by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148
Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• May 15 - August 2: Primary Nesting Season. No MCM Activities on CRP Acres
• July 15: 2018 Crop Reports
• August 1: ARC/PLC Sign-up
• August 1: Last day to request a farm/tract reconstitution for 2018 crop year
• August 17: CRP Signup 51
More than half of Iowa farmland is rented. In some Iowa locations, as much as 70 percent of the land is farmed by farmers who don’t own the land.
In Northeast Iowa, the result is many conversations and negotiations between farmland owners and producer-tenants to determine what makes sense for farmland leases and cash rental rates – both fixed rent and flexible arrangements. Strong landlord/tenant relationships are important for the long-term viability of Iowa’s farming communities.
These are just a few reasons why Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers workshops designed to answer questions that land owners and tenants have about farmland leasing and land values.
These workshops will be held across northeast Iowa counties starting August 6 through August 21.
Melissa O’Rourke, ISU Extension Farm & Agribusiness Management Specialist will present a wide range of topics related to farmland values and leasing.
Farmers who have identified conservation needs following recent flooding should contact local Soil and Water Conservation District office
Following the recent storms and flooding, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig highlighted the $7.8 million that is available through the state conservation cost share program to help farmers and landowners install conservation practices. Farmers can contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) offices to apply for assistance of up to 50 percent of the cost of the project.
July 17 coronation event kicks off 165th Allamakee County Fair
Four Allamakee County young ladies are vying for the title of 2018 Allamakee County Fair Queen. Those four candidates for this year's crown include Madalyn Ellingson, Katelyn Leiran, Makayla Manning and Faith Palmer.
The crown of Allamakee County Fair Queen and all the honors and responsibilities that accompany it will be bestowed upon one of those four candidates Tuesday evening, July 17 during the Allamakee County Fair Queen Coronation being held at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon to kick off the 165th Allamakee County Fair.
Coming to the Allamakee County Fair next week ... Pictured in the three surrounding photos are just some of the carnival attractions that will make up the midway for the 165th Allamakee County Fair July 18-22 in Waukon. After owners of the previous carnival that had been booked by the Allamakee, Clayton and Fayette County Fairs late last year for their 2018 events notified all three in an email just shy of a month ago they were going out of business, all three fair boards were left to quickly find replacement carnival attractions. Pictured clockwise from left, Full Court Press, the Screamer 22-Foot Double Slide and the Boot Camp Challenge are just three of more than a half dozen Kid Again Inflatables that will provide this year’s carnival entertainment with something for all ages free of charge to all fairgoers. Submitted photos.
Carnival attractions offered free of charge this year
Carnival rides and attractions are often associated with fair time, and the Allamakee County Fair Board has been riding a bit of a rollercoaster of its own the past few weeks in trying to solidify that carnival fun for the 165th Allamakee County Fair coming up July 18-22 in Waukon.
Since the early part of this year, members of the fair board were excited to have found a new carnival that would offer a fresh variety of rides, games and food to fair-goers in 2018. With the close proximity in location and dates of the county fairs in Allamakee, Fayette and Clayton counties in northeast Iowa, leaders of those respective fair boards had embarked on a mission to work together to find a carnival that could serve all three venues in late July through early August of this year.
Senator Grassley visits Waukon ... Senator Charles Grassley addresses a group that attended his stop at WW Homestead Dairy in Waukon during his Tuesday, July 3 visit to Waukon. Grassley first toured the dairy facility before fielding questions from the general public on a variety of topics, including immigration, education and the economy. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
by Joe Moses
As part of his annual 99-county tour to hear concerns and ideas from Iowans across the state, Senator Chuck Grassley visited WW Homestead Dairy by invitation of the Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Grassley toured the locally owned and operated dairy Tuesday, July 3 with WEDC Coordinator Ardie Kuhse. WW Homestead Dairy owners Tom Weighner, Tom Walleser and Paul Weighner discussed industry related issues with Grassley and provided an overview of the cheese, milk and ice cream production taking place at the dairy.
Following the facility tour, members of the public in attendance participated in a question and answer session, with Grassley providing feedback regarding a variety of topics.
The Corner of Hope recently received a $2,000 scholarship from the John Deere Foundation. The funding will be used to help promote the Corner of Hope growing projects, as well as to help people in developing countries learn how to grow their own food. Pictured above, left to right, are Corner of Hope members David and Suzanne Hahn, Dennis Byrnes, Kaitlyn Krambeer (seated on tractor), Kyle Halverson representing Waukon Implement Co., Gordon Ellingson, Ron Snitker, and Gloria and Kenny Krambeer, all of Waukon. Photo taken by Moose Photography of Waukon.
The Walk-On Waukon organization delivered 608 phone books for Yellow Pages to raise money for the group’s sidewalk projects. Walk-On Waukon continues to work toward grant writing and fundraising to achieve its goal of adding walking trails and safe sidewalks in Waukon. The Walk-On Waukon Committee appreciates the efforts of the local youth who helped deliver the phone books. It is the mission of the Walk-On Waukon Committee that youth such as those pictured above delivering the phone books will be able to benefit from the efforts of the group by having walking trails and sidewalks to safely walk on in the future. Submitted photo.
In the early morning hours of Saturday, July 7, the Waukon Police Department was called to a disturbance in the 100 block of First Avenue SW. As a result of an investigation, 21-year-old Anthony K. Williams of Postville was arrested and charged with willful injury (class D felony), assault displaying a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct.
Also arrested were 37-year-old Kinte L. Smith of Waukon and 65-year-old Paul A. Norton of Waukon, who were both charged with disorderly conduct, willful injury (Class D felony) and first degree burglary (Class B felony). Smith was also charged with harassment for threats made to an officer.
The Waukon Police Department was assisted by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office and Veterans Memorial Hospital Ambulance Service. A criminal charge is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 9 to address agenda items, including the Bible Reading Marathon to take place on the Allamakee County Courthouse lawn, the contract and bond for concrete pavement patching and an update regarding the Comprehensive Plan for the Allamakee County Solid Waste Department. Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order with approval of the current agenda and meeting minutes of July 2.
