• 00:00:33 Madelynn returns from maternity leave—baby Lucille (Lucy) born Jan 21 (9 days late), quick hospital stay, family support, travel to 4 states; transitioning to part-time (30 hrs/wk, 3 office days, reachable Thu/Fri).

• 00:02:48 On this day in Iowa history: 1870 Estherville Vindicator first used "blizzard" for weather (earliest known); etymology from 19th-century US (violent blow/gunshot to storm, Midwest 1870s-80s).

• 00:04:33 7-day forecast: Severe today (tornado/squall risk west IA, slight risk); storms Sun-Mon; 1.5+ inches rain (frontal north, convective SE/SW); cooler than recent warm spell.

• 00:06:18 6-10/8-14 day outlook: Below-normal temps (highs upper 50s-low 60s N-S, lows mid/upper 30s N to 40s S); mixed precip, slight above-normal south in 6-10 days.

• 00:08:00 Past week: Apr 17 severe (4 IA tornadoes NE/E, high winds E, large hail central/south-central); weekend cold front/freeze; recent warm-up (89°F Mapleton/Sioux City); field work 2.7 days avg statewide.

• 00:15:08 Specialty crops—field work: Seize windows for tillage/plastic mulch/cultivation (weeds up); plant potatoes/broccoli/cauliflower/cabbage/lettuce/snapdragons/salads; delay tomatoes/peppers/basil; propagate late transplants.

• 00:17:30 Pests: Seed corn/cabbage/onion maggots advancing (row cover onions); CO potato beetle in south IA; imported cabbageworm peaking (cover/spray brassicas); thrips rising (onions, apples, flowers, peonies).

• 00:20:17 Field reports: Sweet corn cold damage uneven/recoverable; strawberry blooms covered, stagger via mulch/varieties (Purdue article); onion thrips strategies (cover then spray?); apple thrips (Grandevo/Delegate/Radiant options).

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