06/01/23: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

Everly student graduates from Northwestern

Christina Mueggenberg, of Everly, was among 234 graduates to receive bachelor’s degrees at Northwestern College in Orange City during commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 13.

Mueggenberg graduated Cum Laude (3.5-3.69 GPA) with a major in graphic design.

2 locals graduate from M’side

Two hundred undergraduate students and 247 graduate students graduated from Morningside University on Saturday, May 13 at the commencement ceremony held at Elwood Olsen Stadium on Morningside’s campus.

Morningside awards general honors based on undergraduate work completed at the university and according to the grade point average. General honors are designated as follows: *Cum Laude (with honor) at 3.50; **Magna Cum Laude (with great honor) at 3.66; ***Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor) at 3.81.

Hartley students earning degrees include: Thomas Heetland**, BS in Applied Ag & Food Studies; and Jennie Riedemann, BS in Non-Profit Management.

NWI fishing report

Courtesy docks are in for the season. Water temperatures were in the middle to low 60s last week. Most area water levels are a few inches over crest. The fish bite has been very good across most areas.

Check out the Iowa Walleye Challenge that runs now through June 30 for statewide prizes for anglers.

East Okoboji Lake: The water temperature was in the upper 60s last Thursday.

Black crappie, fair. Bluegill, fair. Use a small hook and piece of worm. Walleye, good. Yellow perch, fair. Sorting will be needed.

Ingham Lake: Walleye, fair.

Lost Island Lake: Water temperatures was in the lower 60s last Thursday.

Black crappie, good. Walleye, good.

Minnewashta Lake: Black crappie, fair. Bluegill, fair.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Courtesy docks are in place.

Walleye, fair.

Spirit Lake: The water temperature is in the mid-60s.

Black bullhead, good. Anglers have been very successful fishing the north grade. Black crappie, fair. Many nice-sized fish have been seen lately. Bluegill, good. Try a small hook and a small piece of worm. Walleye, good. Leaches and minnows work well. Yellow perch, fair.

West Okoboji Lake: Water temperatures were in the mid-60s last Thursday.

Black crappie, fair. Try small jigs tipped with a minnow. Bluegill, fair. Walleye, good. Leaches and minnows work well. Yellow perch, fair. Sorting may be needed.

Help protect Iowa’s forests - leave firewood at home

Thousands of Iowans will be camping and building campfires throughout the summer. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources encourages campers to buy firewood from where they will burn it instead of bringing it from home.

“Moving unseasoned firewood around the state can threaten the health of our forests by spreading insects like emerald ash borer that live in firewood,” explains Tivon Feeley, DNR forest health forester.

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a small, metallic-green, invasive wood-boring beetle native to east Asia that attacks and kills ash trees. It attacks trees of any size, age, or stage of health.

The spread of EAB into uninfected areas has been primarily through people moving firewood from county to county or state to state. These pests don’t move far on their own, but they can travel hundreds of miles in a single day in contaminated firewood.

Plenty of firewood is available locally to your favorite state or county park. Ask a park ranger or campground host where to get firewood locally. Make sure to burn all firewood at the campsite and not leave it or transport to a new area.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship requires all firewood sold or acquired in Iowa to have the county and state of harvest location on the label of packages and the delivery ticket for bulk firewood.

Stop the spread of invasive species in your community

Gov. Kim Reynolds recently proclaimed June as Invasive Species Awareness Month in Iowa.

Invasive species, like emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle, spongy moth and oriental bittersweet threaten Iowa’s ecosystem by competing with and destroying native trees and disrupting the natural complex habitat system.

Iowa woodlands, wildlands and waterways draw hundreds of thousands of tourists and recreational users each year. Much of the spread of Invasive species comes from people simply enjoying nature. Uninvited guests can hitch a ride on outdoor gear, shoes and clothes, traveling hundreds of miles in a single day.

Take these easy steps to stop the spread of invasive species in your community.

• Verify that the plants you buy for your yard or garden are not invasive. Many non-native plants can become invasive. Find quick ID photos and common management techniques to control 19 invasive trees, shrubs and plants on the DNR’s website.

• Look for spongy moth egg masses on all outdoor equipment when traveling from a spongy moth quarantined area.

• Clean your boots before and after you hike in a new area to avoid spreading seeds. This is a common way garlic mustard and other plants are spread.

• Do not buy or sell firewood from outside your county. Firewood can contain emerald ash borer, Sirex woodwasp, Asian longhorned beetle, oak wilt and many more pests. Plenty of firewood is available locally near state and county parks.

• Make sure to burn all of the firewood at the campsite and not leave it or transport to a new area.

• Work with your private lands district forester for plans to make your forests more resilient to invasive species. Find contact information and forest landowner assistance resources online.

Smoke contributes to exceedances of ozone air quality standards

Wildfire smoke carries particulates as well as massive amounts of gases and a cocktail of chemicals that can enhance ozone formation hundreds or even thousands of miles downwind.

Smoke from wildfires in Canada has impacted Iowa the last several days and exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone were measured at two sites in northwest Iowa Monday and six sites across Iowa yesterday, May 23rd--Emmetsburg and Pisgah in western Iowa, Waverly and two sites in Cedar Rapids in northeast Iowa, and just north of Davenport in eastern Iowa all measured ozone levels considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Smoke from the fires has been evident across much of the state recently and elevated particulate and ozone levels may be a concern over the next several days.

Groups most likely to suffer adverse health effects from ozone and particulates in smoke include asthmatics, those with respiratory difficulties or heart disease, the elderly, children and pregnant women. The DNR encourages members of these groups to limit outdoor activity when air quality conditions are at or above unhealthy levels.

IUB sets procedural schedule for CO2 pipeline

The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) has issued an order establishing a partial procedural schedule for Summit Carbon Solutions, LLC’s proposed carbon capture hazardous liquid pipeline. The partial schedule includes status conferences in June and July to explore options to expand access for public participation in this case.

The IUB’s actions are focused on assisting landowners affected by the proposed pipeline and on facilitating more efficient hearing logistics. The IUB has not set the public evidentiary hearing dates at this time.

Due to the number of landowner parcels impacted by Summit Carbon’s proposed pipeline and a desire to expand public access to the proceeding, the IUB will ask the parties in the docket to discuss the following topics at a June 6 status conference:

• the use of impartial, third-party mediators to assist landowners, if they desire, with the easement process;

• the use of presiding officers to receive testimony and evidence from landowners subject to eminent domain and Summit Carbon as it relates to that landowner’s parcel; and

• the establishment of satellite locations allowing for remote participation in or viewing of the public hearing as required under Iowa Code § 479B.6, from locations closer to the homes and businesses of affected individuals.

IUB Board Member Josh Byrnes said in a news release that the IUB is seeking a more efficient and less time-consuming process while facilitating greater landowner access through a proceeding that is orderly, open and fair.

“Landowner access and timing of the hearing has been a concern since the beginning,” Byrnes said. “These added options help alleviate those concerns and can reduce the burden of a multi-week public hearing.”

The June 6 status conference will begin immediately following the IUB’s monthly public board meeting, which starts at 9 a.m. A second status conference is scheduled following the July 10 monthly public board meeting.

Summit Carbon filed its petition to construct, operate, and maintain a proposed 687 miles of 6- to 24-inch diameter pipeline hazardous liquid pipeline to transport liquefied carbon dioxide within the state of Iowa on Jan. 28, 2022, in Docket No. HLP-2021-0001.

NCC included in national report

Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon was included in a groundbreaking report on rural community colleges in America. This recognition highlights NCC’s commitment to supporting and empowering students in its rural area, ultimately driving positive change within their communities.

The report, entitled “Rural Community College Excellence: A Guide to Delivering Strong Opportunities for Students and Communities,” was conducted by the Aspen Institute and aimed to identify the key factors influencing the success and growth of rural community colleges nationwide. It covers four main ideas: creating pathways to economic mobility, convincing students to enroll and stay in college, building strategic partnerships to promote student success, and utilizing small size as a strength. NCC’s work to build partnerships throughout the communities it serves and making data informed decisions are highlighted alongside efforts of other outstanding rural colleges.

As part of the research process, NCC emerged as a contributor to the report, which recognized NCC’s innovative solutions, collaborative approach and positive impact on student outcomes. By tailoring solutions to the specific needs of both students and industry, NCC has cultivated sustainable growth and provided students with enhanced opportunities for success.

“We are honored to be included in this informative report and we are delighted to showcase our service to our rural area and to represent rural community colleges on the national level,” said NCC President Dr. John Hartog.

Cash rents reach new high in Iowa

Average cash rents in Iowa are the highest on record, according to the Cash Rental Rates for Iowa 2023 Survey conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

The survey shows an increase of 9 percent in 2023, for a state average of $279 per acre. The new record is 3.3 percent higher than the previous record set in 2013, when rent was $270 per acre. The increase in rent since 2013 compares to a 2.8 percent increase in the non-inflation adjusted price of corn, and a 4.4 percent decrease in the price of soybeans.

Results of the survey are summarized in the May edition of Ag Decision Maker, in an article written by Alejandro Plastina, associate professor in economics and economist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

The survey is based on 1,306 usable responses about typical cash rental rates in Iowa counties for land producing corn and soybeans, hay, oats and pasture. Of the responses, 42 percent came from farmers, 37 percent from landowners, 9 percent from professional farm managers and realtors, 7 percent from agricultural lenders and 5 percent from other professions and respondents who chose not to report their status.

There was considerable variability across counties in year-to-year changes, as is typical of survey data, but 91 out of the 99 Iowa counties experienced increases in average rents for corn and soybeans. Only Des Moines, Jefferson, Lucas, Muscatine, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Woodbury counties saw declines in their overall average cash rents.

Average cash rents increased proportionally more for higher quality lands. Low quality land experienced a 6 percent increase, from $217 per acre in 2022 to $230 in 2023.

Medium quality land saw an 8.6 percent increase, from $255 per acre in 2022 to $277 in 2023. High quality land saw an 11.1 percent increase, from $297 per acre in 2022 to $330 in 2023.

Corn and soybean yields are provided as a baseline for determining high, medium and low quality acres. These yields, along with five-year average yields for corn and soybeans, are included with the survey results.

Plastina says that survey information can serve as a reference point for negotiating an appropriate rental rate for next year. However, he reminds Iowans that rents for individual farms should be based on productivity, ease of farming, fertility, drainage, local price patterns, longevity of the lease, conservation practices and other factors.

Plastina also notes that farm income projections are expected to decline over the next couple of years, putting downward pressure on cash rents. However, landowners who rent their land will also continue to evaluate their own investment, including their rate of return, cost to maintain their land and the conditions surrounding the farmland market.