More than half of Iowa farmland is rented. In some Iowa locations, as much as 70 percent of the land is farmed by farmers who don’t own the land.
In Northeast Iowa, the result is many conversations and negotiations between farmland owners and producer-tenants to determine what makes sense for farmland leases and cash rental rates – both fixed rent and flexible arrangements. Strong landlord/tenant relationships are important for the long-term viability of Iowa’s farming communities.
These are just a few reasons why Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers workshops designed to answer questions that land owners and tenants have about farmland leasing and land values.
These workshops will be held across northeast Iowa counties starting July 30 through August 14.
Melissa O’Rourke, ISU Extension Farm & Agribusiness Management Specialist will present a wide range of topics related to farmland values and leasing.
One-day program will focus on planning ahead while facing shrinking margins in production agriculture
Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach invites local farmers and agribusiness professionals to attend a free one-day Planning for Profitability workshop in either Rock Rapids or Decorah.
Planning for Profitability in a Changing Dairy Industry will focus on options to increase profitability when facing shrinking margins; risk management strategies and how they can benefit dairy operations; changes and requirements that ag lenders may be asking for when reviewing loan requests; and a review of the milk market.
At her recent town hall in Decorah, Senator Joni Ernst spoke about working with anyone right or left in Congress. One issue where Ernst could work together with Democrats is election security. Recently, Senator Amy Klobuchar put forth bi-partisan legislation, the Secure Elections Act, to protect our democracy from attacks and foreign influence. Ernst’s name is not listed as a co-sponsor. Instead, at the town hall, she blamed former President Obama for election interference.
2019 Allamakee County Fair Queen candidates are pictured above, left to right, Diana Davison, Cayla Nolting and Soraya Reyes ...
July 16 coronation event kicks off 166th Allamakee County Fair
Three Allamakee County young ladies are vying for the title of 2019 Allamakee County Fair Queen. Those three candidates for this year's crown include Diana Davison, Cayla Nolting and Soraya Reyes, all three of them being students at Waukon High School this past school year.
The crown of Allamakee County Fair Queen and all the honors and responsibilities that accompany it will be bestowed upon one of those three candidates Tuesday evening, July 16 during the Allamakee County Fair Queen Coronation event being held at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon to kick off the 166th Allamakee County Fair.
Totaling 75 years of combined employee loyalty... Waukon Shopko location employees Laurie Brink, Rose Blake and Von Collins (left to right in the photo above) took a moment during the final days of the recent closing of the Waukon Shopko location to have this photo taken together. Brink and Collins are each 30-plus year employees of the business, having worked with the retail business through its transition from Pamida to Shopko and its relocation to the building that recently closed, with Blake being a more recent addition to the Shopko staff, but all three of them compiling memories they will carry with them long after the store’s June 23 closing. Photo by Kristin Kopperud-Stinn.
by Kristin Kopperud-Stinn
Shopko Hometown store, located at 819 Eleventh Avenue SW in Waukon, closed its doors forever June 23, 2019 after its parent company Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC declared Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in January of this year.
Laurie Brink and Von Collins were two of the longest working employees at Shopko’s Waukon location. Both Brink and Collins started working at the store when it was still a Pamida and was located on Rossville Road, where the Waukon Banquet Center sits today.
Even well prior to the June 23 closing of the Shopko location in Waukon, local efforts led by Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Director Ardie Kuhse to sustain the business were put in motion and have since transfered from preservation of the local business to occupancy of the now vacated property. Kuhse noted that contact was initially made with Shopko corporate leaders when the first announcement of store closings was made earlier this year - even though they did not include the Waukon location, reiterating the fact that Shopko was a vital part of the local business community and was supported by the community and surrounding area by record sales.
“The sales did speak well for Waukon, and Waukon was spared the first and second round of store closings,” Kuhse said. “In the end, they could not restructure and no other corporate retail businesses stepped in to buy them out, thus the final closing of all stores and bankruptcy filing.”
It wasn’t a typical call to the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department (ACSD). But when dispatch received a call of an individual or individuals seen boarding a cargo train, the ACSD took measures to end the illegal activity and make sure nothing greater - or worse - became of it, using some creative tactics along the way.
According to Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick, about mid-morning Tuesday, July 2, his department received a call stating that at least one individual had been seen jumping onto a train in Marquette that was heading north. A call to the Canadian Pacific Railroad helped officials get the train stopped just north of Harpers Ferry, but no riders were seen during that initial search.
“KEEP SMILING - Remembering Two Lives Well Lived” are the words engraved on a new granite bench donated to the Waukon Wellness Center in memory of Bob and Bernie Heffern by their children and families, some of whom are pictured above with Waukon Park and Recreation Wellness Director Jeremy Strub. Bob and Bernie’s enthusiasm for making a difference in the lives of others and their community was apparent to all who knew them. Their appreciation of the Waukon Wellness Center for its physical and social benefits ran deep as well, particularly after moving to Waukon from their vigorous farm life to a much less physical lifestyle. The bench is located in the north entrance to the Waukon Wellness Center and is available to seniors and young alike as they are waiting for their ride or just needing a place to sit and chat. Submitted photo.
Ann-Elise Bakkum and Harold “Pepper” Miller were recently chosen as co-winners of the Waukon Wellness Center’s 2019 Bob Heffern “Get Your Rear In Gear” Memorial Award, presented as a one-year membership to the Wellness Center for each individual. Pictured above at the award presentation are, left to right, Waukon Park and Recreation Wellness Director Jeremy Strub, Ann-Elise Bakkum and Harold “Pepper” Miller displaying the plaque which will bear the names of the award winners as it hangs in the lobby area of the Waukon Wellness Center.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 8 to address a full agenda of items including a Public Hearing for a construction permit for Gruber Ridge LLC, consideration of bids for concrete pavement patching and the acceptance of a letter of retirement from a County Sheriff’s Department deputy. There were no comments from the public in attendance during the Public Comment portion of the meeting.
The Public Hearing for the Construction Permit Application for the Gruber Ridge LLC confinement feeding operation was opened. Troy Peterson, Manure Plan Manager/Agronomy Sales, with Waukon Feed Ranch discussed that Daryl Gruber intends to add two barns, one for farrowing and the other for gestation, which will add 2,900 head to Gruber’s swine operation and as a result will require the addition of eight employees in the future.
