New NASS analysis shows Iowa farmers number one in corn, soybeans, hogs and eggs

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Oct. 26, 2012 - While the results of the drought-stricken crop of 2012 is yet to be tallied, the recently-released Iowa Agricultural Statistics booklet shows that Iowa farmers continued to lead the nation in corn production in 2011, accounting for 19 percent of the U.S. crop. And despite more acres being planted to corn, Iowa's soybean harvest was also the largest in the nation.

The statistics are compiled by the Iowa office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service's (NASS) and based on surveys and questionnaires completed by Iowa farmers.  The 123-page book is published by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF).

"Iowa's farmers continue to lead the nation in the production of corn, soybeans, pork and eggs despite a variety of production challenges brought on by extreme weather and market challenges including very volatile pricing of both inputs and what they produce," said Dave Miller, IFBF director of research and commodity services. "The 2011 Iowa Ag Statistics highlights some of the variability in production county to county that existed in Iowa in 2011.  Northwestern Iowa had near record crops while some of the south-central and southeastern counties experienced less robust yields."

The book includes information regarding crops, livestock, farm economics and county-specific data.

"The book details Iowa's vibrant and dynamic agricultural industry," said Iowa NASS director Greg Thessen. He highlighted Iowa's top-of-the-nation status in the following areas: corn production, soybean production, hog and pigs inventory and value, egg production, capacity of on-farm grain storage, feed grain export value and meat export value.

"This book helps share the positive story of the productivity, efficiency and tenacity of the Iowa farmer," said Craig Hill, IFBF president. "In many cases, our farmers are raising the grain that will feed their livestock.

And they are so efficient that they're also raising feed for export. Our farmers are doing an excellent job of balancing their farming operations, meeting the needs of many different customers and always working to protect the land from which it all comes. It's a truly sustainable cycle."

The strong grain production efforts support the state's livestock industry, which continues to be strong in the wake of rising feed prices. Iowa's cattle and hog producers earned $10 billion in cash receipts, an increase of 22 percent over 2010's results. Cattle accounted for $3.4 billion of cash receipts and hogs totaled $6.7 billion.

While the number of farms in the state in 1950 was more than 200,000, that number in 2011 was 92,300. The land in farms in the state has also remained fairly stable, with 30.7 million acres being farmed.

The book costs $11 and can be ordered from the Marketing and Communications Division, Iowa Farm Bureau, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. In addition, a CD-version of the document is available for purchase for $10. Checks should be made to the Iowa Farm Bureau.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online media center at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

Whitey's Ice Cream, Inc. was awarded 1st place in the "Open Class Division" of the World Dairy Expo for its entry of Graham Central Station ice cream. The flavor scored a 99.9% out of a possible 100 Points. Mr. Gary Neer, Plant Manager for Whitey's Ice Cream, was in Madison, Wisconsin to receive the award.

October brings to mind the colors of autumn, the black and orange of Halloween, and pink, the color of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  It is a time to reflect on strides made in breast cancer prevention and chart a course for the future.

The realm of breast cancer is far different from what it was in 1985, when October officially became Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  What once was a silent killer is now a widely talked about, often highly treatable disease.  Breast Cancer Awareness month has helped us overcome much of the stigma once associated with breast cancer, and women are now encouraged and are lauded for sharing their breast cancer stories.  As a result, many more women in America today have heard messages emphasizing the importance of early detection and screening and know they should schedule their first mammogram by age 40.  We know the mortality rate from breast cancer has decreased over the past two decades, and we know there are more treatment options than ever.  What we seem to have forgotten, however, is that breast cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American women.

Today there exists an alarming thought that breast cancer is simply not as big a concern as it once was, but nothing could be further from the truth.  It is estimated 226,870 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012; in Iowa alone, it is estimated 2,350 women will be told they have breast cancer, and 400 women will die from the disease.  These are still huge numbers, so it is critically important the American public does not become complacent about breast health.

There are many proactive measures women can take toward detecting breast cancer, including:

Breast Self-Exam:  Every woman should perform a monthly examination of her breasts to check for physical changes.  If you are unsure of how to perform a breast self-exam, ask your health care provider to demonstrate and explain the ideal time to conduct one.  It is very important for women to become familiar with their breasts and understand what feels normal. Start early, beginning at age 20.

Clinical Breast Exam:  Be sure to ask your health care provider to give you a clinical breast exam each year. The exam consists of checking the breasts for any changes, lumps, or other possible warning signs of breast cancer through physical touch and appearance.  You should begin having clinical breast exams in your 20s and 30s.

Mammography:  By the age of 40, all women should have a mammogram, and it is important to talk to your health care provider about how often the test should be performed.  The mammogram is an "x-ray" of the breast and, at this time, is the most effective method of detecting breast changes that may be cancer, long before physical symptoms can be seen or felt.

While every man and woman is at risk for breast cancer, some are at higher risk.  Risk factors include a family history of breast cancer, inherited abnormal genes, a previous diagnosis of cancer in one breast, a sedentary lifestyle, and age - women over 50 are more likely to develop breast cancer.  Like all cancers, risk for breast cancer can be reduced by leading a healthy lifestyle, which includes exercise and not smoking.  New drugs have been developed to help prevent breast cancer in high risk patients, so if you believe you are at a higher risk for breast cancer, please talk to your health care provider.

In the paragraph above, you will notice it says, "every man and woman is at risk ...". Yes, men can get breast cancer. too. While breast cancer risk for women is calculated by state, the same information for men is available only for the United States as a whole.  In 2012, the estimate is 2,190 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and there will be 410 deaths.

Survival rates for breast cancer are higher now than they were ten years ago in large part because women are getting tested and catching it early.  Please follow the above guidelines and encourage friends and family to do the same.  A cancer diagnosis affects not only the patient and her immediate family, but also their entire community of friends, schoolmates, neighbors, colleagues, and service providers.  Protect your health this and every month, if not for yourself, then for the people who love you.

If you would like additional information on cancer prevention, please visit  www.preventcancer.org.

Barbara Grassley, a breast cancer survivor, is a member of the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention program of the Prevent Cancer Foundation and the spouse of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa.