Farmers wishing to maximize the profits from their fertilizer dollars will want to attend one of 15 in-person workshops or a virtual workshop hosted by Iowa State University. The workshop series, called Soil Testing Interpretations and Recommendations: Maximizing Return on Investment, will be held in February and March. This series will address the profitable management of soil fertility in Iowa, as conditions continue to change with increased fertilizer input costs and a rising demand for nutrients from higher-yielding crops.
“These workshops will lead farmers through the basics of soil testing, analytical tests, calculating crop nutrient removal, understanding return on investment from fertilizer applications, how crop response correlates to soil test levels and what is known about crop response to micronutrients,” says Josh Michel, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Associates are available to help farmers study their numbers and plan ahead
As farmers begin to make financial projections for the new year, there are resources available from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach that can help. A popular choice is the Farm Financial Planning Program, which includes access to seven different farm financial associates, in addition to software and helpful publications and guides.
Nancy Brannaman, a financial associate from east central Iowa, said the program allows producers and the associate to take a broad look at what’s going on within an operation, where the operator would like to be in the future and what must be done for success.
Alive & Running Iowa will make presentations to Waukon High School students and general public
Monday, February 28 will be a day devoted to raising awareness for suicide prevention in Waukon and the surrounding community, as the Alive and Running Iowa organization will conduct a pair of events aimed at helping save lives and reducing suicidal behaviors.
Alive & Running Iowa began as a running event held annually in the small Iowa town of Dunkerton but has grown into a non-profit organization to help raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention. Co-founders Troy Belmer and Ryan Nesbit organized Alive & Running Iowa in 2009 in honor of their friend, Roger, who they lost to suicide when they were sophomores at Dunkerton High School in 1991.
FreedomBank has made a $50,000 donation to the Building New Traditions Campaign at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. The Building New Traditions Campaign is dedicated toward constructing a new, larger all-species youth livestock show barn centrally located at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds, a project that also involves relocation, elimination and transformation of some of the other livestock buildings at the Fairgrounds. Pictured above at the donation presentation at the site of the new show barn construction at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds are, left to right, Gayge Samuelson and Patty Kammeyer of FreedomBank, Tyler Plein of the Allamakee County Fair Board, Barb Shull of FreedomBank, and Bobbi Baxter, Adam Bieber and McKayla Rethamel of the Allamakee County Fair Board.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, February 7 to address a short agenda of matters including discussion of Medical Examiner topics, consideration of appointing Compensation Commission members and the Quarterly Report for the County Auditor. There was no Public Comment during the time allotted for that agenda item.
The meeting moved into discussion of Medical Examiner topics with Dr. Dave Schwartz addressing the matter. Schwartz discussed the current medical examiner program and relationship between Allamakee County and Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) recommending that this relationship may need to be better defined from a budgetary standpoint to aid in sustainability.
Award nominations due by February 21; Princess applications due by March 1
The Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board continues to make plans for the 2022 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet - the date, time and location of which will be announced at a later date. The board is still seeking nominations to honor and recognize deserving producers and contributors to the dairy industry in Allamakee County. Every year, top producers from the county are recognized by the Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board, along with honoring contributors to the local dairy industry. The Allamakee Dairy Promotion Board and the Allamakee County Extension Office are accepting nominations through Monday, February 21 for the following awards:
A procession of dozens of law enforcement and emergency response vehicles from Allamakee County, the State of Iowa and surrounding areas (as evident in the surrounding photos) escorted Allamakee County Sheriff Deputy John Grampovnik to Martin Funeral Home in Waukon following his memorial service held at Iron Ridge Church in Waukon Thursday, February 3. Grampovnik passed away Thursday, January 27 at the age of 51 at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN following complications from a medical procedure.
Anyone interested in discussing the books they read with other readers, meeting new people, looking for a new author or genre to read but not quite ready to jump all in or who is at a loss for what to read next should join the Thursday Night Book Club the third Thursday monthly at 6 p.m. All are welcome. Book Club meets in person; to join virtually, contact Robey Memorial Library for participation information.
Discussions upcoming in 2022 include:
• February 17-Book with a red cover
• March 17-2022 All Iowa Reads title
• April 21-Published the decade born
• May 19-Book about women
• June 16-Fuzz by Mary Roach
• July 21-Set in summer
• August 18-Book featuring an outdoor activity
• September 15-Any title by author Kristin Hannah
• October 20-Iowa theme: author or title
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, February 7. The meeting was called to order with the removal of an agenda item relating to a Closed Session pertaining to discussion of a real estate matter. There was no Public Comment and the meeting moved into Department Reports. Street Superintendent Keith Burrett provided an update relating to the removal of snow from cul de sacs, general maintenance and ongoing preparations for the next snowfall.
Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper discussed a water main break that took place January 28 with that break being found and repaired. Cooper noted that a vendor will be meeting with him soon relating to leak detection equipment that would be beneficial in quickly locating leaks and that he will relay the pricing information to the council. Cooper also discussed the effect of freezing and sub-zero temperatures on the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s processes.
