The latest U-S-D-A crop report released Monday shows 82 percent of the corn crop is in good to excellent condition and 78 percent of the soybeans are rated the same way. Iowa State University Extension Agronomist, Brian Lang, monitors six counties in the northeast-tip of the state from Decorah to Dubuque.

“You could almost say, they’ve never looked better. We’re having a very good year up here so far. No particular insect pests. No particular diseases of any serious nature at this time,” Lang says. He could only find a slight lack of heat as a negative. “We’re only arguably about two days behind on growing degree days, and I think we’ll pick that up this week. We’re going to have a pretty hot week it looks like, actually probably catch up right up to normal,” according to Lang. “Rainfall has been running just a little bit ahead of normal.”

While most of the state’s crops are in good shape, there are still some spots where heavy rains in June caused some damage.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a proclamation aimed at extending clean-up efforts involved with the bird flu outbreak. Branstad signed a disaster emergency proclamation Monday for 18 Iowa counties adversely affected by bird flu. It is effective until Dec. 31 and extends a proclamation that was set to expire Wednesday.

The proclamation is aimed at helping chicken and turkey producers with disposal and clean-up efforts on affected sites. The proclamation temporarily allows them to dispose of manure and compost from an affected site if the material is virus-free.

The proclamation applies to Adair, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Hamilton, Kossuth, Lyon, Madison, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux, Webster and Wright counties.

The virus has infected more than 31.5 million birds in Iowa, mostly egg-laying chickens.

HUBBARD, Neb. (AP) — A newly opened lake in northeast Nebraska is drawing anglers and recreationalists from the area, including across the Missouri River in Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reports that the gates on the Danish Alps State Recreation Area near Hubbard opened Wednesday.

Located just south of Nebraska Highway 35, the park is named for the local hilly terrain that is reminiscent of the Danish homeland of the immigrants who settled in the area. The 746-acre park includes RV and tent camping, equestrian camping facilities, day use areas, a walking and hiking trail and equestrian trail.

The centerpiece is 226-acre Kramper Lake, named after Vince Kramper, a Dakota City farmer and conservationist. The lake has been stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, walleye and channel catfish.

The Adams County Fair Queen was crowned during a ceremony Friday evening, in Corning. Chris Nelson, with the Adams County Extension Service reports 18-year old Nichole Bashor, the daughter of Terry and Mary Bashor, of Corning, was awarded the title and honors.

First runner-up was 18 year old Mikayla Moore, the daughter of Corey and Deana Moore, also of Corning. Second runner-up was 16-year old Molly Oglesbee, the daughter of Josh Ogglesbee and Becky Oglesbee, of Corning.

The Adams County Fair continues its run through July 15th. Find out more at http://www.myadamscountyfair.net/

Some Iowa lakes are having issues with blue-green algae blooms. Mary Skopec oversees the D-N-R’s water monitoring program for state park beaches. “We advise people to use caution if they enter a lake that has a blue-green scum,” Skopec says. “Sometimes the looks like someone spilled paint on it, and there are thick mats of algae. If you see that, you should really avoid going into that water or letting your pets drink that water.” Skopec says the algae releases dangerous toxins.

“The toxins can affect the liver as well as the nervous system. In the most extreme they can cause respiratory distress. Often times we see issues with nausea or diarrhea, headache, that kind of thing,” according to Skopec. “So, it can make people quite ill — and it has in isolated cases caused pet deaths deaths, dog deaths around the state.” She says avoid drinking the water in those areas or putting your head under the water in those areas.

The D-N-R says a “substantial” fish kill on Crystal Lake seven miles west of Forest City in Hancock County is linked to an algae bloom over the Fourth of July weekend. Three lakes — Black Hawk, Pine Lake, Twin Lake — have advisory signs posted after D-N-R testing showed issues with blue-green algae.

In addition, testing showed relatively high levels of toxin for clear water on Lake Geode, Lake of Three Fires (near Bedford), and Green Valley Lake (Near Creston) — though those lakes didn’t have signs of algae blooms. Some Iowa beaches also have signs posted for high-levels of bacteria this week: Backbone Lake, Denison Beach on Black Hawk Lake, Lake Geode, Lake Macbride, Pine Lake, and Union Grove Lake. While Iowa waters have issues with bacteria and algae blooms, a 14-year-old boy died this week after being infected by an amoeba after swimming in a Minnesota lake. Skopec says the amoeba is not a major concern here.

“At this point I wouldn’t be too worried about it, because it’s a very isolated condition,” Skopec says. She says the amoeba that causes the problem likes specific water conditions. “The amoeba is really related to water temperature. And if the water temperatures are high enough, it is possible for them to end up in water in Iowa. The fact that it was found further north of us does present some challenges in terms of whether we might see that or not,” Skopec says.

“Normally it likes those warmer temperatures and so I think we are learning more about where they might occur. But at this point I would say it is a very isolated incident in Minnesota, and people should avoid waters that are extremely warm,” she says. “A lot of times they occur where there is a warm spring, or extremely hot stagnant water. So, if they avoid that hot stagnant water, they should be okay.” The amoeba enters the brain through the nose. Skopec says again, if you avoid drinking water with any of these issues and don’t put your head under the water, you should be okay. You can find out more about the beach water monitoring program at: www.iowadnr.gov.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey is reminding Iowa farmers that funds are available to help install practices focused on protecting water quality. Practices eligible for this funding are cover crops, no-till or strip till, or using a nitrification inhibitor when applying fertilizer.

The cost share rate for first-time users of cover crops is $25 per acre, no-till or strip till are eligible for $10 per acre and farmers using a nitrapyrin nitrification inhibitor when applying fall fertilizer can receive $3 per acre. Farmers are eligible for cost share on up to 160 acres. First-time users that apply by July 24 will be the first applications funded. First-time users that apply after July 24 will still receive priority consideration, but funds will also be made available to farmers that have used cover crops in the past for cost share assistance at $15 per acre.

“We already have $1.6 million in applications from more than 700 farmers interested in doing more on their farm to protect water quality. This includes first-time uses of cover crops as well as farmers who have tried them before and are willing to do even more,” Northey said. “Fortunately, as a result of the significant increase in funding for water quality, we have addition funds available. I hope interested farmers will contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District soon to learn more about the assistance that is available.”

Farmers are also encouraged to visit their local Soil and Water Conservation District office to inquire about additional opportunities for cost share funding through other programs offered at their local SWCD’s. The cost share assistance was announced on May 12. Since then, the Governor has signed into law $9.6 million to support the Iowa Water Quality Initiative, which is an increase of $5.2 million from the $4.4 million provided last year.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship also received $6.75 million for conservation cost share, a portion of which can be used on management practices such as cover crops. In the last 2 years this program has been available, over 1,400 farmers put in new nutrient reduction practices on over 144,000 acres. The state provided about $3.4 million in cost share funding to help farmers try a water quality practice for the first time and Iowa farmers provided at least another $3.4 million to support these water quality practices.

More information about the initiative can be found at www.CleanWaterIowa.org.

The Guthrie County Extension Service reports there will be a land lease meeting on Thursday, August 6, at 6 pm at the Extension office, in Guthrie Center. The cost to attend is $20 per person if you pre-register, and $25 per person without pre-registration.

Attendees will receive a land leasing handbook with reference and resource materials. The workshop will last approximately 2 ½ hours. Shane Ellis, ISU Farm Management Specialist for the west central region of the state, will be presenting.

To pre-register, call 641-747-2276.

Twelve Iowa organizations and businesses will receive Environmental Excellence awards from Gov. Terry E. Branstad this summer. The awards are the premier environmental honors in Iowa. Among the winners is the Guthrie Center Community Schools, in Guthrie Center. The district will receive Special Recognition for Habitat Restoration and Environment Education.

The Governor said “The vision and initiatives undertaken by the award recipients to benefit Iowa’s citizens both economically and environmentally are recognized and celebrated through these awards. They showcase the commitment being made to make Iowa a better state now and into the future.”

Branstad will present awards to the recipients at a recognition ceremony at 3 p.m. Aug. 4th in the Capitol Rotunda, located at 1007 East Grand Avenue in Des Moines. The public is invited to attend.

For more information about the Governor’s Iowa Environmental Excellence Awards, go to www.iowadnr.gov/eeawards.

Cass County: Corn $3.82, Beans $9.86
Adair County: Corn $3.79, Beans $9.89
Adams County: Corn $3.79, Beans $9.88
Audubon County: Corn $3.81, Beans $9.88
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $3.85, Beans $9.86
Guthrie County: Corn $3.84, Beans $9.90
Montgomery County: Corn $3.84, Beans $9.88
Shelby County: Corn $3.85, Beans $9.86
Oats $2.54 (always the same in all counties)