LYONS, NEBRASKA – The Center for Rural Affairs has a new helpline available for farmers and ranchers. Farmers and ranchers need to manage risk, whether from weather, markets, or other forces. Crop insurance can be used to manage some of their risk. “There can be several reasons why many farmers and ranchers don’t buy crop insurance,” said Anna Johnson, policy manager with the Center for Rural Affairs. “Maybe they haven’t found an option that covers their operation. Maybe they don’t know how to find a crop insurance agent to work with, or don’t know what questions to ask when they meet with an agent.”

Staff on the helpline can address questions on available crop insurance options, how crop insurance works, and how to decide which option is right for an operation. Farmers and ranchers may call the Center for Rural Affairs’ crop insurance helpline at 402.687.2100 ext. 1027 or 1012. In early January, the Center for Rural Affairs hosted a three-part webinar series, covering crop insurance for beginners, an introduction to Whole Farm Revenue Protection, and livestock insurance options. Questions on these topics are also welcome on the crop insurance helpline. Recordings of the webinars can be accessed at cfra.org/crop-insurance-resources.

This project is funded in partnership by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Risk Management Agency, under award number RM18RMEPP522C015.

Officials in Adair County report Blake Anderson of Fontanelle was re-elected as president of “Ag 4 All” during the group’s first annual meeting. Last year, a group of agricultural groups that had been working together as a collaborative took action to form the non-profit 501(c)3 with the sole purpose of reaching people of all ages with the stories of Iowa agriculture. Other officers elected for the 2019 year are vice-president, Cory Kirkpatrick of Stuart; secretary, Erika Lundy of Adair; and treasurer, Brian Rohrig of Orient. Additional board members include Judy Wedemeyer of Casey and Grace Evans of Bridgewater.

Ag 4 All Board

The group’s current initiatives include: Who’s Your Iowa Farmer? Facebook page, school programs for PK, K, 2nd, and 3rd graders in Adair County, and Ag Adventure at community celebrations. Funding to operationalize the programs comes from partner organizations, program sponsors, grants, and individual contributions. Current partners include: Adair County Cattlemen, Adair County and Iowa Corn Growers, Adair County Extension and Outreach, Adair County Farm Bureau, and Adair County Pork Producers.

(Radio Iowa) — Pork producers in Iowa and across the country are growing increasingly concerned about the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF). Curtis Meier runs a 160 sow farrow-to-finish operation near Clarinda. “It would be disastrous if we get it here in the U.S.,” Meier says. ASF has been spreading in China in recent months and products with the virus have been detected in Australia, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Here in Iowa, Meier says producers have always emphasized bio-security on their farm, but there are some things they just can’t control. “You know, it’s really scary the amount of feed ingredients we get from China,” Meyer says. “And it doesn’t necessarily have to be in the ingredients, it can be on the confounded containers that they use to haul the stuff over here.”

Livestock economist Steve Meyer says African Swine Fever could have a big impact on hog prices in coming months. If ASF continues to spread in China, it could be positive for U.S. pork producers. “If the losses in China get completely out of hand and they have to go to the world market to just feed their people – and if we can get our tariff situation settled enough that we can participate in that – that would be a real positive,” Meyer says. But if AFS were to enter the U.S., Meyer says, it would obviously be devastating. “If it comes here, we’re blocked from exports immediately, and we have 23 percent more pork and we’ve got to work through all that…so, even if we contain it quickly and it doesn’t kill many pigs, we can’t export until we prove it’s contained,” Meyer said.

But Meyer also thinks the U.S. is much better prepared to deal with an ASF outbreak, which could limit any potential long-term damage to markets. Curtis Meier and Steve Meyer both spoke with Brownfield Ag News during this week’s annual meeting of the Iowa Pork Producers Association in Des Moines.

GUTHRIE CENTER – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (ISUEO) is hosting a new program for women beef cattle producers in February at the Guthrie County Extension Office in Guthrie Center. Boots in the Barn is a four-part series for women involved in cattle production. This program is designed to provide women with the latest-research based information pertaining to beef herd management including pasture, nutrition, health, calving, and financial management. The full scope of the program’s topics will be determined by the interests of the audience.

The main focus of the program is to provide an open atmosphere for women to come, learn, and ask questions of experts. The course is also designed to keep things hands-on and provide a small-group environment for participants to learn from their peers. Boots in the Barn will be held Feb. 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 6-8 p.m. with a light meal being served at 5:30 p.m. The program will be held at the Guthrie County Extension Office, 212 State St, in Guthrie Center. Speakers from ISUEO include Erika Lundy, beef field specialist, Aaron Saeugling, agronomy field specialist, and Tim Christensen, farm management specialist. Additional speakers include Dr. Courtney Blake, Anita Veterinary Clinic, Brandy Rudy, Exchange State Bank, and Clara Lauritsen, Lauritsen Cattle Company.

For more information on Boots in the Barn or to register before Jan. 30, contact Krista Downing at 641-747-2276 or kristad@iastate.edu. Registration is $25 for all four sessions, although participants are not required to attend all four sessions. The program is partially sponsored by Adair Feed & Grain. A brochure with registration and program details can be found at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/guthrie/news/boots-barn-guthrie-county.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently seeking public comment for the proposed rule making to implement Senate File 2389, passed by the Iowa Legislature in April 2018, allowing the DNR to establish rental fees at state parks and recreation areas. The change eliminates the need for the DNR to go through rule making under the authority of the Natural Resource Commission to establish, change and manage fees for camping, the use of rental facilities and other special privileges in state parks and recreation areas.

As part of the legislation, the DNR is required to establish and adopt rules for the purpose of setting forth the methodology to be used in establishing fees. To obtain a copy of the rule making documents, visit the Iowa DNR’s website at www.iowadnr.gov/parks The DNR is conducting six public hearings where the public may present their views verbally or in writing. All of the public hearings will be held on Feb. 7, 2019 from noon to 2 p.m. at the following area sites:

• Cold Springs District Office
  Conference Room
  57744 Lewis Road
  Lewis
• Lewis & Clark State Park
  Lewis & Clark Visitor Center Banquet Room
  21914 Park Loop
  Onawa

The public may also submit written comments no later than 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 7, 2019. Comments should be directed to:

Sherry Arntzen
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Wallace State Office Building
502 East Ninth Street, Fourth Floor
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034

As many as five-thousand pork producers from across Iowa will be in Des Moines this week for the 47th annual Iowa Pork Congress. Greg Hora, of Fort Dodge, is president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association which is hosting the convention. While some events started Monday, the main draw is the industry trade show, which runs Wednesday and Thursday.

“What we really want to highlight is over 300 exhibitors that come in to over 500 exhibit booth spaces in Hy-Vee Hall,” Hora says. “These range from not just production and science and technology but new innovations and we’ll be showcasing over 30 new products and companies this year.”

Speakers and seminars will run the same days as the trade show, and one talk is focused on biosecurity and swine disease preparedness. “We have animal diseases out here that we’re well aware of over in China with the African Swine Fever right now,” Hora says. “We’re trying to make sure that type of disease never happens on the shores of the United States or in any of our Iowa pig farms.”

Last night (Monday night) was the Taste of Elegance cooking contest, featuring a dozen chefs from across Iowa who will be whipping up a variety of dishes using pork. The association’s business meeting is today (Tuesday), along with an auction to raise money for a youth scholarship program.

More at http://www.iowaporkcongress.org

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors are set to meet 5:15-p.m. Monday, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. Action items/New Business on their agenda includes:

• Water Quality Project: Nishna Park – review of bids
• Acceptance of bid for the IDALS Water Quality Project
• An update on the Schildberg Development Project, including – The West Playground, West Restroom and Campground Bathhouse projects.
• Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding, re: Operation Re-Leaf
• A proposal for Schildberg Rec Area advertising.
• And approval of an Aquatic Examiner Service by the American Red Cross.

In his report to the Board, Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm will talk about:

• Cass County being a finalist for a Healthy Hometown Community Award.
• Updates on the Community Garden and Sunnyside Ice Rink
• And, he’ll remind residents the Schildberg Campground is closed, along with the roads to Sunnyside Park. Sunnyside Park remains open, however, for winter activities.

Harlan, IA – Six Shelby County residents were elected to the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Shelby County Council in the Nov. 6 general election. They are: Elaine Baughman, Kirkman, Gwen Hansen, Kirkman, Renee Hansen, Harlan, Lorie Knudsen, Harlan, Jana Schmitz, Harlan and Klare Veath, Elk Horn. Current members of the county extension council who were re-elected to four-year terms are Baughman, R. Hansen and Knudsen.  New members who joined the council in January are Schmitz and Veath. In addition to the four candidates elected to four-year terms, Gwen Hansen was elected to a two-year term to complete an unexpired term.

Photo: Front L-R: Elaine Baughman, Kathy Fara, Renee Hansen
Back L-R: Jana Schmitz, Julie Klein, Klare Veath, Lorie Knudsen, Gwen Hansen.

Carryover county extension council members whose terms expire at the end of 2020 are Kathy Fara, Irwin, Julie Klein, Harlan and Michele Monson, Irwin. The new members will replace Jo Kenkel, Defiance, Ellen Walsh-Rosmann, Westphalia, and Sheila Rhiner, Shelby.

Officer elections were held at the January 8th Extension Council meeting.  Current officers are: Chairperson: Julie Klein Vice-Chairperson: Michele Monson   Secretary: Lorie Knudsen Treasurer: Elaine Baughman.  Other committee appointments: Regional Council: Julie Klein and Klare Veath, Iowa Extension Council Association Liason: Gwen Hansen.

The extension council is the county’s governing body of ISU Extension and Outreach. Extension council members hire county staff, manage the county extension budget and help determine programming, said Julie Klein ISU Extension and Outreach Shelby County council chairperson. The county extension office is located at 906 6th Street Harlan. Learn more at www.extension.iastate.edu/shelby.

Elected council members and offices in every county uniquely position ISU Extension and Outreach to move the state forward. Last year more than 1 million people directly benefited from ISU Extension and Outreach programs. These programs help citizens solve critical issues affecting their lives. ISU Extension and Outreach and county extension councils together are building a strong Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) — Despite a weak ag economy, 2018 was a good year for farm equipment sales, a big deal in Iowa where John Deere is the state’s largest manufacturing employer. A report shows tractor sales in the U-S rose seven-percent from the previous year, while combine sales jumped 18-percent. Curt Blades, with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, mainly credits farmers replacing old equipment.

“You may’ve had a farmer that was typically on a three- or four-year replacement cycle who made the decision to stretch that out to four years or five years,” Blades says. “At some point, they just simply need to replace some equipment. That’s what we have found has been driving the market really for the last 18 months.”

Blades says 2018 started strong thanks to federal tax reform and a strong U-S economy helped all year, but then came the trade war with China and other drags on the farm economy.  “If we’re talking about a farmer making a half-million dollar investment,” he says, “they’ve gotta’ feel good about the economy and they’ve got to feel like it’s something they want to do.”

Despite tariffs and the trade war, Blades expects farm income will go up a little this year. He also likes the new Farm Bill, but worries the partial federal government shutdown will delay its implementation.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly survey of rural bankers in parts of 10 Plains and Western states suggests banks are growing increasingly concerned about farm loan defaults in 2019. More than 4 of every 10 bankers questioned for the Rural Mainstreet survey for January said they expect farm loan defaults to be the year’s biggest challenge.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says their outlook is being negatively influenced by tariffs, trade tensions, weak commodity prices and the partial federal government shutdown.

The survey’s overall index dropped to 51.5 from December’s 54.2. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy in the months ahead, while a score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.