by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148
Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates • July 15: Report All Spring-Seeded Crops • August 1: ARC/PLC Sign-up
Sonny Perdue Sworn in as Secretary of Agriculture
Sonny Perdue was sworn in as the 31st U.S. Secretary of Agriculture by fellow Georgian and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Clarence Thomas in a brief ceremony on April 25 at the Supreme Court building.
Perdue grew up on a dairy and diversified row crop farm in Bonaire, Georgia. Being uniquely qualified as a former farmer, agribusinessman, veterinarian, state legislator and governor of Georgia, he has experienced the agriculture industry from every possible perspective throughout his life.
Cost-share assistance available for cover crops, no till/strip till or nitrification inhibitor
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has announced the 2017 sign-up period is open for statewide cost share funds to help farmers install nutrient reduction practices. This program has been popular with farmers interested in adding additional practices to their operation. Practices eligible for this funding are cover crops, no-till or strip till, or using a nitrification inhibitor when applying fertilizer.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today reminded eligible farm owners that the deadline to apply for the 2017 Century and Heritage Farm Program is June 1, 2017. The program recognizes families that have owned their farm for 100 years in the case of Century Farms and 150 years for Heritage Farms.
“The application deadline for families with a Century or Heritage Farm is quickly approaching and I hope those with an eligible farm will take the time to apply,” Northey said. “This program is a great way to highlight the deep history and strong heritage of agriculture in our state.”
Farm families with a century or heritage farm must submit an application to the Department no later than June 1, 2017 to qualify for recognition at the Iowa State Fair this year.
It can be difficult for landowners to determine a pasture rental rate and lease terms. The most basic pasture arrangement is a conventional rental agreement which establishes either a price per acre or a monthly rate based on the number of grazing units. It is important to establish which party is responsible for specific input costs such as fertilizer and fence repair and who will determine when the cattle need to be removed based on stubble height. Other considerations include access to water, length of the grazing season, and the soil types. Weed management greatly affects the quality of the pasture as many weed species (such as thistles and multiflora rose) proliferate if not managed and can quickly take over a pasture. More management intensive systems like rotational grazing have greater input costs, but allow the producer to better utilize the pasture acres.
... that the single cell cartoon called “Pluggers” in the daily paper is a favorite of mine because I can relate to the same things the elderly man in the cartoon favors.
Some examples:
There was a list in USA Today of 25 television series shows, asking which viewers wanted to keep on the air. I saw one of them once. Otherwise, none at all.
This clergy column is called “Word for Word” but what if no words come? What if it seems God is silent? Does it mean abandonment?! I don’t believe so – I don’t believe we are ever alone - whether one believes in God or not, God is still with you!
There are numerous references to the fact (in the Hebrew Scriptures AND New Testament) that God does not abandon nor orphan us as His children. As I write this, Mothers’ Day is just days away and Father’s Day is a month away – many of us say we would be ‘lost’ without having had our moms and dads! So thinking about being orphaned/abandoned is perhaps the ‘word’ I should explore with you.
As a Waukon High grad, I occasionally read the online paper. Since our grandchildren go to elementary school in Berkeley, I was surprised to see Dick Schilling’s editorial knocking protestors there. It is true that Berkeley attracts far right and far left protesters who come hoping for a fight and the media coverage that goes with it. But that is a burden the city and its residents bear and have to pay for out of local and county revenue. Both sides exploit Berkeley because of its history of demonstrating for free speech in the 1960’s. It is not fair to blame Berkeley for radicals on both sides who travel sometimes great distances to stir up trouble. Those who live there wish they would find peaceful ways to make their views known closer to their own homes.
One last round ... Waukon boys golf senior Aaron Sherman tees off in the Indians’ 190-189 home loss to Oelwein Tuesday, May 9. Sherman and fellow senior Logan Sullivan played their final rounds of high school golf on their home course in that dual with the Huskies. Standard photo by Joe Moses. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.
The Waukon boys golf team wrapped up its regular season and also marked an end to its overall season in its two competitions this last week. The golf Tribe first ended its dual meet season with a narrow, 190-189 loss at home to Oelwein Tuesday, May 9 in a make-up date from May 1. The Indians then fell shy of extending their 2017 season beyond the Monday, May 15 Northeast Iowa Conference Tournament by finishing seventh at their Class 2A Sectional Tournament at New Hampton, not placing within the top-two required finish to advance further into postseason tournament play.
The Indians were next scheduled to compete in the Northeast Iowa Conference Tournament Monday, May 15 at New Hampton. That tournament will mark the end to the Tribe’s 2017 season.
Frequent flyer miles to Des Moines ... Waukon girls track senior Erika Johnson soars to a fourth-place distance of 16’4.25” in the long jump at the Indians’ Class 2A State Qualifying Meet at North Fayette Valley Thursday, May 11. That effort was enough to earn her a third consecutive State Meet qualification in the event. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.
Distance medley returns with veterans Bulman and Wasson; Johnson also returns in long jump
Although the Class 2A State Qualifying Meet hosted by North Fayette Valley Thursday, May 11 was the end of the road for many high school track and field athletes, the Waukon girls track team managed to extend the season for two of its events, including one final return trip for a senior trio. The Lady Indians could not muster any automatic qualifications for this week’s State Meet in Des Moines with a required top-two event finish, but did have one third-place effort and another fourth-place effort find their way into the “best of the rest” qualification on the way to scoring 36 team points and finishing 10th in the final 12-team standings.
Taking flight to Des Moines ... Waukon boys track junior Isaiah Welch takes flight in the long jump at the Indians’ Class 2A State Qualifying Meet at North Fayette Valley Thursday, May 11. Welch flew to a distance of 19’10” to finish fourth in the event, a distance good enough to qualify for the Class 2A State Track Meet. Welch also joined forces with fellow juniors Abe Schwartz and Mitchell Snitker and senior Hunter Jensen for a fifth-place finish in the 4x400 relay in a time of 3:32.40 that was also good enough for State Meet qualification. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.
On his way back to Des Moines ... Waukon boys track senior Tyler O’Neill battles his way down the straight stretch in the 3200 meter run in the Indians’ Class 2A State Qualifying Meet at North Fayette Valley Thursday, May 11. O’Neill ran to a runner-up finish in the event in a time of 10:15.92 to earn automatic qualification for the State Track Meet this week, his second consecutive season grand finale qualification in the event. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.
Tyler O’Neill returns in 3200 meter run, joins Mitchell Snitker and Blain Swenson as automatic qualifiers
The Class 2A State Qualifying Meet hosted by North Fayette Valley High School in West Union Thursday, May 11 proved to be an extension of the season for six events for the Waukon boys track team. Although no event championships were won by the Indians, three of those season extensions did come automatically with runner-up finishes, while three more had to wait until the next day to see if they were among the “best of the rest” to earn qualification, all of those results helping the Indians to 71 team points and a sixth-place team finish in the final 12-team standings at the meet.
TEAM SCORES
Anamosa 117; North Fayette Valley 86; Cascade 80; Monticello 73; Bellevue 72; WAUKON 71; New Hampton 68; Dyersville Beckman 66; South Winneshiek 48.5; Oelwein 37.5; MFL/MarMac 13; Sumner-Fredericksburg 9
