 Burkhiser Works to Save Soil, Improve Water Quality
If soil and water could talk, they'd be thanking people like Tom Burkhiser. Burkhiser, the Montgomery County District Conservationist, has worked for years to save soil for future generations and improve overall water quality. Tom, who is one of 7 children, grew up in Farragut, Iowa and went on to graduate from Northwest Missouri State University where he studied Ag Business. One of those instrumental in his early career path was Marge Meyer, then an administrative secretary in the area conservation office in Shenandoah. From Page County Tom also worked in Corning, Grundie Center, Marshalltown and has now been in the Red Oak area for almost 23 years. Tom's wife, Barb, works at the Southwestern Community College/Red Oak campus and the couple have two sons, Kyle, 24, and Wade, 21. Tom is proud of many things in Montgomery County, including his outstanding staff, and the fact Montgomery County was the 1st full conservation district in the state of Iowa, a county with a rich history of conservation achievements. Amongst many, those achievements include the masterful renovation of Viking Lake Park near Stanton and Pilot Grove Park near Grant. Ever the promoter of good conservation practices, as we wrap up harvest Burkhiser encourages producers and landowners to reduce fall tillage and as always, practice no-till!
 Schaafs Understand Family Partnerships; Commitment to Corn
Julias and Cynthia Schaaf of rural Randolph, Iowa are very committed people. They're committed to their family, faith and careers. Cynthia is a nurse at Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak while Julias farms in a partnership with his three cousins, David, Mark and Jay Schaaf of Fremont County. The Schaaf's have 2 children: Shane, who is married to Udie; they have 2 children, Sid and Sadey. Also daughter Sarah, who is married to Phil Ford. Julias's parents are Keith and Carolyn Schaaf of rural Randolph while Cynthia's parents, who live between Malvern and Tabor, are Charles and Vonda Cheney. "The Patriarchs" of the Schaaf farm are Hawley, Stanley and Keith Schaaf. The Schaaf farm operation consists of about 50/50 hill-bottom ground which is farmed predominately no-till. Like most operations, 2008 has been extremely challenging and the Schaafs are looking forward to a better crop season in 2009. To say Julias is involved in corn promotion is an understatement. Last year Julias served as Chair of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and is currently on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Grains Council. He is constantly working on and in touch with current issues, including Food and Fuel, the world market and various trade issues. He is always ready to tout the importance and flexibility of corn whether it be as an alternative renewable fuel, or to explain other uses, such as plastics or even the carpet in the Schaaf's 4-season room, which is made entirely of corn polymers. Julias and Cynthia are definitely in tune with their passions, but they also know their priorities; to spend as much time with their kids and grandkids as they possibly can!
 Family Business Spans nearly 40 Years It's a family business that's seen its share of changes since its inception in 1969, but continues to thrive as it serves its customers in Southwest Iowa and Northwest Missouri. It's Tri-Tractor in Clarinda, Iowa. Owner and General Manager, Phil Tornholm, (pictured left) came into his wife, Deb's family business after both graduated from Iowa State University in 1977. It began as Tri-Ford Tractor in 1969 and in April of 1989 became a Case IH dealership at the present location just off the bypass south of Clarinda. Phil and his employees also sell a complete line of Kubota equipment along with representation from many other shortline companies. Phil and Deb have two daughters, Erin and Megan. Phil is especially proud of his employees, some of which go back to the transition in 1989, and as we near Thanksgiving, Phil is extremely thankful for his customers, knowing that they're what's made this business successful for the last 40 years and will keep it going for another 40 and beyond.
 Hursts A Close-Knit Farm Family
Charlie and Millie Hurst (front in photo) of Tarkio don't have to worry about being too lonely at the "home place" near Tarkio, Missouri. When their sons, Blake,(not pictured) Kevin (behind Millie in photo) and Brooks (2nd from right in back row) aren't around working on the Hurst Family Farm, they also may get paid a visit from their ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren who all live within 5 miles of Charlie and Millie. The Hurst family has roots in Atchison County that date back to 1854. Charlie's parents moved to the Tarkio area from Elmo, Missouri in 1931. The Hursts are involved in a no-till row crop system and employ GPS technology to aid in overall management efficiency. To say the Hursts are involved is an understatement. Charlie is president of the Golden Triangle ethanol plant board in Craig, Missouri. Blake is Vice President of the Missouri Farm Bureau, Kevin is on the Missouri Corn Growers board and Brooks is involved with the Missouri Soybean Association. Millie even writes a weekly column in the local newspaper! Blake's son-in-law, Ryan Harms, (far right in photo) manages greenhouses located on Hurst land that provide plant stock for area garden centers. Like Millie, The Hurst son's wives are extremely involved and provide much needed support. Like many farmers in the Midwest, it's been a challenging year crop-wise for the Hursts, with bottom ground that flooded out 2 times and dry August weather that has compromised bean yields. But overall, with the beans out and corn about 2/3rds finished, Charlie, Millie and their amazing family count their blessings that another harvest is just about finished and they look forward to continue working together as a tight-knit family with their priorities definitely in the right place. (front left and back left in photo are grandsons, Brett and Brooks)
 Brink Active For Years in Fremont County
Glen Brink doesn't spend much time in his easy chair. The 86-year-old (or young) Fremont County farmer has been too busy over the years farming, raising a family and being involved in various activities. Glen's family originally came over from Holland in 1875, the same year his father was born. Glen is one of eleven children. He married Doris Jean in 1948 and raised two children, Paul, who now farms row-crop with Glen 3 miles East of Farragut, Iowa and Patricia, who lives on a dairy farm in New York. Glen has one granddaughter. Doris Jean passed away 7 years ago. Glen's been extremely active over the years in a number of organizations, including Farm Bureau (over 60 years!), the Farragut COOP elevator board, the Fremont County ASCS office (now the FSA office), state soybean board, 4H leader, Page/Fremont County Corn-Soybean Association and the Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association of which he's still an active ag member. Glen has also been an active member of the Farragut Methodist Church and has served area congregations as a lay speaker for a number of years. He's also well known for giving the invocation at various gatherings in the area. As if that's not enough, Glen and Paul have also been avid antique tractor collectors (Glen is a big Oliver fan) and are founding members of the Tarkio Valley Antique Tractor Club. It's an understatement that Glen Brink is still going strong at 86, still keeping busy on and off the farm and looking forward with optimism to the future.
FARM NEWS:
CHICAGO (AP) _ Agriculture futures were mostly lower Tuesday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Wheat for December delivery fell 4 cents to $5.2975 a bushel; December corn lost 5.75 cents to $3.80 a bushel; December oats were unchanged at $2.155 a bushel; and January soybeans were 4.5 cents lower at $9.02 a bushel.
Beef futures traded lower and pork futures were mixed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
December live cattle lost 1.15 cents to 87.15 cents a pound; November feeder cattle fell 0.27 cent to 95.75 cents a pound; December lean hogs rose 0.15 cent to 55.45 cents a pound; and February pork bellies slipped 0.2 cent to 84.5 cents a pound.
Three Nebraska youths are currently traveling over 7,000 miles from Nebraska to Taiwan. The students left for Taiwan on November 14th and will return to Nebraska on November 22. The three students are from Shickley, Plattsmouth and McCool Junction. The students are visiting Taiwan through the sponsorship of the NDA, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kansas City and the Nebraska Farm Bureau.
The 8th Iowa Organic Conference will be on Monday, November 24th at the Scheman Building, Ames, Iowa. Sessions on Transitioning to Organic Farming, Organic Vegetable Production, Marketing Organic Products and Making the Farm Bill Work for You. For more information, please call 515-294-7069.
Grazing Workshop sponsored by Southern Iowa Forage and Livestock Committee will be held on Monday, November 24 between 10:30 am and 2:00 pm at the St. Patrick's Parish Center, Corning, Iowa.
ISU Extension Hosting Beef Marketing Seminar will be on Monday, November 24th between 9:30 am and 3:00 pm at All Saints Hall in Stuart, Iowa.
Derryl McLaren, State Executive Director for Iowa Farm Service Agency (FSA), announced the application deadline to apply for coverage under FSA's Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for many crops is December 1, 2008.
Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Mound City, Mo. announces the annual Eagle Days celebration is scheduled for Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day. The World Bird Sanctuary from St. Louis will bring again captive eagles for hourly programs. The birds will be part of live shows held in the refuge maintenance building at the beginning of each hour starting at 9:00 am. There will be a number of exhibits in the refuge Visitor Contact Station combined with quest exhibitors. Volunteers with telescopes will staff eagle viewing stations along the auto route helping visitors see bald eagles on the refuge.
Page County Conservation Board will be co-sponsoring an Operation ReLeaf event this fall in cooperation with Alliant Energy and the Iowa department of Natural Resources. Operation ReLeaf is a residential tree-planting program offered to Iowa customers of Alliant Energy company in the Page County and surrounding counties to reduce future energy use and at the same time landscape their homes. Alliant Energy customers are eligible to purchase trees for $25.00 each, with the purchase limited to 2 trees per household. Order forms are available thru the Page County Conservation Board Office in Clarinda, Iowa or at www.allinatenergy.com/releaf. For more information, please contact the Page County Conservation Board at 712-542-3864 or 800-255-4268.
High commodity prices are being chased by rising input expenses, but Iowa continues to rank among the leaders in national agriculture production according to the recently released 2008 Facts on Iowa Agriculture booklet. This annual report is generated by Iowa Farm Bureau, in association with Iowa Agricultural Statistics and Iowa State University.
The Facts on Iowa Agriculture booklet also provides information on other areas, including national figures, agribusiness, renewable energy and conservation efforts in Iowa. Single copies of the 2008 Facts on Iowa Agriculture booklets are available at no cost from the Iowa Farm Bureau, Marketing and Communications Division, 5400 University Ave., West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. Multiple copies are available for $3 per copy.
County Soil and Water Conservation Districts wants to remind all landowners that they can sign up for state cost share funds at any time of the year.
Dollars are available to assist with care of your well. The DNR provides these funds to assist with well testing, closure, & reconstruction. Water test kits and applications are available at your County Public Health Offices.
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