AG NEWS:

  

Carlsons Still Passionate About Raising Hogs

Raising hogs can be challenging, but the passion for the industry is still there for Dennis (far left in photo), Susan and Mike Carlson of Red Oak.  The Carlson family has been raising hogs in a farrow-to-finish operation since the 50’s and Dennis has been working with pigs since he was 8 years-old and in 4H.  Dennis works together but farms separately with his son, Mike, who lives near Wales, Iowa with his wife Molly and their two children.  Dennis and Mike, who are graduates of Iowa State University, also have an extensive row crop operation.  Dennis and Susan, whose farm is south of Red Oak, Iowa also have a daughter, Marsha, who is a Swine Extension Nutrition Specialist with the University of Missouri.  Dennis’ wife, Susan, has been serving for nine years on the board of directors for the Iowa Pork Producers Association.  She’s the SW Iowa Regional Director and serves 12 counties in the area.  The Carlsons pride themselves on being efficient managers and good stewards of their land and animals.

 

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Mardesen Raises Hogs the Niman Ranch Way

When it comes to raising hogs, Ron Mardesen does it his way and the Niman Ranch way.  Mardesen, who is a third-generation farmer Northeast of Elliott, Iowa is busy with three teenage children.  His wife, Denise, teaches instrumental music in the Griswold school system.  Mardesen is the Southwest Iowa/Northwest Missouri field agent for Niman Ranch, a company that produces pigs within an all-natural farrow-to-finish pork production system.  This means in part that no growth hormones or antibiotics are used in this pasture-farrowed/deep bedded pen operation.  The meat is marketed privately via the internet and eventually ends up in high-end restaurants.  Mardesen says all the corn he grows is fed and the resulting manure goes back into his fields for fertilizer.  There are around 22 other operations in Southwest Iowa that are also involved in the Niman Ranch.  The hogs go to market in Red Oak and are eventually slaughtered in Sioux Center, Iowa.  Mardesen is thankful for his hired man, John Watson, and for his supportive family.  If you have any questions about Niman Ranch, call Ron at 712-789-0712.

 

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Jensen Keeping Close Eye On Planting Progress

Iowa State University Field Agronomist, Kyle Jensen, spent some time with KMA

Ag Services Director, Dean Adkins, at the East Pottawattamie County Extension Office in Oakland, Iowa.  Jensen is a 1997 graduate of Tri-Center High School has his degree from Iowa State University.  When he’s not spending time with his wife, Jill and six-month-old daughter, Kendall, Kyle finds time to do some farm work on the family farm with his grandpa, dad, uncle and brother northwest of Neola in the Beebeetown area.  Jensen says it’s about extremes currently with regards to planted corn.  In the western reaches of his service area near the Missouri river, some producers have 80% to 85% of their corn in the ground with some emerged, while near Atlantic and places east soil is still pretty wet and producers are having to be more patient.  While there are concerns out there, including sidewall compaction, Jensen is optimistic producers will do what they need to do to get the planting season completed successfully in Southwest Iowa.  For more information, call 712-769-2600.

 

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Clement & Ewert at Barker Implement

Kevin Clement and Jackie Ewert enjoy their jobs at Barker Implement in Clarinda, Iowa. Kevin, who is in sales, is a Clarinda graduate and has been working with John Deere since he graduated from Iowa Western Community College 28 years ago. Kevin has a wife and three children and also farms on the side.  Jackie, who is in charge of advertising for Barker’s six locations, was raised on an extensive cattle operation near Bedford and is a graduate of  Northwest Missouri State University.  With high commodity prices and healthy sales the two keep plenty busy taking care of their loyal John Deere customers.  They also enjoy voicing fun, upbeat and informative commercials that air on KMA radio.

 

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Time Has Flown For Carter

With a busy schedule and plenty of projects and activities time has flown in the tenure of Heidi Carter, (right in photo) the Page County Extension Education Director.  Carter, who took over for long-time extension agent, Ron Sanson, has now been at the job in Clarinda, Iowa for eight years.  Carter is originally from Montana and has enjoyed many positive, educational career stops on the way to Page County.  She is especially proud of her staff, including administrative professional, Corrina Bix, (pictured left) who has been an integral part of the Page County Extension office for 15 years.  There are many upcoming workshops in the area, including Karen Hickman with Loving Guidance, Inc. who will be conducting two workshops for child care providers and parents May 16th at the high school auditorium in Shenandoah.  For more information on this and a whole host of other upcoming spring and summer activities, call Heidi at 712-542-5171.

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Lots of Work Going into UFMC’s Country Store

The United Farmers Mercantile Country Store in Red Oak is taking shape, according to Lumber and Hardware Department Manager, Mark McCaffrey.  McCaffrey, who’s been at UFMC for 30 years, is excited about what’s in store for customers, including an enhanced Purina area devoted to those who take care of “lifestyle companions”, or pets.  McCaffrey says he's  proud of the amount of expertise his employees will continue to bring to his UFMC customers at the Country Store, which should be completed by this summer and is open for business now on Broadway in Red Oak, Iowa.

 

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Nothwehr Raises Sheep Near Yorktown IA

If you’re looking for a top-notch sheep operation in Southwest Iowa, look no further than the Austin Nothwear farm north of Yorktown, Iowa.  Austin farms with his wife, Jennifer, and his parents, Lyle and Barb. Austin and Jennifer have a one-year-old daughter, Riley.  It’s a family operation that goes back four generations.  The Nothwehrs have quite a diversified operation, with cash grain, a cow-herd and a 250-head ewe flock. Austin recently put up a hoop barn which helps to make his lambing operation even more efficient.  Austin is Sheep Superintendent for the Page County Fair and enjoys raising some show lambs that may show up at a county fair this summer.  Austin raises lambs to around four months of age. They then are taken to a buying station in Bedford IA.  From there they end up in packing plants in Chicago and Detroit.  This high-end product eventually makes its way to the coasts where Nothwehr says it’s in the highest demand, especially in upscale restaurants.  The Nothweher’s are proud of this successful and diversified operation, an operation with people that pride themselves on being good stewards of the land and animals.

 

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Calfee An Important Part of Green Plains Success

Todd Calfee, Commodities Manager for Green Plains Renewable Energy in Shenandoah IA and Superior IA is happy to report things are running smoothly and efficiently at the Shenandoah ethanol plant.  Calfee, a Bedford native, started in the fertilizer business after college and ran an elevator for four years before joining the Green Plains team in February of 2007.  Todd is busy at home with his wife, Sherry, and two active children in the Bedford school district.  Todd thanks all his fellow employees and especially those loyal customers who continue to make Green Plains Renewable Energy a thriving and extremely important economic stimulus facility in Shenandoah and Southwest Iowa.

 

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McLaren and Connelly Visit Green Plains Renewable Energy

Iowa’s Farm Service Agency Executive Director, Derryl McLaren,(left in photo) who hails from the Farragut area, and United States Deputy Administrator for Field Operations for the Farm Service Agency, Steve Connelly, visited Green Plains Renewable Energy in Shenandoah this week.  McLaren is back on the farm for a few days helping his dad, brother and nephew with the planting season, a farming operation that for the McLarens dates back to 1900.  As head of the FSA in Iowa, Derryl oversees 730 people in 100 offices across the state and looks after a $850 million loan portfolio; distributing $1.5 billion in subsidies and payments to Iowa farmers every year.  As head of the Farm Service Agency in the U.S., Connelly looks after 12,000 people nationwide, including Puerto Rico.  Connelly, who grew up on a dairy farm in Maryland, was impressed with the Green Plains Renewable Energy facility and was looking forward to seeing first-hand the connection between producer and ethanol plant in Iowa.

 

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A Visit to the Kevin Green Farm

KMA Ag Services Director, Dean Adkins, enjoyed his visit to the Kevin Green farm south of Northboro IA.  Kevin farms on both sides of the Iowa/Missouri border with his wife, Denise, in a row crop/cattle operation.  Kevin shares farming responsibilities with his dad, Mike, and mom, Sharon.  The Greens have two children and are expecting child #3 in November!  The Greens run 80 cows and feed/finish around 500, with most cattle ending up being sold in Denison IA.  Kevin says his cattle herd’s overall health has improved with the addition of distillers grains, a co-product he purchases from the local ethanol plant.  Green, who is also President of the Page County Cattlemen, says with the help of EQUIP program dollars he will update his open lots and add a hoop building to feed cattle as he and his family work hard to update and improve a successful operation he hopes to pass along to his own children one day.

 

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Doug Doty Earns Masters Degree

Doug Doty, The Fremont County IA Extension Education Director, will receive his Masters Degree from Iowa State University May9^th.  In a visit with KMA Ag Services Director, Dean Adkins, Doty says it’s something he’s been working on part-time via distance education over the last six years.  He says it will be a special moment he can share with his wife, Wendy, and his three daughters as he receives his diploma in Ames.  Amongst other topics, Doty says he’s looking forward to honoring his Administrative Assistant, Anne Chambers, this week.  Doty says Chambers has been an integral part of Fremont County Extension activities for 30 years.

 

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Lorimor Family Farm A Busy Place

Plenty of things are happening these days at the Steve and Brent Lorimor farm in the Farragut IA area.  Family history is extremely important to Steve (blue shirt in photo) and Brent, as some of the family farmland goes back to the 1850s, and the house where Steve and his wife, Kathy, live has been in the family since the 1920’s and was built in 1869.  Steve and Brent farm around 2,500 acres of row crop and have an extensive cattle operation as well.  They are well-connected to the new Shenandoah ethanol plant, as it provides a major source of contracting for their corn and a major source, through distillers grains, of feeding their cattle.  At this point the Lorimor’s are planning on planting more soybeans this year than last year.  KMA Ag Services Director, Dean Adkins, enjoyed his visit to the Lorimor family farm.  If you know of someone who would be willing to share some highlights of their family farm history and talk about a few of today’s issues as well by having Dean come out to the farm, please contact Dean at dadkins@kmaland.com.   

 

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Farmall-Land U.S.A. is Open in Avoca

Jerry and Joyce Mez, the owners of Farmall-Land U.S.A. in Avoca, Iowa are happy to announce they’re open for the 2008 season just off the Highway 59-Avoca exit adjacent to I-80.  Jerry has doubled his square footage since last year and with a new addition under construction, by the end of 2009 Farmall-Land U.S.A. will have over 26,000 square feet of space to display the Mez’ amazing collection of International/Farmall implements and memorabilia.  New this year is Joyce’s collection of dolls in what’s known as “The Tractor Widow’s Lounge”.  Farmall-Land U.S.A. is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 6pm, Saturdays from 10am to 5pm and Sundays from noon to 5pm at a cost of $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for kids 5 to 12.  Jerry would like to thank all the volunteers who help make Farmall-Land U.S.A. available for the general public to take in this vast amount of fascinating agricultural history.

 

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John Long One Busy Guy

KMA Ag Services Director, Dean Adkins, caught up with John Long at his farm East of Thurman, IA. John has quite a few plates spinning in his life.  He’s a husband and dad to three kids, farms with his dad, works a full-time job with Mycogen Seed as an area agronomist and in his spare time officiates high school sports.  KMA appreciated a few minutes of time with one busy but happy dad, husband, farmer, official and agronomist!

 

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Time Spent at the Daryl and Jacqueline McAlexander Farm

Daryl McAlexander, a producer from the Sidney area in Fremont County IA and incoming Chair of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board spent some time with KMA’s Ag Services Director, Dean Adkins, touching on various topics including the recent USDA Planting Intentions Report.  McAlexander. who farms with his brother, Jim, said he didn’t feel overall soybean acres would necessarily be as high as projected for 2008, in part because after the report soybeans futures have gone down while corn prices have rallied, prompting farmers to possibly plant more corn.  He also said that more farmers in Southwest Iowa have tended to stick closer to their 50/50 crop rotation as compared to Northern Iowa where much more corn was planted in 2007 than soybeans.

Montgomery County Farm Service Agency Staff

Dean Adkins, KMA’s Ag Services Director, caught up with Warren Schuler (pictured back left) and his Farm Service Agency staff at the Montgomery County USDA Service Center in Red Oak.  Warren has been the Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency for Montgomery County for 22 years.  Next to Warren in the back row is Linda Querry, Marilyn Fox and Roger  Holtz.  In the front row left to right is Sue Reynolds, Sandy Gerlt and Luanne Steffans.

Meier Family Farm

                                                                                      KMA Ag Services Director, Dean Adkins, paid a visit to the Curtis Meier Family Farm Northwest of Clarinda, where he caught up with Curtis and Brenda (front), their son, Mike (back right) and  their son-in-law, Kevin Coston.  The group talked about their families, the importance of working toward a common goal and about how diversification has been key to their successful farming operation, raising hogs and cattle along with row-crop.

Barb Gerzevske, The Fremont County Farm Service Agency Executive Director

Out and about in Fremont County, Dean Adkins, KMA’s Ag Services Director, visited with Barb Gerzevske, Fremont County’s Farm Service Agency Executive Director. Barb reminds producers of the Farm Bill’s latest extension to April 18^th.  She also is reminding producers Conservation Reserve Program ground needs to be  maintained through Mid Contract Management.  As CRP land ages, more management needs to be done, including acres involved in burn planning.  For more information, call 712-374-2691 in Sidney or contact your local FSA office.  More information is also available at www.fsa.usda.gov.   

 Montgomery County Extension Education Director, Bill Drey

Recently KMA Ag Services Director, Dean Adkins, caught up with Bill Drey, the Montgomery County Extension Education Director at the office in Red Oak.  Bill is presently involved in many activities, including Speechcraft, a program that encourages people to become active in public speaking, upcoming horticulture classes and of course preparation for the upcoming 2008 Montgomery County Fair.  For more information about Montgomery County Extension activities, call 712-623-2592.

Daaman Is Active, Young Producer

Justin Daaman, 28, (pictured left) farms in the Essex/Clarinda area with his wife, Jennifer and their baby daughter, Jillian.  Justin also works with his dad, Danny, on the extensive row crop/livestock operation.  Justin is involved in many important activities, including V.P. of the Page County Farm Bureau and a very active member of the Young Farmer and Rancher Advisory Committee.  KMA Ag Services Director, Dean Adkins, recently went out to the Daaman farm, where Justin talked about a number of issues important to him, including opportunities for young people in agriculture, commodity prices in relation to inputs, beef processor and packer mergers and the recent beef recall.