Plymouth County Fair To Begin On Wednesday
(Le Mars) — The five best days of summer, or otherwise known as the Plymouth County Fair begins on Wednesday in Le Mars. Plymouth County Fair Board president, Rich Benson says visitors to this year’s fair will notice some improvements, including a new sidewalk.
In addition to the installation of new sidewalks, Benson says the fair board has been busy sprucing up the commercial exhibit buildings with a new coat of paint.
Benson says the Plymouth County Fair will provide a great variety of entertainment utilizing the grandstand area, as well as the Pioneer Village. New at this year’s Plymouth County Fair will be the opportunity for visitors to participate in a helicopter ride.
The fair board president reminds people that all stage entertainment is free, once you have paid for your gate admission.
Given the fact that it has been hot lately, Benson says the fair board has made some arrangements to help reduce the heat while visiting the fair.
In addition to the Century Hall being air conditioned, Benson says people can seek relief from the heat inside the Open Class Horticulture Exhibit area, as that too is an air conditioned building. The Plymouth County Fair Board president says it wouldn’t hurt his feelings if it would rain during the
Plymouth County Fair.
The Plymouth County Fair begins on Wednesday, July 26th and continues through Sunday, July 30th.
Exports Being Showcased At Round Barn Agricultural Educational Exhibit
(Le Mars) — During this week, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, along with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey are in China participating on an agricultural trade team mission. Joining Reynolds and Northey are a delegation of Iowa agricultural leaders from various farm organizations and commodity associations. While in China, the delegation is expected to meet with former Iowa Governor and now United States Ambassador, Terry Branstad. It is also expected the trade team will celebrate the market opening of U-S beef into China. It has been 13 years since U-S beef producers have been able to ship their beef into China.
The importance of agricultural trade exports is being highlighted inside the famous round barn agricultural educational exhibit featured at the Plymouth County Fair.
“aROUND the farm in the BARN” showcases many aspects of agriculture. This marks the fourth year the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee has hosted and utilized the famous round barn for an agricultural educational exhibit.
“The Chamber agriculture committee believes it is important, even in a rich, traditional agricultural community like Le Mars and Plymouth County, to emphasize agriculture,” said Cole Sitzmann, Vice President of the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee. “Far too many people are generations removed from agriculture, and as a result, many people have wrong ideas or misunderstandings regarding agricultural production.”
“A portion of this year’s exhibit looks at the importance of agricultural exports,” said Sitzmann. “Four Plymouth County farmers, who are leaders within their respective commodity organizations, have participated on agricultural trade team missions,” commented Sitzmann. “When you consider for every four rows of U-S planted soybeans, one of those rows are destined to China, you begin to realize why American farmers place such a high importance on maintaining and constantly building upon foreign export markets,” said Sitzmann.
“In addition, just to show how agricultural exports have grown over the years, 20 years ago, U-S pork producers were shipping one of every 20 hogs and/or pork products overseas. Today, one quarter of all hogs and pork produced in the United States is shipped to foreign markets.”
“We also see exports play an important role locally, said Sitzmann. “According to officials with Plymouth Energy, the corn-based ethanol producer located at Merrill, Iowa, nearly 80 percent of their product is transported to a foreign nation,” said Sitzmann.
“Building agricultural exports helps stimulate demand and maintains commodity market prices,” said Sitzmann.
The other area of focus in the upper level of the round barn is a look at the many uses of soybeans.
“Soybeans are a major crop grown in northwest Iowa, and throughout the entire Midwest,” commented Sitzmann, “but it is interesting to note that many people are not familiar with the varied uses of soybeans.”
“As part of our agricultural exhibit, the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee decided to feature soybeans,” said Sitzmann.
“Many people probably don’t realize how much we do use soybeans, not just for food and feed purposes, but there are many industrial uses of soybeans. For instance, few people know the seat cushions of Ford Motor vehicles contain soybeans, and the plastic side panels from combine harvesters contain some soybeans. Soybean by-products are found in our homes with wood adhesives, paints, insulation, carpet backing, cleaners, candles, and some plastic products,” said Sitzmann.
Crop Conditions Deteriorate Due To Dry Conditions
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October.
“The hot and humid weather created stress for both crops and livestock last week, particularly in areas that have missed the recent rains. South central Iowa is very dry, with over 90 percent of top soil short or very short of moisture,” Northey said.
Above normal temperatures were accompanied by widely varying rainfall and some severe weather during the week ending July 23, 2017, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities for the week included hauling grain, applying
herbicides and insecticides, cultivating, and haying.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 20 percent very short, 32 percent short, 45 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Over 90 percent of south central Iowa’s topsoil falls into the short to very short moisture level categories, while 99 percent of northeast Iowa’s topsoil falls into the adequate to surplus categories. Subsoil moisture levels rated 14 percent very short, 32 percent
short, 52 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.
Seventy-four percent of Iowa’s corn crop has reached the silking stage, 4 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the 5-year average. Corn conditions deteriorated slightly to 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Nearly three-quarters of the soybean crop was blooming, with 30 percent of soybeans setting pods, 1 day ahead of average. Soybean condition also dropped slightly with 62 percent rated good to excellent. Oats coloring reached 89 percent, one week behind last year. Forty- one percent of oats for grain or seed have been harvested, 4 days behind last
year. High temperatures and humidity were reported to cause normal summer heat stress to livestock, with some reports of heat-related deaths.
Hubbell Reports Raising More Than A Million Dollars For Governor Campaign
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Democrat Fred Hubbell says he’s raised more than $1 million for his gubernatorial campaign.
The Iowa businessman announced in a Monday press release that the haul came from individual donors in the state. He did not disclose specific details about the donors or how many contributed, though he said none of the money came from
special interest groups or self-financing.
A campaign spokesman says the money has been collected since early May and more information about the donations will be released when campaign disclosure filings are due in January.
Hubbell is a well-known philanthropist and political campaign donor whose family has been involved in multiple business ventures in the state. He announced this month he was formally seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. Several other Democrats have announced plans to run.
State Senators To Discuss IPERS Program
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some Iowa senators will gather at the Capitol to discuss Iowa’s largest pension system for public employees.
Democrats and Republicans are scheduled to meet Tuesday morning to talk about the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System, also known as IPERS. The agency’s chief executive officer is expected to talk about a study on the system and unfunded liability issues.
IPERS has 350,000 members and maintains the state’s largest public employees’ pension fund. IPERS officials recently upgraded economic assumptions about the system’s liabilities that lowered its investment returns. Gov. Kim Reynolds has indicated support for a legislative committee to look into the system.
The Tuesday meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. in Room 22 at the Capitol.
Woman Charged With Animal Neglect
INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) – A woman arrested after authorities found 19 neglected dogs and three dog carcasses on her south-central Iowa property has been given two years of probation.
Court records say 41-year-old Lindsey Morrow pleaded guilty Monday to 22 counts of animal neglect before she was sentenced in a Warren County courtroom.
Prosecutors dropped other charges in exchange for her pleas. The Indianola woman’s probation requirements say she can’t own any pets while under the state
supervision.
Morrow was arrested in February after the dogs were found on properties in Sandyville and Indianola.
Butter Sculpture To Feature “Little House On The Prairie”
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa State Fair’s famous butter sculptures will celebrate “Little House on the Prairie” this year.
The Des Moines Register reports (https://dmreg.co/2vTNBlG ) Laura Ingalls Wilder will be sculpted out of butter and displayed next to the butter cow when the fair begins on Aug. 10.
Wilder wrote the series of books that formed the basis for a long-running television show, and she spent part of her childhood in Burr Oak, Iowa.
A third butter sculpture will be a replica of the Solheim Cup golf Trophy.
The Iowa State Fair attracts more than a million people a year. Previous butter sculptures have included Elvis Presley and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
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