The mosquitoes this summer have hit all-time highs and have been a real deterrent to being outside. Mosquito population trends for the summer have reached four times the number from last year. Visit the Iowa State University medical entomology lab mosquito surveillance website at http://mosquito.ent.iastate.edu/browse_county.php for more information.

"It is too late in the season for homeowner mosquito management actions to have much effect," said Laura Jesse, Plant and Insect Diagnostic clinician. "Eliminating all possible water sources - buckets, tires, bird baths, and other objects that hold water that the mosquitoes could use for their development may reduce the number produced on your property, but not those blowing in the wind from outside your property lines."

Floodwater mosquitoes (the most common biters) have no respect for property lines and easily can fly several miles from where they developed, according to Jesse. That's why the most effective mosquito management programs are those that involve an entire community or encompass a large area.

Personal protection remains the most practical way of contending with mosquitoes for the remainder of the year. Avoid the areas and times of day when mosquitoes are most active if you can, and wear long, heavy-knitted clothing. Apply mosquito repellents sparingly but thoroughly prior to going outside and wash thoroughly when you return inside.

The CDC suggests that you use any of several EPA-registered products that have been shown to provide reasonably long-lasting protection. For most people, a low-concentration product will be sufficient for short intervals out-of-doors. Those working outside longer can benefit from a higher concentration of active ingredient, or repeated applications as needed. EPA-registered products contain one of the following active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or IR3535.

Consumer Reports magazine, July 2010, reviewed mosquito repellents and found that, "most of the tested products will do the job if you're going to be outside for only a couple of hours."

Also listen to a Consumer Reports podcast about the OFF Clip-On Repellent. Their conclusion was that the clip-on, fan-powered repellent did not work very well at keeping mosquitoes away from test subjects wearing the device in an enclosed cage of mosquitoes. Consumer Reports recommends that you choose a topical repellent for better results.

Giant numbers and giant mosquitoes
In addition to having an incredibly large number of mosquitoes in Iowa this year, extension entomologists also have had more questions and inquiries that start out, "I just saw the biggest mosquito of my life!"

"The very large mosquitoes that bite viciously are one of our 'usual' species found in Iowa," said Donald Lewis, extension entomologist. "However, this year is different in that the population seems to be larger than normal." The extra-large mosquitoes are in a genus called Psorophora. There is no customary common name for these mosquitoes, though some references use the term "gallinipper" or "gallinipper mosquito" for Psorophora mosquitoes.

Psorophora mosquitoes are a floodwater species. The females lay eggs on moist soil and the eggs hatch when covered with water from floods or temporary pools and impoundments. The larvae grow very quickly to the adult stage. Some of the Psorophora mosquito larvae are predacious; that is, they eat the larvae of other mosquitoes sharing the temporary pool. There can be several generations of Psorophora each summer depending on rainfall. In the fall of the year, the last eggs laid for the season remain dormant and wait for floods the following year. Some references claim the eggs can lay dormant for a long time and hatch years later.

Of the 14 species of Psorophora in North America, the one common in Iowa is Psorophora ciliata, a large mosquito with noticeably banded legs, pale stripes on the side of the dark thorax, and stiff, erect hairs along the legs. Females of Psorophora ciliata are vicious biters and prefer to feed on mammals. They will bite during both the day and night and are able to bite through heavy clothing.

"There is nothing special for the control of Psorophora mosquitoes," Lewis said. "The usual homeowner/gardener actions of eliminating breeding sites such as bird baths, plugged rain gutters and old tires may help reduce some kinds of mosquitoes, but not Psrophora that are breeding in flooded fields. Personal repellents remain the best defense against biting."

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Sometimes having a question is the easy part, but finding someone who can answer your question can be the hard part. ISU Scott County Extension has a solution to your problem. Iowa State University Extension Answer Line provides information and resources to help Iowa consumers make decisions that improve your lives. As part of the College of Human Sciences at ISU, we take the work that is done on campus and brings it to all Iowans, as well as working with many other organizations and agencies to meet your needs.

Professional consumer and family scientists answer questions about care of the elderly, child care & development, buying decisions, cleaning, connecting families with their communities, consumer management, family money management, finding community resources, food preparation, food preservation, food safety, home environment, housing, household equipment, nutrition, parenting, textiles and laundry. The Answer Line has been answering consumers' questions for more than 30 years.

Call toll-free Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.- Noon and 1 - 4 p.m.

1-800-262-3804 (in Iowa)

1-800-735-2942 (Relay Iowa phone linkage for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals)

E-mail at answer@iastate.edu

Or visit the website at www.extension.iastate.edu/answerline

Additional helpful Hotline Numbers:

Beginning Farmer Center (877)-232-1999

Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Resources to help the next generation of farmers

www.extension.iastate.edu/bfc

Healthy Families (800)-369-2229

Available all hours, all days

Prenatal, child health, and women's health care questions and information

Iowa Concern (800)-447-1985

Available all hours, all days

Financial questions, legal issues, family transitions

iowaconcern@iastate.edu

www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern

Teen Line (800)-443-8336

Available all hours, all days

Personal and health-related information and referral

teenline@iastate.edu

Bets Off (800)-BETSOFF or (800)238-7633

Available all hours, all days

Bets Off is the hotline of the Iowa Gambling Treatment program.

Gambling concerns for yourself or others.

www.1800betsoff.org 

Hort Line (515)294-3108

Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - Noon, 1 - 4:30 p.m.

Lawn, garden, and landscape plant questions.

www.YardandGarden.extension.iastate.edu

Pork Line (800)808-7675 Iowa only

Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Swine production, management, marketing.

www.ipic.iastate.edu

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When the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, many people want to take a break from their normal routine. Whether you're planning a week-long vacation or long weekend, planning a fun getaway doesn't have to be expensive. It is possible to take a vacation even during tough economic times. Below are some tips to save money on summer vacations:

• Start your planning with vacation goals and a budget. What would you like to do during your vacation? Relax on a beach or "see the sights" somewhere? The destination, planned activities, and length of a vacation will greatly affect the cost.

• To reduce the cost of vacation meals on road trips, plan to eat only one meal out a day, if possible. Pack foods such as granola bars, canned or dried fruits, and canned juices for breakfast, or select hotels that include a free continental breakfast. Many resorts and hotels offer deals (e.g., free breakfast, free Internet access, amusement park discounts, etc.) to attract visitors, especially in tough economic times.

• Another alternative is to pack some food in a cooler (or buy it when you arrive at your destination), and stay at hotels with a refrigerator and/or microwave oven in the room. The availability of a refrigerator and microwave lets you bring home "doggie bags" from a restaurant or order take-out food rather than a sit-down meal. Pack a few re-sealable food storage bags or plastic containers in your luggage.

• To keep food and beverages cold, freeze water in a cleaned milk jug. The frozen water will thaw slower than ice cubes, take up less space in a cooler, and keep things dry.

• On days that you must eat a meal out, consider dining out at lunchtime rather than dinner as the cost is often less. Beverages can add to the cost, so consider sticking with complimentary water. Consider sharing an entree, but check first to see if there is an additional charge for shared meals. Also, rather than order individual desserts at a restaurant, you may want to decide together on a shared dessert item such as a pie you can pick up at the supermarket to enjoy afterward.

• Additionally, some people save money by sharing vacation spots and expenses (including food) with family and/or friends, such as renting a multi-room condo or cottage and sharing the cost.

• In some areas, entertainment books or tourist guidebooks are full of coupons to save money on food such as buy-one/get-one-free meals or $5 off a meal for two.

• Look for deals on airfare through Web sites such as www.kayak.com or from the "last minute deals" links on airline Web sites. Cheaper modes of travel may be to drive your own car or a rental car or take a train or bus if your destination is fairly close. Amtrak offers discounts on train fare to AAA members who book their trips in advance. College students may qualify for discounted airfares on Web sites like www.studentuniverse.com.

• If money is tight, become a "local tourist." Visit your home county and/or state historical sites and learn about your heritage. Plan "daycations" (i.e., inexpensive one-day trips) and "staycations" (i.e., vacations at or near home) in lieu of vacation travel to distant areas. Focus on doing fun things together as a family or group of friends, no matter where the location.

• Look for discounts at resorts, theme parks, plays, museums, etc. Especially during economic downturns, entertainment providers may offer "deals" to attract customers.

• Shop around each time you take a vacation. Compare at least 3 competing product and service providers; e.g., car rental companies. Remember that, just because one company had the best deals once, doesn't mean that they always will.

• Make friends with "pet-friendly" neighbors. Trading pet-sitting services will eliminate the cost of kenneling a pet from your vacation budget.

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What helps children mature with a positive sense of self?

Age? With age, a child will learn increased control, gain memory, develop cognitively, and learn language and a sense of how to plan for the future.

Supported waiting? Children have difficulty waiting, but can be supported while they wait. Talk to them. For example: "In 5 more minutes, dinner will be ready. I know you can wait that long."

Follow through? Follow through after a child waits. Do not imply a reward will come if it will not. This is part of trust!

Modeling? Adults who control their own anger, aggression, language, and needs provide positive models for their children.

Feeling in control? Provide children with age-appropriate choices. Offer two choice you can live with, and give the child an opportunity to learn to make decisions by choosing.

For Preschoolers

· Build on a child's interest by helping him or her experience or learn more about a topic. 
· Involve children in real chores and helping tasks to give them a sense accomplishment. 
· Treat children with respect. Ask their opinion and listen. Give mean-ingful feedback. Learn about typical stage develop-ment, including the development of trust, independence, and initiative. 
· During times of disappointment, let your child know you still love and support him or her. After the crisis has passed, reflect on and discuss possible ways to cope in the future.

For School-Age Children

· Respect a child's strengths, and they will respect you. 
· Help the child set goals, and then link ongoing effort with success. 
· Examine values. Self-esteem is grounded in what a person values.

For Teens

· Keep talking to teens even if it seems they don't listen or care. 
· Talk to teens about making good choices and about the many ways we express how we feel about others. 
· Say two good things before talking about any bad things. 
· Tell the teen something about yourself so they will feel safe sharing, too.

Contact Information:

Karen DeBord, Ph.D., State Extension Specialist, Child Development, North Carolina State University karen_debord@ncsu.edu

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and the Iowa Beef Center (IBC) will host a manure management field day on July 13 at the Mike Bettin feedlot in Sac County. The field day, which is set for 1 to 4 p.m., will provide information on manure management issues and offer alternative manure handling options for open feedlots and dairies with less than 1,000 animal units. ISU Extension beef program specialist Beth Doran said there's a lot of confusion about the definition of a medium-sized concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) and who might need a permit.

"ISU Extension agricultural engineering program specialist Shawn Shouse will present information on the definition of a medium CAFO and how feedlot operators can work with the definition," Doran said.

Other topics at the field day include manure storage and handling, technical assistance and cost-share opportunities, and using a manure analysis in the cropping system.

"Feedlot and dairy producers can no longer discharge feedlot effluent into a road ditch, so this year's field day features a demonstration of an economical way to pump feedlot effluent from the solids settling system," ISU Extension agricultural engineering program specialist Kris Kohl said. "There also will be a demonstration on how to calibrate a manure spreader to achieve the correct application rate."

The Bettin feedlot is located 2¼ miles north of the intersection of Hwy 175 and Hwy 71. The specific address is 3087 Hwy 71, Odebolt, and the field day will be held at the north feedlot.

Attendance is free, thanks to a grant from IBC. For more information, contact Doran by phone at 712-737-4230 or by email at doranb@iastate.edu or Kohl by phone at 712-732-5056 or by email at kkohl1@iastate.edu. A flyer is available on the Iowa Manure Management Action Group website.

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AMES, Iowa - The floods, storms and tornadoes of 2011 are taking their toll on the nation's children, who may be stressed, worried or frightened about what is happening to them and their families. Staff members from Project Recovery Iowa offer tips on talking to kids about natural disasters in this month's Science of Parenting radio program podcast from Iowa State University Extension.

The podcast is available for free download from the Science of Parenting website or iTunes.

Science of Parenting podcast co-host Douglas Gentile is an ISU Extension specialist and associate professor of psychology. He said, "We know from research that kids of different ages are scared by different things, they worry about different types of things, they have a totally different understanding of what's happening. So how do we work with kids of different ages?"

Keep Kids Safe
First, adults, parents and other caregivers need to let children know that "we're here to keep them safe and to provide a safe environment," said Teresa Zilk with the Iowa Department of Human Services, which implements Project Recovery Iowa, a free and confidential, federally funded crisis counseling program.

Remain calm and try to alleviate the children's fear, added Abby Lamont, a crisis counselor with Project Recovery Iowa. Listen to them and let them talk on numerous occasions. Let them know they are reacting normally to an abnormal circumstance.

Limit the Details
Both Zilk and Lamont suggested limiting children's exposure to the details of the disaster. They don't need to see all the news coverage. However, Zilk said, ask them about what they've seen and how they feel about it. Give them a lot of hugs and face time, and let them know the family will get through this difficult time.

"They might keep asking about [the disaster]. You might have to revisit the subject a few times," Zilk said. And, it's OK for parents to say they don't know the answer to their child's question or how to explain what's happening.

However, reinforce children's feeling of safety, Zilk said. "Yes, this terrible thing happened. But we're still a family. We're still whole. We're still able to make it."

Give Kids Times to Talk
Give older children ample opportunities to talk about their feelings, Lamont said. She also suggested engaging young children in activities that will build their resilience. For example, keep track of every time it rains but doesn't flood by marking the days on the calendar. After a few months, count the marked days to help kids learn that it can rain a lot but not flood, and they can remember that they got through it.

Children at any age may show signs of trauma, Lamont said. For example, young children may have night terrors or regress to a behavior they had when they were younger, such as clinging to their parents or bedwetting. Such behaviors are normal reactions to the stress of a disaster. However for all children, parents should watch for signs of unusually aggressive behavior, loss of concentration or inability to sleep, which may indicate that the child needs additional help to cope with the crisis.

Project Recovery Iowa serves residents of Hamilton, Story, Polk, Jasper, Warren, Marion and Wapello counties with counseling and referral related to natural disasters. Lamont said, "We're a listening ear, we're a peer counselor. We try to reassure them that, 'yes, everything that you're feeling is very, very normal.'"

Zilk encouraged other Iowans to call ISU Extension's Iowa Concern Hotline, 800-447-1985. "Someone is available 24 hours, seven days a week. You will not be able to get a crisis counselor to come to your door, but you will be able to speak to someone over the phone," she said.

Download Science of Parenting Podcasts
Science of Parenting podcasts are available for free download from the Science of Parenting website, www.scienceofparenting.org, or can be subscribed to in iTunes. Each month a new, 30-minute Science of Parenting program, as well as previous programs, will be available, as well as blog posts and other research-based parenting information.

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AMES, Iowa – The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC) is assisting producer groups gathering information to use in applying for the USDA Rural Business and Cooperative Service (RBCS) value-added producer grants, announced in the Federal Register June 28, 2011.

AgMRC is a virtual library of agricultural value-added opportunities, business development and consulting resources for producers, located at www.agmrc.org.

"There is a direct link on the home page of the site to take producers directly to the federal notice of solicitation of applications, grant templates and a directory of consultants and service providers," said Ray Hansen, director of the center. "Additional resources for producers to develop their business or to find a new market opportunity for an existing business also are available."

Producers can investigate specific commodity information on many different niche opportunities and locate specific laws, consultants and individual contacts within their individual state to assist them in the grant application process.

"The consultant database available on the website includes specific commodity consultants, business development consultants and those consultants specializing in grant writing," Hansen said.

RBCS announced the availability of $37 million in competitive grant funds for fiscal year 2011 to help independent agricultural producers enter into value-added activities. The grant will fund one of the following two activities:

Developing feasibility studies or business plans (including marketing plans or other planning activities) needed to establish a viable value-added marketing opportunity for an agricultural product; or
Acquiring working capital to operate a value-added business venture or an alliance that will allow the producers to better compete in domestic and international markets.
Value-added products are defined as follows:

A change in the physical state or form of the product (such as milling wheat into flour or making strawberries into jam);
The production of a product in a manner that enhances its value, as demonstrated through a business plan (such as organically produced products);
The physical segregation of an agricultural commodity or product in a manner that results in the enhancement of the value of that commodity or product (such as an identity preserved marketing system).
Value-added also includes using any agricultural product or commodity to produce renewable energy on a farm or ranch.

Applications must be completed and submitted no later than August 29, 2011.

Located at Iowa State University, AgMRC is a national center for value-added agriculture resources. For more information, visit www.agmrc.org or call toll-free at 866-277-5567.

 

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One of the pure pleasures of summertime in Iowa is eating sweet corn fresh from the garden or farmers' market. Gardeners have questions when it comes to getting the ears from field to plate. ISU Extension specialists offer answers to those questions; to have additional questions answered, contact the experts by emailing or calling the ISU Extension horticulture hotline at hortline@iastate.edu or 515-294-3108.

When should I harvest sweet corn?

Sweet corn should be harvested at the milk stage. At this stage, the silks are brown and dry at the ear tip. When punctured with a thumbnail, the soft kernels produce a milky juice. Over-mature sweet corn is tough and doughy. An immature ear will not be completely filled to the tip and the kernels produce a clear, watery liquid when punctured.

The harvest date can be estimated by noting the date of silk emergence. The number of days from silk emergence to harvest is approximately 18 to 23 days. Prime maturity, however, may be reached in 15 days or less if day and night temperatures are exceptionally warm. Most hybrid sweet corn varieties produce two ears per plant. The upper ear usually matures one or two days before the lower ear.

Harvest sweet corn by grasping the ear at its base and then twisting downward. Use or refrigerate sweet corn immediately after harvest. Optimum storage conditions for sweet corn are a temperature of 32 F and a relative humidity of 95 percent.

The ears on my sweet corn are poorly filled. What are possible causes?

Poorly filled ears are often the result of poor pollination. Hot, dry winds and dry soil conditions may adversely affect pollination and fertilization and result in poorly filled ears. Water sweet corn during pollination if the soil is dry. Improper planting may also affect pollination. Corn is wind pollinated. Plant sweet corn in blocks of four or more short rows to promote pollination.

How can I keep raccoons out of my sweet corn?

The most effective way to prevent damage to the sweet corn crop is to encircle the area with an electric fence. A two-wire fence with one wire 4 to 6 inches above the ground and the other at 12 inches should keep the raccoons out of the sweet corn. Mow or cut the vegetation beneath the fence to avoid electrical shorts. To be effective, the electric fence should be installed about two weeks before the sweet corn reaches the milk stage.

Are there special corn varieties that are grown to produce "baby" corn?

The small size of "baby" corn suggests that it's a special variety. However, most baby corn is actually grown from regular sweet and field corn varieties. The ears are harvested when they are 2 to 4 inches long and one-third to one-half inch in diameter at their base. Most corn varieties reach this stage one to three days after the silks become visible. While many sweet and field corn varieties are suitable for baby corn production, there are a few varieties, such as 'Babycorn' and 'Bonus,' which are grown specifically for the miniature ears.

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AMES, Iowa – Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) is sponsoring a field day at the Craig Embretson farm in Clayton County on Wednesday, July 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The field day will include a complimentary lunch, information about strategies for no-till and also cover crop management. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

Pat Schaefers, Clayton County Natural Resources Conservation District (NRCS) District Conservationist, will share information about no-till and farmer Craig Embretson will share his experiences from 20 years of no-till crop management. Field day attendees will see no-till corn following corn, no-till corn following soybean, and no-till soybean following corn. Tom Kaspar, plant physiologist with the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, will discuss the potential of fall-seeded cereal grain cover crops to reduce soil erosion, improve soil quality in corn-soybean rotations and provide early spring grazing feedstocks for cattle. Laura Christianson, Ph.D. candidate in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering department at Iowa State University, will discuss bioreactors and other techniques to limit nitrate transport to water bodies.

Farmers and non-farmers are encouraged to bring their families to the field day to see the Iowa Learning Farms' Conservation Station. The Conservation Station is a mobile learning lab that teaches audiences of all ages about soil conservation and ways to protect quality of our soil and water resources. The back of the Conservation Station houses a rainfall simulator, demonstrating the effects of rainfall on undisturbed soils with a variety of land covers, showing both surface water runoff as well as subsurface drainage. At the front is a learning center with hands-on displays and tools to learn about soil, water and wetlands.

Craig Embretson's field day site is located at the intersection of County Road X16 (Gunder Road) and Eagle Avenue (southeast corner of intersection), approximately six miles north of Elkader.

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Many child welfare agencies are adapting services to better serve kin caregivers involved with the child welfare system. Research has suggested that relatives are more likely to receive such services as financial assistance, food stamps, or Medicaid for the child when they are involved with child welfare. However, the majority of grandchildren are being cared for by grandparents privately, without involvement of the child welfare system. Thus these families may need to seek the support of other agencies.

Finally, some local school systems offer services to help grandparents. These findings provide insights on three important aspects of service delivery that may be useful to shaping future programs and services to grandparent caregivers.

  • Targeting: Grandparent caregivers need specific services. They struggle from a lack of income. Grandparents may have assets from years of working, but may now be retired and on a fixed income. Grandparent caregivers may receive a child-only grant, but their assets may limit their own eligibility for welfare. Welfare agencies may want to reconsider asset restrictions for applicants who are older relative caregivers. Significant proportions of grandparents also need food and housing assistance, as well as respite care and mental health services to assist those with poor mental health or high levels of aggravation. Many children in their care need assistance dealing with health, behavioral, and educational problems.
  • Outreach: Grandparents are often not aware of the services available to them. Only 29 percent of children in grandparent care live in families receiving a child-only or foster care payment for their care. Previous research suggests that many grandparents feel there is a stigma associated with accepting services/aid and therefore avoid involvement with public agencies. Agencies might consider ways to extend information to this population as well as service delivery approaches that reduce the stigma associated with public assistance.  
  • Access: Many grandparents have limited access to services. They are older and often have health problems, making traveling to agencies difficult. Moreover, having less formal education may limit their knowledge of available services. Agencies might consider strategies for reaching grandparent caregivers who are limited in their mobility or unable to find available resources. In addition, some grandparent caregivers have reported that they applied for assistance and were denied benefits. Studies have found that eligibility workers may not be aware of the services that grandparent care families can receive.

Contact:

Urban Institute
2100 M Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 833-7200

 

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