News Center newsletter

Morgan and Justin Smerud of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Scarlett Marie Smerud, born February 25, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. and measured 21 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins a brother, Emmett Smerud (18 months).

Grandparents are Brian and Suzette Mahoney of Waukon and Denise and Cullen Becker of Lansing. Great-grandparents are Gene and Marcia Rosel of Decorah, Maureen Mahoney of Waukon and Michael Mahoney of Waukon.

Abe and Kayla Coates of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Lylith Jayde Coates, born February 23, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 7 lbs. 7 ozs. and measured 19-1/2 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins siblings, Xavier (20), Sirenity (17) and Xander (15).

Grandparents are Lynnette Ihde and Larry Trappe of Monona.

Makayla Dahlstrom and Jeff Haas announce the birth of their daughter, Harper Lee-Ann Haas, born March 2, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 3 lbs. 9 ozs. at the time of her birth. She joins a sister, Brayleigh Haas (1).

Grandparents are Josh and Tara Hager and Steven Hill, all of Waukon.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
Mar. 11: General CRP Signup
Mar. 15: ARCPLC Program Deadline
Mar. 25: Dairy Margin Coverage Program

Is Wasted Hay the Best Way to Build up Fertility?

by LuAnn Rolling, NRCS District Conservationist

We have all heard that unrolling hay and feeding it is a good way to build fertility in poor areas of pastures. While this may be good advice if hay is used efficiently, due to concentrating manure and urine, according to Jim Elizondo from Real Wealth Ranching, some producers have mistaken this for building a fertility program based on wasteful hay feeding.

Topics include carbon storage and sequestration

Carbon storage and marketing will highlight the discussion at the annual meeting of the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experiment Association, to be held March 16 at the Borlaug Learning Center at Iowa State’s Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Nashua.

Speakers include Keith Schilling, state geologist and director, Iowa Geological Survey, University of Iowa, and Ann Johanns, education extension specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Schilling will discuss “Challenges and Opportunities of Carbon Storage and Sequestration in Midwest Landscapes,” followed by Johanns’ talk, “Carbon Market Options for Producers.”

Join the Northeast Iowa Dairy and Agriculture Foundation for the 2022 Annual Meeting on Thursday, March 24. The meeting will be held at Iowa’s Dairy Center starting at 9:30 a.m. The morning session will feature a variety of speakers discussing environmental stewardship followed by the annual meeting in the afternoon.

Bill Northey, principal at WHNorthey, LLC., and former USDA Under Secretary of Farm Production and Conservation and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, will discuss the future of conservation and sustainability. Additionally, Adam Kramer, co-founder of Black Sand Granary, will share information on sustaining, enhancing and innovating through stewardship. Finally, Erin Cortus, Associate Professor and Extension Engineer at the University of Minnesota, will share her insights on the science and communication aspects of sustainable dairy production.

The annual meeting will begin at 1 p.m. and will feature the business meeting and election of board members.

To the Editor:

Hard-working Iowans deserve a fair tax plan which would ensure that tax cuts go to the middle class and the wealthy pay their fair share.  The bill recently passed by the Iowa Legislature, and signed by the governor, implementing a “flat income tax,” does neither.

Iowans deserve to know the truth about who really benefits from the plan: high income people would see immediate income tax cuts, while middle-class Iowans would not see even small cuts for several years, and many lower income earners would see little or no cuts at all. In fact, under this plan, it will take the average Iowan a century to receive the same tax benefits that the ultra-rich will receive in a single year. How is this fair?

To the Editor:

We are so grateful for the Waukon Volunteer Fire Department, and the Decorah, Lansing and Waterville Fire Departments. Two fires in less than a year, and we still have our building.

The night of the February 13, there were times we didn’t know what was going to happen. With having a father, husband and brother serve as firefighters, we know first-hand what they go through - frigid temperatures and all.

We appreciate family and friends for all their phone calls, texts and concerns in helping out in any way. We are fortunate that we only suffered smoke damage and closed for two weeks.

We are also very appreciative of Servicemaster Restore for their quick service and long days. I was so glad I was able to celebrate my 38 years this February. It may be safe to say we have the luck of the Irish, and on March 17 our Irish eyes will definitely be smiling.

To the Editor:

The political party in control of the Iowa Legislature is proposing decreasing Iowa income taxes, exempting all retirement income from Iowa taxes, eliminating capital gain state tax, and decreasing corporate taxes. I have one question: If Iowa has less tax revenue, what services will be cut?

As every household knows, if income is cut, households have less money to spend. If a family’s income is reduced, it means expenses must be cut. In order to have a balanced budget, less income means expenses have to be cut.

The State is the same. If the State reduces its income, then expenses will have to be cut.

According to the governor’s proposed budget, in 2022 Iowa’s income will be $9,065 million. According to the Legislative Services Agency, the tax cuts proposed will subtract $500 million in 2024 and when fully implemented will subtract $1,625 million from Iowa’s income, which means almost 20% less income.

To the Editor:

As part of National Social Work Month recognition, we want to show our appreciation for the social workers who devote their careers to bettering the lives of others.

Social workers strive to build a stronger community for all people, and the Iowa Child Advocacy Board (ICAB) is a grateful partner in the collaborative work done alongside those who serve the vulnerable children and families in our child welfare system. Many social workers embody the values embraced throughout the profession’s history. Those values include service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence.