(Radio Iowa) – Farmers saw enough dry weather last week that planting season is closing in on the end. The U-S-D-A crop report shows 95 percent of the corn crop is now in the ground. That’s nine days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of the five-year average. Sixty-five percent of that corn is poking through — about six days ahead of average.

Soybean planting moved from 69 to 84 percent complete in the last week. that puts farmers around one week ahead of last year and two weeks ahead of normal. Forty-three percent of the beans have emerged — which is six days ahead of average.

CAM students Owen & Brentyn Hoover and Atlantic’s Joaquin & Jake Walies have qualified to fish for a High School National Championship at the 14^th Annual at Bass Federation’s (TBF) Student Angler Federation (SAF) Championships in Lacrosse, Wisconsin June 20-24. In the Junior division Atlantic Trojans Grayson Molgaard and Owen Miller are moving on to compete at the TBF Junior World Championships to be held on Sonner Lake in Oklahoma July 26-29.

The high school student anglers earned their spot by competing in the third annual TBF/SAF Iowa State Championship held Saturday, May 20 for the first time ever on the Okoboji Chain of Lakes. High skies, sunshine and a light variable wind welcomed 43 two-person teams in the High School Division (grades 9-12) as they left the Emerson Bay Boat Ramp area at 6:30 a.m.

According to Bob Harris, SWIFT coach, the bite was tough in the morning after Friday’s cold front, but as the day progressed, the bite improved. “Many of the teams caught up to 25-30 bass throughout the tournament as they worked to upgrade the weight of their five best bass.”

Each team worked to figure out the best pattern for the area they were fishing for. 32 teams brought five-bass limits to the stage at the 2:30 p.m. afternoon weigh-in. A total of 190 bass were weighed in and safely released back into the lake.

Leading the way with a five-fish weight of 18.06 pounds was the team of Ways Raasch and Will Neville of team OABICG Falcons. They also brought in the tournament’s big fish with a 5.01 pounder.

Second place went to Noah Franken and Jay Van Zee of team Unity Christian with a five-fish limit of 17.06 pounds. Meanwhile, Emmett King and AJ Draper of Panorama High School Panthers took third place with a five-fish limit weight of 16.07 pounds. Fourth place with a five-fish weight of 15.15 pounds went to Henry Rosener and Clay Price of the Johnston Fishing Club Dragons. Harris says, “It was really a tight competition with the top five teams separated by a mere three pounds.”

Results for the Southwest Iowa Fishing Team High School Team

#5-Owen Hoover and Brentyn Hoover with a five-fish limit weight of 15.02 pounds.
#9 Tegan Steinkuehler and Brock Lemrick with a five-fish limit weight of 13.11 pounds.
#12 Joaquin and Jake Wailes with a five-fish limit weight of 13.06 pounds.
#18 Cameron Hoden and Wyatt Conrad with a five-fish limit weight of 10.14 pounds.
#20 Carey Mitchel and Tyson Partlow with a five-fish limit weight of 10.06 pounds.
#20 Cody Swank and Gavin Dougherty with a five-fish limit weight of 10.06 pounds.
#25 Grady Joens and Lucas Bose with a five-fish limit weight of 9.15 pounds
#29 Jarrett Hansen and Christian Thompson with a five-fish limit weight of 8.10 pounds.
#30 Hunter Quist and Braxton Hass with a five-fish limit weight of 8.10 pounds.
#35 Colton and Collin Rudy with a five-fish limit weight of 7.03 pounds.
#36 Jordon Robinson and Nathan Bentler with a five-fish limit weight of 6.15 pounds.
#37 Eli Becerra and Mason Mcintosh with a four-fish limit weight of 6.14 pounds.
#39 Hannah Thomas and Kai Carritt with a five-fish limit weight of 4.10 pounds.
#40 Caden Forristall and Taven Moore with a two-fish limit weight of 4.09 pounds.
#42 Isaac and Kyler Chapman.

Along with the SAF Iowa High School State Championship, the Junior Division State Championship (grades 3-8) was also on the line with a total of 12 two-person teams competing. Once again, it became a shoot-out and close weights with nine of the teams bringing 5-fish limits to the scales. The team of Ethan Timmerman and Ty Timmerman of the Cedar Falls Tigers ran away with the title with a five-fish limit weight of 16.02 pounds. Second place with a 5-fish weight of 12.13 pounds went to the team of Ryder Lane and Wyatt Reed from the Southwest Iowa Fishing Team. Meanwhile, the team of Jared Kettman and Jonah Leonard of the Cedar Falls Tigers with a five-fish weight of 11.13 pounds. They also brought the big fish of the day to the scales, a 4.10 pounder.

Results for the Southwest Iowa Fishing Team High School Team

#6-Grayson Molgaard and Owen Miller with a five-fish limit weight of 10.12 pounds.
#7 Letty McSorely and Brendan Wilke with a five-fish limit weight of 10.10 pounds.
#8 Colton Anderson and Hoden DeVore with a five-fish limit weight of 9.15 pounds.
#11 Quinlan McKee and Charlee Marquis with a one-fish limit weight of 3.06 pounds.
#13Colton Frieze and Caden Frieze

Harris adds, “I was extremely proud of our SWIFT. They worked together to figure out what they needed to do to catch these fish. Congratulations to all these teams.”

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(Lewis, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board is holding a “Stand Up Paddleboard” demonstration on Saturday May 27thfrom 1-until 4-p.m.  The event takes place at the Cold Springs Park- Beach, near Lewis, and there is no charge. The only requirements are that participants weigh LESS than 250-pounds, children must be 16-years of age or older, and participants should bring a life jacket. If you cannot bring a life jacket, one will be provided for you.

Conservation officials say stand Up Paddleboarding is the fastest growing sport in the paddling community, not only across the country, but especially here in land-locked areas like Iowa. It’s fun, healthy as a total body work-out and offers a unique perspective when it comes to being on the water.

Paddle Boarding

After a quick demonstration try out the boards for yourself!  Additional details such as time slots and future dates for the demonstrations are as follows:

Saturday May 27th

1PM- 5 spots

2:30PM- 5 spots

June 24th

1:00pm- 5 Spots

2:30pm- 5 Spots

Cold Springs Park- Beach

You MUST CALL to get your spot! 712-769-2372

The program will be cancelled if there are unsafe weather conditions on the Lake.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer is reporting a very good second quarter. Deere and Company is declaring net income for the quarter at more than two-point-eight billion dollars, up from just over two-billion-even a year ago. The Quad Cities-based farm and construction equipment maker is also reporting worldwide net sales and revenues rose by 30-percent for the quarter, and 31-percent in the past six months.

Chairman and C-E-O John May says in a news release that Deere is continuing to benefit from “favorable market conditions and an improving operating environment,” adding, the company’s on the way “to another year of exceptional achievement.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Nishna Valley Trails organization and Cass County Conservation Department, invite you to celebrate “National Trails Day,” on June 3, 2023, with” Truckin’ on the Trails” at the Schildberg Recreation Area West Rotary Shelter (102 Buck Creek Rd., in Atlantic. The event takes place from 11-a.m. until 2-p.m.

Whether cycling or walking, pushing strollers, or riding trikes, all people are welcome. The event is a chance to experience and appreciate Cass County’s trails and will offer live music and food trucks Master Griller Catering, Atlantic Kiwanis, and Louie’s Shaved Ice. Nishna Valley Trails and Cass County Conservation will be sharing information, and Bike Farm will also be at the event offering minor bike maintenance and door prizes.

Event schedule:
● 10:30 AM “Nishna Valley Trails Gravel Sampler” Join Jon Jordan for a bike ride on both trails and gravel. Jon will give a primer on gravel skills vs. road skills before the ride. Any “non-skinny” tire bikes will work for this ride. Participants will ride from Schildberg Rotary Shelter (West parking lot) to South T-Bone Trailhead (63395 Dunbar Rd. Atlantic) and back (approximately 10 miles). (Please note this ride begins prior to the official start time of the event)
● 11-2 Live music, food trucks, organizations sharing information
● 1 PM 1.5-mile kids loop starting from Rotary Shelter

Truckin’ on the Trails is just one of many events taking place across the nation on National Trails Day, the first Saturday in June. National Trails Day is an annual event hosted by the American Hiking Society that encourages support of the nation’s public trails. Trails have positive impacts on mental and physical health, and National Trails Day is a day of public events that invites thousands of trail users of all shapes and sizes to participate.

Truckin’ on the Trails is being hosted by Nishna Valley Trails, Cass County Conservation, Bike Farm, and Cass County Tourism. A Cass County trails map can be found online at: https://www.atlanticiowa.com/experience/cass-county-trails-map-2/. Hard copies of the map will be available at the event and are always available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

• KJAN, Atlantic  .15″
• Exira  .35″
• Anita  .27″
• Elk Horn  .01″
• Audubon  .19″

(Radio Iowa) – This is prime time for Iowa bird watchers as spring migration season is bringing all sorts of unusual feathered travelers to our backyards, well beyond the everyday robins, sparrows and blue jays. Avian ecologist Steve Kolbe is working to raise awareness about migratory birds as they help provide pest control, pollination and serve as a food source for other wildlife. Kolbe says migrating birds face multiple perils on their journey each year, putting the ecosystem in danger. “They encounter a habitat that has been degraded or destroyed during migratory stopover,” Kolbe says. “It’s sort of akin to if you are used to making a trip and you’re always stopping at a gas station then all of a sudden that gas station is closed-that maybe you planned on filling up and then you have some issues finding gas before you run out.”

Kolbe says Iowans who own a certain type of pet can play a key role in helping these birds on their annual flights. “One of the things that bird researchers really stress is keeping your cats inside,” he says. “Cats are a main source of mortality for birds and especially migrant birds. It’s also safer for cats to be inside, too.”

Kolbe also suggests helping migrating birds by putting out resources like food and water, and reporting birds that you see and their condition. He says websites like “eBird-dot-org” can help document changes in patterns and behaviors throughout time. Iowans can see nearly 400 types of birds throughout the year.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Bureau has announced they will host four public meetings, to present results from the DNR’s comprehensive evaluation of administrative rules and regulations. The comprehensive review is required by Gov. Reynold’s Executive Order Ten.

The public meetings are scheduled for

• May 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Waverly Public Library, 1500 Bremer Ave, Waverly
• May 31, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Ventura Wildlife Office, 15300 Balsam Ave, Ventura
• June 1, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Atlantic DNR Field Office 4, 1401 Sunnyside Ln, Atlantic
• June 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Story County Conservation Center, 56461 180^th St, Ames

The Iowa DNR Wildlife Bureau will present the proposed edited chapters during the meetings. These meetings are not seeking input on future hunting seasons or proposed hunting regulations.

DES MOINES, Iowa, May 17, 2023 –  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will cover up to 75% of the costs associated with organic certification, up to $750 per category, through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). Iowa Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages organic agricultural producers and handlers to apply for OCCSP by Oct. 31, 2023, for expenses incurred from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023. As part of USDA’s broader effort to support organic producers and in response to stakeholder feedback, this year FSA increased the cost share to the maximum amount allowed by statute.

“We’re taking steps to better support Iowa organic producers,” said Matt Russell, State Executive Director for FSA in Iowa. “We’ve heard about this program’s value in helping Iowa organic producers and handlers obtain or renew their certifications under the National Organic Program, and I’m pleased that we’re able to increase and restore the cost share to the statutory limit this year. Organic certification costs have long been identified as a barrier to certification, and this assistance, at its full levels, will help Iowa organic producers participate in new markets while supporting and growing our local and regional food systems.”

Cost Share for 2023: The cost share provides financial assistance for organic certification, and producers and handlers are eligible to receive 75% of the costs, up to $750, for crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling and state organic program fees (California only). Iowa producers have until Oct. 31, 2023, to file applications, and FSA will make payments as applications are received.

How to Apply: To apply, Iowa producers and handlers should contact their local FSA office USDA Service Center. As part of completing the OCCSP application, producers and handlers will need to provide documentation of their organic certification and eligible expenses.  Organic producers and handlers may also apply for OCCSP through participating state departments of agriculture. Additional details can be found on the OCCSP webpage.

Opportunity for State Departments of Agriculture  

FSA is also accepting applications from state departments of agriculture to administer OCCSP. FSA will post a synopsis of the funding opportunity on grants.gov and will electronically mail the notice of funding opportunity to all eligible state departments of agriculture.  If a state department of agriculture chooses to participate in OCCSP, both the state department of agriculture and FSA County Offices in that state will accept OCCSP applications and make payments to eligible certified operations. However, the producer or handler may only receive OCCSP assistance from either FSA or the participating state department of agriculture.

Other USDA Organic Assistance  

• USDA offers other assistance for organic producers, including the new Organic Transition Initiative (OTI), which includes direct farmer assistance for organic production and processing, conservation and crop insurance.
• For conservation, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is helping producers adopt the new organic management standard, which allows flexibility for producers to get the assistance and education they need such as attending workshops or requesting help from experts or mentors. It supports conservation practices required for organic certification and may provide foregone income reimbursement for dips in production during the transition period.
• USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers interested in the Transitional and Organic Grower Assistance Program, also part of OTI, to visit with their crop insurance agent for more information. Premium benefits for eligible policies will be automatically applied to the producer’s billing statement later this year.
• For producers that participated in the Transitional and Organic Grower Assistance Program, also part of OTI, premium benefits for eligible policies will be automatically applied to the producer’s billing statement later this year.
• USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) also administers federal crop insurance options, including Whole Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm, which may be good options for organic producers.  Also under OTI, is the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program’s (NOP) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP builds mentorship relationships between transitioning and existing organic farmers to provide technical assistance and wrap-around support in six U.S. regions.

On May 10 USDA AMS announced the availability of approximately $75 million in grant funding for the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) program. OMDG will fund businesses transitioning to organic or initiating new organic production or processing and support new, improved and expanded markets for domestically produced organic products with a focus on processing capacity, market access, and product development.

DES MOINES, IA – Over the next several weeks, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. The agency will contact nearly 4,700 producers across Iowa to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1, 2023.

“The June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey are two of the most important and well-known surveys NASS conducts,” explained Greg Thessen, Director of the NASS Upper Midwest Regional Field Office. “When producers respond to these surveys, they provide essential information that helps determine the expected acreage and supply of major commodities in the United States for the 2023 crop year. The results are used by farmers and ranchers, USDA, exporters, researchers, economists, policymakers, and others to inform a wide range of decisions.”

Producers can respond to the June Agricultural Survey online at agcounts.usda.gov, by phone, or mail. They will be asked to provide information on planted and harvested acreage, including acreage for biotech crops and grain stocks. For the June Area Survey, agency representatives will interview farm and ranch operators in randomly selected segments of land over the phone or in person. Producers will be asked to provide information on crop acreage, grain stocks, livestock inventory, land values, and value of sales.

“NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents, by keeping all individual information confidential and publishing the data in aggregate form only to ensure that no operation or producer can be identified,” said Thessen. “We recognize that this is a hectic time for farmers, but the information they provide helps U.S. agriculture remain viable and capable. I urge them to respond to these surveys and thank them for their participation.”

NASS will publish the data in a series of USDA reports, including the annual Acreage and quarterly Grain Stocks reports June 30, 2023. These data also contribute to NASS’s monthly and annual Crop Production reports, the annual Small Grains Summary, annual Farms and Land in Farms and Land Values reports, various livestock reports, including Cattle, Sheep
and Goats, and Hogs and Pigs, and USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.

These and all NASS reports are available at nass.usda.gov/Publications/. For more information, call the NASS Upper Midwest Regional Field Office at (800) 772-0825.