A local power company — Alliant Energy — has begun construction of Whispering Willow Wind Farm in Franklin County. The first wind mill components started rolling in last week and the county’s first wind turbine will soon be constructed. These things are huge! Much bigger than they appear from far away.
According to wind energy experts, a completed wind turbine costs upwards of $2 million. It takes, on average, about 14 semi trailers carrying towers, blades and mechanical housing units to install one turbine. Right now, wind-generated power accounts for 1% of all energy generated in the U.S. by public and private utilities. That 1%, however, constitutes displacement of 29 million tons of coal and 90 million barrels of oil a year. The federal goal is to generate 20% of our power through wind by 2030. Iowa has surpassed California now as the second largest producer of wind energy, behind Texas.
Among my favorite mushrooms are Morels. These mushrooms can be found growing in Latham territory from approximately Mid-April to Mid-June. The best places to look for these mushrooms are in dead or dying elm trees, apple orchards, ash and poplar trees and sometimes even pine trees. What type of growing conditions are favorable for these treasured fungi you might ask? There’s no science to it, but daytime temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees with night time temps of no less than 40 degrees seem to be the sweet spot conditions in my neck of the woods. Also hunting the first warm day after a rain will promote the best chance of success.
Members of the 
business from other Latham family members and combined it with our Latham Hi‑Tech Hybrids seed corn and alfalfa company.