Farm News:
 Robinson Proud of Military Service as Veteran's Day Approaches
Earnie Robinson of Villisca, Iowa, is happy to help out area farmers when asked in this busy harvest of 2009, and chances are he'll also help folks to remember and honor our Veterans as we approach Veteran's Day November 11th as well. Robinson served in the Vietnam War as an aircraft sheet metal specialist while enlisted in the Air Force. Serving 10 years in the military from 1969 to 1979, 13 months of those years was spent in Southeast Asia during the conflict. Earnie and his wife, Janice, have three children; Alicia, Melissa and Leah along with two grandchildren. Alicia is married to Darin Johnson of Red Oak. The Robinsons raise some hay and take care of a few horses and chickens on the farm. The Robinson girls were also very active in 4H growing up, getting great help from people like Jerry and Darin Fisher, who helped them with their calf 4H projects. Alicia also put together and welded the "5-R Acres" sign that wraps around the Robinson mailbox at the end of the lane. Earnie, though disabled during his service time, remains active by staying involved in the local Villisca VFW Post. He's proud to have served his country like his father did in World War II and never takes for granted the sacrifice of those who have served and continue to serve and protect our great land.
 Lloyd Incorporated Still Growing After 51 Years
When Dr. Gene Lloyd of Shenandoah started his business 51 years ago, formulating premixes in a small cement mixer in a garage, he may have never dreamed the company would grow so much and affect so many people as it does now in 2009. Lloyd, 85, who grew up Northeast of Red Oak and attended Iowa State University, soon realized after beginning his veterinary career that premixes were needed in the industry, so he set out to fill that niche in the marketplace. Lloyd Inc. now has three divisions; Veta Mix and Lloyd Laboratories that cater to animal health and Lloyd Pharmaceuticals, which focuses on the well-being of human beings. Doctor Lloyd and his wife of 17 years, Linda, appreciate the area and enjoy giving back in many ways. He is proud that in 51 years of business, he's never had to lay off anyone, and the company continues to have steady growth, as a building expansion is planned for the 5th Avenue facility in Shenandoah. As you can see from the huge northern pike on the wall, Doctor Lloyd has enjoyed traveling and fishing over the years, as this big catch was taken in northern Canada. Doctor Lloyd is very appreciate of his employees, some of which have been with the company for many years. He knows full-well the importance of hiring and maintaining quality employees. It's those people who will help propel Lloyd Incorporated into a continually successful and thriving company for years to come.
 Christensen Says "Leave it Better Than You Found It"
Jan Christensen of rural Shenandoah, IA remembers many wise things his dad told him as he was growing up. One of those things was, "Leave it Better Than When You Found It." The "it" his dad was referring to is the land Jan farms today in the Northboro, Iowa area. With strict conservation practices firmly in place, he's practicing what he's preaching when it comes to saving soil for future generations. Jan, along with his wife, Ellen, (who originally hails from Brooklyn, NY) and daughters Cameron (in photo on wall) and Emma (2nd from left), operate a corn/soybean rowcrop operation along with a cow/calf herd that provides some income from non-farmable terrain. Jan also gets good help from Ryan Slater. Ellen teaches 5th and 6th grade language arts at the Shenandoah Middle School. Jan stays active in many organizations, including the Page-Fremont County Corn & Soybean Association, he's the new director for District 7 on the Iowa Soybean Association Board and is also on the Southwest Regional Water board of directors. In his free time he enjoys coaching Jr. High softball in the summertime. Jan, like a lot of farmers out there, is concerned about getting his crop out, along with the moisture content of his grain, but is confident the weather will soon break and he'll move forward and get it done. In the meantime, with his involvement, he's got plenty on his plate to keep him busy along with spending time with his wonderful family.
 Nahkunst Family Promotes 4H in Fremont County
Jim and Carla Nahkunst of rural Hamburg, Iowa, like a lot of people in KMAland, are big believers in the values and virtues of 4H. Jim and Carla's sons, Colin and Bradley, are involved and the Nahkunst's take it beyond that as well. As we celebrate Pork Month, Jim raises hogs with the sole intent of providing livestock projects for kids at the Fremont County Fair in July. In conjunction with entities like Great Western Bank and Cargill, Jim and Carla give Fremont County young people an opportunity not only to work with the pigs, but to help understand the financial responsibilities of raising hogs as well. Jim is also extremely active on the Fremont County Fair Board, where he has been president over the last three years. Jim, like a lot of farmers, is pleased with the 2009 crops and is anxious to get it all out of the fields and into the bins safe and sound. He's a 5th generation producer as the farm dates back to 1854 when the Browns (from his mother's side) settled in the area. As you can see from the photo, the Nahkunst's recently built their dream home, a gorgeous log structure nestled in the Loess Hills adjacent to Waubonsie State Park in Fremont County. It's already bustling with activity, especially when Colin and Bradley's 4H buddies are around, and that suits Jim and Carla just fine.
FARM NEWS:
CHICAGO (AP) _ Agriculture futures fell Friday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Wheat for December delivery dropped 15 cents to $4.9725 a bushel, while December corn slid 9.5 cents to $3.67 a bushel and oats for December delivery fell 1.75 cents to $2.54 a bushel. January soybeans plunged 17 cents to $9.55 a bushel.
Meanwhile, beef futures were lower and pork futures traded mixed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. December live cattle fell 1.35 cents to 85 cents a pound; January feeder cattle lost 1.1 cents to 96.07 cents a pound; December lean hogs edged down 0.9 cent to 55.7 cents a pound; and February pork bellies gained 1.3 cents to 86.1 cents a pound.
The 49th Annual Farm-City Banquet will be held at the J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom, Northwest Missouri State University Campus in Maryville on Monday, Nov. 9th at 6:30 pm. For more information, please call 660-582-8643.
Page County Fair Board will have their monthly meeting at the Fairgrounds on Wed., Nov. 11 at 7:30pm.
Cass County Extension Office will offer the Commercial Ag Weed, Insect and Plant Disease Management Continuing Instructional Course for commercial pesticide applicators on Wednesday, Nov. 18th between 9 and 11:45 am at the Cass County Extension Office in Atlantic. Registration begins at 8:30 am. For more information, please call the office at 712-243-1132.
Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce will sponsor 2009 Farm City Banquet Awards at Northwest MO State University in the Student Union Ballroom on Monday, Nov. 9.
ISU Extension will offer High Tunnels Workshops. These 2-day, 7-hour workshops will cover high tunnel selection , site, construction, irrigation and climate control, pest and soil management, and business plan development. The workshop will be offered at the Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm near Lewis, Iowa, Jan. 5th and 6th between 6 and 9:30 pm. Pre-registration is required, so call or e-mail Linda Naeve , Inaeve@iastate.edu or 515-294-8946.
Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association Ag Committee is collecting donations for a Shenandoah sponsored Livestock sign that displays champion and reserve champions at the Page County Fair. For more information, please call the chamber at 712-246-3455.
County Soil and Water Conservation Districts wants to remind all landowners that they can sign up for state cost share funds at any time of the year.
Dollars are available to assist with care of your well. The DNR provides these funds to assist with well testing, closure, & reconstruction. Water test kits and applications are available at your County Public Health Offices.
© Associated Press and KMA Radio. For individual information purposes only.
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