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State Beef checkoff vote to begin next month

Ag/Outdoor

September 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Iowa beef producers will soon get to vote on a proposal to institute a state beef checkoff program. Iowa Cattlemen’s Association communications director, Katie Olthoff, says they submitted the required paperwork for the referendum earlier this month. She says they needed to get 500 signatures from cattle producers and worked throughout the summer at various events and turned in more than 700 signatures.

The voting will begin next month. “Producers can request an absentee ballot if they would like starting in October. Then they can mail in those ballots any time throughout the month of November,” Olthoff says. “or if they prefer, producers can vote in person at their county extension offices on November 30th.”

The results of the vote would be known in mid-December. The Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has said they’ll be able to certify the vote on December 14th. “If it passes with a simple majority of 51 percent or more — collections will begin March 1st 2017. It will be a 50-cent per head state checkoff,” Olthoff explains.

She says the checkoff will be mandatory, but producers can request a refund. “We have really worked hard at the Cattleman’s Association to do our legwork and make sure that our producers have been able to give input into how the money would be spent,” according to Olthoff. “That includes a survey that we did last fall among our Cattlemen’s Association members. Eighty percent of the respondents were in support of a state beef checkoff and they outlined several uses for those funds.”

One use the survey supported is research. Olthoff says that is something that currently can’t be done with the federal checkoff, but they think it is important to help producers stay profitable into the future. Olthoff says the national fund has done a lot to promote the industry nationwide and this would be more state specific.

“Beef is What’s For Dinner is part the federal beef checkoff program. It’s been a great way to promote beef,” Olthoff says. “We want some more flexibility in our dollars and we want to enhance what the national programs are doing. That federal beef checkoff has been a-dollar-a-head since 1986. So adding an additional 50 cents at this point is something that several other states are doing. It’s something our Iowa cattle producers have been very interested in.”

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association says it represents nearly 10-thousand beef-producing families and associated companies dedicated to the future of Iowa’s beef industry.

(Radio Iowa)

EPA proposes deep cuts in farm use of herbicide atrazine

Ag/Outdoor

September 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she’s worried about the negative impact the E-P-A’s proposed rule on the herbicide atrazine could have on farmers. The agency proposes drastically cutting the amount of the chemical farmers could apply to fields. Ernst says science supports the safe use of atrazine in controlling broadleaf weeds, especially in corn crops. “For over 50 years, it has been proven as a safe and effective way of managing our cropland,” she says. “Over 7,000 studies that prove it is a safe and effective tool to keep in our toolbox.”

Atrazine is one of the most widely used herbicides in the U-S, but it was banned in the European Union in 2004, when groundwater levels exceeded limits. If the E-P-A’s proposed use level becomes the standard, analysts say the herbicide could no longer be used effectively and it would essentially represent a ban on the use of atrazine. Ernst says Congress would oppose that move.

“We will continue to apply pressure to the EPA,” she says. “We can involve other organizations and get people to push those public comments back to the agency. If they go to far, we can look at how do we work around this legislatively.”

The deadline to submit comments to EPA is October 4th. Without atrazine, some estimate farm input costs could increase by 30-to-60 dollars per acre. Farmers would also lose a valuable tool for weed management and conservation.

(Radio Iowa)

Red Oak woman arrested on Meth charge Monday night

News

September 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak report a woman was arrested at around 10-p.m. Monday for felony Possession with the Intent to Deliver, less than 5 grams of Methamphetamine. 21-year old Darian Elizabeth Heideman, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at the intersection of W. Washington and N. Broadway Streets and brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, where her cash bond was set at $50,000.

And, a Red Oak man was arrested early this (Tuesday) morning, for Driving While Revoked for OWI test failure. 29-year old Joshua Kenneth Wolcott was arrested at around 12:15-a.m. during a traffic stop in Red Oak. Walcott was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Villisca man arrested Mon. night on an alcohol-related charge

News

September 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A 26-year old man from Villisca was arrested late Monday night, for Public Intoxication. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Gabriel Frances Romero was arrested a little after 9:20-p.m. in the 2300 block of Highway 71. Romero was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Area Volleyball Scores from Monday, 9/12/16

Sports

September 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

(3-1) Earlham 25-14-25-25, Nodaway Valley 14-25-17-23
(3-0) East Mills 25-25-25, Clarinda Academy 8-4-4
(3-0) Lawton-Bronson 25-25-25, River Valley 11-7-17
(2-0) Mount Ayr 25-25, Interstate 35, Truro 13-14
(2-0) Mount Ayr 25-25, Pleasantville 6-4
(2-1) South Page 20-25-25, West Nodaway 25-9-19

Oklahoma, EPA shutter 32 wells in new earthquake-prone area

News

September 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — State and federal regulators say 32 disposal wells in northeastern Oklahoma must shut down because they are too near a newly discovered fault line that produced the state’s strongest earthquake on record. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission said Monday that 27 wells under its jurisdiction would cease operations, along with five wells in Osage County, which is covered by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules.

A magnitude 5.8 quake at Pawnee, Oklahoma, on Sept. 3 shook several states, including Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. Shortly afterward, geologists speculated on whether the temblor occurred on a previously unknown fault.

In a standard energy field practice, wastewater from oil and gas production is injected deep into the earth. The high pressure has been blamed for triggering an increase in earthquakes. Regulators shuttered wells within 10 miles of the new fault.

Cyclones faced with quarterback controversy after 0-2 start

Sports

September 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — It was apparent after Iowa State’s opener that the Cyclones will struggle to run the ball this season. The Cyclones can’t seem to throw it much either, an issue that has plunged the program into a quarterback controversy just two games into coach Matt Campbell’s first season.

Quarterback Joel Lanning’s starting job may be in jeopardy after he gave way to sophomore Jacob Park in last week’s 42-3 loss to No. 13 Iowa. Iowa State is 127th out of 128 FBS teams with just 11.5 points per game, and visits TCU (1-1) on Saturday as a 23.5-point underdog hoping to avoid its first 0-3 start since 1997.

Chiefs’ season opener shows best, worst of what they can be

Sports

September 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs looked as if they were two entirely different teams in their season opener. The first three quarters, they looked like a team that might not win another game, blowing assignments and getting dominated at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The final quarter, they looked as if they might never lose.

Ultimately, the Chiefs’ 33-27 overtime win over the San Diego Chargers was a microcosm of last season, when they started off 1-5 before rattling off 11 straight wins into the playoffs.

The Chiefs may have plenty to learn from their ugly start Sunday, but they at least can go to school with a 1-0 record. And ultimately, their ability to rally in the fourth quarter showed just how potent they can be once things start clicking. Coach Andy Reid says ultimately it’s just one of 16 games even though the first game can be “overrated a little bit.”

Hendricks loses no-hit bid in 9th, Cubs beat Cardinals 4-1

Sports

September 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kyle Hendricks took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before giving up Jeremy Hazelbaker’s leadoff home run, and the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 Monday night to close in on the NL Central crown. Hazelbaker drove an 0-2 pitch into the right-field stands for his 12th homer this season. Hendricks, the major league ERA leader, was relieved by Aroldis Chapman.

“Just left that one up right there. What are you going to do?” Hendricks said. Ben Zobrist and Dexter Fowler homered for the Cubs, who lowered their magic number to three for clinching the division crown. They lead the second-place Cardinals by 17 games.

Soon after Hazelbaker’s shot cleared the fence, teammates went to the mound to talk to Hendricks — leading to an argument between Cubs manager Joe Maddon and plate umpire Joe West. Maddon was ejected, and Chapman came in.

KJAN listening area forecast from the NWS: 9/13/16

Weather

September 13th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

337 AM CDT TUE SEP 13 2016

EARLY THIS MORNING…THUNDERSTORMS. NORTH WIND NEAR 10 MPH. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 90 PERCENT.

TODAY…CLOUDY…COOLER. THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY THROUGH MID MORNING…THEN SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. SCATTERED SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE UPPER 60S. NORTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 60 PERCENT.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MIDNIGHT. COOLER. LOW IN THE LOWER 50S. NORTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 40 PERCENT.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH AROUND 70. EAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH. WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW IN THE UPPER 50S. EAST WIND AROUND 5 MPH.

THURSDAY…CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING…THEN THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE LOWER 70S. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT.

THURSDAY NIGHT…THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 70 PERCENT.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH IN THE UPPER 70S.