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May 15 – August 1: Primary Nesting Season
July 15: Spring Crop Reporting

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rise as Tillage Increases
by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist

Research has proven that an in increase in tillage increases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions according to research published in the journal Nature Food in April 2022. Scientists Chaoqun Lu, Iowa State University, Zhen Yu, Nanjing University in China, David A. Hennessy and Hongli Feng, Iowa State University, Hangin Tian, Auburn University and Dafeng Hui, Tennessee State University examined two fluctuations in the recent past of U.S. tillage, a decrease in tillage from the years 1998 to 2008, and a subsequent increase in tillage between 2008 and 2016. The decreases were observed in both carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Researchers focused exclusively on tillage practices in corn-soybean rotations.

Nearly 360 women landowners in Iowa shared their experiences on owning and operating farmland in a recent survey conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

A study in 2017 showed that women own nearly half of the farmland in Iowa, and specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach wanted to improve their understanding of this important segment of the state’s agriculture.

The current survey asked women landowners a variety of questions related to farmland leasing, conservation practices, and farmland transition plans. According to the results, a majority of women are interested in information about landowner responsibilities, the economics of farmland ownership, crop production costs, and determining the right rental rates.

The survey also shows how women prefer to receive farmland management information, with the majority preferring newsletters, followed by webinars, fact sheets and infographics, and half-day educational meetings.

by David M. Johnson

Old Glory, the Flag, the Stars and Stripes, are monikers or other names for the flag of the United States. As this nation has observed, or will soon observe, at least one recent or upcoming holiday or designated day in recent months - Memorial Day in May, Flag Day in June and Independence Day in July - much attention is drawn to that symbol of this nation.

History tells the tale that this nation’s flag began its storied history during the 1775-1776 time period.  Betsy Ross is historically noted to have been given the responsibility to sew a flag that would best represent her emerging country from the colonial grip of England.

Wednesday, July 6 at 6:30 p.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will recognize World War II Veterans with a presentation at its new museum in the former Vet’s Club building at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon. A video interview with U.S. Army Air Corps veteran, the late James Bristol, will be presented.

This long-time Waukon attorney was interviewed by the 5 Sullivan Brothers Museum in 2005. A member of Bristol’s family will also be present to share memories. Jim Bristol was a crew member on a B-29 Superfortress bomber and flew 26 missions over Japan. A short video about the B-29 bomber will also be shown.

The public is invited to attend. There is no admission or membership charge. The facility is handicapped accessible. Light refreshments will be served at the program.

Input is still needed for the community health needs assessment survey. This is required every three years of Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) to survey the residents of Allamakee County and the surrounding areas served by the hospital. The hospital is still conducting that survey through this Thursday, June 30 and more input is needed from all the area communities.

The intent is to collect a list of the health needs the residents feel are most important. Community Health Needs Assessments gather information to help guide and direct health planning activities.

Information from this survey is compiled and used to update and improve the health plan for this entire service area of the hospital.   The hospital encourages everyone to take a few minutes to complete this important survey so the results can be used to develop a plan to address the outlined health needs.

Retiring Waukon High School teacher Louise Wild was recognized by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary #4117 for her support and work with students on the annual Voice of Democracy youth essay contest. The award was presented at Waukon High School. Submitted photo.
 

Signs and other traffic control measures have been placed on 2nd Street NW and some adjacent streets in Waukon as work begins on that street improvement project that will also involve some storm sewer work. With the signs pictured in the two photos at right being placed at 2nd Street NW’s intersections with 8th Avenue NW (top photo) and 4th Avenue NW (bottom photo), work being completed in that area may sometimes allow for traffic to travel through the area and at other times will close that portion of the street completely down as the project progresses.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, June 27 to address a full agenda of matters including a Sheriff’s Department personnel matter relating to a dispatcher/jailer resignation, the consideration of the use of the County credit card for the purchase of medical supplies and approval of Secondary Roads Department Transfers.

The meeting was called to order with Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer advising that the 10 a.m. agenda item relating to the consideration of the Byrne JAG Grant Contract and Conditions has been requested to be removed from the meeting agenda by Assistant County Attorney Jill Kistler. Beyer noted that Kistler is waiting on information relating to this grant funding source which has allowed for the Assistant County Attorney position to move to full-time status. The amended meeting agenda was approved with the meeting then moving into Public Comment.

Waukon High School added an in-house, work-based learning component to its Welding program this year. The new focus on real-world learning complements the Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Career Pathway Certificate offered in partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) for college credit.

Twelve students worked with local businesses and industry to complete several projects while operating the class as a welding business model. Student tasks for projects included designing, estimating materials, pricing and fabrication, and the students developed their own company name, “Next Gen Welds.”

Projects completed in collaboration with local businesses included four concrete form racks and 70 pig pen stands for Palmer Repair, a heavy railing to protect a half-million-dollar CNC machine for M’s Machine, five vertical ball carts for Waukon High School and Middle School to organize basketballs, and 100 tee-off markers for Waukon Country Club.

Brenna Berns, a 2022 graduate of Waukon High School, was awarded the $2,000 Hammel-Zoll Scholarship Sunday, May 22 following the Baccalaureate Mass held at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. Berns is the daughter of Brad and Erin Berns of Waukon, and she plans to attend Iowa State University in Ames this fall to pursue a career in Marketing and Graphic Design.