Jim Field visits with Cass County Master Gardener Theresa Hansen about the Garden Walk Sunday, June 23, 2024 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.  For more information, visits the Cass County Master Gardeners on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CassCoMG.

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(Radio Iowa) – State Ag Secretary Mike Naig says Iowa officials are taking a different approach compared to other states when it comes to bird flu testing. When a poultry flock has been hit by the virus, the testing protocol has been that poultry operations within a 20 kilometer radius are tested.

Results are expected soon and Naig says there could be a big bump in the number of bird flu cases confirmed on Iowa dairy farms.

Teams of U-S-D-A experts have been in the state analyzing each of the sites where bird flu has been confirmed among poultry or dairy cattle.

Naig says even dairy farmers OUTSIDE of the mandatory testing zones have contacted state officials to say they suspect cattle are infected with the virus. Dairy cows are quarantined while they’re sick, but are not euthanized.

The strain of bird flu that’s been CONFIRMED at EIGHT dairy operations in northwest Iowa over the past few weeks is the same. Naig suspects bird flu is more widespread.

The main hit to dairies where bird flu is detected is a drop in milk production, but Naig says some Iowa dairy cows have died after being diagnosed with bird flu.

According to the U-S-D-A, it’s older dairy cows that die after getting the virus. The National Veterinary Services Lab in Ames is processing the tests for highly pathogenic avian influenza in Iowa dairy herds.

(Clive, Iowa) – The 2nd annual BBQ & Brew at the Ballpark takes place this Saturday, June 22 at Principal Park in Des Moines. Attendees can consume numerous offerings of delicious Iowa pork, sample Iowa craft beers and ciders, learn barbecue tips from a grill master, vote for their favorites in the Backyard BBQ Contest, meet local celebrities, and enjoy live music performances.

Your purchase of a ticket gets you all of that, and you’ll also be helping fight food insecurity in our state. Proceeds from BBQ & Brew at the Ballpark will benefit Iowa food banks, who are struggling to keep up with demand from families in need.

Linda Gorkow, Executive Director of the Iowa Food Bank Association, said “In the state of Iowa, we have an increase in food insecurity. Pork is a very valuable protein and every ounce makes a difference. 10 percent of Iowans are food insecure. The Iowa Food Bank Association works with 1,200 pantries across the state of Iowa and six food banks. We all work to help serve, and we couldn’t do it without friends like the Iowa Pork Producers and every individual that donates.”

Advance tickets cost just $20 at IowaPork.org. The second Annual BBQ & Brew at the Ballpark begins at 2pm Saturday, brought to you by the Iowa Pork Producers Association and Iowa Cubs, there is something for everyone at this event.

30 backyard barbecuers will be competing for more than $10,000 in cash prizes. For attendees, you get to sample the competitors’ delicious pork, plus Smokey D’s BBQ & Berkwood Farms will provide grilled pork loin sandwiches, and you receive 15 samples of beer from Iowa’s top craft breweries. Netflix Barbecue Showdown Champion Thryon Mathews, an Iowa resident, will be offering grilling tips in his Barbeque Boot Camp.

A panel of celebrity judges will pick their favorite pork offering from the 30 competitors. Iowa musicians will be performing throughout the event. Raffle prizes, including a Traeger grill, a Blackstone grill, Iowa Cubs package, and more will be available.  Attendees who prefer not to partake in the “brew” portion of BBQ & Brew can get in for just $15. Kids 5 and under get in free.

Fareway Stores is also serving as a sponsor of BBQ & Brew at the Ballpark and will provide resources and support for the donations to local food pantries. Visit IowaPork.org to purchase your ticket today. Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the door.

(Radio Iowa) – A man from Pocahontas has been charged with stealing livestock and a number of other felonies after an investigation involving law enforcement agencies in eight northwest Iowa counties. Twenty-six-year-old Corey Edward Goeders (GOH-ders) was arrested Friday, and has been released on bond.

According to the Palo Alto County Sheriff, investigators linked Goeders to livestock thefts that primarily took place between June of last year and February of this year. Goeders faces 20 felony charges. He’s been accused of money laundering, tax evasion and ongoing criminal conduct and as well as theft.

Sheriffs’ departments in Palo Alto, Kossuth, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Clay, Pocahontas, Webster and Woodbury Counties all worked on the cases against Goeders, as did agents from the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Iowa Department of Revenue.

• KJAN, Atlantic  2.57″
• 3.3″ 2 miles W of Exira (Judi Hansen reports)
• 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  3.07″
• Elk Horn  3.17″
• Massena  .93″
• Avoca  1.5″
• Corning  .71″
• Bridgewater  .9″
• Earling  .99″
• Kirkman  .9″
• Missouri Valley  .74″
• Creston  .75″
• Clarinda  .77″
• Carroll  .82″

w/Kate Olson.

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(Radio Iowa) – One of the experts in all things creepy-crawly who helps to run Iowa State University’s Insect Zoo just returned from a four-day road trip exclusively to study the rare, double-brood emergence of cicadas. Ginny Mitchell, the I-S-U Insect Zoo’s education program coordinator, says the 13-year and 17-year cicadas are coming out of their underground burrows simultaneously, which only happens once in every 220 years.

Mitchell says the 17-year cicadas can be found in northeastern Iowa along the Illinois border, while the 13-year cicadas are in southeastern Iowa, along the borders with Illinois and Missouri. Their song can be almost deafening, as some estimates say there are perhaps trillions of the bugs emerging across the region.

The inch-long creatures that are appearing now are relatives of the ones that will start buzzing across the rest of Iowa within a few weeks.

Another difference in the three-year versus the 13- and 17-year cicadas is what time of day they choose to make themselves known.

On her road trip, Mitchell says she collected hundreds of both 13- and 17-year cicadas, including adults and nymphs. She plans to cook, yes, cook a variety of them for visitors to sample during the I-S-U Insect Zoo’s “Bug Village” event on August 24th. It will also feature a class called Insect Collecting 101, a Bug Costume Contest, and more than 150 species of living arthropods on display, with plenty of hands-on opportunities.

DICKINSON COUNTY — Heavy rainfall and power outages in northwest Iowa led to multiple wastewater discharges in the Iowa Great Lakes area this (Monday) morning. The DNR Field Office in Spencer was notified early Monday morning of a wastewater bypass occurring at a lift station just south of Manhattan Point on the west side of West Lake Okoboji.

The Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary District pumped down the lift station and hauled as much wastewater as possible to the treatment plant to minimize the bypass. Officials estimated that about 10 gallons per minute of untreated wastewater flowed into the lake. All drinking water systems and a nearby resort were notified, as well as residents in the vicinity of the bypass. Area officials report the discharge ended around noon.

At 9:30 a.m. the Field Office was notified of another bypass occurring at a lift station near Francis Sites on East Lake Okoboji. This bypass ceased around noon. The City of Spirit Lake is also bypassing their wastewater collection system to storm sewers and discharging to East Lake Okoboji. Pumps are running at two locations on the west side of upper East Okoboji to try and keep wastewater out of basements. Residents are being notified.

Heavy rainfall can overload wastewater collection systems, which are underground sewer pipes that carry sewage to a treatment plant. With sewage pipes overwhelmed, excess water has nowhere to go, and can back up into basements through floor drains.

Bypassing can lower the water level and alleviate pressure in the collection system, keeping sewage from backing up into basements, which could present health risks. DNR staff continue to monitor these situations and will provide assistance to impacted communities.  It is highly recommended people and pets avoid these areas and stay out of flooded and elevated waterways due to safety concerns.

CARTER LAKE, IOWA – On Friday, June 14th, the Iowa DNR Field Office in Atlantic received a complaint alleging sewage flowing on the ground at Lakeside Estates Trailer Home Park in Carter Lake.

DNR staff started their investigation on Friday and continued it on Monday. On Friday, they observed wastewater overflowing from an open connection at a vacant lot. The sewage flowed onto the ground and concrete pathways throughout the trailer home park. On Monday, the DNR identified a blockage in the sewer line that caused the wastewater to back up through an open connection.

Lakeside Estates subcontractors cleared the blockage and are cleaning the sewage on the ground.

Authorities are advising people and pets to avoid wet areas in the gutters, street, and any standing or pooling water. Samples have been collected and will be submitted for laboratory testing.

DNR staff will monitor cleanup and containment. The DNR will consider appropriate enforcement action.

State and federal officials have detected a case of bird flu in another herd of dairy cattle in Sioux County. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.

While avian influenza is fatal to birds and poultry, nearly all cattle who contract the virus recover.