MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa— Iowa State University Extension and Outreach – Henry County and Des Moines County, in coordination with local conservation organizations, are pleased to offer the Iowa Master Conservationist Program in 2022. The Iowa Master Conservationist Program gives Iowans hands-on interaction with the diversity of Iowa’s natural resources. The program teaches about wildlife and plant communities and provides accurate information on a broad range of conservation issues. Ultimately, it provides individuals the resources to make informed choices for leading and educating others on a sustainable lifestyle in Iowa.

This program consists of approximately 16 hours of online curriculum and seven in-person meetings. The online modules will include lessons and resources by Iowa State subject-matter experts to be reviewed at the participants’ own pace at home. Module topics include conservation history and science, understanding Iowa ecosystems – prairies, forests, watersheds, implementing conservation practices in human dominated landscapes and developing skills to help educate others about conservation practices.

The seven in-person meetings will be held at various Henry and Des Moines County locations from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on April 7 and 14, June 30, July 7, October 13, 20, and 27. Each in-person meeting will be led by local conservation experts to demonstrate how the principles covered in the online curriculum play out locally.  A meal will be provided at the start of each meeting.

Registration Fee: $100 (due at the time of registration)

To register contact the Henry County Extension Office at 319-385-8126 or stop by 127 North Main Street in Mount Pleasant. Checks made payable to Henry County Extension. Credit Cards are accepted.

Registration deadline is April 1 at 12:00 p.m.

Preserving your summer bounty is a great way to enjoy home-grown produce year-round. The key is not serving food borne illness, like botulism, with your home preserved foods.

Home food preservation is not difficult, but it does require following specific directions exactly, said Sara Sprouse, a human sciences specialist in food and health with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “Ignoring recommended procedures can result in home canned products that will make you, your family and friends very ill.”

To help Iowans safely preserve foods, Sprouse will lead Preserve the Taste of Summer 101 on Tuesday, April 12 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The class, offered at the Des Moines County Extension Office, 1700 W. Mt. Pleasant St., West Burlington, is part of the ISU Extension and Outreach Preserve the Taste of Summer program.

“Preserve the Taste of Summer 101 is a general overview course that highlights the key information you need to know to get started preserving food at home,” said Sprouse.

This class will:

• Discuss four food preservation techniques – pressure canning, hot water bath canning, dehydration and freezing;
• Provide science-based, reliable, food preservation resources; and
• Answer your general food preservation questions.

“This information-packed class is helpful for beginner home food preservers as well as for experienced home food preservers interested in staying up-to-date on the current recommendations,” said Sprouse. “Past participants have shared that Preserve the Taste of Summer 101 was informative and fun and that it provided new information to keep them up to date and safe.”

The cost of this workshop is $10 per family. Registration is required by April 7^th.

Participants can register for the workshop at https://go.iastate.edu/YPFSLG.

To learn more, contact the Des Moines County Extension Office at (319) 671-7165.

Henry County Jail

In the interest of keeping Henry County residents informed, the Henry County Sheriff’s office has requested KILJ post the daily jail count. During the jail referendum campaign it was publicized that the jail would be able to house additional inmates from surrounding counties and this would generate revenue for Henry County.

Date:   03-23-2022______

   26       Henry County Inmates

   54       Out of County Contract Inmates              

  80       TOTAL

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa—March 22, 2022—Iowa agriculture is responsible for a direct economic output of $88.3 billion and more than 315,000 jobs contributing $17.57 billion in wages, according to the sixth annual Feeding the Economy report.

This report, commissioned by 30 food and agricultural groups, highlights the total impact of agriculture from the farm through the supply chain.

“When we think about Iowa farming—we often think about the farmer,” says Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) President Brent Johnson. “But especially during Ag Week, we want to highlight the many essential people who help get a crop from the ground and into your fuel tank, local grocery store or everyday products we don’t consider that have an ag tie. From truckers and manufacturers to food safety workers and retail chain employees, Iowa agriculture would not be as strong as it is without everyone working together.” 

To measure the total economic impact of these supporting industries, the analysis also includes upstream and downstream activity related to Iowa agriculture. For example, when a farm equipment retailer hires new employees because farmers are buying more tractors, experts consider the new salaries an indirect impact. Similarly, when a retail associate spends her paycheck, an induced economic impact occurs. Together, these have a multiplier effect on the already formidable direct impact of food and agriculture.

When these factors are considered, Iowa agriculture supports 801,000 jobs and a $204 billion economic output. Iowa agriculture also has an export value of $6.56 billion.

“Iowa is a vital production center in the nation. Trade provides additional positive impacts for Iowa beyond the animal or crop-based products for which our state is well-known,” says Dr. Sam Funk, IFBF’s senior economist. “The exports of farm machinery and technical services to meet the needs of people around the world is another glimpse at the support agriculture provides for the economy here in Iowa and everywhere.”

Visit www.FeedingTheEconomy.com to view the entire report.