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The Cass County Conservation Board will hold a National Trails Day T-Bone Trail Ride, on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Program participants will meet at the I-80/T-Bone Trail Trailhead, North of Atlantic, beginning at 1-p.m. There is no charges. Bike, walk, strollers…everyone is welcome! Come out and celebrate National Trails Day! All ages/abilities welcome and Free!
The event will be cancelled if there is inclement weather.
AMES, Iowa – The latest version of Iowa State University’s Research and Demonstration Farms summary reports are now available online and in print. Nine farm reports are available, with a new look that includes larger headings, expanded tables and color photography. “I think the public will be excited by the new look, but they will also appreciate the fact that the reports contain the same data and the same information people are used to, just in a modernized package,” said Tim Goode, director of research and demonstration farms at Iowa State.
The reports date back to the early 1930s and were part of the agreement made with farmers and Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, when the first research farm was established in north central Iowa. “Part of the agreement was that we would publish site-specific research from each area, and that is what these publications do,” said Goode. “The reports provide replicated, unbiased, site-specific research that is published annually.” 
The reports can be downloaded from the Iowa State Extension Store and are also available at research farm field days and association meetings. They contain summary articles about crop and livestock research, including row crops, small grains, forages, specialty crops and other research being conducted across the state. The information is used by farmers, seed companies, veterinarians and nutritionists – essentially anyone who is involved with agriculture. Specialists with Iowa State conduct research at the farms year-round, with field days held during the spring, summer and fall. About 20,000 people visit the farms each year, including school-age youth. More than 130 Iowa State faculty members use the farms for teaching, research and extension.
Goode said the COVID pandemic presented some unique challenges for the farm, and during 2020, most outreach was done remotely. However, the research continued mostly as usual, with the same results delivered each year since the pandemic. He said he’s looking forward to the in-person field days and educational events this year, and collecting data that will be included in next year’s reports. “Another season is already starting and as data is compiled throughout the year, we’ll be ready to publish yet another research farm report,” said Goode.
The following 2021 farm reports are available:
ATLANTIC, IA – If a free concert by Jason Reed, a free bounce house for kids, and a free drawing for over 20 weeks’ worth of produce isn’t enough to convince folks to visit Produce in the Park in Atlantic on Thursday, June 2nd, a lineup of over 20 vendors might be. Market Manager Brigham Hoegh said products expected at the June 2nd farmers market include fresh produce, meats, honey, eggs, popcorn, lemonade, pastries, desserts, pizza, jewelry, soaps, candles, plants for home gardens, and more. Hoegh says while vendor numbers are expected to remain higher than recent years throughout the season, almost all vendors are expected to visit the park on opening night.
Dale Raasch (right) of Bridgewater Farm with his son, Tyler (left). Bridgewater Farm is one of over 20 vendors participating in Produce in the Park this summer
Expected June 2 Vendors and Products
Atlantic Atlas Cinema – Popcorn, lemonade, and more
Brun Ko Farm – Spinach, microgreens, kale, granola, beef, pork, and lamb
Bridgewater Farm – Certified organic produce including asparagus, lettuces, green onions, potatoes,
swiss chard and more, eggs, beef, pork, and chicken
DezaRae Farm Soaps – Goat milk soaps, lotions, and creams
Donna’s Jewelry – Jewelry, magnets, and more
Dragonfly Creations – Coasters, magnets, candles and tarts, soaps, beard oil, car freshies
Duane’s Creations – Jams and clocks
Frosting, Inc. – Cupcakes and cookies
Harrisdale Farmstead – Asparagus and rhubarb
Johnna Joy Designs – Jewelry and art
Hungry Spartan Pizza Food Truck
Kringleman Pastries – Danish Kringle, pastries, cinnamon rolls, and desserts
Midwest Candles by Brit – Candles and wax melts
Matilda Dawn Creations – Greeting cards and wall-sized Scrabble tiles
Molly’s Crafts – Squirrel feeders
Noble Provisions – Beef and pork
Piper’s Brae Farm – Aronia berries and products, eggs, honey
Rolling Acres Farm – Plants for your home garden
Smudge – Soaps, candles, bath bombs, and more
Sue’s Country Garden – Plants for your home garden, jams, and more
Ter-Bear Honey – Honey
Tracie Lobstein – Sewn and embroidered aprons, totes, clothing, and more
Produce in the Park June 2:
Time: 4:30-6:30 PM
Location: Atlantic City Park (10 W. 7th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022)
Free Live Music: Jason Reed
Food Truck: Hungry Spartan Pizza
Can’t Miss: Free drawing for 20 weeks of produce boxes from Bridgewater Farm (a $350 value!). All visitors to the park on June 2 age 18 and older are eligible to enter. (Sponsored by the Cass County Local Food Policy Council.)
Fun for Kids: Bounce house and more activities by Nishna Valley Family YMCA.
Self-Care Summer visiting organization: Atlantic Public Library
Visiting organizations: Master Gardeners and Cass County Grow Another Row
Payment methods accepted: All vendors accept cash. Many accept credit card and Venmo. All qualifying food vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as food stamps). All fresh produce vendors both accept and distribute Double Up Food Bucks (coupons given for SNAP/EBT purchases of fresh produce).
Produce in the Park June 2022 farmers markets are sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Cass County Tourism, Cass Health, First Whitney Bank and Trust, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, and Deter Motor Co. For updates on Produce in the Park, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/), or visit the Produce in the Park website to sign up for the e-newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.
(Greenfield, Iowa) – The southwest Region of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Assocation’s “BeefMeet” is set to take place Tuesday, June 7th, in Greenfield. The event will be held beginning at 5-p.m., at the Adair County 4-H & FFA Building. Officials say the event will include education on policy and production, industry updates, a tradeshow, and a meal. Not only will you learn about topics affecting your beef business, but it’s a great opportunity to voice your concerns and work towards solutions with ICA staff and leaders.
The event is free to ICA members and $25 for non members. (See below for registration information). Follow along for program details by selecting “Interested” or “Going” on the ICA’s SW Region BeefMeet Facebook event. 
Tentative Agenda:
John Hinners
Register today by filling out the Google Form, or calling into the Iowa Cattle Industry Headquarters at 515-296-2266. If you have questions for the keynote speaker, please them in the registration form.
(Lewis, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board will hold a youth fishing derby at Cold Springs Park near Lewis, on June 11th 2022. The event is open to the first 50 youths age 15 and under to register for the event. Check-in will run from 8:15am to 8:45am with the derby starting at 9:00am and running till 10:30 am.
Prizes will be awarded for the most total weight, heaviest single fish, longest single fish and shortest single fish. There will also be a raffle following fishing. The Conservation board with have some live bait for use and a limited number of fishing poles for use as well. 
The Board and Conservation Dept. staff want too thank all those that donated items for the event: Weirich Welding for the trophies, and Cappel’s Ace Hardware for prizes. To register or for further details please contact Micah Lee with the Cass County Conservation Board at 712-769-2372.
(Iowa DNR News) – The calls have been coming in to Iowa DNR field offices and conservation officers for the past few weeks and will only increase as the first few weeks of June marks the peak of the deer fawning season. Callers report finding an “abandoned” fawn in an unusual place, like a flowerbed or small patch of cover. The DNR says “Rest assured this is normal deer behavior.”
“The doe searches out an isolated location where she feels safe and on occasion those places are not what we may think of as ideal. She chose that location because it made sense to her,” said Jim Coffey, forest wildlife research biologist with the Iowa DNR. “The worst thing someone can do is to ‘rescue’ the fawn. Mom is likely nearby and watching you. Leave it be or if you did handle the fawn, return it to where you found it and walk away.”
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will not be rehabbing or co-mingling fawns with other deer to avoid the potential of spreading chronic wasting disease – or other disease – to new areas. The spindly legged newborn fawn is designed with a few survival tools built in –its spots are cryptic camouflage that emulates the sunlight spots on the leaf litter on the forest floor and its lack of movement the first two weeks helps to reduce scent patterns. This combination is its best chance at survival until it is able to follow the doe. After the fawns are born, the doe will return to fairly normal behavior – sleeping, feeding – but returning to nurse and care for the fawn.
The fawning season also coincides with an increase in deer vehicle collisions. “There is a lot of movement this time of year that is part of the social structure of deer. The doe is on the move looking for the safe isolated place to have the fawns. In addition last year’s fawns – teenagers now – are starting to venture out to find new space. These yearlings have to make their own decisions for the first time, encounter other adult deer and build new social structures,” Coffey said. “This movement behavior can occur during all times of the day. Once it settles out, the active time will return to dawn and dusk.”
Drivers are reminded to drive defensively, avoid distractions, and slow down and not to veer for deer. If they hit a deer, drivers can get a salvage tag by calling either the local conservation officer or local law enforcement. There is no fee for a salvage tag it does require that the entire deer is taken.
(USDA, Washington, D-C) – Doing things “halfway” can often cause problems later on, especially when it comes to having a holiday weekend cookout. Gary Crawford reports….
And, just like there is a certain brand-name hotline for turkey cooking tips before and during Thanksgiving, Meredith Carothers, food safety expert with the USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline, says there are several ways you can get food safety questions answered live by real experts.
(The hotline is 1-888-674-6854 [1-888-MPHOTLINE]; Live chat M-F 9-a.m. to 5-pm Central time, at ask.usda.gov ; or e-mail mphoptline@usda.gov, or search usda.)
(Iowa DNR News) – Memorial Day weekend and throughout the summer, thousands of Iowa will be camping and building campfires. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages campers to buy firewood from where they will burn it instead of bringing it from home. “Moving unseasoned firewood around the state can threaten the health of our forests by spreading insects like emerald ash borer (EAB) that live in firewood,” explains Tivon Feeley, DNR Forest Health forester. EAB is a small, metallic-green, invasive wood-boring beetle native to east Asia that attacks and kills ash trees. It attacks trees of any size, age, or stage of health. The spread of EAB into uninfected areas has been primarily through people moving firewood from county to county or state to state. “These pests don’t move far on their own, but they can travel hundreds of miles in a single day in contaminated firewood,” said Feeley.
Plenty of firewood is available locally near state and county parks. Simply ask a park ranger or campground host for local firewood availability. Make sure to burn all of the firewood at the campsite and not leave it or transport to a new area. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship requires all firewood sold or acquired in Iowa to have the county and state of harvest location on the label of packages and the delivery ticket for bulk firewood.
Find more information about emerald ash borer and the reasons not move firewood online at www.iowadnr.gov/eab.
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