Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“With this year’s strong harvest nearly complete and the snow beginning to fly, Iowa farmers are looking ahead to next year by considering input choices, conservation practices and marketing decisions,” said Secretary Naig. “Following three consecutive La Nina winters, this winter is expected to be impacted by a moderate to strong El Nino, which typically means warmer temperatures and more variability in precipitation. As we head into the 2024 growing season, replenishing soil moisture will be of utmost importance.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov. This is the final Crop Progress and Condition Report of the season. Reports will resume in April 2024.

Crop Report
A relatively dry week with snow falling at the weekend resulted in 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending November 26, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork activities started to slow down this week with reports of fertilizer and manure application wrapping up.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 22 percent very short, 45 percent short, 33 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 33 percent very short, 40 percent short, 26 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn harvested for grain is virtually complete with farmers in the southern part of the State still running a few combines, 9 days ahead of the 5-year average.

Cattle grazing on stalk fields continued this week, while no reports were received regarding livestock conditions.

Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Unseasonably warm temperatures early in the reporting period were balanced out by a late-week cold snap that brought measurable snow across most of Iowa. Overall temperatures were generally near normal with the statewide average coming in at 31.9 degrees, 0.6 degree below normal. Several disturbances brought measurable precipitation, both rain and snow, to most of Iowa’s stations. Northwestern Iowa missed out on higher totals, receiving under 25 percent of normal weekly precipitation.

Light showers moved into western Iowa on Sunday (19th) afternoon as a large low-pressure center propagated from Oklahoma through Missouri. Winds shifted to an easterly direction as cloud cover increased with daytime temperatures in the upper 40s and low 50s. Rainy conditions continued through Monday (20th) as the disturbance pushed into Illinois with moderate showers spinning into eastern Iowa on the backside of the low. Event rain totals were highest in the state’s southwest and southeast corners as many northwestern stations missed out on measurable amounts. More than one-third of Iowa’s stations reported between 0.20 to 0.45 inch; Pacific Junction (Mills County) registered 0.51 inch while 0.60 inch was reported in Clarinda (Page County). Afternoon temperatures remained in the mid-40s as winds turned to the northeast. Overnight lows into Tuesday (21st) dropped into the low 30s northwest as a cold front swept southeast with winds shifting northwesterly. Cloudy conditions remained over eastern Iowa as wind speeds increased across the Upper Midwest; daytime highs varied from the low to mid 40s west to east, depending on where sunshine prevailed. Starry skies persisted into Wednesday (22nd) morning as temperatures dropped into the upper teens and low 20s. Afternoon temperatures rebounded under sunny conditions and strong southwesterly winds; stations in western Iowa observed highs approaching 60 degrees while temperatures on the eastern side were 15 to 20 degrees cooler.

A weak, fast-moving cold front moved through Iowa before daybreak on Thursday (23rd) with morning temperatures ranging from the mid-20s northwest to mid-30s southeast under cloudless skies. Blustery winds out of the north held daytime temperatures in the low 30s to low 40s north to south as sunny skies persisted. Single-digit temperatures were observed across northern Iowa on Friday (24th) with negative departures approaching 12 degrees; temperatures were in the 20s across the south with a statewide average low of 19 degrees, five degrees below normal. Cloud cover increased in southwestern Iowa as temperatures climbed into the upper 20s and low 30s. Iowans woke up to overcast skies and snowflakes in western Iowa on Saturday (25th) as another low-pressure center moved across the region. Snow showers spread over the state into the evening hours and continued overnight into Sunday (26th). Snow totals were highest in south-central and eastern Iowa while widespread one- to two-inch amounts were observed over Iowa’s southeastern two-thirds; Cedar Rapids (Linn County) measured 3.7 inches while Osceola (Clarke County) hit 4.0 inches. Low temperatures hovered in the mid to upper 20s over much of the state with upper teens in the southwest.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no accumulation at a few northwestern stations to 0.85 inch in Clarinda. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.33 inch, while the normal is 0.41 inch. Lamoni (Decatur County) reported the week’s high temperature of 63 degrees on the 19th, 14 degrees above normal. Estherville (Emmet County), Mason City Municipal Airport (Cerro Gordo County) and Swea City (Kossuth County) reported the week’s low temperature of nine degrees on the 24th, on average 11 degrees below normal.

A Keokuk man was sentenced yesterday to 57 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.

According to public court documents, Octavius Sergio Dion Whitaker, 28, stole two firearms from the Farm King in West Burlington on October 27, 2022. Both firearms were later recovered by law enforcement in possession of other individuals.

After completing his prison term, Whitaker will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), as well as the West Burlington Police.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

On November 22, 2023, at approximately 5:50 PM Des Moines County deputies were dispatched to Timberline Estates at 14876 Washington Road Lot# 65 in reference to a disorder and violation of a no contact order.  Deputies were informed by a resident at Lot #65 that Kendrell Rogers had attempted to enter the residence through a window, and then fled on foot. Rogers had an active no contact order with a resident at that location. Deputies attempted to locate Rogers but were unable to find him at that time.

Then, just 37 minutes later, deputies were dispatched once again to 14876 Washington Road Lot #65 after they were advised by a complainant that Rogers had returned. At this time, he was pounding on the door. Deputies located Rogers at the residence, where he took off on foot, attempting to elude deputies.

Rogers was apprehended a short time later at a nearby trailer lot, where he was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the Des Moines County Jail.

Kendrell Rogers, age 31, of West Burlington, IA was charged with Stalking (D-Felony), 2 counts of Violation of a No Contact Order, and Interference with Official Acts.

Rogers was previously found at this residence with another male. In September, Rogers assaulted a victim and choked her.

At that time, he was charged with Burglary 1^st degree, Aggravated Domestic Abuse/Assault, Violation of a No Contact Order, and Trespass.

The Mt. Pleasant Community School Board will meet in special session tonight for what is essentially an organizational meeting. Members who were elected on November 7^th will take the oath of office and officially become a part of the board for their length of term. A school board president will be elected, as well as a vice president, board secretary/treasurer, and determine the committee assignments.

Representative Jeff Shipley will be in attendance and provide insight from the Iowa House of Representatives. He is scheduled to be the first “big item” on the agenda.

This meeting will take place at 6:00pm in the Highschool media center. This is open to the public, as are all of these meetings, and usually lasts around an hour.