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Posted County Prices 07-27-2012

Ag/Outdoor

July 27th, 2012 by admin

Cass County: Corn $7.87, Beans $16.66

Adair County: Corn $7.84, Beans $16.69

Adams County: Corn $7.84, Beans $16.65

Audubon County: Corn $7.86, Beans $16.68

East Pottawattamie County: Corn $7.90, Beans $16.66

Guthrie County: Corn $7.89, Beans $16.70

Montgomery County: Corn $7.89, Beans $16.68

Shelby County: Corn $7.90, Beans $16.66

Oats $3.67  (always the same in all counties)

Branstad suspends rules, aids transport of feed

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is suspending state laws and regulations to make it easier to transport hay, straw and stover at a time when drought has depleted supplies of the material used largely to feed livestock.  Branstad’s action took affect today (Thursday) and will continue for 60 days.
 
The proclamation will allow people to transport loads of hay, straw and stover weighing up to 90,000 pounds on non-interstate highways without a state permit. Wide loads also can be moved without a permit as long as they don’t exceed 12 feet, 5 inches in width. Rules regulating hours of service for drivers hauling specific agricultural produces also are suspended.

Details about the rules are available online at www.iowa.dot.gov .

Rain fails to fall in Shelby County: Fire Danger is still HIGH

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Much anticipated rainfall following the passage of a cold front failed to materialize across much of western Iowa Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. As a result, Shelby County Emergency Management Officials say the Fire Danger level will remain in the “HIGH” category through Monday, July 30th.  Jason Wickizer, Emergency Medical Services Coordinator at the Shelby County EMA, told KJAN News the rains in his county were “very spotty.”

Wickizer said the Fire Danger rating in Shelby County is based on input from local fire chiefs and the Emergency Manager, and weather factors. He says the County has experienced high temperatures, low humidity during the afternoon, and abundant natural fuel –in the form of dry grass and crops – due to the low rainfall. Wickizer says even though some rain is in the forecast for this weekend, that doesn’t mean the Fire Danger threat will be reduced prior to Monday.

Signs indicating the increased fire threat are located at fire stations within the County, and on the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency’s website, at www.shelbycountyema.com.  Shelby County is currently not included in a ban on open burning. Wickizer said that’s because they are using the “Fire Danger” signs as a “public education tool.” He said since they have not seen an increase in fires, they will use the signs instead of asking the State Fire Marshal’s Office for an open burning ban. The purpose of the Fire Danger signs, according to Wickizer, is to cut down on instances where people start fires on their property, and have numerous fire trucks show-up when it is a non-emergency situation.

He says anyone who wants to conduct any type of open burning outside, on their property, should contact the Shelby County EMA at 712-755-2124, and inform the on-duty dispatcher of your intentions. The dispatcher will put residents in contact with their local fire chief. Permission for you to conduct an open burn is at the sole discretion of your fire chief.

 

Nebraska, Iowa enduring severe drought or worse

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

July 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows all of Iowa and most of Nebraska are suffering severe or extreme drought.  The map shows the east-central portion of the state and a section of southeast Iowa are experiencing extreme drought.  

In Nebraska, the western 75 percent is enduring extreme drought, with the most of rest suffering severe drought. A few counties in central Nebraska are listed as being under exceptional drought conditions, the worst possible listing on the monitor.
 
The drought map is a project shared by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Weather Service. The latest map is based on conditions as of 6 a.m. Tuesday and so doesn’t include rainfall from storms Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

USDA Report 07-26-2012

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

July 26th, 2012 by admin

w/ Denny Heflin

Play

Audubon County Fair continues through Monday

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon County Fair continues its near weeklong run today, in Audubon. Some highlights include a “Knowledge Bowl” in the Show Barn at 1:30, Children’s Theater at the Grandstand (5:30-p.m.), 4-H Recognition at the Grandstand (6:30-p.m.) and the Queen Contest at 7:30-p.m.

For more information, log on to www.extension.iastate.edu/audubon/

And, for information about other county fairs going on in the State of Iowa, surf to http://www.iowafairs.com/site/aif-member-fairs.php

Cass County Fair begins in Atlantic today

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The 2012 Cass County Fair begins its six-day run today, in Atlantic, with livestock check-ins and other activities. Among them, is the 4-H static exhibit entries and conference judging, and a food sale that takes place in the Community Center at 10-a.m. 

The King and Queen Contest starts tonight at Eight O’clock, and can be heard live here on KJAN. Then at 8:30, there’ll be a Senior Recognition. Highlights during the evening hours of the next few days include: a Bullride at 7:30-p.m. Friday; ATV races at 6-p.m. Saturday; a tractor show Sunday at 4-p.m.; Grand Champion Beef selection Monday at 7-p.m., and the Livestock sale Tuesday, at 8-a.m. 

For a complete rundown of the fair schedule, surf the web to http://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/ and look for the pdf link.

And, for information about other county fairs going on in the State of Iowa, surf to http://www.iowafairs.com/site/aif-member-fairs.php

Cattle producers may apply for emergency grazing

Ag/Outdoor

July 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Emergency grazing is now allowed in 25 Iowa counties as a result of an emergency drought declaration by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Emergency grazing authority is limited to livestock producers who have suffered pasture losses due to ongoing drought conditions in the 25 counties. Farmers will take a 10 percent conservation reserve program payment reduction for grazing CRP acres under the emergency provisions.

Beginning August 2nd, all Iowa counties will be eligible for emergency haying and grazing of CRP acres under an expanded declaration announced by Secretary of Agriculture and former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack this week. Producers must request approval of emergency grazing and obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

10 Iowa Counties designated Natural Disasters due to drought

Ag/Outdoor

July 25th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farmers in 10 Iowa counties may apply for low interest emergency disaster loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture if they’ve suffered major production losses due to drought. The counties in in southern Iowa are contiguous to the Missouri counties declared in a primary disaster declaration by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. In Missouri, 97 counties are in the primary area affected by drought conditions. The Iowa counties are Appanoose, Davis, Decatur, Fremont, Lee, Page, Ringgold, Taylor, Van Buren, and Wayne. The Farm Service Agency may make emergency loans to eligible family farmers with losses that may include livestock, perennial crops, fruit and nut bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops. The interest rate for emergency loans is 2.25 percent. The final date for making application is March 18th, 2013.

Iowa DNR: 2011 pheasant harvest lowest in 50 years

Ag/Outdoor, Sports

July 25th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Hunters in Iowa shot a record low number of pheasants last year. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources estimates 109-thousand pheasants were harvested in 2011 — the fewest since record keeping began in 1962. DNR wildlife biologist Todd Bogenschutz was expecting the numbers to be low following five winters with above average snowfall and five wetter than normal springs. “Was I expecting the harvest to be this much lower? No, probably not, I was figuring around 150,000 to 200,000 would probably be our harvest,” Bogenschutz said. The estimate is based on a random survey of hunters.

Harvest estimates were highest in northwest Iowa. The DNR will conduct a roadside survey over the first two weeks of August to gauge what hunters can expect this year. Bogenschutz is predicting a significant increase in pheasant numbers. “Based on field reports from staff, seeing broods this year, obviously this is probably our best production year in the last six,” Bogenschutz said. “We had good winter survival of the hens that were there. That was key.” The 2012 pheasant and quail hunting seasons will open October 27.

The DNR also reports an estimated 57,285 mourning doves were harvested during Iowa’s inaugural mourning dove hunting season. Around 9,000 resident and nonresident licenses were purchased for dove hunting. “This second year, I would suspect maybe we’ll see both of those bump up. We’ll have some more hunters and that will lead to additional harvest,” Bogenschutz said. “Our staff is kind of learning the ropes on dove management, so we have a few more actively managed areas out there for doves that hunters can use.” The 2012 mourning dove hunting season is tentatively scheduled to begin on September 1.

(Radio Iowa)