02 May 2014

USDA's May 9, 2014, World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report to Incorporate One Change

By USDA Office of Communications

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2014 - The next World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, which will be released at 12 noon ET on May 9, will present USDA's initial assessment of U.S. and world crop supply and demand prospects and U.S. prices for the 2014/15 marketing year. It will also present the first calendar-year 2015 projections of U.S. livestock, poultry, and dairy products.

The 2014 Farm Bill eliminated the Dairy Product Price Support Program and the Dairy Export Incentive Program and created a Dairy Product Donation Program requiring USDA to purchase dairy products for donation to food banks and other feeding programs during periods of low operating margins for dairy producers. The WASDE U.S. Milk Supply and Use table on page 33 has been reformatted because of these changes. The "CCC Net Removals" subcategories under Fat Basis Use and Skim-solid Basis Use have been changed to "CCC Donations." The category for "CCC product net removals" for butter, cheese, nonfat dry milk and whole milk powder has been eliminated.

An example of the change can be found in this announcement from the Office of the Chief Economist.

Background on USDA's WASDE report and past issues are available at: www.usda.gov/oce/commodity/wasde/.

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

01 May 2014

USDA Announces New Landmark Conservation Initiatives

By USDA Office of Communications

New Programs Authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill Help Restore Wetlands, Support Outdoor Recreation Activities, Boost the Economy  

ORRTANNA, Pa., May 1, 2014?Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that applications are now being accepted for new, landmark conservation initiatives created by the 2014 Farm Bill. The programs will provide up to $386 million to help farmers restore wetlands, protect working agriculture lands, support outdoor recreation activities and boost the economy.

Vilsack made the announcement at Kuhn Orchards in Orrtanna, Pennsylvania. The farm's owners participate in the USDA Conservation Stewardship Program, have worked to encourage pollinator health through planting practices, and used USDA program support to construct a high tunnel.

"By protecting working lands and wetlands, we're able to strengthen agricultural operations, sustain the nation's food supply and protect habitat for a variety of wildlife," Vilsack said. "In addition, we're providing states and Tribal governments a tool to expand access to private lands for hunting, fishing, hiking and other recreational activities, which helps boost wildlife-related businesses and grow the economy."

USDA's conservation efforts have helped mitigate the negative impacts of drought and are helping producers to manage the effects of climate change. USDA has enrolled a record number of acres in conservation programs that have saved millions of tons of soil and improved water quality and have contributed to the national effort to preserve habitat for wildlife and protect the most sensitive ecological areas. USDA has partnered with more than 500,000 farmers, ranchers and landowners on these conservation projects since 2009-a record number.

In addition to protecting cropland and critical habitats, conservation strengthens outdoor recreation and helps boost the economy. According to the National Fish and Wildlife Federation, annual U.S. conservation spending totals $38.8 billion, but it produces $93.2 billion of economic output throughout the economy - 2.4 times more than what is put in. This output takes the form of more than 660,500 jobs, $41.6 billion in income and a $59.7 billion contribution to national Gross Domestic Product.

The new programs announced today are the Agricultural Conservation Easements Program (ACEP) and the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). Applications for ACEP funding consideration in fiscal year 2014 must be submitted by the individual state deadline or June 6, 2014, whichever is earlier. Applications and state deadline information can be obtained at your local USDA Service Center or at www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. Applications for VPA-HIP are due by June 16 and should be completed at Grants.gov. For more information, view the notice on Grants.gov or the program's website.

Through the 2014 Farm Bill's new conservation programs, USDA is making available up to $366 million for conservation easements under ACEP to state and local governments, Indian tribes, non-governmental organizations and private landowners. ACEP consolidates three former easement programs?the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, the Grassland Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve Program?into one to make conservation efforts more efficient while strengthening tools to protect land and water.

VPA-HIP is a competitive grant program that enables state and Tribal governments to increase opportunities for owners and managers of private lands who want to make their land available for public recreation. Up to $20 million is available this year for VPA-HIP. Both programs have application deadlines later this spring.

Funding for the ACEP and VPA-HIP programs is provided through the 2014 Farm Bill, which authorizes services and programs that impact every American and millions of people around the world. The new Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Vilsack said that quickly and effectively implementing new programs and reforms to existing ones called for by the 2014 Farm Bill is a top priority for USDA. Learn more about the Farm Bill at www.nrcs.usda.gov/FarmBill.

More information on the new conservation programs announced today are below.

Agricultural Conservation Easements Program

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the two components of ACEP, one for agricultural land easements and one for wetland reserve easements.

Under the agricultural land component, funds are provided to eligible entities that can use ACEP funding to purchase agricultural land easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land.

Eligible lands for agricultural land component include cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland and nonindustrial private forest land. Application priority will be given to proposals preventing conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses and maximizing the protection of land devoted to growing the nation's food supply.

Under the wetland reserve component, funding is provided to landowners for the purchase of an easement and for restoration funds to restore and enhance wetlands, improving habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Lands that are eligible for a wetland reserve easement include farmed or converted wetlands that can be successfully and cost-effectively restored. Applications also will be prioritized based on the easement's potential for protecting and enhancing habitat for migratory birds, fish and other wildlife.

Both programs have application deadlines in early June for fiscal year 2014 funding. More information can be obtained at your local USDA Service Center or at www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted.

Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program

Recipients of the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program can use the grant funding to create new or expand existing public access programs. These programs provide financial incentives or technical assistance, such as rental payments or wildlife habitat planning services, to owners and managers who allow public access.

Funding priority will be given to applications that propose to:

  • Maximize private lands acreage available to the public;
  • Ensure that land enrolled in the program has appropriate wildlife habitat;
  • Strengthen wildlife habitat improvement efforts;
  • Supplement funding and services from other federal or state agencies, tribes or private resources; and
  • Provide information to the public about the location of public access land.

Applications for VPA-HIP are due by June 16 and should be completed at Grants.gov. For more information, view the notice on Grants.gov or the program's website.

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).
01 May 2014

ISU Extension and Outreach Scott County Calendar May 1, 2014

By Amanda Heitz

May 27, 2014 Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7:00 pm

June 6, 2014 Pesticide Applicator Testing, Scott County Extension Office, 10:00 am-2:00 pm

June 24, 2014 Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7:00 pm

Visit our events calendar at our web site: http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/

01 May 2014

2014 Stars Over Iowa Winners Announced

By Scott Johnson
AMES, Iowa–The 2014 Stars Over Iowa Winners were announced at the 86th Leadership Conference at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, April 29, 2014. A Star Over Iowa was selected in each of four different areas: Agricultural Placement, Agriscience, Agribusiness, and Agricultural Production.

Kelly Puhrmann of the South O'Brien FFA Chapter at Paullina was selected as the Iowa Star in Placement. His agricultural education instructor and FFA Advisor is Mr. Eric Kumm. Puhrmann has worked approximately 3,000 hours for Puhrmann Excavating. He helps manage their screening and crushing plant, operate excavators and dosers, and perform equipment repairs. Through his experiences with heavy equipment, Puhrmann has gained a greater understanding of how to operate a wide variety of equipment used in constructing waterways, laying drainage tile, as well as demolition and crushing. After graduation, Puhrmann plans to attend Iowa State University for Mechanical Engineering.

Drayce Webster of the Sigourney FFA Chapter was selected as the Iowa Star in Agribusiness. His agricultural education instructor and FFA Advisor is Mr. Jerry Driscoll. Webster turned his passion for Animal Science and Horticulture into a Supervised Agricultural Experience business of raising meat rabbits, feeder pigs, and sweet potato slits, to sell at the farmer's markets. Webster relies on niche commodities and markets to obtain the highest return on his business. He started his rabbit business with four breeding does and has since increased to 30. He started his sweet potato slits in a small patch and has since increased production by building raised beds for them. After graduation he plans to expand his operation while attending Hawkeye Community College and majoring in Agricultural Business.

Alex Alliger of the Prairie Valley FFA Chapter at Gowrie was selected as the Iowa Star in Production. His agricultural education instructor and FFA Advisor is Mr. Steve Kehoe. During the past four years, Alliger has developed skills with corn, soybeans, swine, and cattle production enterprises. Alliger began by recording his placement hours on his diversified family farming operation, and he also finished out 250 market hogs. Since that time, his SAE program has grown to finish over 1,000 market hogs, 50 beef animals, and keeping records of 40 acres of corn and 80 acres of soybeans. Alliger is currently a freshman at Des Moines Area Community
College and plans to earn a degree in the Agricultural Business program. His plan is to return home to his family farming operation to be involved with crop and livestock production.

Eric Koehlmoos of the South O'Brien FFA Chapter at Paullina was selected as the Iowa Star in Agriscience. His agricultural education instructor and FFA Advisor is Eric Kumm. For the last three years, he has conducted experiments on the cellulosic ethanol production of switch grass and prairie cord grass. Koehlmoos became interested in the subject after learning about research being done at South Dakota State University. He learned that production from switch grass and prairie cord grass yields more ethanol than corn and wheat straw; and when these grasses are pretreated with hydrated lime, the ethanol yield is also increased. His research has the potential to benefit people of marginal lands, like those in the CRP program because both grasses grow
best where corn does not. Because of his research, Koehlmoos was named the 2013 FFA Agriscience Fair National Champion. After graduation, Koehlmoos plans to double major in Ag Education and Animal Science with a minor in Genetics.

The National FFA Foundation sponsors cash awards for the four overall star winners. The Stars Over Iowa program is made possible through the Iowa FFA Foundation with support from DuPont Pioneer and SFP.

The Iowa FFA Association has 219 local chapters with over 14,200 FFA members. FFA is a national organization of nearly 580,000 members preparing for leadership and careers in science, business and
technology of agriculture. Local, state and national programs provide opportunities for students to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom. FFA's mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

--END--
01 May 2014

2014-15 Iowa FFA State Officers

By Scott Johnson

The Iowa FFA Leadership Conference was held at Iowa State University in Ames on April 28-29, 2014. The
new Iowa FFA Officer team was elected at the final convention session.

Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, and living to serve. These nine leaders will live out their year of
service speaking with FFA members from across the state, presenting leadership camps and workshops, and
traveling around Iowa and the United States. They will have the opportunity to take part in Iowa FFA
Foundation activities, the Iowa State Fair, Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium, the National FFA Convention,
and a wide variety of FFA Career Development Events. Their largest responsibility will be to coordinate and
conduct the 87th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference for over 5,000 FFA members, advisors, parents, and
guests.

The members of the 2014-2015 Iowa FFA Officer Team are:

President: Abrah Meyer, Wapsie Valley FFA, Fairbank
Secretary: Lee Thomsen, Des Moines FFA, Des Moines
Reporter: Ray Schmidt, Williamsburg FFA, Williamsburg
SC Vice President: Hunter Moore, Centerville FFA, Centerville
NC Vice President: Mackenzie Lewis, Boone A&M FFA, Boone
NW Vice President: Devan Vander Veen, Sibley-Ocheyedan FFA, Sibley
NE Vice President: Michael Tupper, New Hampton FFA, New Hampton
SW Vice President: Logan Bauer, Audubon FFA, Audubon
SE Vice President: Mike Poggemiller, Mediapolis FFA, Mediapolis
The Iowa FFA Association has 219 local chapters with over 14,200 FFA members. FFA is a national
organization of nearly 580,000 members preparing for leadership and careers in science, business and
technology of agriculture. Local, state and national programs provide opportunities for students to apply
knowledge and skills learned in the classroom. FFA's mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of
students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through
agricultural education.


Contact: Scott Johnson (712.790.2345)

FFA Enrichment Center
1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway
Ankeny, Iowa 50023-- END --

25 Apr 2014

Jeff and Deb Hansen, owners of Iowa Select Farms, receive the Iowa State University Honorary Alumni Award

By Julie Larson
Ames, IOWA - April 24, 2014 - Jeff and Deb Hansen, founders and owners of Iowa Select Farms, recently received the Honorary Alumni Award from the Iowa State University Alumni Association. Iowa Select Farms, headquartered in Iowa Falls, Iowa, employs nearly 1,000 Iowans in 46 counties and is both the state's largest pork producer and one of the most technologically and environmentally advanced producers in the nation.
The Honorary Alumni Award is the highest honor given by Iowa State University through the ISU Alumni Association to individuals who have made significant contributions to the university but are not graduates of Iowa State.
"Although neither Jeff nor Deb Hansen graduated from Iowa State, they have served our institution as though it was their own," said ISU President Steven Leath as he presented the award to the Hansens on April 11 at the Alumni Association's Distinguished Awards Celebration.
The Hansens are transforming the educational experience for Iowa State students, Leath added, through their gifts to the Jeff Hansen/Iowa Select Farms Pork Industry Scholarship, their Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement scholarship, the Animal Science Judging Endowment Campaign and the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center, which was completed earlier this year.
Iowa State, Leath said, also has benefited from the Hansens' willingness to fund research, appear as guest speakers on campus and hire Iowa State graduates. He also noted that the Hansens were instrumental in the re-establishment of Iowa Swine Days at ISU, plus they have opened up their farms for faculty to conduct research in state-of-the-art facilities.
"Deb and I are deeply honored to become honorary alumni of Iowa State University," Jeff Hansen said. "We will continue to support the university's efforts to achieve its mission to create, share and apply knowledge to make Iowa and the world a better place."
# # #
23 Apr 2014

Wapsie Valley FFA Named 2014 Iowa FFA Supreme National Chapter

By Scott Johnson

AMES, IA - The Iowa FFA Supreme National Chapter Award Program will be held during the 86th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference in Ames, on April 27-29, 2014. 42 chapters participated in this year's award program. The first place chapter for the event was the Wapsie Valley FFA Chapter at Fairbank. The Agricultural Education Instructor/FFA Advisor is Ms. Ellen Doese. The second place chapter for the event was the Webster City FFA Chapter. The Agricultural Education Instructor/FFA Advisor is Mr. Kurt Veldhuizen.

The National Chapter Award program encourages participating chapters to plan activities and carry them out with a successful Program of Activities. Chapters are recognized for outstanding achievement in the areas of Student Development, Chapter Development, and Community Development. The National Chapter Awards are sponsored by John Deere as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.

Three FFA Chapters were recognized for outstanding achievement in the three development areas. The Tall Corn FFA Chapter at Latimer was named the top Student Development Chapter. The top Chapter Development Chapter was the LaPorte-Dysart FFA Chapter. The Wapsie Valley FFA Chapter at Fairbank was named the top Community Development Chapter. The top 22 FFA Chapters in Iowa will advance to the National FFA competition and will be recognized at the 87th National FFA Leadership Conference in Louisville, KY.

The Iowa FFA Association has 219 local chapters with over 14,200 FFA members. FFA is a national organization of nearly 580,000 members preparing for leadership and careers in science, business and technology of agriculture. Local, state and national programs provide opportunities for students to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom. FFA's mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

23 Apr 2014

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Announces New Report on Scientific Breakthroughs from USDA in 2013

By USDA Office of Communications

New USDA Discoveries Led to 180 New Inventions, Include Flour that Prevents Weight Gain, Protections from Disease for U.S. Troops, Turning Grass Clippings to Energy

 

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2014 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a new report on scientific breakthroughs discovered by USDA researchers that led to new patents and inventions with the potential for commercial application and potential economic growth. Innovations included in the report range from flour made out of chardonnay grape seeds that prevents weight gain to antimicrobial packets that keep food from spoiling, efforts to protect U.S. troops in Iraq from diseases carried by sand flies, new processes for turning grass clippings and raked leaves into bioenergy, and many more.

 

"Studies have shown that every dollar invested in agricultural research returns $20 to the economy. We have accelerated commercialization of federal research and government researchers are working closely with the private sector to develop new technology and transfer it to the marketplace," said Secretary Vilsack. "USDA has a proven track record of performing research that benefits the public."

 

USDA reports receiving 51 patents, filing 147 patent applications, and disclosing 180 new inventions in the last fiscal year, which are detailed in the Department's 2013 Annual Report on Technology Transfer released today. Helping drive these innovations, USDA has 259 active Cooperative Research and Development Agreements with outside investigators, which includes Universities and other organizations, including 117 with small businesses. The USDA's technology transfer program is administered by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA's principal intramural scientific research agency.

 

Discoveries from USDA's 2013 Technology Transfer Report include :

  • A new kind of flour made from chardonnay grape seeds that can prevent increases in cholesterol and weight-gain (the Mayo Clinic is currently conducting human clinical trials on the product);
  • New ways to turn lawn clippings and tree leaves from cities into bioenergy;
  • An enzyme compound that can be used to develop insecticides to combat sand flies, a disease spreading insect that poses a major problem for U.S. military in Iraq and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of childhood deaths in Africa;
  • A computer-based model of the fluid milk process to lower greenhouse gas emissions (the model has been distributed to more than 100 processors in the United States and should help the dairy industry realize its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent per gallon of milk by 2020);
  • Oat concentrates, a digestible, functional food from oats licensed for the production of Calorie-Trim and Nutrim;
  • A new process for turning old tires into zinc fertilizer;
  • A handheld device that uses gold nanoparticles to detect West Nile virus (and potentially other diseases) in blood samples;
  • Window cleaners that use a biodegradable solution of nanoparticles that prevent water-beading that are superior to current cleaners;
  • A small packet that when inserted in small fruit containers releases an antimicrobial vapor that helps keep fresh fruit from rotting on the shelf.

Over the years, USDA innovations have created all sorts of products Americans use every days, from cosmetics, to insect controls, leathers, shampoos, and of course food products. Here are just a few examples of things USDA research is responsible for:

  • Frozen orange juice concentrate;
  • "Permanent press" cotton clothing;
  • Mass production of penicillin in World War II;
  • Almost all breeds of blueberries and cranberries currently in production, and 80% of all varieties of citrus fruits grown in the U.S.;
  • "Tifsport", a turf used on NFL, collegiate, and other sports fields across the country, specifically designed to withstand the stress and demands of major team sports. Tifsport is also used on PGA and other golf course fairways, while its sister turf, "Tifeagle", specially designed to be mowed to one-tenth of an inch daily, is used on PGA putting greens.

The 2014 Farm Bill will help to build on these accomplishments by establishing a new Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research that leverages $200 million in public funding and another $200 million from the private sector to support groundbreaking agricultural research.

 

More information about the USDA innovations contained in this year's report, as well as a look at previous USDA research discoveries is available here: https://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/Place/01090000/FY13_TT Ann Rpt .pdf.

 

#

21 Apr 2014

Agriculture Secretary to Travel to Iowa to Announce New Effort to Promote Investments for Innovative Rural Businesses

By USDA Office of Communications

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2014 - ON MONDAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he will be joined by investors and business owners to announce a new effort to promote investments for innovative rural businesses.

This announcement is part of the Department's efforts to leverage private sector resources to revitalize and reenergize the rural economy, by supporting the expansion and growth of small businesses in rural America.

Monday, April 21, 2014 at 3 PM/CDT

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will be joined by investors and business owners to announce a new effort to promote investments for innovative rural businesses.

WHERE: Central Iowa Power Cooperative, 1400 Iowa 13, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403

#

21 Apr 2014

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Announces Additional USDA Actions to Combat Spread of Diseases Among U.S. Pork Producers

By USDA Office of Communications
Required Reporting of Cases Latest Measure to Slow Disease Spread

St. Paul, Minn., April 18, 2014 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that in an effort to further enhance the biosecurity and health of the US swine herd while maintaining movement of pigs in the US, the USDA will require reporting of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) and Swine Delta Coronavirus in order to slow the spread of this disease across the United States. USDA is taking this latest action due to the devastating effect on swine health since it was first confirmed in the country last year even though PEDv it is not a reportable disease under international standards. PEDv only affects pigs and does not pose a risk to people and is not a food safety concern.

"USDA has been working closely with the pork industry and our state and federal partners to solve this problem. Together, we have established testing protocols, sequenced the virus and are investigating how the virus is transmitted," said Vilsack. "Today's actions will help identify gaps in biosecurity and help us as we work together to stop the spread of these diseases and the damage caused to producers, industry and ultimately consumers."

In addition to requiring reporting of the PED virus, today's announcement will also require tracking movements of pigs, vehicles, and other equipment leaving affected premises; however, movements would still be allowed. USDA is also working with industry partners to increase assistance to producers who have experienced PED virus outbreaks in other critical areas such as disease surveillance, herd monitoring and epidemiological and technical support.

As part of USDA's coordinated response, USDA's Farm Loan Programs is working with producers to provide credit options, including restructuring loans, similar to how the Farm Service Agency successfully worked with livestock producers affected by the blizzard in South Dakota. In the case of guaranteed loans, USDA is encouraging guaranteed lenders to use all the flexibility available under existing guarantees, and to use new guarantees where appropriate to continue financing their regular customers.

USDA is already providing assistance to researchers looking into this disease, with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) working with the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa to make models of the disease transmission and testing feedstuffs. This modeling work is contributing to some experimental vaccines to treat animals with the disease. ARS also has a representative serving as a member of the Swine Health Board. USDA also provides competitive grant funding through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative program and anticipates some applications on PEDv research will be submitted soon. In addition, USDA provides formula funds to states and universities through the Hatch Act and National Animal Health Disease Section 1433 for research activities surrounding this disease.

In conjunction with the pork industry, state and federal partners, the USDA is working to develop appropriate responses to the PEDv and Swine Delta Coronavirus. A question-and-answer sheet on today's reporting requirement is available on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website here: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/2014/faq_ped_reporting.pdf (PDF, 31KB). For a summary of USDA actions to date, additional information is available here: http://www.usda.gov/documents/pedv-summary-actions.pdf (PDF, 150KB).

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

#

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

    

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.