(Radio Iowa) – A report on national farmland values shows prices are holding their own despite several down economic issues. Peoples Company president Steve Bruere says 2023 has been a transitional year for farmland after seeing so many transactions in 2022. “As the interest rates have started to move up in 2023, there’s a lot of folks I think, anticipated that farmland values would soften a little bit in the higher interest rate environment. And what’s happened as farmland is performed really well over the last year,” Brewer says.

He says their report is not a survey, but reviews all types of sales information and other factors. Iowa’s cropland has held its own along with the rest of the country. “Iowa values were relatively flat to stable and 2023. But I’ll tell you the last two or three weeks, there’s been over one-thousand acres that have sold in Iowa that have brought over 20-thousand (dollars) an acre,” he says. “So there’s plenty of ammunition out there and there’s still some really big numbers floating around.” The report shows Iowa cropland values overall up eight percent this year. Bruere says the value of cropland can’t just be viewed based on the return you get from farming the ground.

“I think that’s one of the misnomers on farmland is a lot of times people look at farm in Iowa and say, well, that’s a two or three percent return. Well, the last 20 years Iowa farmland has averaged about seven percent appreciation. And so what this report does is aggregate those two returns,” he says. Bruere says the ups and downs of corn and bean prices are only a part of figuring the value of farmland. “It’s much more than just interest rates and commodity prices. I think that’s what shocked people about this year, if you were looking solely at commodity prices and solid interest rates, you might think that land values are softened a little bit,” he says. “But when you when you start to understand what’s happening in the renewable space with wind and solar and carbon, and what you’re seeing with advances and yields and whatnot, that long term vision for farmland is pretty bullish.”

And there’s a limited number of acres to buy as he says only about one percent of all farmland in the country hits the open market on an annual basis. “There’s very little of it for sale, it’s a generational asset. So when it comes time to buy, something, you are really buying the future revenue stream,” he says.

You can find out more about their land value report at the Peoples Company website.

DES MOINES, Iowa (Dec. 6, 2023) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Mills County, Iowa.

The affected site is a backyard mixed species flock.

Commercial and backyard flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. Sick birds or unusual deaths among birds should be immediately reported to state or federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship website. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present a public health concern. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165˚F.

(Lewis, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Department and Iowa Bluebird Conservationists are once again hosting a “Cass County Christmas Bird Count,” on Sunday, December 17th. Those that want to participate in the count will gather at Cold Springs State Park in Lewis at 8-a.m. on the 17th.  Participants will then divide into groups to cover different sections of the count circle.

Birders are encouraged to dress for the conditions and bring along binoculars and bird books if you have them, otherwise they can be provided. It is also suggested to either wear or bring along an article of blaze orange clothing for any birding that may occur in parks that allow public hunting, as it will be the final day of deer season. The count will run until 3:30-p.m. that day as the bird enthusiasts cover a 15-mile diameter circle as thoroughly as possible.

Participants will meet-up for lunch at Noon at the Atlantic Pizza Ranch, to compare lists and reboot for counting in the afternoon. You are welcome to join them for the whole day, or just the morning or afternoon sessions. All abilities are welcome whether you are comfortable just birding from a vehicle and roadside or if you would like to walk through areas as well. Weather backup date will be determined if necessary.

Home birders may also contribute to the Cass County Count by watching their home feeder. Feeder counters will need to keep track of the time spent observing and will count the maximum number of a species seen at one time, not a cumulative for the day. Contact Chris Parks or Lora Kanning at Cass County Conservation if you would like to contribute and we will provide guidelines.

The Christmas Bird Count is a valuable research tool for the Audubon Society and is the nation’s longest running citizen-science bird project. This year is the 124th year of the count and the Cass County area is excited to join in again. Find more information on the Christmas Bird Count at www.christmasbirdcount.org. Persons interested in being a part of the event should contact Chris Parks or Lora Kanning, to let them know you are planning on coming out to Cold Springs State Park on Dec. 17th.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Department today (Tuesday), announced the sponsors of their Trumpeter Swan arrival contest have determined the official arrival of the swans in Atlantic, as December 2nd! On that day, there were 15 Trumpeter Swans that visited the Schildberg Quarry, and stayed more than twenty-four hours. The winner that picked that date was Rob Johnson! The contest was only open to residents of Cass County (IA).

Cass County Conservation thanks to all who participated! Trumpeter Swans have visited the Schildberg Quarry in Atlantic for, at least, twenty-four out of the last twenty-five winters.

(Radio Iowa) – The state’s first-ever Iowa Black Farmers Conference is planned to be held in Des Moines later this month. Conference co-founder Todd Western the Third says his family has owned a farm in near Waterloo for more than 150 years. Western says growing up, he only knew of one other black farmer in the state. He says it’s important for black farmers to know they’re not alone.

“This is significant because it’s bringing together farmers of color who are scattered across the state to foster a sense of belonging and community,” Western says. “It’s also supposed to be information sharing. This platform will provide access to crucial information from agriculture industry officials that might not typically come to smaller or more remote farm communities. And lastly, celebrating our contributions.” After attending an event in North Carolina focused on black farmers, Western says he wanted to bring black farmers together in Iowa.

Western says, “Because I know how important it was for my son, who’s going to eventually — along with my nieces and nephews — take over the farm at some point, it’s important for them not to have the same experience that I had, thinking that we were the only ones.”

The conference is scheduled for December 16th. U.S.D.A. data from 2017 shows black farmers make up less than one-percent of the farmers in Iowa. Western says he hopes the Iowa Black Farmers Conference becomes an annual event and that it helps establish a network of black farmers that people can turn to in the future.

(Radio Iowa) – Congressman Zach Nunn, who represents Iowa’s third district, is inviting the top two Republicans in the U-S House to Iowa. “The Farm Bill right now needs direct leadership support,” Nunn says. “…As a member of the Ag Committee, I want to make sure that the leadership team knows what a priority this is not just for Iowa, but for the entire country.” The 2018 Farm Bill expired September 30th and last month congress voted to extend it to September of 2024.

“It is foundational to the future of America’s national security and our growers. We need to the speaker to have the opportunity to come here and get a good deep dive on this,” Nunn says. “Let’s not forget, the speaker has gotten to be on the job for just about a month and there is a steep learning curve here. Let’s be one of the first ones to give him a tutorial on the advantages of what a Farm Bill can do not just for Iowa, but for the whole world.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson AND House Republican Leader Steve Scalise are both from Louisiana, where the main crops are sugar cane, rice and cotton. “While I salute my Cajun brothers from Louisiana, I want to make sure they get to spend a little bit of time in the heartland, talking with the men and women who are actually feeding the bulk of the country, who are fueling a third of the country,” Nunn says.

The 2018 Farm Bill has provided about eight BILLION dollars in federal subsidies for crop insurance every year. The insurance covers revenue and yield losses in more than 100 crops, but the main ones are corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who like watching the barges and tugs make their way on the Mississippi River will soon start seeing less traffic. The shipping season officially ends today (Monday) on the Upper Mississippi, and winter maintenance begins on four locks and dams between Hastings, Minnesota, and Guttenberg, Iowa. Liz Stoeckmann, with the U-S Army Corps of Engineers, says these lock and dam closures end the 2023 navigation season. “We’re really just protecting the longevity of these locks and dams,” Stoeckmann says, “so that we can continue our operations for safe, reliable economy of our barges going up and down the river.”

Stoeckmann says they’re not shutting down boat traffic because of ice or cold weather. “This is standard winter maintenance for our locks and dams,” she says, “so that it doesn’t affect the navigational season as far as barges and traffic going up and down the Mississippi River.”

Crews will be making repairs on several locks and dams in Minnesota, including Number-2 at Hastings, Number-3 in Welch, Number-4 near Alma, Wisconsin, and Number-7 near La Crescent. Last year’s shipping season ended on November 29th.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County 4-H is hosting a Family Find Out Night for the community and current 4-H or Clover Kid members, to learn more about what the 4-H program does. This (Monday) evening (12/4), from 5:30-until 7-p.m., you can come and go as you please through the Cass County Community Building at 805 W 10th Street in Atlantic, and learn more about 4-H.

The event is free, and you don’t need to make a reservation. A short 10-minute overview of the program will be presented at 5:45- and 6:45-p.m., with questions to follow. Throughout the event you will be able to stop at different tables to learn more and ask questions.

Extension staff will have information on why 4-H is free in Cass County, the basics of what 4-H is, including what it stands for and the motto, project areas to get involved with, along with various programs, record books, and livestock identification and more. Officials say this is a no-pressure event for youth K-12 in the community to learn about opportunities they can get involved in.

Get all of your questions answered about 4-H and Clover Kids in Cass County and find a club that best suits you! For more information about 4-H visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass, or call 712-243-1132.