Photo 1. Severe root pruning by corn rootworm larvae can dramatically impact yield. Photo by Erin Hodgson, Iowa State University. Submitted photo.
by Dr. Erin Hodgson, professor, Ashley Dean, extension program specialist, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Corn rootworm egg hatch in Iowa occurs from late May to the middle of June, with an average peak hatching date of June 6 in central Iowa. In 2020, the expected hatching date will be behind the average due to cool spring temperatures. Development is driven by soil temperature and measured by growing degree days. Research suggests about 50% of egg hatch occurs between 684-767 accumulated degree days (base 52°F, soil). Most areas in Iowa will reach peak corn rootworm egg hatch in five to seven days.
Mixed results show some farms improved in 2019, while others saw a decline.
Despite a higher average income in 2019, Iowa’s mid- to large-size farms actually saw a considerable decrease in farm liquidity and working capital over the past year.
Data from the Iowa Farm Business Association, collected from 401 farms, shows net farm income in 2019 at an average of $77,946 per farm. But that number only tells part of the story, according to Alejandro Plastina, assistant professor and extension economist at Iowa State University.
“A higher average income in 2019 did not translate into an overall improvement in financial liquidity for Iowa farms,” Plastina said. “Not only was the share of farms with vulnerable liquidity larger in December 2019 compared to a year earlier, but their working capital needs were also higher.”
Pictured above, left to right, Shara Cota and Madelyn Moser...
A complete schedule of events for this year’s Allamakee County Fair ...
Shara Cota and Madelyn Moser to be introduced as Fair Royalty Team at Thursday night performance of The Caminos
With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing significant adjustments to most all events planned for this summer, the 167th Allamakee County Fair has certainly been no exception. Although many county fairs have been canceled altogether or dwindled to a much smaller version of what they traditionally have been, the Allamakee County Fair Board has been striving to provide the best possible variety of events and entertainment within the limiting guidelines put in place as a result of the ongoing pandemic virus.
Village Creek Bible Camp, Expresso report case exposures; Public Health reminds people to follow mitigation measures
As summer activity has increased, it was expected that the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 would also increase. Recent news stories through basically every media source confirm that expectation to a great degree across most of the nation, but that trend has now trickled down to a more local level as well this past week.
Eight new confirmed positive COVID-19 cases have been reported in Allamakee County within the past week’s time by the Allamakee County Public Health Department. Even more attention-grabbing is the fact that some of those cases have resulted in the temporary closure of a pair of local entities after case exposure was announced by each of them this past week.
Pair of public reading events scheduled to be held July 11 in Lansing and July 14 on Allamakee County Courthouse lawn
The 2020 Allamakee Bible Reading Marathon is continuing to be held now through Tuesday, July 14 as part of the Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon. Residents of Allamakee County can participate by requesting one or more 30-minute segment(s) of Scripture by using one of the following means:
2. Text or call 563-217-9814. This phone number is operational from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday through July 14.
Participants can start reading their chosen segment(s) immediately, completing them at their convenience, wherever and with whomever they wish. As of Monday morning, July 6, 92 of the 156 segments of Scripture have been selected by readers.
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, July 6 to discuss noise complaints from a resident, a request to have a pitbull dog as a service animal at a residence, and approval of Park and Recreation Wellness Board appointments.
There was no Public Comment and the council moved into Departmental Reports. Street Superintendent Keith Burrett reported on the new garbage containers placed along portions of Main Street and Rossville Road in downtown Waukon and advised that chip sealing has been completed on several city streets as of last week. Burrett also discussed the potential of having contractor Prairie Road Builders return next year to perform additional chip sealing.
Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper provided an update relating to the Hidden Creek lift station. He also discussed sewer maintenance including the viewing of areas in need of repair with a sewer camera.
The new tennis court facility in Waukon, located west of Waukon High School near the Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness soccer fields on the west edge of town, has been open for public use since mid-June. A grand opening event is being planned for a later date with only a windscreen installation throughout the surrounding fencing remaining for the project to be 100% complete. The public is welcome to use the tennis courts any time, day or night, with a light switch and timer (pictured at center) located between the restroom doors at the concession stand for activation of the lights at several pre-set intervals of 15 or 30 minutes, one hour or two hours. Lighting can be activated for evening or early morning tennis matches (as evident in the photo above) with concession stand restrooms (smaller concrete building at right in the photo below) nearby always being accessible.
Students attending need to register through online link
The Summer Prom event that several local parents have been working on since mid-April is being planned to take place Saturday, July 25 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon for Waukon High School students who completed their junior or senior year this past school year, along with their guests. Committee members have been communicating with Allamakee County officials, who say that with the locations and events that have now been opened up and the easing of many restrictions in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, this event should be able to happen as well.
With doors opening at 6 p.m., the evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a catered meal being provided at no cost to the students by Rich Schulte of Schulte’s BBQ & Catering of Waukon. The menu will include roast pork with cheesy potatoes. The committee is looking for parent volunteers to help provide salads and desserts.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) and eight additional colleges in the Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement (C2A3) will receive $529,924.48 over the course of the next four years as part of a cooperative agreement issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS).
The nine Midwestern community colleges that comprise the Alliance boast strong agricultural programs and traditions. The consortium was developed under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the USDA-NRCS and USDA North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (USDA-SARE). NICC is the only college in Iowa to be selected as an alliance partner.
This year’s General Election is scheduled for November 3, 2020. Most ballots cast in the June 2, 2020 Primary Election were by voters who voted absentee from home.
Due to an emergency proclamation for COVID-19 from the Governor, the Iowa Secretary of State’s office mailed an Absentee Ballot Request form to all active voters for the June 2 Primary. Legislation passed after the Primary now requires approval by a legislative council before the Secretary of State is allowed to do a similar mailing for any future election.
