Father Eisele Shares His Nativity Collection With Museum
(Le Mars) — Hundreds of nativities are on display at the Plymouth County Historical Museum as we begin to celebrate the Advent and Christmas season. The exhibit will be open to the public beginning tomorrow and continuing through January 6th. Among the different nativity scenes is a collection of 75
nativity sets of all sizes, and from all parts of the world that has been donated to the museum by Father Paul Eisele of Le Mars. Father Eisele says he doesn’t recall when or under what circumstances how he started his vast collection.
The Catholic priest says he has nativity sets representing ten different countries. When viewing the display, nativities from Germany, Russia, and the Netherlands are the first to greet visitors inside the museum’s study hall, and they are among Eisele’s favorites.
Eisele talks about some of his other nativity sets that are on display at the museum.
Eisele says the museum’s entire display of nativity sets is something everyone should take the time to enjoy.
The Catholic priest says since he has retired, he has also retired from adding to his collection, saying he just wants to enjoy viewing the different nativity sets, and hopes others will enjoy viewing them.
Turkey Is Not Just For Thanksgiving Anymore
(Le Mars) — Turkey is most often associated with the Thanksgiving holiday. However, an agricultural economist says the consumption of turkey, and turkey products has broaden to the point there is a constant demand for the product,
all year round. Dave Miller is the Director of Research and Commodity Services for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. He says turkey meat is used extensively in fast food deli restaurants.
Miller says exports of U-S turkey meat has grown in recent years, which also has contributed to a need for year round turkey production, as opposed to as seasonal production.
The Farm Bureau Economist also attributes the higher demand for turkey to health-conscientious people looking for a high source of protein with low fat content. So, has turkey demand replaced some of the consumption of the traditional red meats such as pork and beef?
Miller says consumers can now find turkey as a substitute for breakfast sausage, burgers, chili, and many other meat items. Iowa ranks ninth in turkey production and fifth in turkey processing. Iowa supplies turkey to Jimmie John’s, and Subway deli fast food restaurants, and in the grocery store under
the brand name of Jimmy Dean.
USDA Says To Cook Turkey Thoroughly To Prevent Illness
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Experts want home cooks to remember food safety on Thanksgiving.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says following a few simple steps can help keep everyone safe over the holiday.
The traditional main course at Thanksgiving, turkey, can contain salmonella and campylobacter bacteria that can cause illness if the bird isn’t cooked correctly.
The USDA recommends not washing the turkey because doing so can spray bacteria up to three feet away. As long as the turkey is cooked to the correct 165-degree temperature, any bacteria will be eliminated.
When thawing a turkey, either use the refrigerator, cold water or the microwave. The USDA says thawing in the refrigerator is safest.
Make sure to check the turkey with a meat thermometer when cooking, and use or freeze any leftovers within four days.
EPA Reverts Back To Renewable Fuels Standard As Set By Congress
(Des Moines) — Good news was given to the renewable fuels industry today when the Environmental Protection Agency announced it would revert back to the renewable fuels standard levels that were originally passed by Congress. Monte Shaw serves as the executive director with the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. He says with today’s announcement, it will open the path for ethanol processing plants to produce more than 15 billion gallons of ethanol.
Shaw says he believes the EPA’s actions may give fuel distributors the confidence to go ahead and install pumps that will dispense 15 percent ethanol at area gas stations.
The Renewable Fuels Executive says exports of ethanol have been strong, and he says this will help further expand the ethanol market into other nations.
Iowa leads the nation in ethanol production with four billion gallons a year.
Deere And Company Reports Financial Loses
(Moline, IL) — Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer, Deere & Company, is reporting decreases in its fourth quarter earnings.
The Moline, Illinois-based company says a global farm recession and weak construction-equipment markets led to lower sales and earnings for both the fourth quarter and the full year. In the fourth quarter, net income dropped $66 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. Net income dropped $400 million
for the entire year. Deere’s worldwide net sales and revenue dropped 3 percent in the fourth quarter and 8 percent for the entire year. The company is reporting earnings of $285 million for the fourth quarter and $1.5 billion for the year. Deere says execution of its operating plans, disciplined cost management and a broad product portfolio helped its performance.
