The Cass County Conservation Board is holding a “Movie in the Park” Campground Program. The title of the August 30th film is “Legend of the Guardians the Owls of GaHoole.” The free public program will be held at the Campground Shelter at Cold Springs Park in Lewis, on August 30^th 2013, at 9:00-pm!

If it rains the movie WILL BE cancelled. You DO NOT have to be a registered camper to attend the program.

The Cass County Conservation Board is 55 years old this year. Officials say they’ve decided to celebrate in a couple of different ways: a digital treasure hunt and a Birthday Celebration. The Board considers Cass County parks to be our treasures, and they would love for you to visit them. Follow clues established by the Board and take a picture. Two special clues involve using a GPS (The rules and clues are published below).

Geocashing

Prizes will be awarded, but you will have to wait until the Birthday Celebration on September 14th, when you can meet Conservation Department employees and board members. The event takes place at the Cold Springs Park– Campground Shelter, beginning at 7-PM.  Cake and refreshments will be served.
The Cass County Conservation Board was established in 1958 as the county resource agency with the authority to acquire lands specifically for recreation and conservation. Each member of our board is appointed by the Cass County Board of Supervisors and appointed five year terms.
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Treasure Hunt Rules:
1. All photos must include at least one member of the family or person. Self-portraits are allowed as long as we can verify your location by the picture.
2. Photos shall be submitted through the following email: lkanning@casscoia.us
3. Entrant will only receive an email back if their submission was Incorrect.
4. One entry per family.
5. Deadline for submission is Sept 3rd 2013 at 4:30 PM CST. Winners will be drawn and announced at the Birthday Celebration Sept. 14th 2013.
6. The CCCB reserves the right to display winners’ photos and other contest images.
7. Board members, staff and their families are ineligible for the drawing.
Prizes: all correct submissions will be entered into one drawing. There will be 3 additional drawings one for each of the correct GPS clues, and one for correct pictures for ALL of the picture clues.

Clues:
1. Over 70,000 Mormons traveled by on the Road to Zion. Take your picture with the sign describing these events.
2. Travel to this park on a “dry” day and take your picture with the park entrance sign!
3. Enjoy our “newest” Cass County park, take your picture in the “newest” structure on the shore.
4. Named after a pioneer town that had a saw mill and a hotel. Take your picture with the park entrance sign.
Get out your GPS unit for these special prizes:
Go to these coordinates (N 41˚ 18.200 W 095˚ 06.195) and leave your full name in the log to qualify for a special prize!
Go to these coordinates (N 41˚ 25.724 W 094˚ 58.955) and find a wildflower or tree sign. Email the correct name from the sign to the email above to qualify.
Reminder the deadline for submission is Sept 3rd 2013 at 4:30 PM CST. Winners will be drawn and announced at the Birthday Celebration Sept. 14th 2013.

The Cass County Conservation Board is holding a “Mysterious Monarchs” Program early next month. The free public program will be held at the Campground Shelter at Cold Springs Park in Lewis, on September 7^th, beginning at 4:00-pm, and at the Camblin Addition Shelter at Sunnyside Park in Atlantic, on September 14^th beginning at 2:00-pm.

During the sessions, you can discover the Monarch Butterflies before they begin their journey south. Conservationists will be tagging monarchs and show the public how to do so, as well.  If you would like a home tagging kit you must attend and pre-register for the Kit. Call 712-769-2372 to pre-register for your kit. You DO NOT have to be a registered camper to attend the program. 

Andrea Farrior and Chris Parks discuss the latest information from the Atlantic Animal Shelter.

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The Iowa Pork Producers Association, in cooperation with the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University and ISU Extension and Outreach, has developed a new series of conferences for hog farmers in response to current swine health issues impacting the industry.

The IPPA Swine Health and Animal Well-being Committee will hold four “free” management conferences around the state later this month and in early September. The sites and dates are:

Aug. 26, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Northwest Iowa Community College, Sheldon
Aug. 28, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Carroll Co. Extension Office, Carroll
Aug. 30, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Chickasaw Co. Extension Office, New Hampton
Sept. 3, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Washington Co. Extension Office, Washington
Dr. Rodney “Butch” Baker of the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University will share what is currently known about the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) that has proven deadly to piglets across the country this year. Baker will explain how producers can manage employees and visitors relative to PEDV, how hog farmers can protect their herd when most packing plants and trailers are testing positive for the virus, and what can be learned from Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE) and the practices that should be effective against PEDV.

“Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) has caused great economic harm to the industry for years and now we’re facing the devastating impact of PEDV,” said Dr. Craig Rowles, committee chairman and a pork producer from Carroll. “We’re offering these conferences to provide the latest information on these issues and try to help producers deal with or avoid these swine health concerns.”

ISU’s Dr. James McKean will discuss how producers can avoid residues and a U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspection. His presentation will include changes in residue testing at packing plants, the impact of detected residues and practical steps to avoid chemical residues.

Rounding out the list of presenters is Dr. Lee Schulz, ISU livestock economist. He will explain how pork farmers can survive with a short corn supply, prospects for continued hog demand and 2014 opportunities.

“FDA has introduced new residue limits and testing procedures and we want to make sure hog farmers are aware of these changes,” Rowles said. “Also, the current and future economic impacts of the swine health issues are critical to producers’ success, so we feel it’s important to include this discussion as well.”

Producers will not be required to register to attend any of the conferences. Interested farmers simply need to attend the conference of their choice.

Any questions should be directed to IPPA Public Policy Director Cody McKinley at (800) 372-7675 or cmckinley@iowapork.org.

The Western Iowa Grape Growers Association (WeIGGA) is sponsoring the 2013 Loess Hills Wine Festival.  The festival will be held on Saturday September 21^st , 2013 from 2-pm to 10-pm at Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park (Iowa side of the Bob Kerrey walking bridge), Council Bluffs.

The grapes have been harvested, the wine is fermenting. This year will feature 5 Western Iowa Wineries including, Prairie Crossing, Sugar Clay, Vine Street Cellars, Prairie Hawk and Wabash Wine Company and 1 local brewery, Keg Creek Brewery. Three bands will be providing live music during the festival including, JB Acoustic (2-pm to 4-pm), MoJo Bag (4-pm to 6-pm) and Pink Kadillac (6-pm to 10-pm).

The Loess Hills Wine Festival is a fun event for the entire family.  Activities will include craft and local food vendors, hayrides, a grape stomp, food, live music and wine and beer tasting for the adults.  Adult admissions receive a souvenir wine glass and 10 tasting tickets.

Advance tickets for ages 21 and over (normally $30) are $15 per person if purchased before September 1^st at WeIGGA’s web site http://www.weigga.org/html/admission.html . VIP Tickets are $50 and Children ages 10 to 20 years old are $10. Children under 10 are free.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials say dove hunting is growing in popularity throughout Iowa since lawmakers legalized the sport in 2011 following years of sometimes angry debate. The state Department of Natural Resources says the number of people registering to hunt mourning doves has gradually increased since lawmakers changed state law two years ago. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data shows more than 9,000 dove hunters are registered in Iowa, though numbers are preliminary. Officials say they’re still learning how to manage the 70-day season, starting Sept. 1.

Opponents had fought legalization, arguing the birds represented peace and have so little meat that the only reason to shoot them was as target practice. Supporters of the change responded that the birds are plentiful and there was no reason to keep them off limits.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Electrical Examining Board won’t exempt farm buildings from mandatory electrical inspections.  The Des Moines Register says the board voted 8-3 on Thursday to reject a proposal that would have generally exempted farm buildings. The proposal was aimed at resolving issues stemming from a court ruling that the board exceeded its authority by requiring inspections on most electrical installations on farms.

Some critics say the inspections are a power grab by the board and that the inspections overburden farmers. Other farmers and their supporters say poorly installed electrical wiring creates safety hazards.  On Thursday the board set a task force to seek a compromise to present to the Legislature.