As the temperatures rise, so does the intensity of competition. Spring sports season has arrived. Track and field, golf and soccer athletes have been training for this time of year and the … more

March is the 3 rd month of the year, having 31 days.   John Philip Sousa, now there’s a man who knew marches.   He wrote so many he was known as the March King.   A favorite … more

Rain and wind couldn’t stop the Muscatine County Fairgrounds team and its supporters from celebrating the new event center Wednesday afternoon with thunderous applause and golden shovels. … more

April 1 is right around the corner, but I’ve never been one for pranks. It’s not that I get offended, I’m just too much of a softie. I even think some of the dumb phone call pranks … more

“First They Came For” This poem, written as a confessional by Pastor Martin Niemöller in 1946 was his coming to terms with his failure to speak out against the Nazis during what … more

What kind of man bullies a Quaker? Berates a disabled retiree? Badgers a veteran? What kind of man stands in front of voters here at home and says, “Everybody knows glyphosate causes cancer” … more

A wine production facility just outside of Letts has approval from the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors for a Special Class C Retail Native Wine License and Outdoor Service Permit. Glasson … more

Watch parties are being held around the state the first weekend in April — and not just for the Final Four of the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. more

The Iowa high school boys’ state basketball tournament has been played in Des Moines since 1963. more

Last week in the Legislature we spent a marathon day debating education bills.  We passed four pieces of Legislation from the Higher Education Committee that I serve on and four pieces of legislation for our K-12 public schools. All four higher education bills had the support of the Board of Regents and all four of the K-12 education bills had wide bipartisan support. more

The joy with raising chickens can span generations. Angie Flenker of Half Mile Down farm in Princeton was inspired by her grandmother, who raised chickens for over 60 years as a local egg dealer. more

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will fund research projects that explore the highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry, as well as novel vaccines and therapeutics to treat the bird flu, according to a Thursday announcement. more

USDA’s Farm Service Agency is issuing up to $10 billion in direct payments to eligible agricultural producers of eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP). These one-time economic assistance payments will help commodity producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices. more

Josiah and Grace Taylor launched Juniper Grove Farms in Muscatine County one year ago to provide high-quality holistically raised goats, chickens and pigs. During the bird flu crisis, Juniper Grove Farms has been consistently selling out of farm fresh eggs. more

Gov. Kim Reynolds has proclaimed March 24-31 as Iowa Agriculture Week, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is inviting every Iowan to participate in the statewide celebration. The weeklong celebration highlights agriculture’s many significant contributions to our state’s economy and way of life. In addition, Iowans are encouraged to identify volunteer and service opportunities to further underscore agriculture’s positive impact in our communities. more

Ownership and operation of a farm by members of the same family for 100, and 150 years or more is a significant accomplishment. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in conjunction with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation established the Century Farm Program for farm families that have owned at least 40 acres for 100 years, and Heritage Farm Program for those owning it 150 years or more. more

A good chunk of federal funding has made paving possible for trails at Scott County Park, to be completed this spring. more

As soon as the soil can be worked (and isn’t too wet), collect samples and submit them to a soil testing lab. Soil samples should represent areas managed similarly or where the same crops/plants are grown.  Be sure to conduct separate tests for your vegetable garden, perennial border, or lawn (and not mix them together). more

Late Winter/early spring is the ideal time to prune nearly all woody plants.  The focus of pruning should be on removing damaged, diseased, or dead material first.  Then, remove rubbing, crossing, and structurally deficient branches (like double leaders). Finally, remove those branches that improve appearance.  more

Two Clinton County photographers are among the winners of Keep Iowa Beautiful 15th Annual Photography Contest, showcasing Iowa’s natural and environmental beauty through the seasons in a creative and engaging way. more