1-800-532-2020 you can remain anonymous.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has slightly lowered its projection for the size of this year’s corn crop for a fourth straight month.  The USDA released its monthly crop report Thursday in which it estimates that farmers will harvest 10.71 billion bushels of corn. That’s down from last month’s estimate of 10.73 billion bushels.  The estimates change as the harvest progresses and the impact of this summer’s widespread drought becomes clearer.

The average yield is about 122 bushels per acre. That’s down from last month’s estimate of 122.8 bushels. Corn supply is now estimated at 11.77 billion bushels. That’s down from last month’s estimate of 11.98 billion bushels.  The tightening supply likely will push corn prices higher short-term but analysts expect prices to now stabilize.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Soil experts are advising Iowa farmers to let their drought-degraded soil rest this fall.  The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that the experts say tilling the soil soon after harvest will further dry the topsoil and raise the potential for erosion.  Decorah farmer Paul Johnson, who used to head the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, told The Gazette farmers “all remember the black ditches that used to be common in the winter when we did a lot of fall plowing. We need to be careful this year.”

Jason Johnson says fall fertilizer application could be counterproductive as well. He says that because of the drought, crops didn’t use all of the applied nitrogen. He says disturbing the soil will just help waste the leftover.

Info on the Atlantic Animal Shelter.

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Registration is being accepted now through October 18^th, for women landowners interested in conservation. Women who own or manage farmland in western Iowa are invited to the free conservation discussion Sponsored by the Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN). The session will take place Saturday, October 20th at Hitchcock Nature Center near Honey Creek, IA.

Coffee and registration begin at 9:30 a.m. A free lunch is being provided. The discussion will focus on identifying, establishing, and protecting wetlands. All women landowners are welcome, regardless of whether you have wetlands on your property now. The event is part of WFAN’s Women Caring for the Land^SM series, in collaboration with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other partners.

Reservations are needed by 5-p.m. Thursday, October 18^th. You can e-mail Karen Androy, Harrison County Soil and Water District, at Karen.Androy@ia.nacdnet.net,  or call her at 712-644-2210. This event is funded by a grant from the U-S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

w/ Kate Olson

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa farmers are close to wrapping up this year’s harvest as they work to get drought-damage crops out of the fields as cooler weather arrives. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says 76 percent of the corn has been harvested, which is a month ahead of normal. Eighty percent of the soybeans are in from the fields, which is two weeks ahead of normal.

The USDA says in Tuesday’s report that the corn condition is 47 percent poor or very poor, 33 percent fair and 20 percent in good or excellent shape. Soybeans are 31 percent poor or very poor, 37 percent fair and 32 percent in good or excellent condition.  The statewide average rainfall was .05 inches. It’s the 20th week of the past 22 with below normal precipitation.