(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa D-N-R Fire Program has a new group trained and ready to fight wildfires across the country. Spokesman Ryan Schlater says there are some differences between fighting structure fires and wildfires. “Weather kind of plays a bigger role in wildland firefighting than in your typical structure fire. Rh, temperature, wind, and then of course, terrain as well. There’s a lot more terrain issues with fire running uphill,” he says. “There’s a lot of safety information that comes through the training that all these 35 people get.” Those who complete the training are emergency hires, part-time firefighters when the U-S Forest Service calls on them.

“Some of them are volunteer fire departments, some are full-time structure departments, some are students, some work for county conservation boards, others are just private individuals, who do you know, other jobs. A lot of them take vacations to do this, to go out on wildfires for us,” according to Schlater. He says they had been averaging 50 people a year in the program, but it dropped off during the pandemic and is now coming back. Schlater says one of the goals is to provide new recruits for the permanent fire crews. “We’ve had several who have left the state and gone on to full-time careers, you know with, with hot shots with engine crews on forests, the BLM out west, the Bureau of Land Management, I should say, and then other agencies, National Park Service, etc. So, yeah, it’s kind of a goal of ours to get people into the career field, eventually,” Schlater says.

He says the alert status is a little higher right now for the Iowa-trained firefighters as many of the full-timers are working up north. “A lot of federal partners within the Forest Service, the National Park Service, etcetera. They went to Canada to fight the Canadian wildfires that are up there,” he says. “You know, you’ll get that smoke here in Iowa a few days ago from those Canada wildfires coming down. And so they asked for help up there.” He says emergency hire firefighters aren’t able to go to Canada. Sclater says the wildfire season has started out slow after record amounts of snow and precipitation out west.

“Like California, for example had a lot of rain recently and so they’ve got a flush of water and flush of new growth,” Schlater says. “But the thing is that it seems to be cyclical. So right now the grass is growing big or it’s going to be growing big and then later on in the the summer it will dry out and so then there’s more fuel available for a wildfire later.”

The Iowa D-N-R Fire Program has been sending wildland firefighters to national incidents since 2006.

Des Moines, IA – State Auditor Rob Sand today (Wednesday) urged Iowa agricultural producers who experienced revenue decreases in 2020 as a result of the pandemic to apply for the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP). “PARP addresses gaps in pandemic assistance for farmers by taking into account their overall loss of revenue during the first year of the pandemic,” said Sand. “Previous assistance programs targeted specific commodities and loss of access to markets.”

PARP provides financial assistance to producers who experienced a 15% reduction in allowable gross revenue for the 2020 calendar year, as compared to 2018 or 2019. Producers who received assistance previously from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for pandemic-related losses may be eligible for additional assistance through PARP.

“Iowa farmers feed the world and boost our state’s economy by tens of billions of dollars annually,” said Sand. “Their financial well-being is critical to Iowa’s long-term economic health.”

Producers eligible for PARP must have an average adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $900,000 for tax years 2016, 2017, and 2018, and have been in the business of farming during at least part of the 2020 calendar year. Additional eligibility requirements apply.

Eligible producers may seek additional assistance on the application process by working with the Farm Service Agency office at their local USDA Center. The application deadline is June 2, 2023.

(Radio Iowa) -Woodbury County Supervisors have unanimously approved changes to the county’s wind turbine regulations. The county’s ordinance originally barred wind turbines within 600 FEET of city limits, but now wind turbines may not be placed within two MILES of the city limits of any community in Woodbury County. Woodbury County Supervisors chairman Matthew Ung says the change protects future growth around cities.

Mathew Ung. (KSCJ photo)

“As for the amount of distance we’ve established as a board and as a department — the annexation limits — and how that ties into this number, in my opinion it’s important to be in a defensible position logically and legally just for the good of not only the board’s position, but also the public and the county,” Ung says. It’s possible MidAmeircan Energy may file a legal challenge of the supervisors’ decision.

Some Woodbury County residents, like Moville Mayor Jim Fisher, had hoped for wider no-go zones for wind turbines. “At our last council meeting which was last Wednesday evening we went ahead and had this on our agenda as far as setbacks,” he said. “It was brought forward and it was unanimous by our city council that we’d like to have the setbacks from city limits five miles.” Fisher says the concern is scenic views around Moville will be ruined by the wind turbine structures. Bob Fritzmeyer of Sioux City was the only resident at the supervisors’ meeting who spoke in favor of wind turbines. “They provide clean energy for people like us and help MidAmerican Energy the company that has been a real (stalwart) and a foundation for this community and the whole county,” he said.

Daniel Hair of Hornick responded… “The rest of us out in the rural part of this county that have to live amongst those noisy, dangerous giants…want absolutely nothing to do with them,” Hair says. “All you have to do is drive across the state and look at these things. They are everywhere. They are ruining rural Iowa. It’s going to be the downfall of Iowa if we keep pushing this green energy religion nonsense. There’s nothing green about these things.”

Supervisors approved another change in Woodbury County’s wind turbine ordinance, extending the no-go zone to a mile for turbines placed near conservation areas.

w/Kate Olson.

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(Radio Iowa) – Volunteers are needed once again this summer to drive around and track the bat population in the state. D-N-R wildlife diversity biologist, Stephanie Shepherd, says the volunteers record the noises bats make as the fly through the night.The D-N-R has teamed with Iowa State University for the last ten years to track the bat signals with they can use to identify the species of bats. Shepherd says the survey begins 30 minutes after sunset and takes roughly two-and-a-half hours to complete.

They are looking for volunteers in Pocahontas County, Dubuque County, two routes in Franklin County — one in southwest Franklin and one in southeast Franklin, and then southwest Marshall County. The survey routes are run in June and July.

If you might be interested in monitoring bats, go to the D-N-R web page at iowadnr.gov/vwmp to sign up.

(Lewis, Iowa) – Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries biologists have investigated recent reports of dead bluegill and crappie in southern Iowa lakes. Chris Larson, DNR fisheries supervisor said Tuesday (today) “These natural fish kills are a common occurrence at a number of lakes each spring during spawning season. There is little danger to the overall population of bluegill or crappie. Iowa lakes can support thousands of panfish per acre of water.”

The spawning season is very stressful. A variety of factors can cause this stress, including changes in water temperature, water quality and availability of food. Fish are more vulnerable to predators during spawning, which can add to their stress levels.

“Overcrowding is one of the main causes of spawning stress in bluegills and crappies,” Larson said. “When too many fish are in a small area, they can become stressed and agitated. This can lead to fights and injuries that can cause stressed fish to become more susceptible to various bacterial or fungal infections.”

If you see dead fish – especially when there are several species or sizes, or when you can see a pollutant present – call the DNR’s 24-hour spill line at 515-725-8694 as soon as possible. Quick reporting can help DNR staff identify the cause of a fish kill and potentially stop a fish kill in progress.

(Radio Iowa) – An official who’s in charge of state boating safety courses says the first step to a safe boating weekend is checking the equipment that will be transporting a vessel on land. Susan Stocker has been the boating law administrator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources since 2009. “Memorial weekend is coming up and, of course, it’s the start of the Iowa boating season,” Stocker says. “People, before they even head out to the lake, make sure that their trailer, wheelbearings and their lights are all in working condition so you’ll be able to get yourself to the body of water you want to go on.”

Once on the water, Stocker says boat operators and passengers need to be on the look out for floating debris. “We’ve got some higher water throughout Iowa, so you want to make sure that you see if there are any logs that are just under the surface of the water and you want to make sure that you, though surrounded by water…drink plenty of water and have sunscreen.” Stocker says, “and make sure that you save the alcohol when you’re back on shore.” Stocker says drunk boating can be as dangerous as drunk driving on the roads because the affects of the wind and glare of the sun can enhance the effects of alcohol.

“It can slow a person’s reaction and cause some hazardous conditions when trying to operate a boat,” she says. A wearable life jacket is required safety equipment for every person aboard a boat. Vessels that are 16 feet or longer need a floating device, like a ring buoy on a rope, that can be thrown to someone who may be in trouble in the water.

(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.