Heather and Jimmy Homewood of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Aspen Grace Homewood, born July 2, 2020 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 8 lbs. 13 ozs. and measured 21-1/4 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins siblings, Ella (12) and Spencer (7).
Grandparents are Larry and Carolyn Homewood of Waukon, Rusty and Nola Childs of Mt. Hope, WI and the late Dennis Nelson.
James and Elisha Rudolph of New Albin announce the birth of their daughter, Ashlyn Sue Rudolph, born July 2, 2020 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 6 lbs. 8 ozs. and measured 18-1/4 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins siblings, Nate (15), Kaitlyn (13) Adian (9) and Allison (7).
Grandparents are Michelle Gilson of Rockland, WI and Wade and Virginia Ball of Idaho Falls.
Juana Sandoval and Gregorio Ortiz of Postville announce the birth of their son, Nash Gregory Ortiz Sandoval, born July 6, 2020 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 6 lbs. 8 ozs. and measured 20 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins siblings, Angel Sandoval Aguilar, Erick Brian Sandoval Aguilar, Brittany Ortiz Sandoval and Jocelyn Ortiz Sandoval.
Have you noticed the handsome, new, black, sturdy trash receptacles placed on the corners of Main Street in downtown Waukon? If you have, did you wonder where such attractive objects originated?
These containers were fashioned, designed and welded by the Waukon High School students in Mr. Caleb Ferring’s welding class. Also, a special thanks to Benjegerdes Machine and Kol-Gol for working with the students.
Our community is fortunate to have such talented students learning the trade from Mr. Ferring at this young age.
Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 – August 1: Primary Nesting Season – No MCM work on CRP acres
May 26 – August 28: Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) Signup
July 15: Crop Certification
September 30: PLC Yield Update
Allamakee USDA Service Center Now in Phase 2 of Re-Opening
Starting June 24, the Allamakee USDA Service Center is in Phase 2 of the re-opening plan. While our doors are still locked, we can allow two producers in at a time, after they are screened for COVID-related symptoms. We have protective shields in place and wipe down the counter frequently. Masks are also available.
We can still meet with you over the phone and in the parking lot. We’ve placed a picnic table in the parking lot that allows us to work outside with you as well.
Topics will focus on pest management for late summer
Extension specialists from Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota are collaborating to provide another series of webinars for farmers, ag professionals, extension personnel and other interested parties Tuesdays and Thursdays for two weeks in July. The theme will be “Essential Row Crop Management for Summer 2020,” with a focus on pest management topics for late summer.
The webinars are free and open to all, thanks to sponsorship by the Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, and the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.
“Each webinar will be limited to 10-15 minutes with lots of time for questions and answers because we know peoples’ time is limited and want to be sure questions are addressed,” said Meaghan Anderson, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Figure 5. Waterhemp seedling that emerged in high biomass treatment. Hypotocotyl needed to elongate 1.25 inches to get through the rye mulch. Submitted photo.
by Dr. Bob Hartzler, professor of agronomy and extension weed specialist, Meaghan Anderson, field agronomist, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
One important benefit of cover crops to our production system is providing an alternative selection pressure on weed populations. Cereal rye has the best potential to suppress weeds because it accumulates more biomass than other cover crop species. Weed suppression is closely related to the amount of biomass at the time of termination (Figure 1).
As part of the Allamakee County Fair each year, area “royalty” is recognized along with the announcement of the Allamakee County Fair Royalty Team that serves in various capacities throughout the fair and throughout the next year. During the Thursday evening, July 9 performance of The Caminos at this year’s modified Allamakee County Fair due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the local young ladies pictured at right were recognized for the service they’ve provided to their various organizations as their 2020 royal representatives. Pictured above, left to right, are Allamakee County Beef Queen Soraya Reyes, Miss Iowa Angus Allie Bieber, Iowa Miss Teen United States Agriculture Diana Davison, Allamakee County Alternate Dairy Princess Kaylee Gibbs, event emcee Laurie Wild of WQPC Q94 Radio, Allamakee County Dairy Princess Faith Palmer, and 2020 Allamakee County Fair Royalty Team members Madelyn Moser and Shara Cota.
Allamakee County continued to follow the recent nationwide trend of increasing confirmed COVID-19 cases as summer activity has increased and restrictions that had been in place over the past several months have been lessened. After the Allamakee County Department of Public Health reported a total of eight new confirmed cases during the first week in July, Allamakee County’s new case numbers remained right within that same range this past week with seven new confirmed cases from Tuesday, July 7 through Monday, July 13.
Rappelling the bluff ... Amy Ries of the Raptor Resource Project starts her rappelling descent through the brush from a blufftop overlooking the Mississippi River valley in northeast Iowa. Ries says she is thankful for the landowners who so generously allow them access to the bluffs on their properties. Photo by Scott Boylen.
Making his descent ... The crew that rappelled and banded peregrine falcons this spring included Raptor Resource Project Director John Howe, David Kester, Amy Ries, Sophia Landis and Mark Webber. Other volunteers included Bill Smith, Jon Stravers and Maggie Jones. Pictured above is David Kester as he prepares to go over the bluff in hope of retrieving the young peregrine falcons to be banded for the project. Photo by Scott Boylen.
First-time experience ... Sophia Landis of Elkader rappelled with the Raptor Resource Project for the first time this year. Here she holds a young peregrine after it has been banded (blue band on leg in photo foreground). Once the young are banded and information is gathered they are safely taken back to their nest. Photo by Scott Boylen.
by Kelli Boylen
Most people who live in northeast Iowa have overlooked the Mississippi River valley from the top of a bluff and looked up at the bluff tops from the river valley.
Few have rappelled down the cliffs, and it’s safe to say the number of people who have rappelled down the bluff sides to fetch baby peregrine falcons while the parent birds are dive bombing their efforts is very few. Members of the Raptor Resource Project (RRP) spend several days each spring doing just that.
Peregrine falcons are the fastest bird in the world, reaching speeds up to 200 miles per hour during hunting dives, and they are once again calling northeast Iowa home thanks to the Raptor Resource Project and the legacy of Bob Anderson.
