Tree Nut Farming

Poet to expand in Emmetsburg (02/18/10)
While the parking lots outside resembled pickup truck sales lots, the ballroom featuring Northwest Iowa Ag Outlook keynote speakers inside the Clay County Regional Events Center touted the simultaneous messages of using alternative energy, making money, creating jobs and reducing the nation's dependency on foreign oil this week. ...

Steinkamp, Barnett taking the work out of gardening (12/22/09)
Tyler Steinkamp has enjoyed gardening and producing vegetables since second grade. Michael Barnett, who grew up with not a lot of conducive gardening space available, realized last summer while helping his friend pick produce from his yard that he also truly enjoyed the hobby. The two Spencer High School alumni, now South Dakota State University (SDSU) students, have co-partnered to form Personalized Produce LLC. The aim of their business venture is to allow Spencer residents the fruits (or vegetables) of their labor this upcoming growing season. ...

Growers Association finishes soggy harvest (11/21/09)
Dave Hessman knows. He doesn't have to be out on the golden, combine-scraped ground six miles south of Spencer. Alan Patten of Webb was busy in his John Deere combine and Glen Chenhall of Spencer was carving another row in his Case International. In fact, about eight volunteers were helping to get the corn harvest out of the 75-acre test plot on the kind of sun-splashed November day that's cool enough for a sweatshirt, but warm enough the leave the coat at home...

Neighbors rally to help one of their own (11/07/09)
The fact that Iowans tend to help one another when trying situations arise is evident once again this harvest season. Clay County farmer Lindell "Pete" Petersen suffered a stroke the evening of Oct. 25, but you couldn't tell it by his cattle or fields, which are being tended to and harvested by friends and neighbors. ...

Wet harvest advancing, yields looking good (11/07/09)
With grain dryers running nonstop across the state, harvest proceeded in force this week as several dry days finally appeared. The most recent Iowa Crops and Weather report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service revealed corn harvest for grain had reached an 18 percent completion rating, which was 22 percent behind last year and five days behind the five-year average. ...

Northwest Iowa Soybeans 101 (10/29/09)
After nearly half a day spent on airplanes, a trio of Ukrainian agronomists landed at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, stepping onto U.S. soil for the first time in their lives Sunday. That's when their real adventure began. Volodymyr Ros, Yuriy Lysenko and Oleksander Kulikov, along with translator, Yuriy Petetsky, traveled to Spencer late Sunday after arriving in the states; and Monday morning began a weeklong process of discovery and fact finding with regards to the region's soybean production.. ...

Feeding farmers during harvest (10/22/09)
Area youth wanting to turn farmers' frowns upside down are spreading messages of safety and gratitude at local cooperatives and elevators. ...

Harvest Update: Late start, wet crop drives up prices (10/20/09)
Producers may get higher prices for their harvest this fall, but the late planting start and an early freeze may bring lower yields, according to Chad Hart, a grain marketing economist at Iowa State University. "This frost/freeze within the past couple of weeks did have an impact on yields," he said. ...

Corn crop looks robust as harvest nears (09/22/09)
Delayed planting in some areas of the Midwest caused some early season concern, but Chad Hart, Iowa State University grain marketing economist said a long growing season may allow crops in many areas to catch up. Paul Kassel, a field agronomist for ISU Extension noted progress in northwest Iowa and said an unusually cool summer should lead to a good corn crop locally...

Singing the praises of George Washington Carver (02/21/09)
Opera Iowa performed before for third through sixth grade students attending Spencer schools Friday morning at the old high school auditorium. The collective performers told the story: "A Dream Fulfilled - The Saga of George Washington Carver," detailing the rise, in Iowa, of one of the first men to break the color barrier. ...

CCE students advance to State Science + Technology Fair of Iowa (02/18/09)
Did you know that of the different types of music, classical music stimulates plant growth best? Another fact: Wood shavings and leaves combust better than cattle manure and bean meal. Forty-three Clay Central-Everly (CCE) seventh and eighth grade students showcased research projects such as these they've been working on since the start of second semester Tuesday afternoon in an annual science fair held in the Royal gym. ...

Corn grower issues heard in VeraSun bankruptcy proceedings (12/05/08)
JOHNSTON -- The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and other corn grower states helped bring about key developments at the VeraSun bankruptcy hearings in Delaware, Tuesday, Dec. 2. The states together filed a motion to challenge bankruptcy provisions that threaten future corn sales contracts. ...

One good turn deserves another: Polson recycling wood, making works of art (11/15/08)
Perry Polson has made an art of making "something out of nothing." The Spencer-based wood turner is also becoming known for his unique style of recycling wood. Polson, a native of Hartley, recalls woodworking's appeal for him in high school shop class...

Clay County collector, retrofitter farms with 'working antiques' (10/03/08)
When Lindell "Pete" Petersen began combining Monday night, he was excited to also initiate the process of familiarizing himself with a new implement. The Clay County farmer, who had traded his combine in two months ago, was recently told his former piece of equipment is now harvesting crops in Mexico...

Competitive markets group to host fair event (09/11/08)
A shrinking number of seed companies has some lawmakers and industry groups concerned about escalating costs in the seed industry. State Rep. Marcie Frevert of Emmetsburg is one of the hosts for an event titled "Taking it Back: Bringing Fairness and Competition Back to the Seed Industry for Our Farmers."...

ISU Extension Connections at the Clay County Fair (09/05/08)
The public is invited to make an ISU Extension Connection during the 2008 Clay County Fair, Sept. 6-14. Visit the Ag Learning Center (Stub's Stable Building) just west of the small animal barn and connect with ISU Extension staff from northwest Iowa. ISU Extension Field Specialist and County Directors will be on hand to share information, answer questions, and visit with you about what ISU Extension can do for you...

BatschStein Salsa to add zest to fair (09/04/08)
Iowa's "fine home-made" BatschStein Salsa is now a limited liability corporation. Company founders Ethan Batschelet, 18, and Tyler Steinkamp, 20, began making their Clay County-based concoction when they amassed an extra-bountiful harvest of vegetables in 2006. Today's fine-tuned BatschStein Salsa recipe comes in mild, medium, hot and "super nova" varieties. The duo estimate they've prepared 600 pint jars of salsa between this spring and late summer...

Farm expo planned at Iowa Lakes Community College Farm Lab (09/04/08)
The Farm Lab of Iowa Lakes Community College will host its annual Farm Field Day and Expo on Thursday, Sept. 4. All area residents, as well as past alumni of Iowa Lakes, are invited to tour the Palo Alto Corn and Soybean Growers Association plot, various agricultural exhibits and the Farm Laboratory starting at 4:30 p.m...

ISU Extension Connections at the Clay County Fair (09/02/08)
The public is invited to make an ISU Extension Connection during the 2008 Clay County Fair, Sept. 6-14. Visit the Ag Learning Center (Stub's Stable Building) just west of the small animal barn and connect with ISU Extension staff from northwest Iowa. ISU Extension Field Specialist and County Directors will be on hand to share information, answer questions, and visit with you about what ISU Extension can do for you...

OCM to host event at Clay County Fair (08/29/08)
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is sponsoring a major event to raise awareness about concentration of market power in the seed industry and the impacts on rural Iowa. The event, "Taking It Back: Bringing Fairness and Competition Back to the Seed Industry for Our Farmers," will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, in the 4H building at the Clay County fairgrounds in Spencer...

Clay County Growers annual field day (08/29/08)
Following a steak dinner, the 2008 Clay County Growers' "field day" featured Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Iowa State University College of Agriculture Dean Dr. Wendy Wintersteen, Dr. Palle Pedersen, an ISU soybean specialist, plot manager Dave Hessman and Paul Kassel, an ISU Extension area agronomist, as speakers Thursday evening in the Clay County Regional Events Center. ...

Briefs 8-19-08 (08/19/08)
The Iowa Great Lakes Region Antique Automobile Club will be on display through Sunday, Aug. 24 at the Southpark Mall in south Spencer. Car enthusiasts and history buffs will enjoy this display. On Aug. 24 The Hands of Harmony Swinging Seniors will be entertaining us at 2:30 p.m. Come enjoy the display and entertainment...

Briefs 8-13-08 (08/13/08)
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Hartley, is sponsoring a community-wide benefit for the family of Jan Hall to help defray medical bills incurred during Jan's battle with illness. The free-will dinner and auction will be held at the Hartley Community Center on Thursday, Aug. ...

Briefs 8-12-08 (08/12/08)
Losing a loved one is indescribable to someone who has not felt the loss of death. Hospice of Northwest Iowa's professional team understands the tragedy of losing a loved one and they identify with the difficult decisions and emotions that the person left behind faces. To help people cope with the death of a loved one, Hospice of Northwest Iowa is offering an 8-week Understanding Grief Support Group. The group will meet each Wednesday evening through Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m...

Briefs 8-06-08 (08/06/08)
Losing a loved one is indescribable to someone who has not felt the loss of death. Hospice of Northwest Iowa's professional team understands the tragedy of losing a loved one and they identify with the difficult decisions and emotions that the person left behind faces. To help people cope with the death of a loved one, Hospice of Northwest Iowa is offering an 8-week Understanding Grief Support Group. The group will meet each Wednesday evening through Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m...

Soybean producers invited to Everly event (08/05/08)
Interested farmers from Crop District 1 in northwest Iowa are invited to hear from two Iowa State University (ISU) experts at a special event sponsored by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and the Iowa Pork Producers Association on August 19. The event, which is part of ISA's All in a Day's Work program, will feature ISU Climatologist Elwynn Taylor talking about crop weather in 2008 and beyond and Professor of Economics Dermot Hayes on balancing food and fuel and the prospects for pork exports...

Soybeans decline as warm weather boosts planting (06/24/08)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Soybean prices declined Monday as dry Midwest weather allowed farmers to resume planting after massive flooding that engulfed fields and drove agriculture futures to record highs. Other commodities traded mixed, with crude oil gaining and gold, silver and copper prices falling...

Meet Your Neighbor: Chef Overbeck 'can't foresee doing anything else' (06/06/08)
Josh Overbeck answers to "Josh," "Joshua" if his mother says it, and "Chef." The 25-year-old has spent more than half his lifetime working in kitchens, fine-tuning his culinary skills. "I've been in kitchens pretty much all of my life," said the Northwood native who moved to Dickinson County four years ago. "I started as a dishwasher, moved up to a fry cook, then to a line cook, and have been running my own kitchen."...

Living History Day to highlight Father's Day events at Parker (06/03/08)
Bring the family to Parker Museum from 1-4 p.m., on Father's Day, June 15 for an afternoon of family fun at Living History Day. The afternoon will feature displays and hands on activities about the Amazing Grain--Corn. Admission to the museum grounds will be $5 for adults and $3 for children 5-12 years, 4 and under are free or a family admission of $15...

Clay County teens tantalize taste buds with BatschStein Salsa (05/29/08)
Don't even try to get Tyler Steinkamp and Ethan Batschelet to tell you what the secret ingredient in their salsa is. The two 18-year-old Clay County residents won't disclose the special ingredient that gives their Batschstein Salsa (a combination of their Swiss and German names) its special taste...

Briefs 05-17 (05/17/08)
Kid's Fish Day The Upper Great Plains Muskie Club and Spirit Lake Kiwanis will be hosting a Kid's Fish Day from 1-3 p.m., today at the Spirit Lake Hatchery. The event is open to all kids, ages 6 and over. Kids 6-12 need adult supervision. A free afternoon meal of hot dogs, chips and pop is included. Free t-shirts to the first 100 kids registered by 2 p.m. Teaching stations will be set up on the hatchery grounds to present a wide range of fishing principles by area anglers...

County Growers Field planted (05/15/08)
One hundred corn hybrids were planted in the Clay County Growers Field earlier this month. This marks the 21st year for the corn plot. Projects other than the Corn Hybrid evaluation are a Planting Population study and the use of Fungicide on corn. The corn is on land owned by David and Jan Hopkins and farmed by Al Patten...

Essick proud to join family farming operation (04/29/08)
(Women in Agriculture: Part One of a Four-Part Series) Stephanie "Steph" (Harves) Essick, who ranks among the nation's female farmers, doesn't view herself as an agricultural anomaly. Like many Midwestern youth, Essick and her older sister grew up on their Clay County farm riding the bean bar, cultivating row crops and hauling bales of hay...

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