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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!
Cass County Extension Staff and Vo-Ag Teachers from Atlantic, CAM and Griswold schools will be teaching a 24-hour tractor and machinery safety certification course for local youth June 5-16 at the Cass County Fairgrounds. This training is required by law for any 14 or 15 year olds who want to safely operate a tractor over 20 HP and other machinery on a farm, acreage or any other business.
Any youth who want to work in an operation that requires equipment operation must have this certificate. Youth aged 13 must be turning 14 during the summer of 2014 in order to be eligible for the certificate. 24 hours of training, including both a written and driving test, are required for participants to be certified.
While the certificate is required for 14 and 15-year olds to be eligible for employment, anyone age 13 or older, including adults, is welcome to register for the class, as a wide variety of tractor, machinery and general farm safety topics will be taught.
Participants will get some time “hands-on” driving farm machinery, as well as class time with Extension/Vo-Ag instructors and representatives from other local businesses and organizations.
The class dates are June 5, 7, 9, 12, 15 and 16 from 9 AM to 1 PM. A $40 registration fee covers all class materials, including a light lunch for all 6 days of the course. A $40 registration fee covers all class materials, including lunch for all 4 days of the course. Registration forms can be picked up from the Cass County Extension office or any Cass County Vo-Ag instructor.
Forms are also available online at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass to print and return. Pre-registration is requested by Friday June 2 to ensure enough materials and food are available for course participants. For more information, call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or email keolson@iastate.edu.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — More stable crop prices have improved the economic outlook for rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states, but bankers expect little growth in the next few months. The overall economic index for the region crept into positive territory above 50 at 50.1 in May from April’s 44.6. This is the first time the overall index was above neutral since August 2015.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the slightly better commodity prices helped improve the outlook, but the bankers surveyed remain concerned about farmers. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today (Thursday) said that many strawberry growers across the state are predicting a bumper crop and encouraged Iowans to take advantage of these delicious, fresh berries by visiting a local strawberry patch at a local farmers market.
Northey said “The mild winter and wet spring have created a nearly ideal growing situation for fruits and vegetables in Iowa and strawberries are leading the way. Growers across the state are reporting tons of blooms.”
Strawberries go from bloom to fruit in about 30 days and are best eaten within a few days of being picked. Strawberry harvest season only lasts about 3 weeks in Iowa and harvest times vary across the state.
Northey said “Fresh picked strawberries are a delicious treat that often kickoff the growing season and summer full of enjoying fresh, Iowa-grown fruits and vegetables. Visiting a local farmers market or going to a you-pick farm is a great way to find fresh berries that can be enjoyed fresh, used in baking or preserved as jellies or jams.”
As a favorite fruit among many Iowans, strawberries are low in calories and fat-free, in fact one-cup of unsweetened strawberries only has 55 calories. Strawberries are also a good source of vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, and fiber. Support a local grower and treat your family to a fun-filled trip to the strawberry patch and make memories that will last a lifetime. If visiting a strawberry patch, be sure to call or check the website for their harvest information. While you’re there you may just find blueberries or raspberries as well.
You can find strawberry growers by visiting our Fruit and Vegetable Farms Directory at https://www.idalsdata.org/fmnp/index.cfm or on the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association “farm search” page at http://www.ifvga.org/en/about_us/farm_search/.
Officials with the Connections Area Agency on Aging have announced that the State of Iowa is continuing the Farmers Market voucher program for older Iowans. With this program, seniors meeting income requirements can obtain vouchers that they can use at participating area Farmers Markets to buy $30.00 worth of fresh, locally grown produce.
If you have questions about eligibility, please check with your local senior center. Applications for the vouchers will be available at your local senior center the week of May 22nd, 2017. Your completed application guarantees you a booklet, but there is a limited number, so contact your local senior center if you are interested in this program. Once you have a completed application, you can return to your local Senior Center to pick up your vouchers on or after June 12th. If you have questions about eligibility, please call 800-432-9209 ext. 8110.
The Cass County Distribution of Farmer’s Market vouchers will be held on Thursday, June 8th from noon – 2pm at the Atlantic Senior Center, 411 Walnut in Atlantic. If you are interested in obtaining a booklet of vouchers, please plan to be at the distribution. There are a limited number of booklets, so distribution will be on a first come, first served basis.
Applications for Council Bluffs residents will be available at The Center, located at 714 S. Main Street on May 30th, 2017 as well. The distribution date for Council Bluffs vouchers will be once again held at The Center on Monday, June 12th from 9am – noon. Again, your completed application guarantees you a booklet, so you may come at any time on June 12th to the Center to present your completed application and obtain your vouchers.
Seniors (age 60 and older) in all other communities in Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties will receive their vouchers through their local senior center.
Program Criteria:
. Must be at least 60 years of age or older
. Annual income must be less than
$22,311 Single
$30,044 Married
. Only one original application allowed per individual. No photocopies or duplicate applications allowed. Married couples can jointly apply on one application.
Dates to Remember:
. May 22nd, 2017: Applications are available at all local senior centers and The Center in Council Bluffs.
. June 12th, 2017: Council Bluffs Farmers’ Market vouchers are available for pick up at local senior centers in Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page Pottawattamie and Shelby counties. Council Bluffs distribution will be held at The Center, 714 S. Main from 9am – Noon for seniors with a completed application.
The Cass County Conservation Board say it will hold a “Geocache the T-Bone Trail” Ride. Persons wanting to participate in the FREE program will meet at the Interstate 80/T-Bone Trail Trailhead Shelter, North of Atlantic, on June 3rd, at 10-a.m.
GPS units and guides will be available for checkout, but you’re asked to pre-register in order to guarantee a GPS unit for the event. Bicyclists, walkers, strollers, everyone is welcome to come out and celebrate National Trails Day!
The Cass County Conservation Board will be geocaching from the trail. The event will be cancelled if there is inclement weather.
Iowa’s governor and lieutenant governor are urging drivers on Iowa roads to be on the look-out because it’s planting season. “This means an increase in slow-moving vehicles and farm machinery on the roads,” Branstad says. “And these vehicles are out not only from sunrise to sunset, but oftentimes after dark on our country roads which can be narrow and hilly and that can make passing very difficult.”
In 2016, there were 199 accidents in Iowa involving farm vehicles. So far this year, there have been 27 crashes and one person was killed when a pick-up crashed into a tractor. That wreck has been in the national news. Chris Soules, a recent star on A-B-C’s “The Bachelor” reality T-V series, has been charged with felony hit and run for the accident that killed a neighboring farmer. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says neither she nor Branstad are commenting on the case. Reynolds is urging Iowans to take care while driving in construction zones.
“Ninety-four percent of crashes are due to human behavior and that means there is a huge opportunity to change those statistics,” Reynolds says. “Many of the safety tips for driving around farm machinery translate here, too. Avoid distractions. Leave plenty of room between you and the car in front of you and slow down. After all, fines in work zones are doubled.”
Reynolds says during the 2017 construction season, there will be about 500 work zones on state-maintained interstates and highways, plus hundreds more on county roads.
(Radio Iowa)
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