Joel R. Sires, 75, of New Albin, died Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at his home in New Albin. Funeral services were held Monday, September 25 at the New Albin Community Center with Pastor Sedar Wembonyama officiating. Burial with military honors was at the New Albin City Cemetery.
Joel Raymond Sires was born August 27, 1942 in New Albin, the son of Raymond and Gladys (Zarwell) Sires. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Methodist Church in New Albin and graduated from New Albin High School in 1960. Joel served in the United States Army from 1968 until 1970 during Vietnam. July 27, 1968, he married Sharon Huntington at St. Luke’s Methodist Church in La Crosse, WI. Joel owned and operated Sires Oil Company in New Albin.
Brian Dee Zimmerman, 61, of Hiawatha passed away at home Tuesday, September 19, 2017 following a short battle with cancer. Funeral services were held Saturday, September 23 at Christ Episcopal Church in Cedar Rapids. Burial took place immediately following the funeral services at Buffalo Cemetery in Hiawatha.
Brian was born October 23, 1955 in Waukon to Walter (Wally) and Sally (Sharp) Zimmerman. After graduating from Waukon Senior High School in 1973, Brian went on to earn a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of Iowa in 1979. It was there that he met his future wife, Julie (Schilling) Zimmerman, whom he married October 3, 1981 in Charles City.
Richard Joseph Weber, Jr. died Thursday, September 7, 2017 in rural Allamakee County following a farming accident. A private graveside service was held at Mays Prairie Cemetery, rural Lansing.
Richard was born April 12, 1962 in Waukon to Richard, Sr. and Shelby (Alderman) Weber. He was a 1981 graduate of Kee High School in Lansing. Following high school, Richard attended Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar and completed the welding program.
Richard was united in marriage with Cynthia Redman at Freeman Lutheran Church in Ferryville, WI. Two children were born to this union. They later divorced. Richard worked for the railroad in his younger years, then worked at Northern Engraving in Lansing and Spring Grove, MN as a die setter and also farmed in the Mays Prairie area in Allamakee County.
by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148
Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 – December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up
• September 30: End of fiscal year for FSA
• September 30: Last day to remove bales for those who requested managed haying on CRP grounds.
• December 15: Acreages intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2018 need to be reported
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybee, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)
The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) provides emergency assistance to eligible livestock, honeybee, and farm-raised fish producers who have losses due to disease, adverse weather or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, not covered by other agricultural disaster assistance programs.
Each year since 1944, the third week of September has been recognized as National Farm Safety & Health Week. This recognition has been an annual promotion initiated by the National Safety Council and over the years, the development and dissemination of National Farm Safety and Health Week materials has shifted to the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety. NECAS is the agricultural partner for NSC and has been serving the agricultural family and business community since 1997.
Analyzing odor samples ... Jacek Koziel, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, left, and Devin Maurer analyze odor samples from a swine farm. Sumitted photo.
Iowa State University researchers have literally, and figuratively, shed new light on the odor problems arising from livestock facilities.
Jacek Koziel, an associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, and his team are using black light to help neutralize the volatile components that make up objectionable odors. Shined on surfaces coated with a thin layer of titanium dioxide, the black light initiates photo-catalytic reactions that have been found to significantly reduce several odorous chemicals that are found downwind of livestock operations.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, in conjunction with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, annually recognizes farm families who have continuously owned their farm land for 150 years or more with the Heritage Farm Award. Duane and Linda Flatland were presented this award by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey at the Iowa State Fair August 17 for their farm, which is located in Winneshiek County at 2295 Winnmakee Road, Waukon. Submitted photo.
Allamakee County will offer the Ornamental and Turfgrass Applicators Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, November 8, 2017. The program can be seen at locations across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) team.
The local attendance site is Allamakee County Extension, 218 7th Ave SE, Suite #102. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the course runs from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The registration fee is $35 on or before November 1 and $45 after November 1. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Allamakee County by phone at 563-568-6345.
As fall approaches and producers prepare for harvest, many are also preparing for cover crop seeding. Keep in mind a few points regarding seeding rates, methods, and seeding dates. If you are receiving government cost-share (either through state funds or federal EQIP funds) and are planting winter-hardy species like cereal rye, the planting deadline is October 21. Cereal rye should be planted at a rate of 55 lbs/acre of pure live seed (PLS) if drilling, 61 lbs/ac PLS if broadcasting with incorporation, and 66 lbs/acre of PLS if broadcasting without incorporation. Pure Live Seed can be determined using the following calculation (percent germination + dormant seed) x (percent purity) all divided by 100. There are also calculators available online (such as on the allamakeeswcd.org website) or stop by the NRCS office for assistance.
