DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The value of farmland in Iowa is up again this year reaching a new high at a time when many observers expect values to drop due to falling commodity prices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in a new report released Friday the average value of an acre of cropland in Iowa rose 9.4 percent from a year ago to a new record $8,750.

The value of farm real estate — a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms — climbed 10.4 percent to $8,500 an acre. Iowa leads the nation in the value of farmland and buildings with a total value of $235.6 billion. That’s up nearly 18 percent.

The annual report is based on producer surveys completed in the first two weeks of June.

A Mills County man was arrested early Thursday on burglary and theft related charges. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says 39-year old James Lee McFerrin was taken into custody at around 1:10-a.m., on a warrant for Burglary, and Theft in the 2nd degree. McFerrin was being held in the Mills County Hail on $10,000 bond.

And on Tuesday, 41-year old Richard Jerald Scott Driscoll, of Sidney, was arrested at the Fremont County Jail on a charge of OWI/3rd offense. Bond was set at $5,000.

The Page County Sheriff’s office reports an Essex man was arrested Thursday at the Shenandoah Police Department. 26-year old Paul Matthew Hughes was taken into custody on a valid Page County warrant for Prohibited Acts – Prescription drug violation 2nd offense, Assault on persons in certain occupations, and possession of controlled substance, cannabidiol (an ingredient in cannabis) 1st Offense.

Hughes was transported to the Page County Jail and later posted the $2000.00 bond. He was then released pending further hearings.

The Atlantic Police Department reports two local men were arrested Thursday on burglary charges. 18-year old Blake Zweck and 24-year old Nathan Stone, both of Atlantic, were charged with two counts each of Burglary in the 3rd degree, Criminal Mischief in the 4th and Theft in the 4th degrees. The charges are the result of an investigation into a burglary July 21st at the local can redemption center and an adjacent pet grooming business near Commerce and Linn Streets. The loss, including cash and various items, was estimated at about $400.

Zweck and Stone were booked into the Cass County Jail and held.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state auditor’s report shows that when it comes to revenue, all performances at the Iowa State Fair’s Grandstand aren’t equal. The Des Moines Register reports nine of the fair’s 53 acts since 2008 have cost more to bring in than they’ve earned in ticket sales. The study shows Janet Jackson’s 2011 concert appearance was the biggest loser, costing the fair about $107,000.

Last year, three performances didn’t earn enough ticket sales to cover all entertainers’ fees. One of the acts included three “Saturday Night Live” veterans. The fair had to come up with nearly $91,000 to pay the performers. Fair officials are hopeful this year’s Grandstand acts will sell more tickets.

The fair typically attracts about one million visitors during its 11-day run. It starts next month.

A southwest Iowa cattle producer has been selected as the Region 3 winner of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s program that highlights exceptional work done by cattle producers to protect and enhance the environment. Officials with the NCBA report Nichols Farms, LTD., of Bridgewater, was announced as the Region 3 winner in the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver on Thursday (July 31st). The family farm operation is managed by Dave Nichols, Phyllis Nichols and Lillian Nichols, and covers Adair, Adams and Cass counties.

Nichols Farms of Bridgewater, owned by (from left) Dave and Phyllis Nichols and Lillian Nichols.

Nichols Farms, an internationally known seedstock producer and a cow-calf operation, will compete for the national ESAP title with six other regional winners. The national winner will be announced during the Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show in San Antonio, TX, in February 2015.

The area where the Nichols both own and rent land is known as Iowa’s Hungry Canyons area, which is identified with deep cut gullies and stream trenching. Over 70% of the farmland managed by the Nichols (some owned, some rented) has been designated as highly erodible. While it’s typical for the area to have row crops grown on nearly 70% of the land, Nichols Farms has 46% of the farmland in row crops, and 54% in grassland and pasture production.

The NCBA says the work by cattlemen and women to protect their natural resources helps to improve the environmental sustainability of the beef industry. Those efforts also help this year’s regional winners improve the land for future cattle producers, a goal shared by each of these operations.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today (Friday) encouraged Iowans to take advantage of fresh fruits and vegetables available at the more than 220 farmers markets in Iowa as part of National Farmers Market Week, which runs from Aug. 3 to 9.

“We continue to see growing demand for fresh locally grown produce and farmers markets are a great place to find healthy and delicious Iowa grown fruits, vegetables, meats and other products,” Northey said. “National Farmers Market Week, and every week, is a great time to visit your local farmers market to support the vendors who are there and enjoy some of the great food grown in this state.”

As part of National Farmers Market Week, Northey highlighted the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs. These programs provide eligible low-income seniors as well as women and children in Iowa with checks that can be redeemed for fresh, locally grown produce at authorized farmers markets and farm stands from June 1 through October 31, 2014.

Northey also encouraged Iowans to take advantage of the free Iowa Farmers Market app for smartphones that can help Iowans locate the farmers markets in their area. The app allows users to find the farmers market closest to them by using GPS location services or to search for specific farmers markets by city or zip code. Once they have located a market, the user can view the hours of the market, browse a list of vendors and see a phone number and email address of the market manager. App users can also leave reviews of the market and vendors and upload their photos to share with others.

The app is free to download and is available through Apple’s App store and Google Play by searching “Iowa Farmers Markets.”  The app was developed for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship using funds from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

An Atlantic man was arrested Thursday on an assault charge. The A-PD says 55-year old Jeffrey Pross was booked into the Cass County Jail for the alleged incident involving 22-year old Cody Christensen at 2800 E. 7th Street. Christensen suffered minor injuries during the altercation, which was reported at around 5-p.m., Thursday.

Pross was released from the jail after posting bond.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report  a Mills County man was arrested Thursday night following a traffic stop. 35-year old Jeremy Potts, of Glenwood, was pulled over at around 9:15-p.m.  Upon further investigation, deputies determined Potts was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. He was taken into custody on a charge of OWI/2nd offense, and brought to the Adams County Jail, where his bond was set at $2,000.

LARCHWOOD, Iowa (AP) – Two girls who went missing after going out to pick corn in a northwest Iowa field have been found safe. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office says the girls were ages 3 and 6. They went to pick corn on Thursday afternoon and got lost in a field.

Sioux City television station KTIV says several law enforcement agencies and a helicopter joined the search. A passer-by spotted the girls about 2 1/2 hours after they were reported missing. They’ve been reunited with their parents.