Crops on the rise in Iowa

A few days of welcome rainfall meant Iowa farmers had 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 29, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork activities included planting, cutting hay and applying chemicals.

Topsoil moisture conditions rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture conditions rated 2 percent very short, 18 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus.

Planting is almost complete, with 94 percent of Iowa's expected corn crop planted, 13 days behind last year but equal to the five-year average. Seventy-three percent of the corn crop has emerged, six days behind last year and two days behind the average. Iowa's first corn condition rating of the crop year was 0 percent very poor, 1 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 71 percent good and 15 percent excellent. Eighty-five percent of soybeans have been planted, 11 days behind last year but six days ahead of the 5-year average. Forty-five percent of soybeans have emerged, eight days behind last year and 1 day behind the average. Ninety percent of the oat crop has emerged, 11 days behind last year and 1 week behind the 5-year average. Ten percent of the oat crop has headed, 5 days behind last year. Iowa's oat condition improved to 82 percent good to excellent.

Fifteen percent of the state's first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed. Hay condition improved to 75 percent good to excellent.

Volunteer umpires needed in Hartley

The summer baseball and softball program in Hartley is need of umpires for the summer season. Those who participate will receive $12 per game.

See the ad on Page 6 for more details.

NWI fishing report

Courtesy docks are in place. Water temperatures have cooled a bit due to the recent cool weather and rain. Most lakes were in the mid-50s to mid-60s last Thursday. Forecast hot and windy conditions should bring water temperatures up quickly again.

Area water levels are around crest. Water clarity has been fairly good on most area lakes. Bass and panfish are moving to shallower water from the basins, making shore and dock fishing easier.

East Okoboji Lake: Lake temperature was in the mid-60s last Thursday. The water level is 3 inches over crest. The walleye season is open. There has been a fairly good crappie and bluegill bite recently. Fish are moving shallower. Trolling has been working very well.

Black crappie, good. Bluegill, fair. Walleye, fair. Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps. Yellow bass, fair.

Lost Island Lake: Many anglers have been successful lately; some sorting may be needed depending on which species you are targeting. Black crappie, good. Walleye, fair. Yellow perch, fair.

Minnewashta Lake: Bluegill and crappie fishing has been good; some sorting may be needed. Black crappie, good. Bluegill, good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): The late afternoon bite has been good lately.

Walleye, fair. Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps.

Spirit Lake: Water temperature was in the low 60s last Thursday. The lake is 18 inches below crest, making launching boats more difficult. Courtesy docks are in place. The walleye season is open.

Black crappie, fair. Use a tube jig and bobber. Bluegill, fair. Walleye, fair. Use spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps. Yellow perch, fair.

West Okoboji Lake: Water temperature was in the lower 60s last Thursday. The water level is 3 inches over crest. The panfish bite has been good around docks and hoists; many species of fish are starting to move in shallower. The walleye season is open.

Black crappie, fair. Bluegill, fair. Largemouth bass, fair. Smallmouth bass, fair.

Locals on ILCC spring Honors List

Iowa Lakes Community College recently released the spring 2022 Honors Lists recognizing students who achieve the highest academic standards earning inclusion on the President's Honor List or Dean's List.

For the Spring 2022 semester, 109 students made the President's Honor List, an honor achieved by those who recorded a 4.0 GPA, and 191 students made the Dean's List of students who earned a 3.25 GPA or higher for the semester.

In addition to achieving the required GPA, students must also be full-time and enrolled in 12 or more graded credits to be eligible for the President's Honor List or Dean's List.

Those with an asterisk behind their name earned a 4.00 GPA.

Everly: Natalie Joenks, Dean's List; James Rickerl*, President's List.

Hartley: Connor Pasillas, Dean's List; Cameryn Van Ravenswaay, Dean's List.

Royal: Gabriella Carpenter, Dean's List.

Local students named to dean's list at BVU

More than 500 students were named to the spring 2022 dean's list at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. The dean's list recognizes full-time students achieving a 3.5 grade point average or higher for the semester.

The following local students were named to the dean's list.

Hartley: Clint Peters.

Royal: Brea Bendlin.

Hartley students graduate from N'Western College

Two hundred and twenty-one graduates receive bachelor's degrees at Northwestern College in Orange City during commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 14. Twenty-seven students received Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees, while the rest of the graduating seniors were granted Bachelor of Arts degrees.

Graduates from Hartley include Ashley Heetland, who graduated with a major in nursing, and Erik Vander Laan who graduated Magna Cum Laude (3.70-3.89 GPA) with a major in computer science.

Earns Master of Education degree at NWC

Britta Tewes, of Hartley, was among 148 graduate students who were awarded a Master of Education degree from Northwestern College in Orange City during commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 14. Tewes graduated with a master's degree in special education.

New fish structure maps added to DNR website

More than 2,000 updated fish structure locations and 215 lake contour maps have been added to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/Fishing-Maps.

Anglers can download the fish structure locations to their fish finders and GPS units to easily find brush piles, rock reefs and gravel spawning beds. DNR Fisheries staff and partners, such as county conservation staff and fishing clubs, strategically place fish structures in Iowa lakes to attract fish for anglers. Fish hide out in these structures throughout the year.

Since 2013, DNR fisheries staff has collected data on Iowa lakes by using specialized equipment connected to computers aboard a boat. The software records lake depth along with information on what type of material is on the lake bed (sand, gravel, muck) and, if aquatic vegetation is present, the height and density of that vegetation. This data is used to generate more accurate maps for anglers. Each map includes depth contours, boat ramp locations, and other amenities.

Find more information about a specific structure such as GPS coordinates on the interactive Fishing Atlas or a downloadable GPX fish structure file on the Fishing Maps webpage. These tools are updated each year as new content is available.

Cash rental rates rise significantly across Iowa

Stronger commodity prices and farmland values are leading to higher cash rents across most of Iowa. The most recent annual survey of cash rental rates for Iowa farmland showed that rates increased an average of 10.3 percent in 2022, to $256 per acre.

This is the third consecutive and largest uptick in cash rents since 2013, when rents peaked at $270 per acre, a level 5.5 percent higher in nominal terms than in 2022. In comparison, nominal corn and soybean prices received by farmers in Iowa declined by 16 and 11 percent, respectively, since inid-2013.

"Higher cash rents means lower margins on rented land, but current corn and soybean prices should support positive margins for most tenants in 2022," said Alejandro Plastina, associate professor in economics and extension economist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. "Somewhat more concerning is the picture for 2023, with expected higher input costs across the board and stagnant to declining crop prices."

The survey was based on 1,401 responses from farmers, landowners, professional farm managers and realtors, agricultural lenders and others with knowledge of cash rents for farmland. They supplied information based on their best judgments about typical cash rental rates for high, medium and low quality cropland in their counties, as well as for land devoted to production of hay, oats and pasture. Information about rents for individual farms was not collected.

There was considerable variability across counties in year-to-year changes, as is typical of survey data, but 95 out of the 99 Iowa counties experienced increases in average rents for corn and soybeans. Only Buchanan, Davis and Mahaska counties experienced declines in their overall average cash rents, while Black Hawk County experienced no change in average rent.

All land qualities have seen their average cash rents increase by similar percentages. High quality land experienced an 11.2 percent increase, from $267 per acre in 2021 to $297 in 2022. Medium quality land experienced a 9.4 percent increase, from $233 per acre in 2021 to $255 in 2022. Low quality land experienced a 10.2 percent increase, from $197 per acre in 2021 to $217 in 2022.

Due to reporting deadlines, survey data typically lags the current year. The typical cash rents reported in the survey reflect the economic conditions during the months of July and August of the previous year through February of the current year. The survey has historically been implemented at the same time each year to avoid interfering with cash rent negotiations or re-negotiations.

Survey information can serve as a reference point for negotiating an appropriate rental rate for next year, said Plastina. However, rents for individual farms should be based on productivity, ease of farming, fertility, drainage, local price patterns, longevity of the lease, conservation practices and possible services performed by the tenant.

"The cash rent survey results are based on opinions and should not be used to set prices without proper discussion of the relevant circumstances around an individual farm," said Plastina.