10.01.2025 Views

111924_CTH-TH_Z01

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

NOVEMBER, 2024

SOYBEAN HAR-

VEST IS STRONG

THIS YEAR

ACCORDING TO

IOWA SOYBEAN

ASSOCIATION —

PAGE 6

A SPECIAL SECTION FOCUSING ON AGRICULTURE IN THE

COUNTIES OF AUDUBON, CARROLL, GREENE AND GUTHRIE

AG Herald

THE

WOMEN

BEHIND

WOMEN IN AG

Haley equipment

By NICOLE HASEK

nhasek@iowainformation.com

Pat Haley and her husband, Tom, first

purchased a farm machinery company

45 years ago in Wall Lake, Iowa just six

months before the birth of their daughter,

Alecia Carter. Haley, who lived in Carroll

at the time, said there was a huge farming

crisis, but they were able to start their

business from the ground up.

“New Holland had an existing business

there, a dealership, and the dealership

went broke, which was happening

all over the place, and my husband saw

it as a golden opportunity, because we

could buy a dealership for a lot less up

front,” Haley said.

The first three months of operation,

Haley was left to her own devices while

her husband was still working at his previous

job. Haley, who was living in Carroll

and knew nothing about harvest, combines

or the town, quickly hired three

EQUIPMENT, PAGE 13

NICOLE HASEK | THE JEFFERSON HERALD

Alecia Carter and Pat Haley, the mother-daughter duo behind Haley Equipment

in Carroll, Iowa.

The power of personal

attention working for you.

You can count on us.

Brett F Adams

Financial Advisor

1205 W Hwy 30 Suite F | Carroll, IA 51401 | 712-792-2999


PAGE 2 | THE AG HERALD | NOVEMBER, 2024

DIABETES EDUCATION

AND SELF-MANAGEMENT

FEEL BETTER, ACHIEVE BETTER LAB RESULTS,

AND MAINTAIN A BETTER WEIGHT

CHOOSE EXCELLENCE

“Our sessions are informal and allow for hands-on learning,

which is why we see great success among participants.

We’re there every step of the way to answer questions and

provide resources.” -- Shelly Hammen, RN

Stewart Memorial Community Hospital

DIABETES EDUCATION (712) 464-4118

CarrollHydraulics

The Area’s One Stop Hydraulic Shop

Your Hydraulic Equipment Repair Specialists.

All Makes...All Brands

712-792-0311 or 800-262-8735

919 East Hwy 30, Carroll, IA

FULL SERVICE MOBILE

LARGE ANIMAL VETERINARIAN

712-792-0311 or 800-26

800-262-8735

Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Pigs, Camelids

919 East Hwy 30, Carroll,

30, Carroll, IA

Ultrasound and reproductive services,

vaccinations, routine herd health,

health papers and emergency services.

Courtney Blake, DVM

3033 Koala Ave, Casey, IA 50048

Call or text: 712-249-4599

Specializing in Local Security

and Safety Needs

Security Division

• Residential/Commercial Fire and

Security Alarms

• Wireless and Hard Wired Home Security

and Automation Systems

• Nurse Call Stations

• Door Access Systems

• Monitoring Service

• Surveillance CCTV Cameras

Fire Extinguisher Division

• Fire Extinguisher Sales

• Fire Extinguisher Service

and Inspections

• Signage and Labels

• Restaurant Hood Installation

and Service

• In House and Mobile Service

Contact us today for a Free Security Evaluation!

Feld Security is a division of Ed M. Feld Equipment Co.,

a specialist in the distribution and manufacturing of

fire and safety equipment since 1945.

113 N. GRIFFITH ROAD • CARROLL, IA

712.792.3143 • WWW.FELDSECURITY.COM


NOVEMBER, 2024 | THE AG HERALD | PAGE 3

WOMEN IN AG

Alexis Stevens speaks on her work

as farm management specialist

By SARAH STORTZ

sstortz@iowainformation.com

For her work, Alexis Stevens said she wants

women to feel more comfortable as they financially

navigate their own farms.

Having both of her parents come from farming

families, Stevens grew up on one by Rippey.

As a child, Stevens said she had plenty of opportunities

to work on the farm, whether it

was walking beans or baling hay.

Stevens has two younger sisters but doesn’t

have any brothers. With her father not having

any brothers as well, Stevens said the family

wasn’t sure who the next successor would be

for taking over the farm.

At this point, Stevens said she didn’t have

any interest in agriculture. Instead, Stevens

joined the U.S. Army.

“I went out and did my own thing because

when I was a kid and I was in high school, the

worst thing that I could imagine was being a

farmer and working for extension,” Stevens

said. “It’s funny because now, I came back full

circle, but I had to go discover the big world.”

In 2006, Stevens was living out in Washington

D.C. One day, she learned her father was in

a farming accident. Although they hired another

man to help at the farm, Stevens’ mother

suggested to herself and her then husband to

move back to Iowa.

“We came back and I was kind of like, ‘Okay,

I have to run a farm, but I don’t really know

how to do this,’ I didn’t really know how to

drive the tractor and farming had changed a

lot since I was a kid,” Stevens said.

Adjusting back to the farm lifestyle, Stevens

said needed to learn how to operate the farm

“on the fly.” Having degrees in psychology and

business, Stevens said she also didn’t have a

formal background in farming either.

“I had to navigate this whole system of agriculture

that’s kind of a guys club,” Stevens

said. “I’d walk into the co-op and they’d be

like, ‘Well, is your husband on the account?

Is your Dad on the account?’ And I’d have

this whole, ‘No, it’s my account. I’m the operator,

I’m the one who’s making the decision,

my name should be on it.’ I had to fight

that system.”

Regardless, the experience helped Stevens

realize her interest in advocating for women

in agriculture.

“I don’t want other women to have to fight

so hard, I want them to learn what they’re doing

and to be able to run an ag business or to

work in agriculture,” Stevens said.

Now working as a farm management specialist

for Iowa State University Extension and

Outreach, Stevens said she teaches farmers

“how to make good financial decisions and

have good financial outcomes.”

Spending so much time in ‘women in ag’

classes, Stevens said she often works with women

who are married to farmers and want to

learn how to manage the finances.

“That is really fulfilling when they’re like, ‘I

understand what my husband is talking about

and actually, I can do it better than him now

because I understand it better,’” Stevens said.

In her position, Stevens covers 13 counties

in western Iowa. These counties include Audubon,

Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Cherokee,

Crawford, Greene, Guthrie, Harrison, Ida, Sac,

Shelby and Webster.

Considering western Iowa her home, Stevens

said she enjoys the peaceful drive between

the different counties.

“I really like the people,” Stevens said. “Every

small town that I go into and that has an

[Extension and Outreach] office, they have

something unique and I think I fall in love

with every one of them.”

With her job, Stevens also does a fair amount

Alexis Stevens

of traveling outside of Iowa. Recently, she took

a business trip to Ohio, getting training on child

care expenses for farmers and how farmers

can find childcare.

“That’s kind of new. I’m really excited to

bring that back, especially to the women in

our area to help them navigate child care,”

Stevens said.

Continuing her work, Stevens said she wants

other women to feel motivated and energized

as they work in agriculture.

“I want women to feel empowered to make

their own decisions,” Stevens said. “Just like

we tell women, ‘You know what’s best for your

kids and you know what’s best for your family,’

you know what’s best for your farm operations,

but don’t be afraid to make those decisions.”

AGRICULTURE

Women in Ag Coming Together to Cultivate Confidence and Harvest Happiness

By MADELINE SCHULTZ and

LISA SCARBROUGH

Iowa State Extension

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State

University Extension and Outreach

Women in Ag Leadership Conference

takes place at the Gateway

Hotel and Conference Center in

Ames. The two-day event begins

on Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 11:15

a.m. to 8 p.m. and continues Thursday,

Dec. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year’s theme, “Breaking

Ground, Seeding Success,” reflects

the hard work women put into their

agricultural careers and the rewards

they achieve. The conference focuses

on career advancement, leadership

development and trending topics

in agriculture.

A special feature of the conference

this year is the option to take part

in a Red Cross First Aid and Life-

Threatening Bleeding and Tourniquet

Application certification course.

On Wednesday, the popular campus

tours will be back. Attendees can

choose from one of five tours highlighting

everything from a Victorian

era Christmas at the Farm House

Museum to Regenerative Agriculture

at the Bioeconomy Institute.

As the conference opening speaker,

Iowa’s homegrown advocate for

women in agriculture, Lexi Marek

Beeler, will discuss three actions all

women can implement to make an

impact.

Intensive workshops feature strong

women who are leaders and role

models. Mastering mental strength

to thrive under pressure, leading

effectively on the board, and managing

land and sharing a vision for

the farm are key skills they’ll help

attendees build. The day ends with

a relaxed dinner, networking and

a social hour.

On Thursday, the conference will

feature keynote speaker Heather

Malenshek of Land O’ Lakes Inc.

Forbes named Malenshek as one

of the country’s most influential

chief marketing officers. She has

a passion for helping others achieve

their true potential.

The 2024 Women Impacting Ag

honorees Chris Cornelius, Julie Kenney,

Wendy Johnson and Janette

Smith will share their stories. The

luncheon panel will feature Angie

Treptow and Karen Rawson, leaders

in finance and lending, who will

share their stories and discuss the

farm economy.

The breakout sessions offer topics

such as agricultural entrepreneurship,

family business transitions,

better conversations, the emotional

connection of marketing, leading as

communicators and growing into

farm management roles.

The capstone speaker is April

Hemmes. Her passion for agriculture

is at the core of who she

is. Throughout her 40-year career

in farming she has taken on leadership

roles from supporting the local

FFA chapter to becoming a director

on the United Soybean Board.

Early bird registration is available

through Nov. 22 and saves $20. Regular

registration is $140.00 for adults

and $80 for students. Scholarships

may be requested. Register online

at www.regcytes.extension.iastate.

edu/womeninag. Farm Credit Services

of America is a major sponsor.

The ISU Extension and Outreach

Women in Ag Program improves the

quality of life in Iowa by providing

research-based educational programs

to expand agricultural enterprise,

improve natural resource

management and support the community

of women in agriculture.

Visit www.extension.iastate.edu/

womeninag to learn more about

our programs.


PAGE 4 | THE AG HERALD | NOVEMBER, 2024

ENJOY THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY

Custom Electronics

Security Systems

Audio Video

Installation

At Tech-Zone, we pride ourselves on our exceptional expertise in

access control design, controlled entrance systems, 360 imaging,

network infrastructure, security cameras, cabling solutions, cellular

repeaters, networking solutions, cellular boosters, alarm systems, door

access control, security camera design, key fabs, Verkada design, and

custom electronics and security solutions. Our comprehensive range of

services allows us to cater to diverse customer requirements.

800 E. Lincoln Way Jefferson, IA • 515.386.4122 or 515.370.3869

www.techzoneia.com • Since 1999

For all your farm insurance needs, stop in or give

us a call, we’d love to talk about your operation

JEFFERSON

107 N Chestnut St.

Jefferson, IA 50129

(515) 386-2728

Proudly supporting our local family farmers

from generation to generation.

COON RAPIDS

220 6th Ave

Coon Rapids, IA 50058

(712) 999-2263

AUDUBON

325 Broadway St

Audubon, IA 50025

(712) 563-9584

TOM’S ELECTRIC &

GRAIN EQUIPMENT, INC.

tomelect@fmctc.com

712-627-4610 • 105 Weber St.

Westphalia, IA

Conrad-American, a leading manufacturer of

grain storage bins and grain drying and handling

equipment for over 55 years, announces a new

arrangement with Tom’s Electric and Grain

Equipment of Westphalia, Iowa.

Conrad-American will be offering special pricing to

introduce Tom Muenchrath of Tom’s Electric and Grain

Equipment in this area. Tom has served as a successful

supplier of grain bins and related equipment for 27 years.

Please contact Tom at his Westphalia office, 712-627-4610,

for a quote on any of your grain storage needs.

Conrad-American will continue to provide equipment

for any new installations and repair parts for existing

installations in the Carroll area through this

new arrangement.


NOVEMBER, 2024 | THE AG HERALD | PAGE 5

AGRICULTURE

Warm weather

allows for early

harvest, but low

prices chill mood

By TOM LAWRENCE

news@nwestiowa.com

REGIONAL—It doesn’t feel like

late-October, with temperatures in

the 70s and even 80s but just look

at the fields stripped of their crops.

The 2024 harvest has been underway

for several weeks. It may

seem like summer, but as November

approaches, farmers are taking

advantage of the unseasonably warm

conditions, according to Chad Hart,

a professor of economics and Iowa

State University Extension and Outreach

grain markets specialist.

“The harvest has proceeded quickly,

and reports suggest very large to

record supplies coming in from farm

fields,” Hart said.

But it’s not all good news. Corn is

bringing less than $4 a bushel. The

U.S. Department of Agriculture Daily

Cash Grain Bids report for Oct. 22

said on average, corn was bringing

$3.86. That’s a long drop from four

years ago, when it topped $7 a bushel.

Soybeans are bringing $9.32 per

bushel.

The harvest numbers are impressive

despite weather issues during

the growing season, Hart noted. That

is a factor in low prices.

“While the extreme weather did

damage some individual farms and

fields, the national crops are large

and those large supplies are weighing

down on crop prices,” Hart said.

“So, it is a continuation of what we

saw from 2023, large supplies and

lower prices. There are no dramatic

changes, just continuing trends.”

The Iowa Crop Progress and Condition

Report released by the USDA

National Agricultural Statistics Service

on Oct. 21 said just about all

the corn in the state has reached the

mature stage or beyond.

“Harvest of the corn for grain crop

reached 68 percent complete, five

days ahead of last year and 10 days

ahead of the five-year average,” the report

states. “Farmers in south-central

Iowa remained behind farmers in the

rest of the state with just 50 percent of

their crop harvested. Moisture content

of field corn being harvested was 15

percent. Soybeans harvested reached

91 percent, one week ahead of last

year and almost two weeks ahead

of the average. Farmers in northern

Iowa, as well as west central and east

central, have already harvested 94

percent or more of their soybeans.”

ISU Extension field agronomist

Gentry Sorenson of Algona noted

that 74 percent of the corn in N’West

Iowa has come out of the fields. Almost

all the soybeans are in as well.

“Harvest is moving along quickly

due to warm weather, lack of rainfall

during harvest and warm weather,”

Sorenson said.

Cooperative Farmers Elevator CEO

Rob Jacobs said the early harvest was

not anticipated this summer.

“The warm, dry conditions have

brought the maturity of the crop along

much faster than anticipated just

a couple of months ago. Soybeans

and corn moistures are both running

much drier than normal,” Jacobs

said. “The need to dry corn has

been greatly reduced which would

speed up the time needed to do so

at both the farm and the elevator.”

He said it has not had a large impact

at CFE facilities, but it has reduced

the need to dry down corn.

“I would overall about the same,”

Jacobs said. “We have basically run

7-7 daily vs. closing down early to

catch up with drying if needed. On

the other hand we don’t have to dry

corn 24-7 either. There have been

zero weather delays.”

That’s a plus for farmers, but they

are dealing with fiscal issues, he said.

PHOTO BY TOM LAWRENCE

A bright October sky illuminates field after field of harvested corn and soybeans in N’West Iowa. This cornfield

5½ miles east of Larchwood, like most fields in the state, has been picked clean ahead of the usual schedule

thanks to warm, dry conditions this autumn. However, corn prices are not favorable.

“The continued price pressure in the grains

coupled with reduced yields in parts of our

trade will result in lower income for many.

Unfortunately, we don’t see the price of corn

or beans rallying sustainably anytime soon

as national yields are good and demand

remains steady.”

- ROB JACOBS, COOPERATIVE FARMERS ELEVATOR CEO

“The continued price pressure

in the grains coupled with reduced

yields in parts of our trade will result

in lower income for many,” Jacobs

said. “Unfortunately, we don’t see

the price of corn or beans rallying

sustainably anytime soon as national

yields are good and demand remains

steady.”

Iowa secretary of agriculture Mike

Naig said even as the harvest comes

to an end, rain would be appreciated.

“After another dry week, Iowa’s

harvest took another sizable step

toward the finish line,” Naig said.

“Heading into the last stretch of October,

temperatures are expected to

remain warmer than average with

more chances of precipitation, which

could slow or temporarily pause harvest

in areas. With drought conditions

continuing to spread, we would

welcome a shot of rain to reduce fire

risks, get cover crops established and

begin to replenish our soils, streams

and pastures.”

State climatologist Justin Glisan

said this has been the second driest

October in 152 years of records. Only

a handful of Iowa stations reported

meager rainfall totals.

“Much of the state also experienced

the first widespread freeze early in

the reporting period,” Glisan said.

“Overall, temperatures varied from

below normal southeast to above

normal northwest; the statewide

average temperature was 49.9 degrees,

0.8 degree below normal.”

Hart said farmers cannot spend

much time relaxing or celebrating

another good harvest.

“The challenges as farmers prepare

for 2025 are to adjust to this lower

price environment and capture the

opportunities when profits appear,

either by reducing costs where that is

feasible and makes economic sense

— doing homework on evaluating

the benefits/costs of various inputs

— or by making sales when prices

rise and cover production costs. For

example, prices this past spring were

high enough to cover costs,” he said.

“The ag economy is going through

another cycle as we swing from high

to low and back again. A few years

of profitability are almost always followed

by a few years of losses, before

returning once again to profitability.”


PAGE 6 | THE AG HERALD | NOVEMBER, 2024

AGRICULTURE

ISA directors pleased with soybean harvest

By JEFF HUTTON

Iowa Soybean Association

Harvest has wrapped up in 2024.

Now it’s about crunching numbers,

reviewing and reflecting over the past

year and looking toward 2025.

Iowa Soybean Association (ISA)

At-Large Director Aimee Bissell from

Bedford says she was relatively pleased

with this year’s harvest.

“Our harvest went well, with a record

pace and not too many delays,”

she says. “We had really good weather.

Earlier in the season, Bissell thought

they might see a record crop, but after

the combine was back in the barn,

the numbers still reflect a “really, really

good crop.

“All in all, it was great,” she says.

In terms of markets and finding

opportunities to sell, Bissell says a

good crop can be beneficial when

seeking out those areas where farmers

can have influence.

“With a good crop, you can be profitable,”

she says.

However, with market fluctuations

acting like a roller coaster, maintaining,

waiting and holding onto your

grain before selling, can be stressful.

“With all these fluctuations, it has

been difficult,” she says. “There’s so

much going on with the marketing

side of it. No matter what, it doesn’t

make it easy while you are on the ride

– it will always cause you some stress.”

Beyond the marketing concerns,

which are always a factor throughout

both the planting and harvest seasons,

Bissell says there are some positives.

“With harvest, it’s good to see what

worked, what the yields were, how

many bushels we had – it helps to

know those numbers, so you know

what price you need to reach to make

the year profitable,” she says. “It eases

a little bit of my stress levels.”

‘See what hits’

For ISA District 7 Director Scot Bailey

of Anita, the harvest of 2024 was

an exceptional one for both beans

and corn.

Like Bissell, Bailey says harvest

season went by quickly.

“We had some beans that were very

good and some that were average,” he

says. “But the pace that we were going

at, especially with no rains, we were

going as hard and fast as we could.”

With his corn crop, Bailey says his

operation had “phenomenal yields …

It was very exciting and a nice problem

to have.”

And during this time, Bailey was

able to work with the Soil and Water

Outcomes Fund (SWOF), implementing

some cover crops, including

wheat and oats. With the recent

rains, some of the wheat has already

started to germinate.

Bailey agrees with Bissell that postharvest

provides him with more solid

numbers to work with when it comes

to marketing his grain, knowing what

he needs to make the effort financially

worthwhile.

“You have to go ahead and crunch

the numbers, put in your offers to

co-ops, ethanol plants, crushers and

see what hits,” he says.

Statewide update

“After a long stretch of dry conditions

that allowed harvest to proceed

without much interruption, measurable

rainfall finally arrived last week

and stayed through the weekend in

much of the state,” says Iowa Secretary

of Agriculture Mike Naig. “For

Iowa farmers still finishing harvest

and other field work, the moisture

may temporarily delay progress. However,

it will also provide the added

benefits of reducing dust, decreasing

fire risk and helping to replenish our

dry soils, waterways and pastures. For

the many farmers who have seeded

cover crops or are planning to do

so, the rain also provided a muchneeded

boost toward getting them

established. As we look ahead to the

next two weeks, outlooks continue

to show better chances of warmer

temperatures and more rain.”

In the latest Iowa Department of

Agriculture and Land Stewardship

(IDALS) report, much needed rain

across Iowa meant Iowa farmers

had just 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork

during the week that ended this

past Sunday. According to the U.S.

Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)

National Agricultural Statistics Service

(NASS), field activities included

harvesting corn and soybeans, completing

fall tillage, and applying fall

fertilizer and manure.

Topsoil moisture condition rated

21% very short, 38% short, 39% adequate

and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture

condition rated 27% very short, 42%

short, 31% adequate and no surplus.

Harvest of the corn for grain crop

reached 92 percent statewide, six days

ahead of last year and two weeks ahead

of the five-year average. Moisture content

of field corn harvested for grain

remained steady at 14%. IDALS did

not provide a soybean harvest update,

but did note that last week’s crop report

indicated the soybean harvest

was nearly complete at 96%.

And across all states, the 2024 soybean

harvest paced ahead of the last

five years with more than 90% of soybeans

harvested as of this week, according

to the United Soybean Board.

Meanwhile, back in Iowa, livestock

producers reported weaning calves

and sending some to local sale barns.

Many feedlots went from dry and dusty

to muddy with the rain received during

the week, Naig says.

Drought numbers

The recent rainfall has made somewhat

of a dent in the latest U.S. Drought

Monitor report.

Just more than 6% of the state was

listed as having no drought issues

which mainly impacted a portion

of south central Iowa.

More than 30% of the state is categorized

as abnormally dry, while nearly

51% of Iowa is marked as being in a

moderate drought.

However, nearly 13% of the state,

primarily in the northwest corner of

Iowa, remains in the severe drought

category.

IOWA SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION | FILE PHOTO

‘A good life’

Despite the now dry conditions, with

harvest over or nearly complete, farmers

are able to breathe a little easier

… for now. But as Bailey and Bissell

will agree, there really is no rest for

the weary.

For Bailey, he’s already working toward

next year, looking at seed varieties,

fertilizer, talking with implement

dealers about repair work and relying

on those stakeholders like co-ops,

agronomists, bankers, accountants

and others to discuss the upcoming

2025 season.

“You spend all winter planning with

those people, so you know where you

need to go,” he says.

Bissell seconded that sentiment and

says despite all the arduous work that

has occurred and will again start in

the spring, post-harvest and winter

is the time to give thanks.

“Everything we do does affect everyone

around you,” she says. “We

knew this when we chose this lifestyle,

and we would have to accept

the challenges. Overall, farming can

provide you with a good life.”

EXTENDING KNOWLEDGE EMPOWERING WOMEN

Classes starting Tuesday, January 7, 2025 and continuing January 14, 21, 28, February 4 &11.

HIGHER YIELDS

Find the AG Herald

in these publications:

CARROLL TIMES HERALD • THE JEFFERSON HERALD

THE COON RAPIDS ENTERPRISE


NOVEMBER, 2024 | THE AG HERALD | PAGE 7

KERNELS FOR KUEMPER

Good for YOU

Good for our

SCHOOL

Kuemper has been a

cornerstone of the Carroll

area since the 1870s.

Reap your tax savings

while helping Kuemper!

75%

MONSIGNOR LAFFERTY

TAX CREDIT

ATTENTION FARMERS:

Use unsold

commodities

to make your charitable

gift to Kuemper.

Contact your tax advisor or Kuemper at 712-792-2212.

• Pioneer Corn and Soybeans

• Alfalfa and Cover Crops

• Custom Seed Treatment

• In Field Seed Delivery

• Field by Field Planning

• In-Season Field Scouting

• Fungicide Applications

KALEB REIS

712-210-6147

Loading • Washing

Shots • Maintenance

712-292-9794

matth@juergensinc.com


PAGE 8 | THE AG HERALD | NOVEMBER, 2024

WEATHER

Winter

forecast is

anything but

clear

By JEFF HUTTON

Iowa Soybean Association

Will there be snow-covered fields this winter

to help replenish some of the needed moisture

Iowa farmers are asking for? Or will mild

temperatures and a lack of precipitation mean

drought conditions will continue into early

2025?

If you ask the meteorologists, the prognosticators

or just about anyone with an opinion,

the answers are vague at best when it comes

to predicting Iowa’s winter forecast.

According to the latest three-month (Dec.

2024 through Feb. 2025) forecast from the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s

(NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS),

a slowly-developing La Nina is favored to influence

conditions for the upcoming winter.

Come December, NOAA predicts wetterthan-average

conditions for the entire northern

tier of the continental United States, including

the Great Lakes region. Meanwhile,

drier-than-average conditions are expected

from the Four Corners region of the Southwest

to the Southeast, Gulf Coast and lower

mid-Atlantic states.

Stuck in the middle is Iowa where the forecast

calls for equal chances of below-normal,

normal or above-normal precipitation and

temperatures.

La Nina conditions are expected to develop

in the next several weeks which typically lead

to a more northerly storm track during the

winter months.

And while the forecast is not clear as to Iowa’s

winter weather fate, NOAA forecasters

do expect drought conditions to persist and

worsen across the central and southern Plains.

“Unfortunately, after a brief period in the

spring of 2024 with minimal drought conditions

across the country, more than a quarter of

the land mass in the continental United States

is currently in at least a moderate drought,”

says Brad Pugh, operational drought lead with

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “And the

winter precipitation outlook does not bode

well for widespread relief.”

‘Equal Chances’

Justin Glisan, state climatologist of Iowa,

says it’s clear there is no certainty as to what

farmers might expect in terms of this winter.

“Right now, short-term outlooks into November

show higher probabilities of warmer

than average temperatures and a slightly elevated

wet signal,” he says. “We are also in a

‘La Nina Watch’ with a 60% chance a transition

to this phase in the October-November

timeframe.”

Glisan says confirmed NOAA’s assessment

that typical La Nina winters are colder across

the Dakotas through Montana and the Pacific

Northwest. The southern states are generally

warmer and drier.

“We don’t have clear guidance for Iowa,

as we are categorized in “Equal Chances” of

above/below/near-average,” he says. “However,

in weak La Nina winters, we have generally

experienced above-normal seasonal snowfall

totals across much of the state.”

Glisan says from 2020-22, Iowa experienced

three consecutive La Nina winters, which is

only the third time this has happened since

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

1950. With 152 years of records, they ranked

as such for temperature/precipitation:

2020: 23rd warmest/ 62nd driest

2021: 63rd coldest/52nd driest

2022: 69th warmest/16th driest

The value of snow

While most Iowans would argue having to

dig out from heavy snow can be a pain, most

farmers agree there is value to having a good

layer of snowfall on their farm fields.

Snowfall cover can help with:

Improving soil moisture: Snow helps the

ground retain moisture, which is important

for plant growth. Heavy wet snow can add

a significant amount of moisture to the soil.

Reduce erosion: Snow protects the soil from

being blown away by strong winds.

Insulate the soil: Snow acts as an insulating

blanket that traps heat and prevents frost

from penetrating the soil. This allows the soil

to thaw more quickly in the spring.

Trap nutrients: Snow can trap nitrogen, nitrate,

and ammonium from the atmosphere.

Livestock: Those farmers who raise cattle

can get much of their water from snow when

grazing on winter pasture.

Barge traffic: Given that the Mississippi River

remains significantly below normal levels for

the third year in a row, snowfall could help lift

those numbers. When major waterways are

high enough, barges can ship more soybeans,

corn and other cargo to the Gulf of Mexico.

Almanac predictions

So, will it be a White or Brown Christmas?

According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac,

Iowa and other Central Plains states will see

a warmer than normal winter with belownormal

precipitation and snowfall.

The coldest and snowiest periods will occur

in late January, as well as early and late

February.

As for spring planting in 2025, the publication

says April and May will be warm with

below-normal rainfall.


NOVEMBER, 2024 | THE AG HERALD | PAGE 9

Hinners Ag providing Pioneer brand

products to farmers since 1978!

Hinners Ag Supply

712-249-5447 IA

Herd health is an integral part of

any successful operation.

We are happy to help you reach your

goals and provide a thorough and

effective evaluation to do so.

515-386-221

1908 N Wilson Ave.

Jefferson, IA

www.fairviewjefferson.com

FARM MANAGEMENT • REAL ESTATE • APPRAISALS

TODAY’S LAND OWNER • CROP CONDITIONS

1705 N LAKE AVE, STORM LAKE, IA • (712) 732-4811 • WWW.STALCUPAG.COM

Drees

OIL CO.

PROPANE • FUEL • OIL

GASOLINE • DEF

WE DELIVER TO

AGRICULTURAL

RESIDENTS

1257 W US HWY 30 • CARROLL, IA • (712) 792-1225

* HOME * AUTO * LIFE

* CROP/HAIL & FARM

www.commins.net

1801 6TH ST. MANNING, IOWA 51455 • 712.579.5722

110 5th Ave • Coon Rapids, IA 50058

712.999.2288

422 Tracy St • Audubon, IA 50025

712.563.4422

Our Locations

135 S Idaho St • Glidden, IA 51443

712.659.3185

103 E Lincoln Way • Jefferson, IA 50129

515.386.4156


PAGE 10 | THE AG HERALD | NOVEMBER, 2024

515.389.3222

Sales - Service - Rentals

303 Division St E

Grand Junction, IA 50107

515-738-2744

Pivot Bio Rep

Custom Seed Treating

Easiload Seed Tenders

RIPPEY, IOWA

515-490-9535

INDUSTRY LEADERS IN STRIP-TILL

783 140th St, Churdan, IA

515-408-2808

Visit us at: www.lynxag.com

Juhl Feed Inc.

FULL SERVICE AGRIBUSINESS

Serving our community for more than 60 years!

Community

State Bank

515-968-4131

L E N D E R

www.csbpaton.com

Smith Brothers

Trucking LLC

We designed all this for a fake business. Imagine what we will do for

YOUR

BUSINESS!

Total Miles Driving Today Total Mileage Today

Truck/Tractor and Trailer Numbers or

License Plate(s) / State (show each unit)

1: OFF DUTY

2: SLEEPER

BERTH

3. DRIVING

4: ON DUTY

(NOT DRIVING)

REMARKS:

MIDNIGHT

SHIPPING

DOCUMENTS:

MIDNIGHT

________________________

B/L or Manifest No.

or

________________________

Shipper & Commodity

(Month) (Day) (Year)

DRIVER’S DAILY LOG

(24 HOURS)

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Name of Carrier or Carriers

______________________________________________________________

I certify these entries are true and correct:

Main Office Address

Home Terminal Address

Original - File at home terminal

Duplicate - Driver retails in his/her possession for eight days

Smith Brothers trucking LLC

280th Street • Ruralton, Iowa 25445

280th Street • Ruralton, Iowa 25445

_____________________________ ________________________________

Driver’s Full Signature Co-Driver’s Name

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 noon 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 noon 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Enter name of place you reported and where released from work and when and where each change of duty occurred.

From:__________________________________ To:_____________________________________

USE TIME STANDARD AT HOME TERMINAL

Date:

TOTAL

HOURS

Jordan & Aaron Smith

280th Street • Ruralton, Iowa 25445

Office: 712-541-2457

RECAP

Complete at end of

workday.

__________

On-duty

hours today.

(Tota lines 3 & 4)

70 Hour/

8 Day

Drivers

A.__________

Total hours on

duty last 7

days including

today.

B.__________

Total hours

available

tomorrow

70 hr.

minus A.*

C.__________

Total hours on

duty last 8 days

including today.

60 Hour/

7 Day

Drivers

A.__________

Total hours on

duty last 6 days

including today.

B.__________

Total hours

available

tomorrow

Smith Brothers trucking LLC

60 hr. minus. A*

C.__________

Total hours on

duty last 7 days

including today.

*If you too 34

consecutive

hours off duty

you have 60/70

hours available

again.

Invoice #

Customer:

Tax ID #: 21-265486

Truck # ____________________

1001

Trailer # ____________________

Smith Brothers

Trucking LLC

Location Loaded

Location

Unloaded

Driver _____________________

__________________________

# Head Weight Rate Loaded Miles Total Owed

220 280th Street

Ruralton, Iowa 25445

Smith Brothers

Trucking LLC

Aaron Smith

220 280th Street • Ruralton, Iowa 25445

Cell: 712-541-2457 Office: 7142-5478-2341

Received in good condition by:

Jordan & Aaron Smith • 220 280th Street • Ruralton, Iowa 25445 • Office: 712-541-2457

If you can dream it, we can print it!

Log books, self inking stampers, business cards, invoices, notepads,

postcards, carbonless forms with wrap around covers, continuous numbered

forms, extended life durable labels, letterhead, envelopes, and much more!

712-631-4825 • printshop@iowainformation.com •227 9th Street, Sheldon, IA


NOVEMBER, 2024 | THE AG HERALD | PAGE 11

ENVIRONMENT

Crop survey results show increase in cover cropping, less tillage

By CAMI KOONS

Iowa Capital Dispatch

Results from the annual Iowa Nutrient

Research & Education Council

crop survey show Iowa farmers

planted more than 3.8 million acres

of cover crops in the 2023 crop year.

INREC initiated the yearly survey

in 2017 as part of the Iowa Nutrient

Reduction Strategy to track tillage

practices, crop rotations and nitrogen,

phosphorus and manure fertilizer

applications. These practices

can reduce the amount of nutrients,

notably nitrogen and phosphorus,

that run off cropland and into waterways.

Ben Gleason, the council’s executive

director, said the use of cover

crops has increased significantly since

the non-profit started the survey.

In 2017, just 1.6 million acres of

Iowa’s approximately 23 million acres

of corn and soybean cropland had

a cover crop planted. That amount

has more than doubled in the past

seven years, bringing the percentage

of cropland with a cover crop to

nearly 17% in 2023, according to the

most recent survey results.

“That’s not a small amount,” Gleason

said.

Cover cropping is a practice of

seeding a crop such as cereal rye,

oats, wheat, radishes or turnips into

the soil between cash crop (corn and

soybean) rotations to improve soil

health, minimize soil erosion and

in some operations, create pasture

for cattle.

According to Sustainable Agriculture

Research and Education, cover

crops can reduce the amount of nitrogen

runoff from a field by nearly

50%.

“We’re making progress, but we’ve

got a long ways to go just because

of the scale we’re trying to reach,”

Gleason said.

Gleason also said conservation

practices, “don’t happen in a vacuum,”

and that the council is always

considering what else might have

caused the use of a certain practice

to increase or decrease in a given

period.

Bill Frederick, co-owner of Iowa

Cover Crop, a seed and service company

that helps farmers implement

PHOTO BY EDWIN REMSBERG AND USDA-SARE

An Iowa survey following conversation practices that reduce nutrient runoff, shows an increase in cover

cropping in the state.

cover crop systems, said his business

has increased by 30% to 50% each

year since opening.

“We’re always chasing that next

level of adopters,” Frederick said and

noted that the company has also retained

most of its customers over

the past 10 years.

There are a number of private and

public funding streams that Frederick

said his company helps farmers

navigate so they can implement a

cover crop for “basically no cost”

which makes it an “easier sell.”

According to the Environmental

Working Group conservation database,

Iowa farmers received nearly

$300 million to help implement conservation

practices through the U.S.

Department of Agriculture’s Conservation

Stewardship Program and

Environmental Quality Incentives

Program, between 2017 and 2022.

For farmers who also raise cattle,

Frederick said the cost of the cover

crop is easily offset by grazing the

cattle on the crop.

Frederick said he is “optimistic” for

future adoption of cover cropping,

and isn’t discouraged by the only 10%

increase over the past seven years.

“I mean, you’re totally changing

the way people are farming and I

think it’s a big ask to just have people

jump in,” Frederick said.

“Our big thing is everybody thinks

of this conservation as something that

we have to do. We’ve always looked

at it as a potential income source.”

Starting next year, sustainable

aviation fuel producers would be

eligible for a new federal tax credit

if they produce their fuel with corn

and soybeans grown on farms that

employ sustainable practices, including

cover cropping and no-till, to offset

some of the carbon emissions of

the fuel production.

Frederick said he already has new

customers seeding cover crops to

be able to sell to these producers.

“So that’ll be the next big leap, I

think,” Frederick said.

Nutrient Reduction

Strategy

The nutrient reduction strategy

is Iowa’s contribution to a multistate

effort aimed at reducing the

size and severity of the hypoxia, or

dead zone, in the Gulf of Mexico. The

hypoxia is caused by excess nitrogen

and phosphorus transported down

the Mississippi River into the gulf.

“Number one, is

certainly there’s

more awareness of

nutrient reduction

strategies and the

suite of strategies

we have for

farmers. I also

think some of

it is economic …

Farmers are trying

to be as efficient as

possible with their

budget.”

- BEN GLEASON, IOWA NUTRIENT

RESEARCH & EDUCATION COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Practices like cover crops keep

plants in the soil and help keep

those nutrients in the soil, rather

than washing off downstream, but

other practices, like reducing tillage

and being more efficient when applying

fertilizer, are also part of the

nutrient reduction strategy.

According to the 2023 survey results,

63% of corn and soybean acres

were farmed with either no till or

conservation tillage practices, which

leaves 30% or more of the field untilled.

The survey also shows a 7% decrease

in the rates of commercial

nitrogen applied to continuous corn

operations since 2017.

The nutrient reduction program

also tracks point-source pollution

from municipal and industrial wastewater

facilities, which also contribute

to the N and P loads in the water.

Gleason said his council works with

the Iowa State University center for

survey statistics and methodology to

randomize and extrapolate the survey

data, collected from about 100

ag retailers, to generate figures that

are representative of the entire state.

“We feel, using the stat lab, that

it’s representative of the state,” Gleason

said.

In part, the survey was initiated to

track the progress of these conservation

practices and gather some of

the water-quality data that Gleason

said is necessary to qualify for costshare

programs.

Gleason said these practices, especially

around fertilizer application,

have grown in popularity because

farmers are more aware of the programs,

and also because they realize

it can help their bottom lines.

“Number one, is certainly there’s

more awareness of nutrient reduction

strategies and the suite of strategies

we have for farmers,” Gleason said.

“I also think some of it is economic

… Farmers are trying to be as efficient

as possible with their budget.”

The efforts in Iowa and in other

states along the Mississippi have

made a difference in nitrogen levels

of the Mississippi, according to

the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency’s 2023 report. Gleason said

he also likes to emphasize the impact

these practices have on local

water systems.

“What’s good for the land here is

good for the water here,” Gleason said.

“And obviously we want to help out

the Gulf of Mexico — but we have

our own issues to work on, too.”


PAGE 12 | THE AG HERALD | NOVEMBER, 2024

All manual machine shop specializing

in alignment boring & bore welding

Gearboxes • Hydraulic Pumps

Hydraulic Cylinder Repair • Chrome & Barrel Replacement

Bushings & Pins • Cast Iron Repair

Portable Service • Prototyping • Small Batch Runs

24 Hr On-Call Service

712.269.4030

Corey Jurgensen Scranton, Iowa

NOW TAKING ORDERS

FOR AG LIME

Improve your soil for greater yields

Give us a call today!

515.370.0087

ANTHOFER

ANTHOFER

AERIAL APPLICATIONS

Now Offering Fall Drone

Pasture Spraying

Call Mitchell and schedule today

515- 370-3347


NOVEMBER, 2024 | THE AG HERALD | PAGE 13

EQUIPMENT

FROM PAGE 1

employees who had worked for

New Holland and were familiar

with the community.

Since then, they have opened

two more locations, one in Rockwell

City and one in Carroll. By

maintaining their goal of offering

the best customer service, Haley

said she regularly sees fourth and

even fifth generation customers.

The Carroll location opened

in 1989 and their third location

in Rockwell City opened in 2001,

shortly after Carter left for college.

Carter said her dad sent her brother

to Rockwell City to get shelves, and

he said a building was being given

away because no one was bidding

“When we do business with our

customers, we make sure that

the hand that feeds us, we feed

them back, so being local is very

important.”

- ALECIA CARTER, DAUGHTER OF PAT AND TOM HALEY

on it. Together, they turned the old

building into a third dealership.

While the Rockwell City location

first opened, Carter was studying

to be a chef in Ankeny. After accepting

a job at a new restaurant

in downtown Des Moines, she

worked at RV Center in the parts

department while the restaurant

was being built.

“I understood how to work a

parts counter, so I took this job,

and I fell in love with it, and didn’t

leave for 11 years,” Carter said.

Deciding she wanted to raise

her kids outside of the city, Carter

moved back to Carroll and started

working for the family business.

She now serves as a service manager

of 14 technicians for their two

locations.

Carter said opportunity of growth

was the main reason the family

wanted to open a location in Carroll.

Their business spans across the

entire state of Iowa and they also

have customers in South Dakota.

Haley Equipment is the only

farm equipment dealership in

town that still has family living

there, and Carter said their goal

is to help Carroll grow as it benefits

the community and their store.

“When we do business with our

customers, we make sure that the

hand that feeds us, we feed them

back, so being local is very important,”

Carter said.

Haley said when you’re working

with the farming business, it

has to be personal.

Carter recognizes that this field

is typically a “man’s role,” but said

in her world, “we can do anything

that a man can do.” She said there

is rarely an issue with a woman

running the counter, but Haley

had different experiences when

the Wall Lake location first opened.

“The guys would come in to my

counter and say ‘Is there a guy in

here somewhere I can talk to,’” Haley

said. “I had men who would not

even give me the money to pay for

their parts, they were not going

to deal with a woman in a farm

equipment dealership, period.”

Last year, Haley was able to retire

at the age of 75, and the Wall

Lake location was closed. Currently,

Carroll and Rockwell City

are the only locations still open.

Even after retirement, Haley still

works in the Carroll office often.

AGRICULTURE

ICA names new director of

government relations, public policy

Kelli Wicks

Special to the Ag Herald

AMES, Iowa – Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA),

the leading grassroots organization supporting Iowa’s

beef cattle industry, is pleased to announce Kelli

Wicks as their new director of government relations

and public policy. Wicks brings a unique background

of experience and skills that will complement the association’s

policy work and continue to drive legislative

efforts promoting Iowa cattle producer’s profitability

and productivity.

Wicks’ most recent roles as the manager of market

growth and manager of international market development

with the National Pork Board hold many

parallels. In these roles, she was responsible for international

initiatives, consumer segmentation insight

integration, innovation, and the introduction of new

technologies. Throughout her time with the National

Pork Board, Wicks points out that knowledgeably

showcasing their work for stakeholder buy-in was a

top priority and has positioned her well for similar

work with legislators.

Prior to the National Pork Board, Wicks served as a

two-time Wallace-Carver Fellow with the USDA – ARS

and FAS and as a farmer relations intern with Midwest

Dairy. She also was a Borlaug-Ruan International

Intern in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the International

Livestock Research Institute.

Wicks holds a master’s degree in international agriculture

with a focus on international trade and development

from Oklahoma State University. She has

a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University where

she double-majored in agriculture and society and

international agriculture with a minor in animal science.

Wicks grew up on a small cattle operation in

north central Iowa. She raised and showed purebred

cattle across the state and the nation.

“I have a deep passion for the agriculture industry,”

said Wicks. “I am constantly striving to advocate for

agriculture and everyone it impacts. In my previous

work experiences, I have worked to serve producers

in all facets of agriculture to make sure their voices are

heard. I can’t think of a better way to utilize my skills

for Iowa’s cattle farmers than by serving the members

of ICA as the director of government relations

and public policy.”

ICA is currently working on policy development

and priorities for the upcoming year. Wicks joins the

team at an opportune time to take part in this process,

work collaboratively with policy committees, and

strategize with ICA’s lobbyist and leadership to build

upon the momentum of last year’s legislative session.

“We are excited to welcome Kelli to ICA and look

forward to the unique perspective she will bring to

the role,” said Bryan Whaley, ICA CEO. “Her demonstrated

dedication to serving producers through her

work experience with member-driven organizations

and background to guide decision-making with strong

buy-in will be great tools she can leverage to promote

policy priorities that matter to our members.”

ICA looks forward to welcoming Kelli Wicks to the

team and continuing our mission of serving Iowa’s

beef cattle industry now and in the future. Wicks’ first

day was November 4, 2024.


PAGE 14 | THE AG HERALD | NOVEMBER, 2024

AGRICULTURE

Iowa’s Chuck Morris Inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame

By SYDNEY PETERSON

Iowa State Extension

AMES, Iowa – Chuck Morris was inducted at

the 2024 National 4-H Hall of Fame ceremony

for a lifetime of achievements and contributions

to 4-H youth development, including

serving as the state 4-H leader for nine years.

Honored by the National Association of Extension

4-H Youth Development Professionals,

Morris is one of 15 who were inducted during

a ceremony Oct. 14 at the organization’s

national conference in Boise, Idaho.

Morris’ successes over his 37-year Iowa

State University Extension and Outreach

career were recognized by 4-H faculty, both

internally and externally, and influenced the

development of 4-H programs within Iowa

and across the nation.

Morris began his 4-H career as a Walnut Progressors

4-H Club member in Dallas County.

He participated in beef, swine and science,

mechanics and engineering projects early on,

but he especially appreciated his opportunities

in the leadership program, where he learned

about himself and the person he wanted to be.

“At my first 4-H club meeting, the Dallas

County Walnut Progressors, this shy 10-yearold

was elected recreation chairman. From

this humble beginning, I discovered county

fair exhibits, educational presentations, county

4-H council, local and state camps and conferences,

and countless other 4-H adventures,”

Morris said. “It is these experiences that are

the GENIUS of 4-H. It is that opportunity for

each person who participates in 4-H to find

their unique path to help them prepare for

a successful future.”

He began his extension career as 4-H and

youth leader in Clay and Buena Vista counties

in 1975 and was shortly after asked to join

the state 4-H youth staff on campus. Morris

provided leadership in agriculture and volunteer

development on campus before becoming

assistant state leader and state 4-H

leader in 2004. After seven successful years

as state 4-H leader, Morris retired in 2013.

One of his special memories as a 4-H member

was representing Iowa at the National 4-H

Conference during his senior year in high

school. At that time, Iowa had added “and

my world” to the 4-H pledge, but the rest of

the country had not. Through his and others’

work on the international committee at

the National 4-H Conference, they proposed

that the addition be adopted nationally, which

came to fruition in 1973.

Judy Levings, former associate 4-H director,

said, “I think this [honor] is fitting because

fundamental to Chuck’s work was broadening

Chuck Morris

“[Joining] 4-H was the best decision of my life;

little did I know at the time, because all the

opportunities 4-H provides and that’s what we

were in the business to do was to provide very

special opportunities for young people to grow,

learn life skills and to become successful adults.”

- CHUCK MORRIS

the scope and the impact role of volunteers

and giving youth not only a voice, but a stronger

role in the program and decision making,

and I don’t think every leader does that. He

meant it, we lived by it and we worked it.”

Highlights of Morris’ tenure were leading the

state 4-H council and Iowa 4-H Youth Conference,

state volunteer Forums, and developing

educational materials for 4-H club leaders

using face-to-face and online delivery methods.

He created new recruitment materials for

4-H volunteers, developed a volunteer training

and support plan, created animal species

advisory committees to provide oversight and

assistance in decision making, created the

horseless horse program for youth who want

to learn about horses but do not own one

themselves, and led the Strengthening 4-H

Clubs effort that included club assessments

and efforts to improve vibrancy in 4-H clubs.

Brenda Allen, associate director of extension

operations and former colleague of Morris,

explained one of the pieces that she thinks is

a legacy of Morris’ work. “One of the things

I found most endearing was the time Chuck

spent with our state 4-H council. We would

meet four times a year on the weekends. Chuck

would always make it a priority to find time

in his schedule on that weekend to spend at

least an hour, sometimes a couple of hours, not

just sharing with the 4-H’ers but also picking

their brains as to what is most important to

our program because Chuck always wanted

to do what was best for the young people.

Chuck lived and breathed that; he engaged

young people on decision-making boards on

every level.”

Morris’ advocacy for youth voice and volunteerism

led to appointments for himself

regionally and nationally across the 4-H and

larger Cooperative Extension System – as chair

of the governor-appointed state task force on

youth education employment and training;

member of the National 4-H Congress Design

Team, National 4-H Curriculum Leadership

Team, National 4-H Advisory Team, Iowa State

Fair Board and Iowa Excellence in Extension

committee; chair of the North Central Region

4-H Program Directors; president of Epsilon

Sigma Phi; and to the executive team for the

state commission on volunteerism.

“These efforts helped steer millions of dollars

of state and national funding for programs in

Iowa,” said Levings. “It’s because of [Morris’]

dedication and commitment to volunteers

and youth that made all of this happen and

have created lasting impacts on the Iowa 4-H

program today.”

Morris has also served as a member of the

Iowa Arboretum board of directors, Farm-

House Fraternity Association board president

and various roles in his local church. He was

inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame in

2021 and was a recipient of the ISU Alumni

Association Superior Service Award and Jerry

Parsons 4-H Youth Professional Award. He

received the NAE4-HA American Spirit Award,

Distinguished Service Award and ESP State

Mid-Career Award. He and his wife, Mary, were

the recipients of the 2020 Iowa 4-H Foundation

Individual Supporter award.

“The one thing I always remember about

Chuck is that he always remembered to say,

‘What is the right thing to do for the young

people?’ Always, every time,” said Mitchell

Hoyer, Iowa 4-H program leader. “That sticks

with me, and it carries with me today. It’s

made me always consider the right thing to

do for a young person so that we can keep

them involved in our program, have some

type of positive experience and help them

learn from that experience.”

“We are proud to honor and recognize the

outstanding individuals who are the Class of

2024 Laureates for the National 4-H Hall of

Fame. These individuals have touched the

lives of many people, from 4-H staff and

colleagues to thousands of 4-H volunteers

and members throughout the nation,” said

Pamela Van Horn, chair of the National 4-H

Hall of Fame.

“[Joining] 4-H was the best decision of my

life; little did I know at the time, because all

the opportunities 4-H provides and that’s what

we were in the business to do was to provide

very special opportunities for young people

to grow, learn life skills and to become successful

adults,” Morris said.

“Chuck was the essence of Iowa 4-H,” said

Gail Castillo, 4-H risk management specialist.

“He not only believed in the power of 4-H; he

also worked daily to help everyone – be they

members, volunteers or staff – feel a sense

of belonging and a sense of community in

our program.”

“Chuck has most certainly touched the lives

of thousands of young people, as he served

as an inspiration and mentor to many. His

legacy in 4-H has ensured that Iowa’s youth

will continue to have opportunities to learn

and thrive,” Hoyer added.

The National 4-H Hall of Fame laureates

are nominated by their home states, the National

4-H Council, the National Association

of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals

or the 4-H National Headquarters of

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

based upon their exceptional leadership

at the local, state, national and international

levels.

Honorees were presented with a National

4-H Hall of Fame medallion, plaque and

memory book during the ceremony. The National

4-H Hall of Fame was established in

2002 as part of the Centennial Project of the

National Association of Extension 4-H Agents

in partnership with the National 4-H Council

and 4-H National Headquarters of USDA

National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

For more information about the National 4-H

Hall of Fame event and past recipients, visit

4-h-hof.com.


PAGE 15 | THE AG HERALD | NOVEMBER, 2024

SERVICES OFFERED:

•Livestock feed

bulk and bagged

•Full service

grain elevator

From a truck load to one bag we can service

all your swine and cattle feed needs.

Give us a call to see what we can do for you.

620 WEST 3RD STREET • CARROLL

CONTACT US AT 712-792-3506.

KENNETH JANNING & SONS, INC.

CUSTOM EPOXY FLOORING

FOR GARAGES, OFFICES,

MACHINE SHEDS AND

BARNDOMINIUMS

WHEN YOU

PLAN TO BUY

EQUIPMENT,

MAKE SURE

IT PAYS YOU

BACK.

DRAGOTEC.COM

CALL OR EMAIL TODAY FOR YOUR

FREE ESTIMATE!

712.792.6416

BEFORE

AFTER

KENNETH JANNING & SONS, INC.

18132 HWY 71 N. • CARROLL, IA

KJANNINGFLOORING@GMAIL.COM

MEET THE CORN HEAD THAT

PAYS FOR ITSELF.

Few equipment purchases deliver the return

on investment of a Drago corn head. With

components including self adjusting deck

plates, overlapping gathering chains and

longer knife rollers, Drago corn heads are

so efficient, they can pay for themselves

on the extra yield alone.

No other corn head works like a Drago -

or pays you back like one.

DRAGO GT • DRAGO SERIES II

Your Certified Drago Dealer:

DRAGO SCI 712.999.5434

622 RAILWAY ST • COON RAPIDS, IA 50058

VIEW OUR WEBSITE FOR FULL INVENTORY

AND DETAILED LISTINGS

www.dragosci.com


PAGE 16 | THE AG HERALD | NOVEMBER, 2024

SELL YOUR CORN AND BUY DISTILLERS GRAINS

We offer competitive bids on grain and buy direct savings

on DDGS with the convenience of a single trip haul.

To learn more contact your local POET facility.

poet.com

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!