(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A Crop Report says there were less than two suitable days for field work last week due to wet fields. Corn planting advance just eight percent to 47 percent now completed, and the progress is now two days behind last year and the five-year average. Soybean planting progress is now also behind two days as well, with farmers only progressing by five percent for a total crop planted at 30 percent. Iowa State University Extension field agronomist, Angie Rieck-Hinz, says things in her north-central area is one where planting came to halt. “My best guess depending on how much rain we get this week is it’ll be a probably solid seven to 10 days before we’re back in the field to finish planting,” she says. Rieck-Hinz says there’s still time.

“We’re still within that point that we’re not losing a lot of yield potential by planting a little bit later, but that’s all going to depend on how much rain we get this week and even there’s rain in the forecast for next week,” she says. She says farmers don’t like to sit and wait after getting planting started, but that’s going to have to be the case for now.

“Before people get all too worried about losing yield potential I think got some time to get it dried out and get some more crop in the ground,” Rieck-Hinz says. Statewide seven percent of the corn crop that’s in the ground has emerged — which is three days ahead of last year and one day ahead of the average. Four percent of the soybean crop has emerged.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A letter to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from more the five-dozen Iowans from 18 counties, are asking state agencies for a formal investigation of an “unprecedented” fertilizer spill that in March killed 750,000 fish in a Southwest Iowa river. The Gazette in Cedar Rapids reports 63 people signed onto the letter asking for the DNR to pursue “penalties and civil actions,” including referring enforcement to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, which can pursue bigger fines.  Signers of the letter include people from Cass, Clayton, Crawford, Dallas, Guthrie, Greene, Johnson, Linn, Mitchell, Montgomery, Muscatine, Page, Polk, Pottawattamie, Story, Warren, Wayne and Winneshiek counties.

(View a copy of the letter HERE)

Around March 9, someone at the NEW Cooperative in Red Oak left open a hose valve that leaked about 265,000 gallons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer into a drainage ditch that went to the East Nishnabotna River. An employee noticed the spill March 11 and alerted the Iowa DNR.

The Gazette reports Neil Hamilton, a Drake University emeritus professor of agricultural law, wrote in the letter dated April 29th, “The extent of this pollution event is unprecedented and requires the attention of all Iowans. The devastation of life in over 50 miles of the river, including the death of 750,000 fish as reported by your dedicated staff, is difficult to even comprehend.”

New Cooperative spill (File photo from the Iowa DNR)

In addition to seeking higher penalties for offenders, the letter asks the Iowa DNR to work with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to review rules about agricultural chemical storage to see if they are adequate to protect waterways.

Des Moines, Iowa (April 29, 2024) – Atlantic High School students attended the 13th annual World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute (IYI), where 277 students representing 89 Iowa high schools gathered with 85 educators at Iowa State University to explore pressing global food security challenges and professional opportunities in STEM fields. ISU President Wendy Wintersteen said “Iowa State University is proud of its longtime partnership with the World Food Prize to provide this premier educational program. The Iowa Youth Institute is an opportunity for high school students to connect with Iowa State expertise, resources and scholarships. We are pleased to see how this program ignites students’ passion to help address one of society’s most complex challenges – global food security.

The IYI, a cornerstone of the Foundation’s esteemed youth programs, is dedicated to inspiring the next group of global leaders to pursue influential careers in STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It attains this goal by fostering connections among students, faculty from Iowa State University, and industry professionals with a focus on addressing critical issues in global food security.

“We live in a world where some days it’s easy to be hopeless,” said Amy Akers, teacher at Southview Middle School. “But this event is so hopeful. I feel the energy of these young changemakers. I hope they walk away feeling empowered by the experts and peers that truly listened to them.”

Before the event, students conducted research on food insecurity within a chosen country, crafted a research essay, and provided a personal recommendation for solving the identified problem. During the event, students presented their findings to leading experts and faculty members from Iowa State University.

Attending Atlantic High School Students:

Lauren Comes | Animal Agriculture in the Central African Republic (CAR)

Lily Johnson | Malnutrition in Somalia

Each participating student is eligible for a $1,000 scholarship towards Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, with the opportunity to apply for the esteemed Wallace-Carver Fellowship program in collaboration with the USDA. Exceptional participants from Iowa will also secure a spot working with scientists and policy experts from around the world at the three-day World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in October. The Iowa Youth Institute strives to reach every school in Iowa to encourage students to pursue career paths in science, technology, and policy to help fight world hunger.

World Food Prize Foundation logo

World Food Prize Foundation President/Ambassador Terry Branstad said “It’s empowering to see the future champions of food security in action. Through events like the Iowa Youth Institute, they are demonstrating their ability to rise to the challenges of the past, the present, and the future.”

About the World Food Prize: The World Food Prize is an international award that honors individuals who have improved the quality, quantity or availability of food worldwide. The Prize was founded by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize, for his work that contributed to increases in agricultural outputs which was termed the Green Revolution. Since then, the Prize has been awarded to 53 distinguished individuals during the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue. The Dialogue, also known as the Borlaug Dialogue, is a week of events dedicated to an issue surrounding food insecurity or hunger each year.

(Des Moines, Iowa; via the Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Drought conditions in the state continue to retreat amid abundant rainfall, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. A Thursday report shows the biggest moisture gains in western and southern Iowa. Less than half of the state now has drought for the first time since June 2023. That’s down from about 96% of the state in October.

Last week’s statewide precipitation averaged 1.32 inches, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s about 45% more than is normally expected. The highest reported rainfall was 4.72 inches in Little Sioux in far western Iowa, whereas the least was one-tenth of an inch near Guttenberg in far northeast Iowa.

A wide area of severe drought remains in eastern Iowa, although it has been shrinking. Much of that area had previously suffered from extreme drought — the second-to-worst classification issued by the Drought Monitor — but its presence has greatly diminished. About 2% of the state has extreme drought, down from 35% at the start of the year.

Drought conditions might lift from about a quarter of the state in the coming months, according to a recent report by the U.S. Climate Prediction Center. Drought is expected to remain, but improve, in the worst-affected areas. A USDA report on Monday said about 78% of cropland has adequate or surplus soil moisture, which is slightly better than a year ago.

Crop planting has been several days ahead of the five-year average. As of Sunday, about 39% of corn and 25% of soybeans had been planted.

(Ames, Iowa/via Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Dairy cattle infected by avian influenza in recent months have surprisingly large amounts of the virus in their milk but little in other bodily fluids, according to tests by the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. That makes it easy to confirm whether a lactating cow is infected but makes testing more difficult for other cattle as federal agriculture officials attempt to learn the extent of bovine infections across the nation.

In nasal secretions, blood, feces and urine, “we can find an occasional positive, but those positives are at levels that are almost undetectable,” said Dr. Drew Magstadt, a cattle disease researcher at the Ames lab. His comments were part of an online ISU Extension and Outreach discussion about the virus on Wednesday.

Magstadt discovered about six weeks ago that highly pathogenic avian influenza was the source of a mystery illness among dairy cattle in Texas. It had never been known to infect cattle in the United States before. Since then, the virus has been detected in herds in eight other states, most recently in Colorado. That spread has been caused by the movement of dairy cows from infected herds to previously unaffected herds.

Genetic testing revealed that wild birds initially infected cattle with the virus, but the USDA has found evidence that it has since spread from cow to cow and from cattle to poultry. At least one infected dairy cow had no symptoms of illness. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced last week that fragments of the virus have been detected in the nation’s commercial milk supply even though milk from sick cows is barred from distribution. On Wednesday, it said testing has confirmed that pasteurization — a process of heating milk to kill pathogens — inactivates the virus.

Tests of milk, cottage cheese and sour cream “did not detect any live, infectious virus,” the FDA said. FDA strongly warned against drinking raw milk. Some states, including Iowa, have sought in recent years to expand the unpasteurized milk’s availability for purchase. Also on Wednesday, the USDA said tests of ground beef in states where the virus has been detected showed no evidence of the virus. Dairy cattle are often slaughtered for their meat when their milk production drops.

The ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory tests samples from animals for viruses such as avian influenza. (Photo courtesy of Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory)

Starting this week, the department requires most lactating dairy cattle to test negative for the virus before they can be transported to different states. Iowa will require labs to report all confirmations of the virus regardless of the animal species, said Dr. Jeff Kaisand, the state veterinarian and a bureau chief for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. For now, IDALS will not quarantine dairy farms if their cattle are infected, Kaisand said. Most states have taken a similar approach.

Dr. Yuko Sato, an ISU professor who has researched the virus in poultry, said dairy farmers should take more precautions than what might be required by government officials. She said a bird flu outbreak in 2015 was largely driven by farm-to-farm spread that was the result of insufficient biosecurity measures. About 33 million poultry were culled in Iowa that year. “We waited for the federal government to give us guidance, so we kind of sat on our hands a little bit,” she said. “I encourage the dairy industry to take a proactive stance and try to look at creative solutions, because we’re learning as we speak.”

Highly pathogenic avian influenza is often lethal to poultry — especially chickens — but infected cows usually recover in 10 to 14 days.

(Radio Iowa) – State records show about 30 percent of farm-related crashes on Iowa roads occur during April, May and June. Steven Freeman, a professor in agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University, says farmers need to make sure all lights on their equipment are working and the “slow moving vehicle” signs and reflective markers are in the right position. “That maintenance is something that will help the motorists see them,” Freeman says. Freeman says in rural areas, drivers need to exercise patience and keep their distance from farm equipment.

“Even if they have to follow farm equipment for a couple of miles, that’s just a couple of minutes out of their day,” Freeman says. “They should not try to pass because sometimes that’s not going to be safe and they should not be impatient and honking and expecting the farmer to pull over and let them by because sometimes that’s not safe.”

Freeman says the side of the road, especially a gravel road, may not support the weight of the farm equipment and pulling over to let a vehicle pass endangers the safety of the farmer. From 2017 to 2022, there were 114 vehicle accidents in Iowa involving farm equipment that caused serious injury or death. Widespread rain has likely paused planting in much of the state. The U-S-D-A estimates 39 percent of Iowa’s corn crop and about a quarter of Iowa’s soybean fields were planted by last Sunday.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Conservation Interpretive Naturalist Lora Kanning say the Conservation Department’s 30th Pioneer Skills Festival takes place this Saturday afternoon (May 4th). Kanning says they still need help in the barn, so if you’re interested in volunteering by leading a pioneer station, email Lora Kanning at lkanning@casscoia.us. They would love to have help from 12:30-until 4 pm, as the festival runs from 1-4pm.

Kanning said also, the Cass County portion of the T-bone trail is CLOSED. DO NOT go around any barriers, please turn around. The Construction contractor is repairing bridge approaches in Cass county. The project is taking longer due to the weather. This weekend there may be sections of the trail open and others may have barriers. Kanning says they hope to be finished with the project next week!

On Thursday May 9th , the Cass County Conservation Department will host a 5th grade field trip and conservation day. They are asking for volunteers to help the 5th graders fish at Cold Springs park from 9am-2pm. If you are available that day to help, email Lora Kanning. That email again is lkanning@casscoia.us .

Lastly, Kanning reports summer camps still have a couple open spots. Fliers went out in the Department’s last newsletter! It can also be found on the Conservation Department’s website https://www.casscountyia.gov/county-departments/conservation-office/

Details on upcoming events and projects happening from May into June will be released in the next few weeks.

• KJAN, Atlantic  .78″
• 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .53″
• Massena  .63″
• Audubon  .54″
• Corning  .79″
• Avoca  .8″
• Red Oak  65″
• Earling  .65
• Kirkman  .81″
• Missouri Valley  .56″
• Carroll  .75″
• Clarinda  .17″
• Creston  .85″

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Wellness Coordinator Grace McAfee reports Grow Another Row produce donations sites are open in Cass County for the 2024 season. Growers with rhubarb, asparagus, radishes, greens, herbs and other early-season produce are now invited to share their harvests.

Grow Another Row is a Healthy Cass County campaign started in 2020 by a group of local growers to encourage residents to grow and share more fresh produce. Anyone is welcome to donate or take produce. Many individuals drop off extra produce and pick up something they need during the same trip. There is no requirement to sign up to either donate or take produce. Donations of any size are appreciated. No donation is too big or too small for this program. Donations and pick-ups are encouraged to take place from dawn to dusk. As the program continues to grow… so do the stands! There are now ten produce stands located in Cass County this year!

Participants are reminded not to wash produce before donating if they can’t dry it and to take only what they need. Be sure to wash the produce before eating it. Produce bagged or packaged in family-sized containers is requested if possible. Contact Kate Olson at the Cass County Extension Office by calling (712) 243-1132 or email keolson@iastate.edu if you need produce bags or containers to package donations.

If produce is shared to the stands, you’re welcome to email Grace McAfee (mcage@casshealth.org) or share a photo on the Facebook Page (@CassCountyLocalFood). This will let the public know fresh produce is available for pick up! Please include the time, date dropped off and stand location to help us get the word out.

A Grow Another Row stand

For more information on Grow Another Row visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/family-food.

Subscribe to our newsletter delivered via email multiple times per month during the growing season, featuring growing tips, volunteer opportunities, and current information on where to drop off and pick up available fresh produce. Email mcage@casshealth.org to be added to our mailing list for the 2024 growing season! For information on Cass County food pantries, farmers markets and other locally-driven food initiatives, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council on Facebook @CassCountyLocalFood.

Healthy Cass County is a community-focused volunteer network formed to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. Follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty (https://www.facebook.com/HealthyCassCounty/).

Grow Another Row 2024 Stand Locations (May-October, dawn to dusk)

• Anita Food Pantry, 208 Chestnut St. Anita
• Atlantic Library, 507 Popular St. Atlantic
• Atlantic Midtown Apartments, 1209 E 8th St. Atlantic
• Atlantic Mollett Park, 1020 E. 3rd St. Atlantic
• Cumberland Methodist Church, 500 Main St. Cumberland
• Griswold Methodist Church, 100 Cass St. Griswold
• Lewis Library, 412 W. Main St. Lewis
• Marne Masonic Lodge, 418 2nd St. Marne
• Massena – SWI Egg, 74851 Richland Rd. Massena
• Wiota, 108 Pioneer St. Wiota.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa state parks and forest staff are busy preparing for the summer camping season, turning on water, sprucing up campgrounds and freshening up bathroom, cabin, lodge and shelter facilities. With more than 864,000 campers and almost 14 million visitor days last year, state parks are anticipating another busy season. For park visitors, there will be some new things to see.

Recently renovated and 100 percent reservable sites

Pikes Peak and Lake Ahquabi state parks, two of Iowa’s most popular campgrounds, reopened in July 2023 after undergoing extensive renovations. Both campgrounds feature electrical upgrades, pull-through driveways and a reduction in the number of campsites to create more space for large vehicles.

Both the Pikes Peak (Dickinson County) and Lake Ahquabi (Warren County) campgrounds also switched to 100 percent reservable sites, allowing for campers to see availability in real time. The change has been popular with campers who enjoy the increased convenience and peace of mind for trip planning. Additional campgrounds switching to 100 percent reservable in 2024 include Ambrose A. Call (Kossuth County), Ledges (Boone County), Lewis and Clark (Monona County), Pleasant Creek (Linn County), Wilson Island (Pottawattamie County) and Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo County).

Other new or renovated amenities in the state park system:

• George Wyth State Park – Cedar Valley Trail 1.3 miles reconstruction
• Twin Lakes – new boat ramp
• Lake Macbride – new boat ramp, parking lot resurfacing and new fishing dock
• Rock Creek State Park – new water lines and sewer repairs
• Green Valley State Park (Union County)– renovated fishing pier, spillway repair and sewer repairs
• Beeds Lake – new dump station at the campground

Current construction and renovation projects

State parks are also busy with several new construction projects. Some of these projects will temporarily close parts or all of the listed parks in the 2024 season. Park visitors can go to www.iowadnr.gov/parkclosures for latest information on any closures.

2024 projects include:

• Clear Lake campground – renovations will start around August 1 to update electrical facilities, campsite design and roadways
• Red Haw – campground renovations and shelter construction have begun after major damage caused by a tornado in March 2022
• Lake Ahquabi – lodge and shelter renovations
• Fort Atkinson – restoration of historic buildings, closing the park to visitors until mid-July
• Brushy Creek – campground renovations starting around August 1
• Pleasant Creek – campground renovations starting around October 1
• Lake Manawa – concession building remodel
• Ledges – new shower building and shelter renovation
• McIntosh Woods – shelter renovation
• Wapsipinicon – flood repairs, renovating river wing dams
• Big Creek – fishing pier renovations
• Road resurfacing in Palisades-Kepler, Wildcat Den, Pleasant Creek, Elk Rock and Lake Manawa

To learn more about Iowa state parks, go to iowadnr.gov/stateparks or make a reservation at https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/