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Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
August 2-  31: Non-Emergency Haying of CRP
August 2 - September 30: Non-Emergency Grazing of CRP
Current – October 31: Organic Certified Cost Share Program (OCCSP)
December 2: Deadline to return COC ballots to FSA Office

Conduct Business Online Through the Farmers.gov Portal
Looking for ways to do business with USDA that saves you time? Look no further than farmers.gov.
When you create an account for the farmers.gov authenticated customer portal, you have access to self-service features through a secure login. Managing your business with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is faster than ever. From e-signing documents, viewing, printing, and exporting maps and receiving notifications of payment disbursements, a farmers.gov authenticated account makes doing business with USDA easy and secure.  

Learn updates in drone technology, trends for the upcoming harvest

Iowans can gain valuable knowledge in various agricultural topics at Iowa State University’s Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm annual fall field day August 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Doug Houser, digital agriculture extension specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will begin the program by providing the most current and up-to-date information regarding drone/UAV technology, and its use in the agricultural sector. Alison Robertson, professor and extension plant pathologist, will give an update on crop diseases of the growing season and expectations going into this year’s harvest. Kapil Arora, extension agricultural and biosystems engineering specialist, will share his insights on tile drainage and water management.

by Katy Maker, Nurse Midwife and Nurse Practitioner, Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic

Choosing whether to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is only one of the many decisions expectant parents will make. It takes time to make such an important decision because it will not only affect your baby’s life but also the lives of the entire household. Breastfeeding is a commitment that both parents are involved in as it takes support from the partner to be successful.

“National Breastfeeding Week is an excellent time to think about lots of issues around how we feed our children,” states Katy Maker, Nurse Midwife at Veterans Memorial Hospital and Clinics. “The neat thing about breast milk is that it’s always ready, it’s made specifically for that one child, and there are many ways to involve the whole family.”

A supervised exercise therapy program for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is now available locally in our Cardiac Rehab Department. The therapy is a medically supervised 12-week exercise and education program for patients experiencing symptoms of limited blood flow to their legs due to blockages in the arteries.

Peripheral artery disease is a common, serious disease affecting more than 8.5 million people in the United States.  Symptoms of PAD may include pain, cramping, and muscle fatigue during exercise that resolves with rest. This is called intermittent claudication. Studies have shown that this Supervised Exercise Therapy can help patients increase their exercise tolerance, decrease pain, improve wound healing, and decrease long-term complications from peripheral artery disease.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports history shows that vaccines are the safest, most effective way to protect yourself and your family from many preventable diseases.

Everyone should get all recommended vaccines at the recommended times. It is especially important for children and adolescents to get catch-up doses of any missed vaccines or vaccine doses as soon as they can. Adults should get all recommended vaccines for their age or other risk factors such as health conditions or occupation. All adults should get tetanus boosters, seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines, and any vaccines missed in childhood.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, August 15, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

This month’s meeting will include a cooking demonstration with taste testing utilizing tomatoes from the garden that are just coming into season. Brandy Strub, Registered Dietitian will be assisting Diabetes Educator Angie Mettille with the food prep demonstrations that will not cause blood sugar spikes. They will also be sharing some friendly meal planning tips and tricks.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes. For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call  Angie Mettille, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

Pablo and Vanessa Lopez Magdaleno of New Albin announce the birth of their son, Brandon Palacios Lopez, born July 29, 2024 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 7 lbs. 11 ozs. and measured 19-1/2 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins siblings, Pablo Dario (4) and Maria Jose (14).

Grandparents are Pablo Palacios Lopez, Ana Maria Santos Orozco, and Gregoria and Miguel.

To the Editor:

The Allamakee County Fair Board did a great job of putting together a week of entertainment for county residents and visitors. It all appeared well attended each night, and while working a booth during the day, plenty of activity was happening.

New improvements, such as the extended beer tent area and allowing single-night grandstand tickets, were excellent ideas. More food stands and vendors give more choices to visitors and also complement the regular 4-H food stand with more people eating out at the fair.

On another note, our State Fair is upon us and the Iowa State Fair is rated in the top five of State Fairs in the nation, last I read. It would be nice if a county institution or organization would sponsor a bus or transportation to our state capital for senior citizens and others who would like to attend but lack the means to get there.

Patricia Marie Lund, age 69, of Monona, formerly of Waukon, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family Friday, August 2, 2024. A funeral service was held Saturday, August 17 at Iron Ridge Church, Waukon, with Pastor Marlan Mincks officiating. Burial took place at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, McGregor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family for them to disperse.

Pat was born to Robert and Ann (Wall) Gerlach January 13, 1955 in Prairie du Chien, WI. In 1973 she graduated from Seneca High School. After high school she joined the United States Army. She served on Active Duty until 1976 and as an Army National Guardsman from 1989 to 1991.

Suzanne K. Bresnahan, 76, of Dorchester died Sunday, August 11, 2024, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Monday, August 19 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Hanover Catholic Church in rural Waukon, with Fr. John Moser officiating. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 a.m. until time of services Monday at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Suzanne Kathryn Bresnahan was born February 14, 1948, in Spring Grove, MN, the daughter of Christian and Winifred (Casey) Teff. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dorchester, attended Dorchester School and graduated from Waukon High School in 1966.

May 20, 1967, she married Dennis Bresnahan at St. Mary’s Hanover Catholic Church in rural Waukon. From 1967 until 1999 they farmed together in Hanover Township where they milked cows and raised beef cows. Suzanne also worked at the Good Samaritan Society in Waukon.