The Henry County Conservation Board will hold their April 2022 Board
meeting on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at 5:30 pm in the conservation
board meeting room at the office in Oakland Mills.
Items on the agenda will include: Welcome and Introduction of new
Assistant Naturalist, Park Signage Update, Grant Opportunities,
Equipment Rental Rate Discussion, Director Update, and Naturalist
Report.
Please contact the conservation department if you have any questions,
319-986-5067

Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding announced Monday that remains were located near the train tracks south of Walton Lake. The remains were found in an advanced state of decomposition and are believed to have been there for a year or longer. Authorities suspected they are the remains of an adult male, but have not been identified as of this time. Cause of death has not been established, and the investigation is ongoing. However, initial investigation does not indicate any evidence of foul play. Those with information are asked to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office.

April 17 during a special luncheon, an Iowa Wesleyan Senior received an achievement award and cash prize thanks to a unique endowment gift from the Alliant Energy Foundation.  Leija Cardenas was presented with the Errol B. Davis, Junior Minority Achievement Award and $3,500. The endowment honors Davis for his 30 years of service to the utility industry and his leadership with Alliant. The unique thing about this award is that the Iowa College Foundation received the endowment gift from the Alliant Energy Foundation. The College Foundation then names one member school to form a selection committee to choose a student to receive the award.  The student is selected according to the following criteria:

• A student pursuing a degree in engineering, business administration or economics.
• A member of one of the following minority groups – African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, or East India.
• A citizen/legal permanent resident or national of U.S.

The person receiving the award must submit a one to two page statement outlining his/her career aspirations and how those aspirations have evolved over time.  The statement should also give an explanation of how the current studies and involvement in campus and community activities have prepared the student to achieve those aspirations. There is also a requirement of at least two letters of support from faculty members qualified to comment on the nominee’s academic achievement and leadership capabilities.

April 4 – 10, 2022

DES MOINES, Iowa (April 11, 2022) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November.

“A stagnant weather pattern across the upper Midwest has brought persistent light rain and snow to portions of Iowa over the past week,” said Secretary Naig. “As farmers are eager to begin fieldwork, colder conditions have hindered their efforts. The additional moisture, however, will be beneficial for the upcoming growing season.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report
Snow, rain, and cold conditions limited Iowa farmers to 2.0 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 10, 2022, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Those who have been able to do any fieldwork have been applying anhydrous and fertilizer, spreading manure and planting oats.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 7 percent very short, 21 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 11 percent very short, 31 percent short, 56 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Thirteen percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, 5 days behind last year and 2 days behind the 5-year average. There were scattered reports of oats beginning to emerge.

Below normal temperatures meant pastures remained mostly dormant. Livestock conditions were generally good although cold temperatures and moisture have been a challenge for some cattle producers as calving continues.