CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Iowa’s cropland value has increased by nearly 24 percent in 2011 over the previous year. The rise in cropland value in Iowa was the highest in the nation. Nationally, cropland values increased by a little over 9 percent.The average cropland value in Iowa was $5,700 an acre.

Iowa State University economist Mike Duffy says the increased value isn’t surprising due to low interest rates and high prices for corn and soybeans.

Tom Olsen, Iowa State University Extension Farm Management Specialist, spoke to a
crowd of 48 area landowners, tenants and agriculture professionals during the
Farmland Leasing Meeting on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at the Guthrie Activity Center
in Guthrie Center. Olsen presented current leasing information including the latest
land value survey and cash rent survey. The program was organized and sponsored by
the Guthrie County Extension Office.

Iowa farmland values increased by at least 15 percent during 2010.  ISU Extension
research indicates that the average age of farmland owners continues to rise.
Fifty-five percent of Iowa's farmland is owned by people over the age of 65, while
28 percent of the land is owned by individuals over age 75. The research found that
children and surviving spouses of farmers are less likely to continue operating the
farm themselves. That's a major reason why farmland leasing continues to increase.

USDA Report from the Cass and Audubon County FSA and NRCS offices.  Denny Heflin Reports.

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AMES, IOWA –  The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association will hold its Southwest Regional meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the Armstrong Research Farm in Lewis. The event starts at 10:30 a.m., and will include discussions of industry issues and policy proposals for ICA before adjourning at 3:30 p.m.  Key business issues will include the election for the regional representative to the ICA state nominating committee, and policy discussions that will be brought to the ICA Annual Meeting in December. 

The person currently up for election of regional representative is Roger Brummett of Bedford. His first two-year term is expiring, and he will be eligible for re-election. There will also be discussion about the new ICA Carcass Challenge program that is being shepherded by this year’s class in the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program. 

Besides elections and policy issues at the business meeting, ICA’s new Chief Executive Officer, Matt Deppe, will be on hand to speak to cattle producers in the region.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The heat wave continues to take a toll on Iowa’s crops and livestock.

In the weekly crop report on Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says 75 percent of the corn crop is in good to excellent shape, a decrease from 80 percent the week before. Seventy-three percent of the soybean crop is in good to excellent condition, a slide from 79 percent.

The report says along with livestock losses, the hot and humid weather is slowing weight gain and lowering milk production.

Reports of over 14 inches of rain in the Dubuque area last Wednesday and Thursday caused flash flooding that damaged property and crops.

State climatologist Harry Hillaker says preliminary data shows that July was Iowa’s warmest month since August 1983 and the warmest July since 1955.

Weekly from the Cass and Audubon County FSA and NRCS offices.

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4-H Dog Show
Champion Conformation – Shiloh Carroll
Reserve Champion Conformation – Cassidy Robinson
Champion Pre-novice A – Adrianna Trail
Reserve Champion Pre-novice A – Maddie Trail
Champion Pre-novice B – Mackenzie Goshorn
Reserve Champion Pre-novice B – Lauren Borkowski
Champion Novice – Cassidy Robinson
Champion Graduate Novice – Cassidy Robinson
Champion Junior Dog Showman – Maddie Trail
Reserve Champion Junior Dog Showman – Gabe Madson
Champion Intermediate Dog Showman – Mackenzie Goshorn
Champion Overall Dog Showman – Lauren Borkowski
Reserve Champion Overall Dog Showman – Cali Andersen

RABBITS
Champion Rabbit – Heavy Breed Buck – Kristen Ferry
Reserve Champion Rabbit – Heavy Breed Buck – Emily Juhl
Champion Rabbit – Heavy Breed Doe – Carley McConnell
Reserve Champion Rabbit – Heavy Breed Doe – Gabe Ferry
Champion Rabbit – Heavy Breed – Carley McConnell
Reserve Champion Rabbit – Heavy Breed – Kristen Ferry
Champion Rabbit – Light Breed Buck- Kristen Ferry
Reserve Champion Rabbit – Light Breed Buck- Carley McConnell
Champion Rabbit – Light Breed Doe – Kristen Ferry
Reserve Champion Rabbit – Light Breed Doe – Allyssa Obrecht
Champion Rabbit – Light Breed – Kristen Ferry
Reserve Champion Rabbit – Light Breed – Casey McConnell
Junior Rabbit Showman – Jacob Bartley
Reserve Junior Rabbit Showman – Anna Ahrenholtz
Intermediate Rabbit Showman – Carley McConnell
Reserve Intermediate Rabbit Showman – Emily Juhl
Senior Rabbit Showman – Gabe Ferry
Champion Overall Rabbit Showman – Jacob Bartley
Reserve Champion Overall Rabbit Showman – Casey McConnell

CATS
Champion Shorthair Cat – Casey McConnell
Reserve Champion Shorthair Cat – Trey O’Neill
Champion Longhair Cat – Alana Monson
Reserve Champion Longhair Cat – Carley McConnell
Champion Cat – Trey O’Neill
Reserve Champion Cat – Alana Monson

SMALL PETS
Champion Small Pet – Kara Rueschenberg (chinchilla)
Reserve Champion Small Pet – Rachel Nelson (rat)

POULTRY
Champion Chicken- Lauren Borkowski
Reserve Champion Chicken – Lauren Borkowski
Champion Commercial Egg Layer Chicken – Andrew Schechinger
Reseve Champion Commercial Egg Layer Chicken – Lauren Borkowski
Champion Bantam – Lauren Borkowski
Reserve Champion Bantam – Adriana Trail
Champion Broiler Trio – Kyle Arkfeld
Reserve Champion Broiler Trio – Kyle Arkfeld
Junior Poultry Showman – Andrew Schechinger
Reserve Junior Poultry Showman – Laura Pauley
Intermediate Poultry Showman – Carley McConnell
Senior Poultry Showman – Kyle Arkfeld
Reserve Senior Poultry Showman – Katrina Arkfeld
Overall Poultry Showman- Lauren Borkowski
Reserve Overall Poultry Showman – Kyle Arkfeld

DAIRY
Champion – Emily Zimmerman
Reserve Champion – Emily Zimmerman
Champion Junior Showman – Cassie Rasmussen
Overall Showman – Emily Zimmerman
Reserve Overall Showman – Rachel Zimmerman

FEEDER CALVES
Champion Prospect Heifer Calf – Taylor Assmann
Champion Prospect Steer/Bull Calf – Ashley Hastert
Reserve Champion Prospect Steer/Bull Calf – Tyler Schwery

COW/CALF
Champion Commercial Cow/Calf – Teresa Arkfeld
Reserve Champion Commercial Cow/Calf – Logan Peters
Champion Hereford-Polled Hereford Cow/Calf – Anna Eggers
Reserve Champion Hereford-Polled Hereford Cow/Calf – Nathan Eggers
Champion Overall Cow/Calf – Anna Eggerss

BEEF BREEDING
Champion Hereford-Polled Hereford Heifer – Chance Wiese
Reserve Champion Hereford-Polled Hereford Heifer – Chance Weise
Champion AOB Heifer – Tyler Schwery
Champion Commercial Heifer – Tyler Schwery
Reserve Champion Commercial Heifer – Chelsea Assmann
Champion Overall Breeding Heifer – Tyler Schwery
Reserve Champion Overall Breeding Heifer – Chance Wiese
Champion Junior Showman – Dylan Stein
Reserve Champion Junior Showman – Cassie Rasmussen
Champion Intermediate Showman – Trey Wiese
Reserve Champion Intermediate Showman – Chelsea Assmann
Champion Senior Showman – Chance Wiese
Reserve Champion Senior Showman – Shayne Wiese
Champion Overall Showman – Chance Wiese
Reserve Champion Overall Showman – Tyler Schwery