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January 7, 2014
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Union County plans update for aerial images
■ Farmers
store grain, waiting to see if market prices increase
By JAKE WADDINGHAM
HIGHER HOPES
CNA staff reporter jwaddingham@crestonnews.com
Union County residents will have an updated bird’s eye view of the county as elected officials plan a new contract to supplement their geographic information system (GIS). The Union County Board of Supervisors plans to sign with Pictometry International Corp. for the aerial photographs, which will be taken later this spring. “We are having a new flight done,” said Union County Assessor Gene Haner. “The old flight is five to six years old now.” The contract is three payments of about $18,000 over three years. The county assessor will cover half the cost, while supervisors and engineer split the remainder. The expense is figured into their upcoming budgets. The assessor can use the images in the GIS pro- Haner gram to see the owner, parcel number and legal description of properties in the county. Secondary roads can use the GIS to see bridges, road names and signage throughout the county. “The county engineer is using it more and more,” said Union County Supervisor Chairperson Dennis Brown. “We are renewing it because the original contract we signed has run out.” Everyone can access the sites basic level and select a variety of viewing options. To access the site, visit the Union County assessor’s website and click the GIS mapping tab on the left side of the page.
BY JAKE WADDINGHAM
CNA staff reporter jwaddingham@crestonnews.com
C
orn growers across the United States have an eye on the stock market, their fingers crossed for a little luck and bins full of the 2013 harvest waiting to sell. Faced with the lowest corn prices in more than three years, local farmers are holding on to their harvest in hopes of a recovery of one of the poorest performing commodities in 2013. “I’m nervous about prices, especially since last year was really good,” said area farmer Rich Downing. “Nothing says the price has to go up.” Gavilon manager Dean Michaelson said the biggest risk is the price could just continue to go down. If farmers are paying storage at the elevator, the long-term cost could outweigh the slight recovery in market price. Another risk for stored grain is crop rot. Michaelson said some of the corn in the bins has about 17 to 18 percent moisture, and if it remains in storage this summer, high temperatures could damage the grain. Farmers are allowed 5 percent damage before getting docked. For example, corn with 10 percent damage would be penalized about 10 cents per
CNA photo by JAKE WADDINGHAM
U.S. grain farmers increased their storage capacity to almost 13 billion bushels in 2013, a 10 percent jump from five years ago. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates farmers will have more than double the amount of corn in storage this summer compared to 2013.
bushel. After hitting a record $8.31 per bushel in 2012, prices hit a 38-month low at $4.15 in November before recovering about 4 percent ($4.28) to end 2013. Market prices quoted corn at $4.26 at Gavilon and $4.30 at Farmer’s Cooperative this morning.
storage space, increasing their capacity to almost 13 billion bushels. The storage boom is an increase of 10 percent from five years earlier. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated farmers will have double the amount of corn in storage next summer. Downing and his family operation
New chairperson
The Union County Board of Supervisors voted Brown to be the new chairperson for 2014 during a special session at the Union County Courthouse Jan. 2.
Storage increase While prices were high, farmers took advantage by building more
Please see CORN, Page 2
Please see SUPERVISORS, Page 2
Emerald ash borer informational meeting planned Creston is the most recent of five Iowa locations to positively identify an exotic and destructive insect — emerald ash borer (EAB). Iowa State University Extention is partnering with Iowa Department of Natural Resources to host an informational meeting at the Supertel Inn from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9. The event is public, free and will help individuals understand how to identify EAB and ash
Battling the elements:
Angela Holmes, mail carrier for United States Postal Service in Creston, is all bundled up Monday as she battles temperatures — with wind chill — predicted between -30 and -55 degrees. National Weather Service forecasters reported Monday’s wind chills to be the coldest in nearly 20 years across much of Iowa. Holmes said she had four layers of clothing on and stayed safe by taking plenty of breaks in her truck to warm up.
tree infestation, tree treatment, how to restrict the spread of EAB and replacement options of any lost ash trees. “These meetings are designed to provide helpful, usable information to prepare for one of the most destructive insects to hit the urban forest in decades,” said Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Entomologist Mark Shour in a press release.
CNA photo by KYLE WILSON
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Volume 130 No. 142 Copyright 2014
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Contents
Heloise Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Deaths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Wednesday weather High 13 Low 5 Full weather report, 3A