With this spring’s wet soils and cool, cloudy weather, some people wonder where those ripe tomatoes and green beans at the farmers' market are coming from. The growers may be using high tunnels that allow them to plant earlier and have vegetables a few to several weeks sooner than field-grown crops.
Twenty-nine Iowa 4-H clubs have been awarded DuPont Pioneer Rural Community Improvement “Seed” grants totaling nearly $10,000. The grants, ranging from $50 to $500 per club, will be used to seed community improvement projects implemented by local 4-H clubs.
The city of Fairfield is leading the pack on energy efficiency and “going green.” Scott Timm, a community economic development specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, has been spearheading this citywide energy movement since 2009.
Crop and livestock producers can learn about issues and strategies to prepare for fall by attending informational meetings hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Crop weather and market outlook meetings will be held at five locations the last week of June; there is no charge to attend.
Jeff Pape, owner of Rubly Farms and chairman of the Hewitt Creek watershed council, is hosting a cover crops field day in partnership with Iowa Learning Farms, Practical Farmers of Iowa and the Hewitt Creek Watershed Improvement Association Wednesday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to noon, at his farm near Dyersville.
The kitchen is beginning to heat up as the June 30 application deadline draws nearer for the 2013 “Cook This!” 4-H Culinary Challenge. The Cook This competition provides the opportunity for youth in grades 5-12 to demonstrate their culinary skills and knowledge.
Step into the limelight at the Iowa 4-H Film Festival. Aspiring youth directors and actors will bring their talents to the big screen Aug. 17, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. during the public screening at the 4-H Exhibit Building during the Iowa State Fair.
Fresh strawberries, a favorite of almost everyone, are relatively easy to grow and hardy throughout Iowa. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach share cultural practices to reduce damage and losses caused by insects and diseases
Eighteen 4-H scholarships have been awarded by Hills Bank and Trust Co. The company gave $1,000 leadership grants to Iowa students who completed a 4-H leadership program during their senior year of high school.
Farmers and crop advisors around the world are scouting corn and soybean fields with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field guides in hand. The guides outline integrated pest management information – how to protect crops using both preventative and curative tactics to manage insects, diseases and weeds.
Fayette County’s senior Dairy Quiz Bowl team placed first in the annual 4-H Youth Dairy Quiz Bowl, June 6 in Arlington. The team will represent Iowa 4-H at the National 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl in Louisville, Ky., in November.
New opportunities exist for harvesting corn stover in support of central Iowa cellulosic ethanol plant biomass feedstock needs. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a meeting at the Hubbard Golf and Recreation Club on July 9 to address emerging stover harvest opportunities.
Water is a critical issue for the continued development and prosperity of Iowa, the North Central Region and the United States. The Iowa Learning Farms’ monthly webinar on Wednesday, June 19, features Lois Wright Morton, sociology professor at Iowa State University with her presentation, “Linking and Integrating Water Quality Planning for Action.”
With an official proclamation from Gov. Terry Branstad, the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Center for Industrial Research and Service is celebrating 50 years of service to Iowa business and industry.
Iowa Learning Farms, the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust Farm board of trustees and Webster and Hamilton NRCS offices were planning to host a field day at the farm Wednesday, June 12. The field day has been postponed due to the wet spring and late planting season. The field day will be held later this summer at a date yet to be determined.
Available in nearly every color, bearded iris is a beautiful spring flower. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists answer questions related to blooming, dividing and controlling pests with irises.
Seven students from Iowa attended the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and two received awards at the May 12-17 event in Phoenix, Ariz. Intel ISEF is part of Society for Science and the Public, a nonprofit organization dedicated to science education and research.
Cheryl Heronemus, a regional director with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, has received the fourth annual Harkin PROSPER award. She serves Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Sioux, O’Brien and Clay counties.
Fifty Iowa 4-H'ers have been selected to receive state 4-H project awards in 2013. More than 130 4-H youth applied for the awards this year, which are given to youth who have demonstrated mastery, leadership, communication and service in a specific project area.
