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Conversation on conservation

Jacqueline Comito, Iowa Learning Farms program director, sat down last week with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig discussing conservation in our state and answering questions during a live webinar hosted by ILF. Naig discussed his recent involvement at the public meeting of the Hypoxia Task Force. The Hypoxia Task Force is a group of 12 states, a tribal representative and five federal agencies that work collaboratively to combat the nation’s largest hypoxic (low-oxygen) aquatic zone, which is located in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Reducing excess nutrients across a ...

‘The Tupperware lady’

LaVonne Keyser, of Fort Dodge, wanted a flexible career that would allow her to be there for her children as they grew up. And in 1958, her husband, Archie, found it for her. The job was selling Tupperware. During a party at her relatives’ place in Eagle Grove, Keyser met a woman ...

Main Street FD offers chance for businesses to win $28k

Main Street Fort Dodge is looking for interested entrepreneurs who could use $28,000 to expand and grow their business idea within the Fort Dodge Main Street district. The Open 4 Business contest, launched in 2015, is an opportunity for businesses located within a state-designated Main Street district, to compete for a chance to win up to $28,000 in grant funds to assist with a business development or expansion project that will help them grow their business. Businesses must complete an online application and submit a short video outlining their business idea and how it will benefit ...

Air Choice One airlines introduces new website

Air Choice One, headquartered in St. Louis, has announced the launch of its newly revitalized website with updated ease of use, specifically in regards to booking. Along with the website, the company announced the release of its new rewards program Choice Plus. Choice Plus is a frequent flyer rewards program that allows passengers to earn points every time they fly. Points earned can be redeemed for discounted or free flights. Each dollar spent toward a flight is worth 1 point and each point is worth 10 cents upon redemption. “Air Choice One is very excited about these new ...

Small barn is suitable for sheep operation

BOONE — Bill and Sharon Sturtz are carrying on the 60-year-long tradition of the Sturtz family operating their livestock business out of their barn. Bill Sturtz said his parents moved to the farm in 1959, officially purchasing it in 1965, adding that he and his wife moved to the farm in 2001 after his father died. The barn, which Sturtz guesses is well over 100 years old, was built with four horse stalls on the north side of the barn — three of those are still there — and the south side of the barn was an area for milking cows. “When my folks moved here, my dad was milking ...

Ag economist advises selling poor quality corn crop now

Corn growers have been eyeing the markets warily, considering the 2019 growing season didn’t treat many of them kindly. From the delayed planting season to a cold, rainy stretch of weather to heavy flooding, crop losses and very late harvests in many areas, the markets showed just how much of an impact Mother Nature can have. Add to that the trade issues and weakness in the international marketplace and producers are hoping that 2020 turns out to be better market-wise. Chad Hart, Iowa State University economist, said he’s been watching futures prices decline in the past few months ...