The 8^th Annual Iowa Sheep & Wool Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 9^th and 10^th at the Dallas County Fairgrounds in Adel. The Iowa Sheep Industry Association, with the support of generous sponsors, is hosting the event.

Much of the annual Iowa Sheep & Wool Festival is centered on the wool and fiber side of the sheep industry and features a full line-up of fiber classes, educational seminars, a fleece show and silent auction, and a building full of fiber vendors. In addition, attendees may enjoy other sheep-related activities like sheepdog trials and training demonstrations, shearing demonstrations, lamb cooking demonstrations or the photography gallery.

 The two-day event also includes free worm egg fecal testing, Lamb Lovers’ Feast, lamb cook-off and People’s Choice Award, sheep and goat educational seminars, ISIA Annual Meeting, lamb food stand, Hall of Breeds, equipment and industry exhibitors, fiber learning center, youth corner for kids, fleece to shawl demonstration, market goat show, show lamb clinic and open market lamb show.

 For more information, go to www.iowasheep.com, call (712) 790-6303 or email info@iowasheep.com

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commented on the Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service.  The report is released weekly from April through October.

 “The warm, dry weather last week allowed fields to dry out and farmers took advantage.  Many have now completed corn planting and are moving on to soybeans,” Northey said.  “The weather looks agreeable again this week and I would expect many to finish planting in the next week to ten days.”

 CROP REPORT

 With dry and warmer weather farmers worked at a rapid pace and Iowa saw widespread planting of both corn and soybeans. Corn planting advanced 26 percentage points statewide with each district of the state increasing at least 19 percentage points. Farmers statewide planted nearly one-third of the expected soybean crop during the week ending May 13th. Northwest Iowa had the largest increase with 39 percentage points.

 There were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week, compared with just 1.5 days the previous week. Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 9 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture rated 4 percent very short, 16 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus.

 Corn planting now stands at 90 percent complete, ahead of last year’s 85 percent and the five-year average of 79 percent. West Central Iowa producers lead the way for corn planting with 96 percent complete. Fifty-five percent of the corn crop has emerged, 6 days ahead of normal. Soybean planting was 39 percent complete, just ahead of last year’s 36 percent and the five-year average of 30 percent. Soybeans have emerged in each district of the state. Ninety-five percent of the oat acreage has emerged, ahead of last year’s 86 percent and the five-year average of 76 percent. Seven percent of the oat crop has headed, 19 days ahead of normal. Oat condition improved to 0 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 64 percent good, and 16 percent excellent.

 Seventy-three percent of Iowa’s pasture and range land is rated good to excellent, equal to the previous week. Pasture and range condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 25 percent excellent.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that Mark and Nancy Buskohl from Grundy Center in Grundy County have been named the May winner of the “Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”

 Northey will present the award to the Buskohl family on Tuesday, May 22^nd at the Grundy Community Center, 705 F Ave., in Grundy Center.  The “Big Show,” which airs on both WHO and WMT radio, will broadcast live from the presentation from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  The Grundy County Cattlemen will be providing lunch and have requested an RSVP, but it is not required.  RSVP's can be made by calling the Grundy County Farm Bureau office at 319-824-5212.

 “It is great to be able to recognize Mark and Nancy as ‘Good Farm Neighbors’ for all the work they do to care for their animals and the land while also serving their neighbors and the community,” Northey said.  “The Buskohl’s are another example of the great farm families we have in Iowa that go out of their way to help others.”

 Mark and Nancy raise approximately 300 steers in a hoop barn and also have a cow-calf herd.  They also have a 100 head ewe flock and finish hogs as part of a local pork production organization.  They have two grown children, Philip and Caleb.

 The Buskohl’s were nominated for the award by Jesse Willis, president of the Grundy County Farm Bureau.  In nominating the family Willis said, “Besides his busy farming operation, Mark continues to be very active in the community!  For many years, Mark represented the agricultural organizations in the county as a voting member of the Grundy County Development Alliance as he showed his passion for the agricultural community being part of the business community.”

 In addition, Mark and Nancy have been involved at their church, with the local 4-H organization and Mark is a member of the Lions Club.

 Willis added, “As an avid beef producer, Mark has a passion for the commodity producers to work together to have a voice in agriculture.”

 The nomination was also supported by Grundy County Farm Bureau member Dave Hommel who said, “I admire Mark for his passion and his ability to follow through on those things he is most passionate about.  He is SO dedicated to agriculture in Grundy County.”

Total U.S. corn use for 2012/13 is projected up 9 percent from 2011/12 on higher feed and residual

disappearance, increased use for sweeteners and starch, and larger exports. Feed and residual use for

2012/13 is projected up 900 million bushels reflecting a sharp rebound in residual disappearance with the

record crop and an increase in feeding with lower corn prices and higher expected pork and poultry

production. Projected corn use for ethanol is unchanged on the year as weak gasoline consumption limits

domestic blending opportunities. Corn exports for 2012/13 are projected 200 million bushels higher than in

2011/12 on abundant domestic supplies, lower prices, and higher expected China demand. Record foreign

corn supplies, however, are expected to limit the increase in U.S. shipments. U.S. corn ending stocks for

2012/13 are projected at 1.9 billion bushels, up 1.0 billion bushels from the current year projection. The

season-average farm price is projected at $4.20 to $5.00 per bushel, down sharply from the 2011/12 record

projected at $5.95 to $6.25 per bushel.

Projected corn ending stocks for 2011/12 are raised 50 million bushels to 851 million with lower expected

June-August feed and residual disappearance. The large year-to-year increase in winter wheat production

and attractive prices for wheat relative to corn are expected to raise summer wheat feeding. Record mid-

April corn plantings and early May crop emergence boost prospects for early 2012-crop corn usage before

the September 1 beginning of the 2012/13 marketing year. As in recent years, this late-summer new-crop

usage is expected to displace old-crop usage and boost carryout.