2013 Fall
Farm
2 Wednesday, October 2, 2013
2013 Fall Farm Crawl showcases Franklin County’s diverse agriculture scene
Farm
Hampton Chronicle • Section B
By Jeff Forward
H
undreds of people converged on three Franklin County farms on Sunday, Sept. 22 for the first Franklin County Farm Crawl – an event that was intended to showcase the wide variety of agriculture and livestock that can be found in the county. Numerous local farmers and meat producers participated in the event, educating visitors about goats, organic chickens, ostrich meat, vegetables and aronia berry. There were also cooking exhibits, tasting, and a feeling of community among the visitors and exhibitors. “Franklin County has more than you think,” said Marilyn Hamilton, a Latimer-based farmer who was showing off her free range poultry at the Carlson Tree Farm stop on the crawl. “It’s good they did this. It’s a good way to let people know we’re out here.” Hamilton said the farm crawl helps promote the goals of eating locally and in a more healthy manner, noting her chickens are antibiotic-
Dennis and Cathy Carlson, of Carlson Tree Farm and Learning Lodge southwest of Hampton, hosted one of the three Franklin County Farm Crawl stops on Sept. 22, with seven different agriculture producers. Dennis said at least 200 visitors came to the tree farm and experienced the diversity of Franklin County agriculture. (Photos by Jeff Forward, Hampton Chronicle.)
free and have a large area outside to roam freely when not being raised in their deep-bedded buildings. “Sometimes, things like this create public awareness,” Hamilton said of the farm crawl.
The Carlson Tree Farm was just one of three stops on the farm crawl and featured at least seven different Franklin County vendors and farmers. Other stops on the tour included Koenig’s Acres, on 100th Street, and
Children play with goats brought by Mike Buchanan, a meat goat producer located east of Hampton. Buchanan said that many people were unaware that goat is the most-eaten meat in the world.
Enchanted Acres, located on 250th Street in Sheffield. The event – which was modeled after other similar farm crawls in surrounding counties – was co-sponsored by Franklin County Extension, Franklin County Tourism, and Healthy Harvest North Iowa. Dennis Carlson, who co-owns his tree farm with his wife Cathy, said the day-long event surpassed his expectations for attendees, reporting that at least 200 people visited the farm between noon and 6 p.m. “You would assume people would know about the different products grown in Franklin County, but they don’t,” Dennis said. “Each site on the crawl was different. We wanted to host more of the local producers that could not host an event.” Present at the Carlson Tree Farm were a multitude of local farmers with wide-ranging products. Helen Wall, who raises ostriches with her husband Arthur, was on hand with samples of all the products that can be produced from an ostrich. Hamilton was one of several meat producers at the event, joining meat goat farmer Mike Buchanan, Wall with her ostrich meat, and another chicken producer – Austin Elling of Spring Creek Farms. Also on hand were Larry and Nancy Turner, who showcased aronia berries and provided tasting and information about the health benefits of the unique and diverse berry. Plus, Jeff Forgy, who runs a Forgy’s Farm Fresh CSA in Popejoy with his wife Julie, was on hand to educated visitors about different types of produce grown in the county and the opportunity to join his CSA. Buchanan had one of the more
popular exhibits, with a pair of dairy goats and a meat goat inside a small pen at the entrance to the Carlson’s lodge house. Children were able to pet the goats and Buchanan educated the public on goat meat – which is the most eaten meat in the world. Buchanan said he was happy that the event was held and feels it is a great way for telling people all that goes on in Franklin County. “We’ve had people come from all over. It’s been a big crowd. I’ve been surprised,” Buchanan said. “It’s been steady all the way through the day. A lot of questions asked.” Buchanan, who raises about 45 “nannies” for meat production on his farm 1 1/2 miles east of
Aronia berries from Winding Creek Farm, owned by Larry and Nancy Turner.
Hampton, said he hopes to increase the size of his operation and reach out to more ethnic customers like Hispanic, Latino, and Middle Eastern clientele that typically eat goat meat. “No one realizes it’s the number one eaten meat in the world,” Buchanan added. “Sixty-three percent of the meat eaten in the world is goat meat.”
“The little goats were great with the kids,” Buchanan said. “Next year, we’ll have a grill fired up and have samples to eat like the other meats.” Inside the Carlson lodge house were more vendors and exhibitors, as well as lots of cookies, chicken tacos, ostrich jerky, aronia berry ice cream, and dried apples to munch on. Helen Wall, who co-owns Obviously Ostriches farm in Alden with her husband Arthur – said ostriches have many uses for all their byproducts, from meat to their eggs, leather, and feathers. “I think the best thing about it, is it’s tasty,” Wall said of ostrich meat. “It tastes really good, it’s lean. It’s a red meat, so sometimes if you’re on a heart healthy diet, you can eat this instead of other fatty meats.” Wall said she was very happy with the turnout of people at the farm crawl and said it helps promote a variety of agriculture and meat production in Franklin County that many do not realize exists. “This has been nice. It’s nicer to see local people from my church, people from my area,” Wall noted. “Many times when I’m promoting ostriches, it’s not local people. This is local people learning about local farms.” One of the healthy food products on hand was the mysterious Aronia berry, which is being grown locally by Larry and Nancy Turner of Belmond. Larry said that many people are not aware of how awesome Aronia berries are when it comes to health benefits. He said that the dry, tart Continue on page 3
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2013 Fall
Hampton Chronicle • Section B
Farm
Wednesday, October 2, 2013 3
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The free range chicken tacos provided by Austin Elling of Spring Creek Farms were one of the more popular food items present for sampling. Farm Crawl, from page 2
berry has lots of tannins and an estimated three to five times more antioxidants than blueberries. “It’s mother nature’s wonder fruit,� Larry said. The indians were smart, they used it for medicinal purposes and they used it for paint because it’s juice makes a good dye.� Nancy Turner said Aronia berry is mainly found in Russia, Poland and other Eastern European markets and the people there have realized how great it is for general health. “If you had inflammation of the joints,� she said. “A lot of people get relief from that from this berry.� The pair said that people can use Aronia berry in smoothies or health shakes in combination with apple juice and bananas. The couple also had on hand Aronia berry ice cream, which had a nice smooth taste and a pleasant texture. Another vendor – this one touting vegetables and CSA agriculture – was Jeff Forgy or Forgy’s Farm Fresh. Jeff owns the farm with his wife, Julie, and they grow dozens of
different vegetables and also provide a CSA - or community supported agriculture - service. Jeff explained that in the CSA set-up, customers can hand-pick the ingredients of vegetable boxes that are then either delivered or picked up. The farm grows a wide range of produce, he said, including tomotoes, peppers, sweet corn, onions, spinach, eggplant, cucumbers, kale, kohlrabi, various herbs, and as well as dozens of other items. “The nice thing about a CSA,� Forgy said. “is you the customer have input about what we do and grow.� Forgy was extremely happy with the farm crawl event, saying it helps spread the word about local farms and all they do aside from the usually thought of crops of corn, soybeans, and hogs. “It was really a good crowd. It was a steady stream of people,� he said. “Quite a few people told us that they didn’t know this kind of agriculture existed in Franklin County.�
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Marilyn Hamilton was on hand at the event to promote her free range poultry.
Helen Wall and Amanda Herman, both of Alden, were on hand to represent the ostrich farm Obviously Ostriches. Jeff Forgy, of Forgy’s Fresh Farm, promoted vegetables and his farm’s CSA – or community supported agriculture. It’s a service where customers can order vegetable boxes of their choosing.
These hand-painted ostrich eggs were on display from the farm of Helen and Arthur Wall in Alden.
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ukup Manufacturing Co. is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with events including a kick-off lunch for employees, a charity golf outing, and other themed events. “It has been an exciting year, with a lot of fun opportunities to look back, and to look ahead,� said Company President Charles Sukup. Sukup Manufacturing was founded in 1963 by Eugene Sukup. His first invention was a stirring machine designed to keep corn from spoiling in bins, and was followed by numerous other inventions to improve efficiency, safety and profitability of farming. “It’s been an exciting ride,� Eugene Sukup said to a packed audience during the employee luncheon, crediting the success of the business to their hard work. Along with scores of other products, it’s gratifying to still be selling hundreds of grain stirring machines each year, he said before demonstrating one of the original Easy Stir augers from the 1960’s. The company’s subsequent development of aeration, unloading and drying equipment helped it grow from a small welding shop to an international leader in grain storage and handling equipment, with about 600 employees and products in over 70 countries. Sukup Manufacturing has more than 80 patents. “Dad was always trying different things,� said son Steve Sukup, chief financial officer of the family-owned company. Charles Sukup said the company has always been about finding solutions. He described his dad as a classic entrepreneur who kept the company moving forward by coming up with new product ideas. Former Hampton attorney Lee Blum was an early witness to the company’s growth, serving as outside counsel for more than 30 years. He did tax and accounting work for the Sukups before the company’s founding, then drew up the incorporation papers. He also helped the Sukups buy the ground where the manufacturing buildings are now located. The Sukups had a knack for developing new products, Blum said. “It just seemed uncanny to me. They were prepared when opportunities came along, and they had a lot of good ideas.� Grain producers worldwide have benefited from Sukup innovations and improvements in grain handling systems, said Charlie Brown, president of the Franklin County Development Association and former president of United Bank and Trust. Steven Leath, President of Iowa State University had this to say about Sukup Manufacturing, “For 50 years, Sukup Manufacturing has been a model for how innovation and determination can make the difference in some of the most competitive markets imaginable in Iowa, the nation and the world. Clearly, the leadership of Sukup Manufacturing has understood the
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Hampton Chronicle • Section B
Sukup Manufacturing Co. celebrates 50th anniversary
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Farm
With assistance from Jordan Pals and Gene Elings, far right, Sukup Manufacturing Co. founder Eugene Sukup demonstrated an original Easy Stir auger, the first product of Sukup Manufacturing Co., and explained the importance of automating it.
extraordinary level of commitment needed to be successful, and you have consistently made that commitment.� An example to that commitment to success is evident in the company’s decision to begin manufacturing their own line of grain bins. This was a huge shift for the company. Since its beginning, Sukup Manufacturing provided the accessory equipment required to make a bin functional – either to dry or store grain. Since they did not have their own line of bins to tie their accessories to, they had to make sure the fans, heaters, stirring machines, bin floors and unloading equipment they were producing were top-of-the-line. Over the years, the market changed as bin manufacturers began purchasing their own accessory lines in order to offer customers a complete package. Sukup management took a look at the market and realized it was time to change or get squeezed out. The decision was made to develop their own grain bin and the company hasn’t looked back. “It was the best decision we ever made. Sukup Grain Bins were immediately accepted by farmers and we quickly became the world’s fastest growing bin manufacturer. In a few short years, we were among the top three bin manufacturers,� said Charles. Through their success, Sukup Manufacturing has generated billions of dollars in economic activity in Iowa, and the Sukup family has contributed millions of dollars to initiatives and programs to improve life for Iowans and others around the world. They have been “very generous,� said Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, citing contributions to Iowa State University, earthquake victims in
Haiti, and to numerous local and state initiatives. “Whenever we’ve asked them to get involved in something to benefit the state or community, they have always been willing to do so,� the Governor said. Staying true to that principle, Sukup launched the 50 Homes for Humanity campaign as part of the anniversary celebration. Working in conjunction with Global Compassion Network, the company set a goal to raise enough money to fund 25 Safe T Homes. Sukup will then match those donations to fund a total of 50 Homes for Humanity. To involve vendors and other business associates in the anniversary celebration, Sukup hosted a celebrity golf event in support of the 50 Homes for Humanity campaign. Vendors donated enough money to fund 13 Safe T Homes for people in need. Sukup employees are also getting involved in the 50 Homes for Humanity campaign. During an employee golf event, as well as the company picnic, employees had the opportunity to donate to the campaign. The company has also taken the campaign to people visiting the Sukup booth at farm shows this summer and fall. A new office building began taking shape this past spring and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2014. “This new office building gives us an opportunity to be more visible and showcase our world-class abilities here,� Charles Sukup said. The majority of the structural steel for the new office has been produced by Sukup. The company began manufacturing steel buildings in 2011. The nearly 50,000-square-
foot building will have a warm yet industrial feel with some of the steel structure exposed to highlight the company’s manufacturing capabilities. Besides offices, there will be space for dealer meetings and displays of Sukup products. “It has been exciting and fun to watch the progress of the new office building during this special year. It’s a wonderful and lasting way to commemorate our anniversary.� Charles said it has been especially thrilling to celebrate the anniversary with so many different groups. “We’ve had events for employees, dealers and vendors – all people who have been instrumental in the success of our company. And, we have more things planned.� Sukup Manufacturing has been providing top-quality products to agricultural producers since 1963. It is the fastest-growing bin manufacturer and largest familyowned and operated full-line grain drying, storage and handling equipment manufacturer in the world. Its product line includes farm and commercial grain bins, portable and tower dryers, centrifugal and axial fans and heaters, stirring machines, bin unloading equipment and bin floors and supports. Sukup also makes a line of material handling equipment that includes bucket elevators, drag conveyors and chain loop conveyors, and manufactures pre-engineered steel buildings. Sukup products are sold throughout the U.S. and Canada, and can be found in more than 70 other countries. To view the video “Sukup Manufacturing 50 Years and Counting,� visit www.Sukup.com.
Annual Beef Scholarship event set for Dec. 13 - team entry
Hawkeye Community College, Muscatine Community College, Des Moines Area Community College or Iowa Lakes Community College, those institutions offer additional matching scholarships to students on the winning teams.
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The entry fee is $200 per team; and a team can consist of two or three students. The fee covers noon lunch, snacks and an Extravaganza t-shirt. Call the ICF offices at 515-296-2266, or email sarah@ iabeef.org for more information.
deadline is Nov. 1
he 19th Annual Beef Scholarship Extravaganza will be held Friday, Dec. 13 at Kildee Hall on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames. More than $7,600 in scholarships will be awarded. The deadline for teams to enter the competition is Nov. 1. The contest, which is sponsored by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation, is open to teams of high school juniors and seniors; however, team members do not need to be from the same school. Extravaganza tests student knowledge at 10 stations that cover all aspects of beef cattle management and beef marketing issues. Stations include: Handling and Health; Nutrition; Marketing (Beef cut evaluation); Seedstock Merchandising; Job Interview; Keep-Cull Replacement Heifers; Reproduction; Beef Management Challenge; Credit and Finance; Beef Industry Issues and Advocacy Station protocols will be sent to registered teams and are posted on the ICF website, www. iowacattelemensfoundation.org. Registration information is also on the site. Scholarship dollars won at the Extravaganza can be used at any university or community college. In addition, if the student will be attending Iowa State University, Kirkwood Community College,
2013 Fall
Hampton Chronicle • Section B
Farm
Wednesday, October 2, 2013 5
Cover crops: great for 9 organizations receive farmers, great for Iowa grants for specialty crops, products DES MOINES, Iowa
I
By Nick Pedley
I
owa farmers are behind the eight ball when it comes to one conservation method that can pad their pocketbooks, preserve soil quality and reduce water pollution. Iowa State University Extension field agronomists Terry Basol and Mark Johnson explained the many benefits of planting cover crops at a Sept. 10 meeting in Sheffield. According to the two men, cover crops assist with the nitrogen cycle, stop soil erosion, improve soil structure and increase organic matter. Additionally, they said a reduction in nitrogen application and phosphate pollution is one of the biggest and most notable benefits of the cover crop system. “If we don’t start limiting nitrates, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) will start regulation and fines – all the paperwork farmers hate,” said Johnson. “Virtually every state around us is advanced… but they all need to get better. For whatever reason, Iowa is behind all of them.” Basol said there are numerous options available for farmers who want to start planting cover crops. Winter triticale, winter rye, ryegrass, oats and hairy vetch are all viable options with different benefits. All of the crops suppress both winter annual weeds and early season weeds, while simultaneously providing forage for grazing cattle. Farmers typically plant their cover crops by drilling if they have an early harvest and do a flyover if the harvest is later in the season. “A lot of these strategies aren’t going to take money out of your pocket, they’re going to put into your pocket,” said Johnson. Over time, nitrogen levels within the soil will begin to stabilize with
the application of cover crops. The plants take up nitrates in the fall, then puts them back into the soil during the spring. This reduces the need for chemical application and saves the farmer both time and money. However, Basol and Johnson said patience was a virtue when it comes to cover crops. “This isn’t an overnight process,” said Basol. Coupled with reduced nitrogen application and less soil erosion, the men said Iowans would begin to see less phosphate pollution in the state’s streams, rivers and lakes. Phosphates attach Johnson to soil and enter the watershed through erosion. By keeping the soil in the fields, the risk of widespread leaching is reduced. “What has really started driving this in Iowa is the nutrient reduction process,” said Basol. “I think it’s going to take a combination of practices, but cover crops are a good place to start.” Basol wasn’t exactly sure why Iowa was so far behind other states when it comes to planting cover crops. He said some farmers with more hilly land have been utilizing them for years, while others with flat ground have been slow to adopt the practice. “You get busy doing your own thing, and I think that’s part of it,” he said. “It’s also sort of a history thing. Did your grandpa do it? No.” Despite a slow start in Iowa, Basol noted many farmers are starting to take interest in cover crops. He said it’s important for farmers to realize the benefits are long-term and take time, but in the end it will help soil quality and the farmer’s bottom line. “We’ve got some catching up to do,” said Basol. “But cover crops are a great idea, and it’s a great idea for farmers to keep those nitrates on the field.”
“A lot of these strategies aren’t going to take money out of your pocket, they’re going to put into your pocket”
NPPC presidentelect to speak at Iowa State pork lecture AMES, Iowa
H
oward Hill, president-elect of the National Pork Producers Council and strategic council to Iowa Select Farms, will present the 2013 William K. Deal Endowed Leadership Lecture Oct. 9 at Iowa State University. He will present “Entrepreneurs and Leadership in the Swine Industry” at 7 p.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union on campus. The event is free and open to the public.
In 2011, Dr. Hill was one of nine veterinarians appointed to serve on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Animal Health.
Dr. Hill earned a master’s degree and doctorate in veterinary microbiology from Iowa State and joined the faculty at Iowa State’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. During his
owa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will be awarding grants to nine Iowa organizations to help enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in Iowa. The Department received $253,104.59 through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to support the program. “Specialty crops are a very important part of Iowa agriculture as they allow farmers to diversify and give customers access to locally grown products,” Northey said. “These federal funds will support food safety, research and marketing efforts that will encourage Iowans to choose fruits, vegetables, nuts and flowers that are produced right here in our state.” Iowa agricultural non-profit organizations, cooperatives, specialty crop industry associations or organizations, and producer groups were eligible to apply for funding. The Department also invited public comment from specialty crop stakeholders to help identify priorities for the program and established a Review Committee to help review, evaluate, and make recommendations on which grant proposals submitted to the Department should receive funding. The maximum grant award from the Department to sub-grantees is $24,000 and administrative and indirect costs are not allowed. Grant funds shall be used for projects that benefit and enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops industry as a whole, and cannot be for projects that directly benefit a particular product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. “Specialty Crops” that are eligible under this program are fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery
crops, including floriculture. The funds not passed through to Iowa organizations will be used by the Department to administer the grant. The full list of nine grant recipients follows here: Iowa State University (Dr. Paul Domoto) - $11,000 to optimize the cropping potential and profitability of organic and sustainable apple orchards through the use of dwarfing rootstocks. Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development $23,175 to train Iowa Valley Food Co-op producers to become wholesale marketers. Iowa State University (Dr. Kathleen Delate) - $23,694 to improve organic apple production as a specialty crop in Iowa. Iowa City Parks and Recreation - $23,363 to create an agroforesty template for perennial specialty crops, develop a permanent demonstrations site, and conduct classes. Iowa State University (Dr. Patrick O’Malley) - $23,970 to compile and disseminate information to grow, harvest, process, and market Persimmon, Pawpaw, and Aronia. Practical Farmers of Iowa $24,000 to educate specialty crop producers about pesticide drift occurrences, prevention and response protocol in Iowa. Lutheran Services of Iowa $24,000 to increase Iowa specialty crop production and consumption through empowerment of refugee producers. Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Farm to School Program - $39,159 to provide growers with tools, training and opportunities to better enable them to supply our schools with fresh, locally grown specialty crops. Health Harvest of Northern Iowa - $18,403 to introduce a new set of financial management and production skills through technical training and on-farm research for North Iowa specialty crop producers.
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20-year tenure at the university, he served as an industry leader in the eradication of pseudorabies. A native of California, Dr. Hill earned a doctorate of veterinary medicine from the University of California-Davis. He has been with Iowa Select since 2000, when he joined the company as director of production. In 2001, he was promoted to chief operating officer, continuing in that role until 2009. In 2011, Dr. Hill was one of nine veterinarians appointed to serve on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Animal Health. Iowa Select Farms is an Iowabased pork production company founded in 1992 by Jeff Hansen, a third-generation family farmer and pork producer. Headquartered in Iowa Falls, Iowa Select is the state’s largest pork producer with more than 900 employees in 43 counties. Throughout his career, Dr. Hill has been involved in the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, the Story County Pork Producers, is on the board of directors of the Iowa
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Pork Producers Association and is past president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. He also is involved with the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Hill’s pork production business, H&K Enterprises, includes hogs and cattle, and he and his son farm 2,600 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa. William K. Deal, an Iowa State alum with a degree in agricultural education, established the lecture series to help prepare future leaders and innovators in agriculture. The lecture is organized by the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and co-sponsored by the Committee on Lectures funded by the Government of the Student Body.
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2013 Fall
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ISU Extention & Outreach Bus Grants bridge gap between youth, Iowa’s ag story Calendar for October ore than 1,800 ementary, Bryant; Washington Elstudents from ementary, Charles City; Lincoln events in Cerro Gordo Northeast Iowa Elementary, Charles City; Indian schools now have Hills Junior High School, Clive; an opportunity, North-Linn Elementary, Coggon; County they may have otherwise missed, St. Benedict Elementary School,
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Following is the calendar of events conducted by the ISU Extension and Outreach, Cerro Gordo County. The public is invited to call 641-423-0844 for information or to register for the meetings listed below. This information may also be accessed on the Internet: www. extension.iastate.edu/cerrogordo Select calendar on the right side of the web page to find events for Cerro Gordo or any County Extension Office in Iowa. Clicking on the event title below will take you to more information about that particular event. Further details may be obtained by contacting the Cerro Gordo County Extension office at 641-423-0844. Thank you for publicizing these events.
OCTOBER 2013 Tuesday, October 1, 2013 • 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.: Fall Master Gardener Class-Plant Pathology & Entomology Cerro Gordo County Extension Office, Mason City
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Sunday, October 6, 2013 • 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.: Celebrate National 4-H Week October 6-12, 2013!! Cerro Gordo County Extension Office, Mason City • 2 - 5:30 p.m.: 4-H Fall Fire Up & Carnival 4-H Learning Center, North Iowa Events Center, Mason City
Mondays, October 7-28, 2013 • 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale - Revised (FCCERS-R) Cerro Gordo County Extension Office, Mason City
Tuesday, October 8, 2013 • 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.: Fall Master Gardener Class-Weeds, IPM, and Pesticides Cerro Gordo County Extension Office, Mason City
Saturday, October 12 • 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Fall Master Gardener Class-Saturday Class on the ISU Campus ISU Campus, Ames
Tuesday, October 15 • 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.: Fall Master Gardener ClassLandscape Trees & Shrubs Cerro Gordo County Extension Office, Mason City
Wednesday, October 16
Open Daily beginning
November 29 Doug and Cyndi Miller 3 miles N. on 65 to 180th St. - Go E. 2 miles to Raven - On southside corner Hampton, Iowa
Hampton Chronicle • Section B
• 9- 11:30 a.m.: Roadside, Forest and Aquatic Pest Management Pesticide Applicator Training Cerro Gordo County Extension Office, Mason City
Tuesday, October 22 • 6:30- 9:30 p.m.: Fall Master Gardener Class-Animal Ecology Cerro Gordo County Extension Office, Mason City • 7 - 8:30 p.m.: 4-H Fall Leader Organizational Meeting 4-H Learning Center, North Iowa Events Center, Mason City
Thursday, October 24 • 9- 11:30 a.m.: Mosquito/Public Health Pest Management Pesticide Applicator Training Cerro Gordo County Extension Office, Mason City
Tuesday, October 29 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.: Fall Master Gardener Class-Fruits Cerro Gordo County Extension Office, Mason City
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to learn firsthand about Iowa’s rich agricultural heritage. For the 2013-2014 school year, Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) awarded $10,016 to 34 schools within the Heritage Area; helping cover the costs of field trips to 17 different SSNHA Partner Sites. Some of the sites that will be visited throughout the school year include; Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy, Hudson; Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum, Burr Oak; and Living History Farms, Urbandale. The bus grants, which help to cover the transportation costs associated with field trips to SSNHA Partner Sites and farms throughout the region, are awarded on a firstreceived, first-funded basis to accredited Pre K-12 public, private or charter schools located in the Heritage Area; with a maximum of $350 per school building. This year the funds went very quickly and were completely gone in one month. Funding for this program is made possible through individual contributions, corporate donations and federal funds. Specifically SSNHA would like to thank the GROWMARK Foundation for their financial contribution to the Bus Grant Program for the third consecutive year. Almost 13,000 students have benefited from this program since it started in 2007. “Many of today’s youth have little connection to agriculture and where their food comes from. Thanks to support from GROWMARK, we are able to help spur these hands-on learning opportunities for thousands of Northeast Iowa youth,” commented Don Short, SSNHA President. Schools receiving grants include (arranged alphabetically by community): AGWSR Community School, Ackley; Baxter Community School, Baxter; Bellevue Elementary School, Bellevue; Northeast Hamilton, Blairsburg; Bryant El-
Decorah; Decorah Middle School, Decorah; Capitol View Elementary School, Des Moines; Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School, Dubuque; Prescott Elementary, Dubuque; Learn & Play Preschool, Evansdale; Helen Lemme Elementary School, Iowa City; Janesville Consolidated School, Janesville; St. Joseph Catholic School, Marion; Easton Valley Elementary, Miles; Nashua-Plainfield Elementary School, Nashua; New Hampton Middle School, New Hampton; Norway Elementary, Norway; Osage Middle School, Osage; De Sales School, Ossian; Postville High School, Postville; Riceville Community School, Riceville; Rolling Green Elementary, Urbandale; Sacred Heart School, Waterloo; St. Edward Catholic School, Waterloo; Blessed Sacrament School, Waterloo; Kittrell Early Childhood Center, Waterloo; Southeast Elementary, Waverly; West Cedar Elementary, Waverly; and St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Waverly. SSNHA is currently working to raise funds for the 2014-2015 school year. To donate to the SSNHA Education Scholarship Fund, visit www.silosandsmokestacks.org and click on “Donate” along the bottom bar. For more information, contact Angi Reid, Education & Interpretation Manager at (319) 234-4567 or areid@ silosandsmokestacks.orgg. Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area is one of 49 federally designated heritage areas in the nation and is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service. The Heritage Area covers 37 counties in the northeast quadrant of Iowa. Interstate 80 borders it on the south and Interstate 35 borders it on the west. Through a network of sites, programs and events, SSNHA interprets farm life, agribusiness and rural communities - past and present.
Instructional course offered for commercial pesticide applicators
C
erro Gordo County Extension will host an Aquatic, Forest and Roadside Continuing Instructional Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators on Wednesday, Oct. 16. The program can be seen at locations across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pest Management and the Environment (PME) Program. The local site for the Oct. 16 CIC is Cerro Gordo County Extension, 2023 S. Federal, Mason City. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by sessions from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The registration fee is $35 on or before Oct. 9 and $45 after Oct. 9. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact Becky at the ISU
Extension and Outreach office in Cerro Gordo County by phoning 641-423-0844. The 2013 course will provide continuing instructional credits for commercial and public pesticide applicators certified in categories 2 (Forest Pest Control), 5 (Aquatic Pest Control), 6 (Right-of-Way Pest Control) and 10 (Demonstration and Research). Topics to be covered are safe handling and storage of pesticides, personal protective equipment, laws and regulations, pesticide stewardship, an update on emerald ash borer in Iowa, thistle control, forest weed control and aquatic pest control. Additional information and registration forms for this and other courses offered through the PME Program can be accessed at www. extension.iastate.edu/PME.
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2013 Fall
Hampton Chronicle • Section B
Farm
Wednesday, October 2, 2013 7
Iowa State researchers develop new PEDV test
V
eterinary researchers at Iowa State University have developed a new test to detect antibodies against Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV), a costly disease in pigs confirmed in the United States for the first time this year. Previously, the virus could be detected only in acute cases while it was still reproducing and infecting a host pig. In such cases, the virus could be identified through the use of a test known as a polymerase chain reaction assay. But those tests could give a false negative if the pig had stopped shedding the disease or if shedding had become intermittent. The new test, called an immunofluorescence antibody or indirect fluorescent antibody assay and conducted using blood samples from pigs, will allow veterinarians and producers to know if a pig has ever had the disease in the past, whether it’s shedding the virus or not. It’s the first test available to the U.S. veterinary community that can detect PEDV antibodies. “The new test gives practitioners and their clients a historical perspective,” said Dr. John Johnson, a clinician in veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine. “It’ll help them to understand if a particular animal has been exposed to the virus before. This tool, coupled with polymerase chain reaction results, will provide additional crucial information as veterinarians and their clientele assess the risk of moving a group of animals into a PEDV-negative population.” Dr. Kyoung-Jin Yoon, a professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, led the effort in developing the new test. The screening works by detecting the presence of PEDV antibodies in a blood sample. If the antibodies are present, then the pig in question has been exposed to the virus before, Yoon said. The screening, available through the ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, costs $5.50 per sample and can be requested by lo-
cal veterinarians. “In order for this test to function, we must first have an isolated virus on hand,” Yoon said. “For a long time, it’s been difficult to isolate the virus in a cell culture, so there are a lot of tricks and manipulation we have to do to make this virus propagate in cell culture.” The test will be especially helpful to pork producers who are looking for replacement breeding stock, Johnson said. By performing the test, producers can know if an animal has been exposed to the virus in the past before they bring it onto their farms. The Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory identified the first U.S. cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus in early May. Since then, the diagnostic laboratory has helped to confirm cases of the disease in 17 states, including Iowa, Yoon said. The virus was first diagnosed in 1971 in Britain, and Europe has experienced sporadic outbreaks in the years since, while the disease has become prevalent among pigs in Asia since 1982. PEDV infects only pigs and does not pose a threat to human health.
The primary symptom of the disease, which is spread through fecal matter, is severe diarrhea in pigs of all ages with high mortality in neonatal piglets. The most common sources of infectious feces are infected pigs, contaminated trucks, boots and clothing, making biosecurity measures on farms especially important to contain the spread of the disease. Hog producers who notice severe diarrhea among their herd should contact a veterinarian immediately. Diagnosticians and clinicians in the ISU Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine and the Iowa Pork Industry Center are now working closely with producers and veterinarians to implement best practices to diagnose the disease in other herds and to minimize its impact and prevent its spread to uninfected herds, Yoon said. He said discovery of the disease in the United States has led a wide range of personnel in the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine to collaborate to help Iowa producers deal with the disease. “This is a new disease to the U.S., and when that happens, we
Dr. John Johnson
Dr. Kyoung-Jin Yoon
have to either develop new tests or try to find what’s available from other parts of the world,” he said. “When those things happen, we have to have a lot of people help out. In this instance, we’ve seen great collaboration between faculty, technical staff and graduate students at Iowa State to help with our response to this virus. - See more at: http://www.news. iastate.edu/news/2013/09/12/ pedvscreen#sthash.q3ufh2XL. dpuf
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8 Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Have a Safe Harvest!
2013 Fall
Farm
Hampton Chronicle • Section B
ISU Extension Office offers harvest time tips at Sheffield meeting
ISU Extension field agronomist Terry Basol describes a slide about crop drying, handling and storage to a crowd of around 30 people Tuesday, September 10, at Ridge Stone Golf Club in Sheffield. (Photo by Nick Pedley, Hampton Chronicle)
By Nick Pedley
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round 30 local farmers and FFA students packed the basement at the Ridge Stone Golf Club in Sheffield September 10, to hear expert advice and forecasts on the 2013 fall harvest season. ISU Extension field agronomists Mark Johnson and Terry Basol, along with farm management expert Kelvin Leibold, touched on a host of topics ranging from drying and storage tips to market outlook. This year’s relatively wet and cool growing season created a diversified crop throughout the area, and all three men felt farmers would see extremely varied results come harvest time. “We’re going to have tremendous differences across these fields – it’s very hard to find a uniform field this year,” Johnson said about this year’s crop. “The first eight days of September were hotter than the first eight days of July.” Johnson felt it was important for farmers to scout their fields and
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ISU Extension field agronomists Terry Basol, left, and Mark Johnson, right. (Photo by Nick Pedley, Hampton Chronicle)
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prioritize which ones need to get harvested first. He said doing simple tests on the roots and stalks of the corn plant can help decide which fields should be harvested sooner and which can wait. Roots should be firm when pinched and should be white on the inside if you cut them vertically. Johnson said brown, mushy root systems push back the maturation process, and these fields should be harvested later. “If your roots are white and firm, go ahead and harvest the field a bit sooner. That’s good,” he said. Topics at the meeting ranged from market outlook to nitrogen management, Johnson advised that plus many more like crop storage and maturity. farmers also test their stalks for (Photo by Nick Pedley, Hampton Chronicle) rot when scouting fields. Stalks should be firm when pinched and fields in addition to testing stalks and the winter. He said it’s extremely spring back when pushed. If they’re roots for rot. Aflatoxins – harmful important to cool all grain to 35-40 limp when pushed, farmers should chemicals produced by certain mold degrees immediately after it’s dried, consider harvesting that field later. fungi – are hazardous to both animal and maintaining an even temperature Corn takes longer to mature if their and human health if consumed. will help ensure stability throughout root system and stalk are in poor Farmers can reduce the risk crop loss the storage period. Basol also shared from aflatoxins by early detection of that farmers should monitor their condition. Basol stressed that farmers fungus and through proper storage bins and check for spoilage on a routine basis. should check for fungus in their techniques. However, he reiterated that Aflatoxins are more prominent in prevention started before harvest. “I encourage you guys to get extremely hot and dry growing seasons. 2012 out there, check your fields, pull was one of those years, the husks back and check to see but Basol said farmers if you have fungus you need to be should still be aware concerned about,” he said. The weather provided farmers of their potential this fall, as regulations with rather adverse growing surrounding the conditions this year, but Leibold aflatoxins have become provided information that offered some hope. Between 39-50 percent stricter. “By law, you of Iowa’s corn and soybean crop are cannot blend the in excellent condition as we head aflatoxin. Last year, towards harvest. Corn was predicted they got an exception, to yield an average of 163 bushelsbut if it’s not a high year per-acre while soybeans were for aflatoxin. You can’t pegged at 47 bushels-per-acre. Leibold said soybeans were blend it,” he noted. Basol said looking good, but he was less certain clean, well-ventilated about the 163-bushel threshold for storage bins are key corn “I’m not sure we’re going to get to successfully storing grain and reducing the there,” he said. “This yield’s going risk of mold growth over to be really wild and crazy.”
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