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CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Iowa Agribusiness Network!
CLICK HERE for the latest market quotes from the Brownfield Ag News Network!
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A study released by the U.S. Agriculture Department into the disparity between cattle prices paid to ranchers and the higher prices earned by meat processors offers more details about the factors that have led to the situation. The 20-page analysis by the USDA released Wednesday explains how after a 2019 fire at a Tyson Foods beef plant in Holcomb, Kansas, and this year’s temporary closure of slaughterhouses amid the coronavirus pandemic, ranchers saw cattle prices drop while concerns about meat scarcity caused prices at grocery stores to rise.
Some members of Congress have called for an investigation into possible violations of the Packers and Stockyard Act, which is designed to protect ranchers and consumers.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — One of the first coronavirus outbreaks at an Iowa meatpacking plant was more severe than previously known, with over twice as many workers becoming infected than the Iowa Department of Public Health publicly confirmed. The department announced at a May 5 news conference that 221 employees at the Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Columbus Junction had tested positive for COVID-19. But records show that days earlier, Tyson officials told workplace safety regulators that 522 plant employees had tested positive to their knowledge. A dozen of the plant’s roughly 1,300 workers were believed to have been hospitalized by then, and two died after contracting the virus.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa farmers entered 2020 with uncertainty regarding trade agreements with China and the uncertainty has escalated with the impacts of COVID-19. In the midst of the turmoil, agricultural production continues and along with that, decisions regarding farmland rental arrangements. With ongoing concerns to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach farm management specialists will provide educational materials on farmland leasing in a variety of ways intended to reach individuals in the method most accessible.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host multiple farmland leasing meetings during July and August at various times and locations throughout the state. The annual meetings are offered to address questions that landowners, tenants or other interested individuals have about leasing farmland. Core components of the 2020 program will be land values and cash rent trends, cost of production, methods for determining a fair rental rate, the latest legal updates that impact farm leases and land ownership, and communication between tenants or landlords.
A 100-page workbook to complement the program topics includes resources regarding land leasing agreements such as surveys, sample written lease agreements and termination forms, along with many other publications. To allow for social distancing requirements, pre-registration is required. Face coverings are advised and social distancing will be followed. Registration fees vary. To pre-register, call or email the ISU Extension and Outreach county office host site.
The leasing meetings being held across Iowa are facilitated by farm management specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach. (See the list of the ISU Extension and Outreach county offices hosting meetings.) Live webinars and recorded videos will also be offered as alternative methods to attending an in-person leasing program. A statewide webinar with ISU Extension and Outreach economists, along with Kristine Tidgren, Center for Ag Law and Taxation, will be offered on Aug. 25. The Ag Decision Maker meeting page will have meeting and webinar details along with additional video recordings and related publications.
The 2020 Cass County gets underway today, but in a way that is far different from previous fairs, thanks to the Coronavirus. The shows and events are open to exhibitors and their immediate family only. There are no carnival rides or attractions such as tractor pulls and music. Livestock shows will be streamed online, and show results will be posted online within 24-hours of completion. You can look for the results and video, live or recorded via on-demand. Simply go to www.kjan.com and look for the Ag/Outdoors page under the “Programs” tab, or go to www.extension.iastate.edu/cass, and click on the Cass County Fair Results logo for video information and results.
Static Judging was held at the fair earlier today. The “Bucket of Junk” judging runs until 2-p.m.; Tomorrow (Thursday) is the Pet Show at 10-a.m., and a virtual livestock judging contest. Friday’s activities include the Horse Show (9-a.m.) and Rabbit Show (9:30-a.m.).
Saturday, the Sheep Show begins at 9-a.m., followed by the Meat Goat/Dairy Goat – Show. On Sunday, Decorator Showcase Judging takes place at the Cass County Fair, from Noon until 4-p.m. Monday’s event will include (10-a.m.) the Cow Calf and Feeder Calf Shows, followed by the Beef Show. And the Swine Show wraps up the fair on Tuesday, beginning at 3-p.m.
Virtual events include: Clothing Selections/FR; Clover Kids Showcase; Share the Fun; Educational presentations; Working Exhibits; Extemporaneous speaking, and the “Best of Iowa.”
The Fair Board decided in early June to restrict the Fair to 4-H and FFA exhibitors in a “Show-and-Go” format, in order to protect the health of fair goers, staff and the exhibitors. The 2020 Cass County Fair runs through July 28th.
(Radio Iowa) — Iowans who are buzzing with enthusiasm for boosting the pollinator population ought to take part in the second annual Backyard Bumble Bee Count, starting Friday. Jill Utrup, a biologist with the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service, says even if you can only spare a few minutes and manage to spot a couple of bees, it will be worthwhile to log in and join the cause. “The purpose of the Backyard Bumble Bee Count is really to enlist the help of folks who are interested to help document bumble bee occurrence and overall abundance,” Utrup says. “We’re looking at this as kind of an outreach tool for the endangered rusty-patched bumble bee but this project really helps us learn about all different species.”
You’ll need to get close enough to the bees to take a few pictures over the course of the nine-day count. It’s a valid concern to be cautious about getting stung, and Utrup assures, if you approach slowly and carefully, you should be fine. “Bumble bees are quite docile and what you’ll notice is, if you do get a little bit closer to them, you’ll notice they want nothing to do with us,” Utrup says. “They’re very different from wasps and hornets. When they are focused in on nectaring, they’re not paying attention to us at all.”
The dates of the count run from July 24th through August 2nd, during which you’re asked to count the number of bees and species you see, while documenting the time you’ve spent observing and where. “These surveys can be just a few minutes, if you happen to find just a couple of bumble bees in your front yard, or they can be a more structured survey,” Utrup says. “If you happen to be in a park for a good half an hour or something like that, we actually have survey sheets you can print out to help you structure your survey a little bit more.”
Register for the count through the i-Naturalist website. (https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/backyard-bumble-bee-count)
(Radio Iowa) – A 65-year-old man died in a grain bin accident east of Le Mars around 10 this (Tuesday) morning. Plymouth County Sheriff’s deputies confirmed the individual had safety measures in place, but was still pulled into the corn when the crust had broke. 
The body of the victim was recovered about an hour after rescuers arrived as they needed to empty the corn that was being stored in the grain bin to assist with the recovery efforts.
The name of the victim is not being released at this time pending family notifications.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has recently confirmed that zebra mussels are in Lake Manawa. A homeowner on Lake Manawa reported finding zebra mussels on rip-rap along his shoreline. Investigation by DNR staff discovered low numbers of zebra mussels around the lake. DNR staff will conduct additional surveys at Lake Manawa this fall and next summer to monitor the abundance and distribution of zebra mussels. The documentation of zebra mussels in another lake highlights the spread of aquatic invasive species in Iowa waters.
Kim Bogenschutz, DNR Aquatic Invasive Species Program coordinator, says “The zebra mussels in Lake Manawa probably arrived on or in a boat that had picked up the mussels from an infested water body, like the nearby Missouri River.” Zebra mussels look like small, D-shaped clams that have alternating light and dark bands. Most are less than one inch long. They are filter feeders that can form dense clusters as they attach to hard underwater surfaces. Large infestations may interfere with aquatic food chains, kill native mussels, clog water intakes, increase algae blooms, and cover beaches with dead shells. Currently there is no effective treatment to control zebra mussels once they have infested a lake.
Young zebra mussels are microscopic and can be unintentionally transported with water in live wells, bilges, ballast or bait buckets. Adult zebra mussels can attach to boats, trailers and aquatic vegetation. It is illegal to possess or transport prohibited aquatic invasive species, such as zebra mussels, in Iowa. Boaters must also drain all water from boats and equipment before they leave a water access and must keep drain plugs removed or opened during transport.
Bogenschutz says “Boaters and anglers can unintentionally spread zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species if they do not take the proper precautions to clean, drain, and dry after each time out on the water.”
“Draining all water is a critical step in preventing the spread of zebra mussels,” reminds Bogenschutz. Find more information about aquatic invasive species and a list of infested waters in the 2020 Iowa Fishing Regulations booklet or on the DNR’s website at www.iowadnr.gov/ais
(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A is seeking public comment on changes it claims will make it easier for rural communities to get loans for major projects. Four loan guarantee programs reassure banks they’ll be repaid when towns borrow for infrastructure. Johnathan Hladik, at the Center for Rural Affairs, says more banks might be willing to work with rural communities under the plan, but he says rural leaders should review it with a skeptical eye. “There’s every reason to think that this was something that was developed with banks in mind,” Hladik says. “So just to be sure, it’s going to be important for us to read that fine print and to make sure it’s a positive for those communities.”
The proposal would streamline the process and is intended to reduce red-tape, according to a U-S-D-A statement. That could entice more banks to participate. Hladik says the change might make things easier for towns, or it might make more money for large banks. He has a recommendation for community leaders considering the loan guarantee programs. “Take a look at what these regulations look like and what those restrictions look like because this cannot be something that is good for banks only, it’s got to be good for the community,” Hladik says.
Done right, he says, it could achieve the USDA’s stated goal of encouraging private investment in rural communities for efforts like rural water, waste water, energy and community-building projects. The public comment period goes through mid-September and the rule is slated to take effect October 1st.
(By Amy Mayer, Iowa Public Radio)
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa egg producers who euthanized hens as a result of plummeting demand caused by the coronavirus will be eligible for payments to cover the cost of disposal.The Iowa Disposal Assistance Program has been paying pork producers $40 for each market-ready hog they have been forced to euthanize as a result of supply chain disruptions.
Thousands of hogs were killed as processing plants slowed production in April and May due to coronavirus outbreaks. On Monday (today), the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship said the program would be expanded to benefit egg producers who have been forced to reduce the size of their flocks.
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