Home

Articles

Celebrate Iowa Bats Friday April 13 in Des Moines

Rebecca Christoffel

 et al.

Friday, April 13 is the evening to celebrate the “Year of the Bat.” Youngsters and adults can explore Iowa’s incredibly fascinating and delightfully likeable masters of the night skies – bats – from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Pioneer Columbus Community Center, 2100 S.E. 5th Street in Des Moines.

Wellmark Foundation Grant Funds Awarded to Local Organizations to Promote Healthy Living

 et al.

Today the Wellmark Foundation presented over $400,000 to three grant recipients in Central Iowa. The organizations were chosen out of 111 applicants to receive funding to implement initiatives encouraging healthy lifestyles through programs that will teach healthy behaviors to children and school and community gardens.

Yard and Garden: Perennials

Richard Jauron

 et al.

Perennials can be grown in nearly any garden location – sunny, shady, wet, dry, border or background. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulture specialists recommend perennials to meet specifications of many gardeners.

Iowa 4-H Horse Jamboree Winners Move on to Competitions in Colorado and Ohio

Mike Anderson

 et al.

Almost 200 Iowa 4-H'ers competed in the 13th annual Iowa Youth Horse Jamboree March 24 and 25 at Iowa State University. A portion of the winners will represent Iowa 4-H at the Denver Horse Classic and Ohio Youth Congress this fall and winter.

Early Planted Acres May Lose Replant Insurance

William Edwards

 et al.

The Risk Management Agency (USDA) has some specific rules about early planted crops with regard to crop insurance coverage. For each insurable crop RMA has set an “early planting date.” Acres planted before these dates are no longer eligible for replant coverage payments should it be necessary to replant them.

Dunn Is FEEL Training Facility Coordinator

 et al.

The Field Extension Education Laboratory  begins the 2012 growing and training session with a new activities coordinator. On March 1, Joshua (Josh) Dunn started as FEEL coordinator with the responsibility of coordinating demonstration plots and scheduling training events at the 43-acre Iowa State University Extension and Outreach facility.

Ricochet Leader Training May 17 and 18

Annette Brown

 et al.

Adults interested in leading youth in the Ricochet: An Extreme Leadership Adventure program can sign up for training in May. Leaders may be trained in three curricula.

4-H Center Hosts Spring Volunteer Day April 28

Abbie Parker

 et al.

Calling all volunteers. The Iowa 4-H Center is hosting a Spring Volunteer Day April 28 to spruce up the camping center and get it ready for another busy summer.

Bridging the Gap Program Wraps Up First Year, Plans for Second Year

Margaret Smith

 et al.

In May 2011, Iowa farm women began sharing their experiences in central Africa, where 80 percent of the farming is done by women. The collaboration was developed by a farmer-to-farmer project through Iowa State University’s Value Added Agriculture program with cooperation from a Ugandan nonprofit organization, Volunteer Efforts for Developing Concerns (VEDCO).

Money Smart Week to Help Iowans Manage Personal Finances

Margaret Van Ginkel

 et al.

Iowans have a chance to brush up on money management skills during the 10th annual Money Smart Week April 21-28. Money Smart Week includes activities in Council Bluffs, Creston, Harlan, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and the Quad Cities. Iowa's Money Smart Investor Conference is Saturday, April 21, in Des Moines at Drake University Olmstead Center.

April Eco Family Conference Offers Families a Chance to Save Money with Rainwater

Kristi Cooper

 et al.

Rain barrels, rain gardens and other strategies to reduce flooding and improve water quality is the focus of the Virtual Eco Family Conference, “Water, Our Precious Resource,” on April 5.

Iowa Community Tree Steward Program Offered in Polk County

Jesse Randall

 et al.

The Iowa Community Tree Steward Program will be held on Tuesday evenings for seven consecutive weeks beginning May 1 for residents of Polk and surrounding counties. Participants completing the program training and community service will become certified Iowa Community Tree Stewards.

Dry Spring Leads to Unsafe Burning Conditions

Jesse Randall

 et al.

Key factors in conducting a safe burn include monitoring wind direction and wind speed, temperature, and relative humidity. Jesse Randall, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach forester, outlines controlling an open burn and when it’s not advisable to burn.

Consumers Control Certain Food Safety Points

Catherine Strohbehn

 et al.

Consumers have an important role to play in keeping food safe. Being smart shoppers and following good practices during purchasing, preparing, serving and eating will keep everyone healthy and lead to better food experiences.

New Publication Helps Farmers Save Energy with Swine Ventilation Management

Dana Petersen

 et al.

Proper management of furnace and ventilation controller settings in hog buildings can reduce propane and electricity costs. A new publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach illustrates the impact controller settings can have on furnace run time and energy consumption in swine production facilities.

Science of Parenting: Kids and Money

Donna Donald

 et al.

Giving an allowance, paying for chores, offering money as a reward for good grades: are these successful parenting strategies? How to help children develop a healthy relationship with money is up for discussion in this month’s Science of Parenting podcast from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Master Gardener Summer Webinar Series ‘Garden Goodness’ Announced

Jennifer Bousselot

 et al.

The Iowa Master Gardener program is once again offering a series of summer webinars. The 2012 series titled "Garden Goodness" will be hosted by Iowa State University Extension county offices on the fourth Tuesday of the month, May through August. The sessions are open to all interested gardeners; participants are not required to have completed Master Gardener training to attend.

Older Iowans Are Living (Well through) Intergenerational Fitness and Exercise — LIFE

Sarah Francis

 et al.

Older Iowans are getting a new lease on LIFE — Living (well through) Intergenerational Fitness and Exercise. Although only in its pilot phase, this Iowa State University Extension and Outreach program already is showing that older adults age 60+ can improve their flexibility and hand grip strength in just six months with appropriate aerobic exercise and resistance activity. And they’re doing it by playing video games — also known as exergaming — with college students.

Yard and Garden: Daffodils

Richard Jauron

 et al.

Home gardeners welcome daffodils as a sign of spring. However, they often have questions about when to plant and how to manage foliage after spring blooming.

March 25-31 Officially Proclaimed ISU Extension and Outreach Week

Christopher Weishaar

Gov. Terry Branstad officially signed a proclamation on Tuesday, March 27, declaring the week of March 25-31, 2012, as Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Week.

News Archive