Agriculture

Hansen proves success in Swine Show comes with practice

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 3:21pm

     For her third year exhibiting in the Great Jones County Fair Swine Show, 11-year-old Landri Hansen of Wyoming shocked herself by taking home some hardware.

     Hansen, a sixth grader at Midland Schools, is a member of the Wyoming Pioneers 4-H Club. After showing six pigs during the fair, she had two of her pigs lead her to victory. Hansen won Champion Lightweight Derby Barrow, Champion Live Derby Barrow, Supreme Reserve Grand Champion Derby Hog, and Champion Middleweight Derby Gilt.

Savor the Barn delights with home-raised pork products

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 3:19pm

     After seven years in business, Savor the Barn in Langworthy stays as busy as ever.

     “It’s gone fast,” remarked owner Jerry Hunt.

     Jerry and Lisa Hunt opened the Barn on Sept. 30, 2014. The idea was to offer their pork products and more to the public.

     “We’ve added a lot to the business since it first opened,” said Jerry.

Lindley Locker takes pride in custom processing, meat sales

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 3:17pm

     Among the things Marcee Lindley and Danielle Silver have learned, in 10 years of owning Lindley Locker in Center Junction, is that the types of pork cuts people want seem limitless.

     “We can cut that hog in probably 40 minutes or less,” Lindley said.

     Dividing the cuts into the different varieties of pork products, however, is another matter.

     “It almost takes as long as a cow,” she said. “because you’re doing so many different steps.”

Demand and prices are good, but pork challenges remain

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 3:15pm

     While demand for pork is good, future prices for market pigs look favorable, and capacities at most packing plants have returned to pre-COVID levels, the pork industry nevertheless faces challenges and potential challenges in the coming months.

     Mark Storlie, swine field specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, took the time to answer several questions about the state of the pork industry, where it has been and where it might be headed.

Iowa Pork Leadership Academy seeks applicants

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 3:13pm

     Travel the country. Meet farmers from other states. Develop your leadership skills. If those sound like goals you want to accomplish in 2022, then the Iowa Pork Leadership Academy (IPLA) may be for you.

     The Iowa Pork Producers Association is now accepting applications for its 2022 IPLA class. Applications are due Nov. 30.

     IPLA was created to support Iowa’s pork producers who are committed to the pork industry. It provides them with the tools to succeed as leaders. These tools include:

USDA sets higher loan limit for producers

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 3:12pm

     The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that a higher loan limit is available for borrowers seeking a guaranteed farm loan, from $1.776 million to $1.825 million. The program began Oct. 1.

     “Farm loans are critical for our customers’ annual operating and family living expenses, emergency needs, and cash flow,” FSA administrator Zach Ducheneaux said. “Raising the guaranteed loan limit will allow FSA to better meet the financial needs of producers as natural disasters and the pandemic continue to impact their operations.”

Organic Conference is slated

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 3:12pm

     The 21st annual Iowa Organic Conference will be held Nov. 28-29, at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City.

     Producers and experts from across the country will share tips for transitioning into organic production and methods to enhance organic operations.

     The conference is a joint effort between Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.

     Jessica Shade, chief scientist at The Organic Center, will deliver the keynote called “Resisting Climate Change with Organic Agriculture.”

Warner retires after 40 years of Smothers/Bodensteiner history

Published by admin on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 12:40pm

     Through 40 years of working at Bodensteiner Implement, formerly Smothers Equipment, Dave Warner has seen a lot of history.

     He was there when the company, owned at the time by Dean and Terry Smothers, looked up parts and inventory on microfiche, used a floppy disk to keep track of them, wrote counter tickets by hand, and placed orders on a John Deere Dart parts ordering machine.

     He was there when ownership changed, in 2006, as Bob Bodensteiner bought the company.

New Extension director dives into 4-H Week, and much more

Published by admin on Wed, 10/06/2021 - 12:39pm

     Being the Jones County Extension and Outreach director has much to do with 4-H and youth development, which is particularly pertinent during this, National 4-H Week (Oct. 3-9).

     Alex Monaghan is getting the opportunity to experience that, as the county’s new Extension director.

     “4-H Week is a great kickoff to enrollment for the upcoming year,” Monaghan said during an Oct. 1 interview in her office. “It’s a fun way for youth to get involved, to share their passion for 4-H.”

Heritage Farm

Published by admin on Wed, 09/29/2021 - 8:31am

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