(Radio Iowa) — State health officials report nearly 600 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 today (Wednesday), pushing the total over 18-thousand. The new case count includes an increase of more than 400 cases in northwest Iowa’s Buena Vista County alone. Moments ago, Governor Kim Reynolds was asked if there’s an outbreak at a food production facility in Storm Lake — and she said nothing is confirmed:
The state website shows 21 new deaths in Iowa from the virus during the past day, taking the total to 485. The number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID has risen to nearly 400, while more than 98-hundred Iowans have recovered. Bars, breweries and wineries will be allowed to reopen tomorrow, with casinos, amusement parks and other large venues reopening on Monday.
(Radio Iowa) The end of the planting season is getting closer. The U-S-D-A crop report shows 97 percent of the corn crop is in the ground — which is three weeks ahead of last year and two weeks ahead of the five-year average. Eighty-two percent of the corn has already emerged — up by 20 percent from the previous week. On the bean side — 92 percent are planted — and that’s almost one month ahead of last year and two weeks ahead of average. Just more than half of the beans have emerged — double what had already popped out of the ground last week.
The Montgomery County Ag Society (Montgomery County Fair Board), reports “Due to the ongoing social distancing guidelines and additional precautions taking place to help slow and reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Montgomery County Ag Society has made the difficult decision to cancel the grounds and grandstand entertainment for the 2020 Montgomery County Fair,” which runs July 14-19 in Red Oak.
Montgomery County Fair Board President Amy Liddell said in a social media post, “After consulting with Montgomery County Public Health, Montgomery County Emergency Management, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, and fair board members, it was determined this was the best decision due to the uncertainty of what the public health situation may look like in July. We want nothing more than to have a fair; however, volunteers, visitors, youth of Montgomery County and staff health and safety are our main concern.”
The Montgomery County Fair Board, in partnership with the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Montgomery County, are working to fulfill the fair vision of providing opportunities to the 4-H and FFA members to showcase their talents and accomplishments. Although event schedules are subject to change, please see the list below for current plans.
• Livestock Show – Show and Go Format (no animals will be housed on the grounds)
• Static Events – Dropped off exhibits with write-up will be judged
• Communications, Table Setting & Awardrobe Events – Format to be determined
• Clover Kids Graduation – Virtual Event to be determined
• Clover Kids Share Show – Cancelled
• Fair Queen Contest – Proceeding as planned
• All Open Class Events – Cancelled
• Grandstand Events – Cancelled
• Commercial Exhibits – Cancelled
• No concessions on the grounds
• Auction – Format will be changed to a premium base with additional details to be determined (please contact Fair Board to sponsor)
County fair is an opportunity for Montgomery County’s youth to have a unique learning experience. Even though fair in 2020 needs to happen in non-traditional ways, exhibits and evaluation of exhibits are important to help 4-H and FFA members complete their project learning. As details are finalized, information will be sent to families and volunteers. We will be live-streaming events as they occur and providing video links after the events. “During this time of uncertainty, the Extension staff is working with our amazing volunteers to offer educational opportunities for our youth this summer,” said Eva Woods, County Youth Coordinator for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Montgomery County. “Our youth have shown their dedication to their projects, and we want to reciprocate by giving them an outlet to showcase their hard work.”
“The Montgomery County Fair Board would like to thank all the supporters, sponsors, and partners for their support of the Montgomery County Fair,” Amy Liddell said. “We hope to see everyone at next year’s fair, July 13th – 18th, 2021!” For more information, regarding this year’s fair and updates about events at the fairgrounds, please follow the Montgomery County – IA Fair on Facebook. Please email Amy (liddellauctionservices@gmail.com) with additional inquiries. For more information, regarding 4-H & FFA events at this year’s fair, please follow Montgomery County-IA Extension on Facebook and at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/montgomery.
(Radio Iowa) –Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Tuesday, said she was in the process of setting up a call with the Iowa State Fair Board this week to discuss their plans for the 2020 State Fair, which is currently scheduled to begin August 13th. “I know they’ve been trying to wait to see how Iowa responds to our continuing to open up our economy,” Reynolds says, “and so we’ll have an opportunity to visit with them this week and see if I can answer any questions that they may have and really listen to them and see what they’re considering as they’re moving forward with making a decision.”
Minnesota’s 2020 State Fair was cancelled last week. The Missouri State Fair is scheduled to begin on the same day as the Iowa State Fair. Missouri officials say they’ll make an announcement in early to mid-June about what their state fair will look like.
(Radio Iowa) – State officials today (Tuesday) confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks at Perdue Farms pork processing facilities in northwest Iowa. A company spokesperson says the testing was conducted on May 4th and 5th. On May 11th, Perdue Farms announced 425 workers had been tested and fewer than 20 percent tested positive. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, 69 workers at the Perdue Farms plant in Sioux CENTER tested positive and tests confirm another 20 workers at the company’s plant in Sioux CITY have had the virus.
Hogs are slaughtered at the facility in Sioux Center and the Sioux City location is the processing plant for ALL the company’s pork products. Jim Perdue, chairman of family-owned Perdue Farms, issued a video statement on May 7th about the pandemic. “We are supplying masks and protective gear to our associates and government inspectors in our plants as well as any essential personnel who enters our facilities,” Perdue said. “…We have increased our already stringent cleaning and sanitation protocols and we are physically altering our production plants and running at reduced speeds to facilitate social distancing.”
Perdue Farms is based in Maryland. The company’s website indicates it owns plants throughout the country that process poultry, pork, lamb and beef.
(Radio Iowa) – Officials in a southwest Iowa community are laying the groundwork for a “farm school.” The Essex City Council has given initial approval to an ordinance that would let the Essex School District keep livestock on school grounds. The council will review the proposal again at its June meeting. Essex Superintendent Dr. Mike Wells says the ordinance limits the number and type of animals. “We agreed that lambs and goats and chickens and ducks would be year one of the program,” Wells says.
They hope to start this vocational program this fall. Wells says school officials have addressed concerns about odor and cleanliness. “We would not bring animals onto the grounds until after the Labor Day celebration each year and then we would sell the animals at the sale barn by the end of April, by May 1st,” Wells says, “and then we would clean that site before baseball starts to make sure everything looks nice for baseball season.”
Wells is also superintendent of the Hamburg School District, where a similar program is already operating. Wells says city and Essex school officials will review the program yearly and decide whether it should continue. The Essex school board has hired its first-ever ag instructor to conduct the farm school courses for vocational students, who would start by constructing the buildings for the animals.
JOHNSTON, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa DNR said Tuesday (today), that at approximately 4:45-p.m. on Monday, May 25th, DNR conservation officers responded to a boat explosion on Saylorville Lake. Upon initial investigation, it was determined that an accumulation of gas fumes in the engine compartment of the boat ignited when the boat was started.
At the time of the explosion, there were eight passengers on board, including the operator and owner of the boat, Michael Jenkins, of Ames. Two passengers were treated and released at the scene with minor burns and one passenger was transported to UnityPoint’s Iowa Methodist Medical Center with more serious burns. Investigators do not believe alcohol was a factor in this incident.
The DNR reminds boat operators with inboard motors to run the blower system before starting a boat to prevent this type of incident from happening.
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