Officials with the Iowa DNR and Shelby County sheriff’s office responded to a report Thursday night of pesticide leaking from a sprayer near 2000th St. and Dogwood, in Earling. They found a small amount of herbicide had reached the side of the road, with an unknown smaller amount flowing to a tributary of Picayune Creek. A United Western Coop employee was spreading the mix of Roundup and Cobra when a hose became plugged and the material spilled.

Estimates vary from between 15 and 100 gallons of herbicide sludge spilled. The co-op excavated about 20 cubic yards of soil Thursday night to prevent environmental damage. The DNR checked the creek Thursday night and Friday morning and found no evidence of dead or distressed fish.

The DNR will continue to monitor the cleanup and consider appropriate enforcement.

A family-owned Dutch company that makes front-end attachments for tractors has opened its first U-S distribution center — in northeast Iowa. Zuidberg (ZUD-berg) North America has been in business since 1982 building custom-designed hitches in the Netherlands. Company president Rudolf de Jong (dee YUNG) says it will start out small in Cedar Falls but there are plans to expand.  “Our goal is to grow to between 20 and 30-percent per year,” de Jong says. “That means that after three to four years, we hope to employ up to 50 people.” According to de Jong, Zuidberg makes equipment being sold to customers in 45 countries which allows several types of implements to be attached to the front of tractors instead of the rear.

He says, “We sell directly to tractor manufacturers, farm equipment manufacturers and to tractor dealerships all around the country.” The implements allow farmers to mow with equipment on both the front and the back of their tractors. He says it’s more efficient and it also increases the farmers’ comfort because they can face forward instead of constantly turning from side to side.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld water quality regulations that business and farm groups say are costly and burdensome. The rules require anyone with new or expanded wastewater discharges into waterways to seek permits and certification from the state. The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and others sued the Environmental Protection Commission which voted in December 2009 to adopt the new rules. The lawsuit attempted to disqualify two of the commissioners’ votes and get the regulations thrown out.

Carrie La Seur moved to Montana in July 2009 but remained on the commission. The lawsuit says her vote shouldn’t be counted. The lawsuit claims Commissioner Susan Heathcote, who worked for a nonprofit environmental group, had a conflict of interest.

A majority of the court found the votes were proper under Iowa law.

A family tradition was honored at the Shelby County Fair Thursday night. The family of Harriet and AnnaJean Ahrenholtz were surprised when Shelby County Fair President Kent Ganzer recognized them for the dedication and donation to the Shelby County Fair. This year, the Ahrenholtz family donated $60,000 to the board for the all new show ring. Clark Ahrenholtz, son of Harry and AnnaJean said the family wanted to honor their parents.

“Well my parents were always big promoters of the fair. My dad was president of the fair board and my brother and nephew carry on the tradition and we are happy about that. The show ring was something that was needed for a long time here. When it was put up originally, it was actually put up with used materials and we were happy with that at the time but we wanted to do something that mom and dad weren’t able to do when they were alive. We decided this would be a project that if we could kick into it and get the ball rolling. We would like to thank the Shelby County Fair Board because without them this wouldn’t be possible for us to recognize our parents”

Ahrenholtz said almost all of the family was able to come and be a part of the festivities. “I can start at the bottom that’s me. I am the last surviving child of my parents. I wasn’t raised to last but I am the last one. My sister Jane from Tuscan and her husband Rich were up. Then Annette and her husband were unable to attend due to health concerns. And then my brother Roger, who really took over from my dad as Mister Fair to make everything happen and we are getting Justin broke in on that. And then my oldest brother Harry was down from Jefferson.”

Clark said the family is fifth generation in showing cattle at the Shelby County Fair. He said the family is proud to call Shelby County home. “It takes a whole community effort. Like I said we want to remain humble about this because that’s the way our parents were. They kind of make you toot your own horn a little bit when it happens like this here. But we are just proud and very happy to be apart of this community and support the community this way.”

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

It was a night of royalty and recognition at the 2014 Shelby County Fair Thursday evening. The queen ceremony was held inside the all new show ring at the fairgrounds with twelve young ladies competing for the crown. Every contestant was asked two questions from the MC Lynn Brinker before the crown was handed out to Emily Pattee. She said the award was a complete surprise. “I was completely shocked. When I didn’t hear my name for princess, I thought oh there is no way I will get it. And then when I heard my name I was completely shocked.” Pattee was nominated by her group Portsmouth Super Production.

As the queen, Pattee will be involved in handing out ribbons and other activities at the Shelby County Fair and will represent Shelby County at the 2014 Iowa State Fair Queen contest. Pattee has lofty goals as she will be enrolling at the University of Iowa in the fall for bio-medical engineering. In other awards, Chelsea Assman received runner-up in the queen competition and Teresa Arkfeld won the 2014 Brownfield Ag Youth Award sponsored by our sister station KNOD in Harlan. Arkfeld said it meant a lot to her as she is heavily involved in Agriculture.

In addition to the queen ceremony, the Shelby County Fair Board inducted two couples into the Shelby County Fair Hall of Fame. Ed and Vickie Anderson and Kevin and Deb Rutherford were welcomed into the Hall of Fame. The other couple, Kevin and Deb Rutherford couldn’t remember how many years they have been running the 4-H food booth but they have enjoyed it. The Rutherfords said they weren’t expecting the award as they thought their daughter was going to receive an award instead. They called it a humbling experience and were well appreciative for the nomination.

The final recognition went to Linda Heflin who will be inducted into the Iowa State Fair Hall of Fame on August 18th, 2014. Heflin has worked the dog show at the Shelby County Fair for over 25 years.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Sunday July 6th
Dog Show:
Champion Confirmation: Shaylee Yates; Reserve confirmation: Shiloh Carroll;
Champion Grooming: Dean Robinson; Reserve Grooming: Sammi Wahling
Champion Pre-Novice A: Sammi Wahling; Champion Pre-Novice B: Cassidy Robinson
Reserve Pre- Novice B: Lucy Borkowski; Champion Novice: Dean Robinson
Reserve Novice: Shiloh Carroll; Champion Grad Novice: Dean Robinson
Costume Class Champion: Shaylee Yates; Reserve Costume Class: Dean Robinson
Junior Showman: Dean Robinson; Junior Reserve Showman: Sammi Whaling
Intermediate Showman: Mary Carroll; Intermediate reserve showman: Cassidy Robinson
Overall Showman: Shaylee yates; Reserve: Mary Carroll.

Tuesday July 8th
Iowa State Fair Static exhibits:
Ag and Natural Resources – Nick Wageman, Jacob Blum, Jessica Buman, Emily Taggs & Reed Boardman.

Personal Development – Chantel Schmidt, Jacob Bartley, Jessica Buman, Kara Rueschenberg &
Kaylee Rivera.

Family Consumer Sciences – Chandler Mores, Kristen Ferry, Emily Pattee, Chantel Schmidt, Chandler Mores, Lydia Madsen, Chelsea Assman, Chantel Schmidt, Jessica Buman, Mackenzie Goshorn

Creative Arts – Cole Lingle, Emily Lefeber, Jacob Bartley, Emily Lefeber, Emma Barnes, Will Carroll,
Mary Carroll, Marea Ferry, Chelsea Assman, Kaylee Rivera

Communications—Posters: Kaylee Rivera & Cassidy Robinson.

Wednesday, July 9
Fair Booths
Champion: Northeast Sodbusters; Reserve Champion: Portsmouth Super Production

Best of Iowa
Junior Champions: Emily Taggs and Abigail Jacobsen; Junior Reserve Champions: Madison Rivera
Intermediate Champion: Emma Barnes; Intermediate Reserve Champion: Gabe Madson

Thursday, July 10
Cat and Small Pet Show
Champion Short hair: Lydia Madsen, “Jade”; Reserve Champion Short hair: Emily Taggs, “Max”.
Champion Long hair: Kennedy Jackson; Reserve Champion Long hair: Rachel Nelson
Overall Champion Cat: Lydia Madsen; Reserve Overall Champion Cat: Kennedy Jackson

Junior Showmanship: Emily Taggs; Reserve Junior Showmanship: Mitchell Rueschenberg
Senior Showmanship: Rachel Nelson; Reserve Sr. Showmanship: Lydia Madsen
Overall showmanship: Rachel Nelson; Reserve Overall showmanship: Mitchell Rueschenberg

Overall Champion Small Pet: Reanna Obrecht, Guinea Pig
Reserve Overalll Chammpion small pet: Kaylee Rivera: Hamster (Emmie)

Poultry Show
Champion duck: Laura Pauley; Champion duck pair: Laura Pauley
Champion Bantam: Cassidy Robinson; Reserve Champion Bantam: Ev Carroll

Champion Chicken: Kaylee Rivera; Reserve Champion Chicken: Megan Reetz

Commercial champion: Dean Robinson; Commercial Reserve: Collin Borkowski

Champion Broiler Trio: Carley McConnell; Reserve champion broiler trio: Kelsey Schaben
Champion single Broiler: Kelsey Schaben; Reserve champion single broiler: Carley McConnell

Showmanship
Sr: Collin Borkowski; Intermediate: Cassidy Robinson; Junior: Dean Robinson
Overall showmanship: Cassidy Robinson

Breeding Beef Show
Champion Prospect calf heifer: Taylor Andersen; Reserve: Brody Sorensen

Champion Prospect calf steer or bull: Dylan Stein; Reserve: Darren Stein

Cow Calf Show
Champion commercial cow and calf: Aaron Allen; Reserve: Teresa Arkfeld

Breeding Heifer Show
Champion AOB Heifer: Aaron Allen; Reserve: Trever Schulz

Champion Shorthorn Heifer: Allyssa Obrecht; Reserve: Wyatt Obrecht

Champion commercial Heifer: Taylor Andersen; Reserve: Dylan Stein

Overall Champion Breeding Heifer: Allyssa Obrecht; Reserve: Wyatt Obrecht

Dairy Show
Champion Dairy Heifer: Cassie Rasmussen
Showmanship – Junior: Wyatt Obrecht; Intermediate: Allyssa Obrecht; Senior: Dylan Stein
Overall: Allyssa Obrecht

Dairy showman: Cassie Rasmussen

w/ Max Dirks

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Fair will feature a “Field of Dreams” butter sculpture this year along with its iconic butter cow. Fair officials say the sculpture will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Iowa-based movie filmed at the Lansing Family Farm in Dyersville. The molded butter sculpture will depict aspects of baseball and Iowa’s farmlands. It will join the butter cow in a 40-degree cooler.

The fair will also offer a new interactive exhibit called “Farm with Us.” It will include bushels of corn and soybeans for people to touch and an interactive digital screen. This year’s fair will be held Aug. 7-17.

w/ Kate Olson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University is revising the way its crop specialists work with farmers on the best ways to plant and care for soybeans and corn. Traditionally corn specialists worked with corn growers and soybean specialists worked with soybean producers. Now, however, the university says it’s putting together a new team of integrated cropping systems specialist.

They will focus on how corn and soybean production interacts with soil, weather, cover crops, crop rotation and management practices and support farmers’ use of data-driven technologies in precision agriculture. The team is led by Sotirios Archontoulis, who joined Iowa State in 2012.

Mark Licht, extension field agronomist for central Iowa since 2011, moved to the Ames campus as part of new team.