DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A seed developer from the Netherlands credited with introducing high quality disease-resistant vegetable seeds to more than 60 countries including the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia is the 2019 recipient of the World Food Prize. Simon Groot, a sixth generation seedsman, began his search to create better vegetable seeds to help farmers in Southeast Asia in 1981. Groot’s award was announced Monday at the U.S. Department of State.

The foundation that awards the $250,000 World Food Prize is based in Des Moines, Iowa. Groot will receive the prize at an Oct. 17 award ceremony at the Iowa Capitol. The prize was created by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Norman Borlaug in 1986 to recognize scientists and others who have improved the quality and availability of food.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials at a chicken processing plant in northeastern Iowa announced the plant will close in August, taking 500 jobs with it. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that the Simply Essentials chicken processing plant in Charles City closes on Aug. 5.

Employees were told Thursday in a letter that 479 plant workers, 22 administrators and 12 field operations workers would be laid off. The letter says the layoffs are expected to be permanent.

Simply Essentials has been in business since 2013, with a primary focus on health and wellness foods. It bought the Charles City plant in 2016. The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board awarded the company $1 million in investment tax credits and $66,000 through a refund of sales and other taxes paid during construction.

Just in time for the summer growing season, the Master Gardener Program with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is planning three, one-hour-long educational webcasts. On the second Tuesday of the month, June- August, gardeners and plant enthusiasts will be able to learn about pollinators, perennial plant combinations and answers to frequently asked gardening questions at no cost. Susan DeBlieck, Master Gardener program coordinator with ISU Extension and Outreach, says “The webcasts are open to anybody who is interested in learning more about these topics. They’re not just for Master Gardener volunteers.”

The topics pertain to experienced and beginning gardeners, and provide insight into timely issues. Participating Master Gardener volunteers will gain three continuing education hours. The three one-hour webcasts will be shown at the Cass County Extension office from 7-8 PM on June 11, July 9, and August 13. No pre- registration is required, and there is no cost to attend. For more information call 712-243-1132 or email keolson@iastate.edu.

Webcast topics:

June 11, 2019 7-8 P.M. Give Your Garden Wings. Jessie Lowry, director of conservation and research at Blank Park Zoo, will share pollinator garden best practices. Participants will learn what to plant and will get to explore the monarch butterfly migration.

July 9, 2019 7-8 P.M. Gardening FAQ. From vegetables to flowers, explore the in-depth answers to frequently asked gardening questions with Aaron Steil, assistant director at Reiman Gardens.

August 13, 2019 7-8 P.M. Ecology Plus Diversity. Explore how to create plant communities that mimic nature with Grant Thompson, assistant professor of horticulture at Iowa State.

For more information, contact the Cass County Extension Office.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says the long-awaited passage of a federal disaster relief bill is good news for Iowa farmers. President Trump on Thursday signed the 19-billion dollar package designed to assist victims of several recent disasters — including Iowa flooding. Naig says the bill helps Iowans in a couple of areas.

“It brings much needed support for our recovery efforts in the recovery area there in southwest Iowa,” Naig says, “whether it’s levee repair, or funds that farmers need to help remove the debris from their fields, or providing some compensation for damaged grain. We know that those are very, very important things for our producers as they recover and get back on their feet, and be productive again next year and in future years.”

Naig says the bill also provides for U-S-D-A assistance for farmers who are unable to plant crops this year because of swamped fields, though questions remain. “We don’t know what it looks like yet,” he said. “It certainly can apply to those areas that are flooded. But, we’re wondering — and asking — whether it can also apply to folks who have taken ‘prevent plant’ in other parts of the state, as well. So, those are some question marks, but it’s much needed support for our flood recovery efforts.”

Naig says statistics compiled by his office indicate the losses incurred by Iowa farmers during this spring’s record flooding are staggering. “You’ve got 100,000 acres that have been impacted in Pottawattamie, Fremont and Mills counties,” said Naig. “Then, we did an assessment of how much grain had been damaged. That number comes to right around 1.9 million bushels of corn, and about a half a million bushels of soybeans.”

An assessment was also done on how much grain in storage was impacted, and again, he says, it was millions of bushels ruined due to the floodwaters. The ag secretary says it all adds up to an economic disaster for producers. Naig also expresses concerns about lingering issues associated with the flooding.

“I keep saying this: you just lost your 2018 crop,” he said. “You’re not able to plant the 2019 crop, and really, your 2020 crop is in question, given how much water is still remaining. So, this is really, economically, a tough pill to swallow for folks.”

(Radio Iowa) — Forecasters say Iowa may have cooler-than-normal temperatures and much less rainfall throughout June. That may sound great, but not if you’re a farmer. Rains will diminish over the coming weeks and other signs of summer may be lacking. Meteorologist Dennis Todey, director of the U-S-D-A’s Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, says the rainy spell we’ve been enduring for months is over.

“For once in quite a while, most of our region is free of expected big rainfalls,” Todey says. Still, that doesn’t mean there won’t be rain on Iowans’ parades. Todey says there will be plenty of opportunities for showers, thunderstorms — and for more flooding. “Much of our region still has chances for storms,” Todey says. “They’re going to be spottier and less effective in the way of big precipitation. We don’t have a lot of capacity in much of our hydrologic system in the soils and the rivers, so even minor rainfall amounts can cause some problems.”

According to forecast models, Todey says much of the month ahead will be cooler than usual and may not bring Iowa’s acres of corn and soybeans the warmth they need to mature. “June is one time when above-average temperatures would help spur more development and accumulate some more ‘degree days’ without reaching those stressful mid-to-upper 80s on a regular basis,” Todey says.

“Instead of having above-average temperatures, we’re likely to have below-average temperatures throughout almost all of our region. It will be pleasant from a human standpoint and for livestock, but for our crops, it’s not good news.” Summer arrives two weeks from today. Todey says the effects of the ongoing El Nino pattern will be felt well into fall.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department reports the Parks Department has found wild parsnip growing in some of the City parks. Crews are working on getting it all cut down and sprayed. However, please be aware to not expose yourself or your children to it as it will have long lasting hazardous effects on your skin.  Officials with ISU Extension say conditions have been especially favorable this year for wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), a common roadside weed in Iowa.

Wild parsnip plant parts contain a substance called psoralen, which can cause a condition known as “phytophotodermatitis”. This reaction occurs when plant juice gets on the skin and then the skin is exposed to sunlight.

parsnip burn

The results are skin reddening, rash development and in severe cases, blisters, skin discoloration, and burning or scalding type pain. Wild parsnip burns often occur in elongated spots or streaks. Dark red or brownish skin discoloration develops where the burn or blisters first appeared and can last for several months, possibly up to two years. Extra care should be taken to wear protective clothing before working with or exposure to wild parsnip.

Wild parsnip is found in open places such as roadsides, pastures, and disturbed areas throughout most of the United States and Canada

Wild Parsnip

Jim Field visits with Cass County Extension Program Coordinator Kate Olson about the Master Gardeners free summer webcast series.

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COUNCIL BLUFFS – Boaters on Lake Manawa, in Pottawattamie County, will be restricted to operating their boat at no wake speed, which equates to roughly 5 mph, while the lake level is above flood stage.

The Lake Manawa no wake restriction, effective immediately, will remain in place until the water level in Indian Creek and the Missouri River fall below flood stage and allow the lake level to return to normal.

The water level on Lake Manawa is 12 inches above crest and the potential exists for shoreline erosion and damage to docks as well as boater safety issues associated with flood related debris floating just under the water surface. The no-wake declaration will be in effect until further notice.

Brian Smith, supervisor for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau, said his lake patrol officers will advise boaters of the no-wake declaration.

“Lake Manawa remains open for recreation, the only change is placing the restriction on boaters operating at no wake speed,” Smith said.

Lake Manawa was last under a no wake restriction in 2011.

w/Kate Olson.

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