Jim Field reviews the latest updated Cass County Urgent Need Resource Guide.
Print a copy of the guide here >>>>> August 2022 Cass County Urgent Need Resource Guide
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(Radio Iowa) – The Democratic Party’s nominee for state ag secretary says the Iowa Department of Agriculture needs to represent both producers and consumers. “We have to have an eye on the world and where the world is going and maybe think about the secretary of agriculture as the secretary of food, land and water.” John Norwood is a business consultant and currently serving as a Soil and Water Commissioner in Polk County.
Norwood says Iowa’s ag industry is tremendously productive, but there’s an imbalance and the state’s voluntary approach to reducing farm chemical run-off isn’t working. “We send a billion pounds of nitrates down our Mississippi and Missouri River systems and into our reservoirs like Saylorville Lake here and that creates major drinking water issues, water recreation issues, access to water issues,” Norwood says. “Over half of our state waters are impaired.”
Norwood’s first job out of college was at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority which handled drinking water and wastewater. Norwood has not proposed specific limits on nitrogen and phosphorus application on cropland. He says innovative thinking is needed to improve Iowa’s water quality AND reduce top soil loss. “We have among the richest soils in the world here in Iowa and in some cases we’ve lost a third of the top soil, ten times the rate of loss that we make in any particular year,” Norwood says. “That’s unsustainable.”
Norwood says if Iowa is to weather more frequent floods and droughts, it needs healthy soil — and more acres planted with cover crops like oats, barley, rye and hay. “That might mean bringing more livestock, outdoor livestock which are important to soil health,” Norwood says. Norwood says Iowa needs to dedicate more ag land to crops that aren’t corn and soybeans. “We should be thinking about how do we feed 3.2 million Iowans and the 80 million people who live within a day’s drive Iowa,” Norwood says, “because places like California, which supply more than half of our fruits and vegetables is facing…drought.”
Norwood worked with cattle ranchers, nut growers and other farmers in California before settling in Iowa in 2002. Norwood made his comments on the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. Current Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig (NEGG, rhymes with “egg”), a Republican, has been in office since the spring of 2018 and in this year’s election he’s seeking a second full term.
(Radio Iowa) – While parts of Iowa saw up to two inches of rain on Monday, it may be too little, too late for many of the crops that have been critically damaged by the long string of hot, dry days. Meteorologist Dennis Todey, director of the U-S-D-A’s Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, says there are big differences in corn crop conditions across the region, especially compared to areas in northwest Iowa that are in extreme drought.
“We really have done the damage already and things are looking pretty bleak in some places,” Todey says. “We have some places that we could maybe still help limp through a little bit, but it’s interesting because in contrast, you go up to northeast South Dakota or eastern Iowa, parts of Minnesota, conditions are pretty good.” While any more rain that falls on Iowa this week may green up our lawns a bit, Todey says precipitation at this stage on the calendar will be of limited help to farmers.
“There are still some chances for some rainfall, some hit-and-miss rainfalls, that could help some soybeans still, but we’re late enough now, the chances of being able to help much are not great,” Todey says. “Then the overall outlooks, they’re not terribly optimistic for great improvement.” The latest map from the U-S Drought Monitor shows moderate drought now stretches all the way from Iowa’s eastern border to the western border and that about 64 of the state’s 99 counties are in some form of drought.
“The other thing we’re concerned about now is starting to look towards fall soil moisture recharge,” Todey says. “We’re going to need some rainfalls in the fall to get some moisture back in the soils.” The climate outlooks show above-normal temperatures and below-normal rain for most of the region through much of September.
Jim Field visits with Dave Chase of Nishna Valley Trails about a community forum on Cass County recreational trail planning on Monday, August 22.
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(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show set another record, raising more than $440,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. In 2021, cattle producers and local supporters raised $375,000, the most funds raised in the show’s history. In addition to breaking another show record, the event has surpassed $5 million raised since 1983.
The Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Office of the Governor of Iowa hosted the 40th Annual Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show on Saturday, Aug. 13. Brian McCulloh, of Viroqua, WI, judged this year’s steer entries and picked Steer 15 as Grand Champion. John Lawrence, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Vice President, led the steer, Blue. Brady Werner, of Williamsburg, owned Blue and was sponsored by the Iowa County Beef Supporters.
Grand Champion Showman honors went to Gary Slater, Iowa State Fair Chief Executive Officer, who showed alongside Paige Evans, of Ellsworth, IA and was sponsored by the Volunteer Boards of Iowa Ronald McDonald Houses Charities. This year’s showmanship judges were Nancy Degner and Mark Fischer, both of Ankeny, IA.
Gov. Kim Reynolds leads Benny to the Livestock Pavilion alongside Maxwell Tiarks, of Underwood.
The Community Hero Award, now in its second year, showcased a steer exhibitor’s efforts to raise non-monetary donations for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. This individual not only collected pop tabs and non-perishable items, but also gained 172,000 likes and shares on social media, raising awareness for the show. The Community Hero Award went to Tucker Kilma, of Walker, IA. Kilma worked with Jamie Henderson, Eastern Iowa Ronald McDonald House, Board President, and was sponsored by the Eastern Iowa Ronald McDonald House and Quad Cities McDonald’s.
People’s Choice, a crowd favorite, required steer teams to cheer loudly for their respective celebrity and exhibitor. Steer 20, shown by Clarissa Chun, University of Iowa Women’s Head Wrestling Coach, and Tate Nelson, of Nichols, IA, received the loudest roar. They were sponsored by the Johnson County Cattlemen.
The Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Office of the Governor of Iowa, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa thank the Iowa cattle producers and local supporters who back this event by paying it forward. Thank you to former Gov. Terry Brandstad, who started this event in 1983 and Gov. Kim Reynolds, for her support of Iowa’s agriculture industry and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show Co-Chairs Tanner Lawton and Casey Anderson shared this about the event:
“It is hard to comprehend the impact $440,000 can have for Iowa families. This is a great achievement for every one of these teams. In the end, the compassion that all participants in this event show is what makes it so unique. The cattle industry is a tight knit group and we band together in a time of need.”
For the list of funds raised, buyers and additional sponsors, click here.
(Radio Iowa) – A district court judge has ruled the list of landowners who haven’t agreed to voluntary easements for the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline must be released to the public. The Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club sued after the Iowa Utilities Board said the names would remain secret at the developer’s request.
Summit is still working to secure agreements with landowners for about 60% of its proposed carbon pipeline route through Iowa. If the Iowa Utilities Board grants eminent domain authority for the project, the list would be used to determine which properties could be seized without negotiations between Summit and landowners.
A spokeswoman for the Sierra Club’s Iowa chapter says reluctant landowners should be able to see the list so they can communicate with like-minded Iowans and organize unified opposition to the pipeline.
Summit could appeal the judge’s ruling. The company says it’s reasonable that landowners themselves get to choose whether their names and contact information are made public and Summit aims to protect landowners from harassment.
Earlier this month a Summit executive said about 750 Iowa landowners have voluntarily agreed to let Summit’s pipeline run through their property. Two other companies are proposing carbon pipelines through Iowa.
(Radio Iowa) – State Agriculture Secretary, Mike Naig, says the drought continues to be an issue as the state’s crops head into the final stages before harvest. “There’s a lot of things that can happen here, as we get through the end of August and into fall that can still make or break that crop,” he says. “But really, it’s about how can we catch a rain or two and try to finish things off.” Naig sums up the outlook right now among farmers. “I think things are very strong in the ag economy, with the caveat being that uncertainty ahead,” Naig says.
Naig says farmers are used to dealing with the uncertainty, and this year has some of that as well. “Commodity prices have been strong. We expect pretty good yields across the state that bodes well for the farm economy. But there’s one caveat. And that, of course, is the cost of everything and the uncertainty around that,” according to Naig. “And so, you know, input costs, the cost of fertilizer, the cost of fuel, the impact of inflation, and continued supply chain disruptions.”
He says farmers can’t do anything about the rain — but can take some actions on the other factors. “This double whammy, if you will of supply chain disruption, can I get what I need when I need it? And then too what is the price that I’m going to have to pay,” he says. “And that applies to equipment, fertilizer, fuel, all of the above. So those are the things farmers are trying to manage through their risk. You know, and we’ve got some tools to do that.”
Naig says every family in the state is facing some of the same challenges with supply chain issues and inflation. Naig spoke with Radio Iowa at the Iowa State Fair.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board is sponsoring a “Breakfast with the Birds” Program! The program will be held at Sunnyside Park, Camblin’s Addition Shelter in Atlantic, IA on August 20th 2022 at 9 am. Free will donations accepted! Kay Neuman, rehabilitator and Educator at S.O.A.R., Saving Our Avian Resources, will show and discuss several of her permanently injured birds and will hopefully have one that is fully recovered and ready to release back into the wild!!
Kay Neuman, SOAR Executive Director
Please help the CCCB support raptors and education! The Board hopes you will join Conservation staff for this popular event.
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