Iowa
Northwest Iowa agronomist retires after career helping farmers
LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — Go to any farm on this nook of the state, and chances are high the farmer dwelling there’s using some bit of data, some tip gleaned from Joel DeJong.
For many years, DeJong has been a go-to supply of data on area crops and associated matters for farmers, answering questions on unusual bugs, crop illnesses or learn how to squeeze an additional bushel of corn or beans out of each acre.
“There are a couple of that drive you loopy, however for probably the most half purchasers have been very variety, appreciative. Persons are grateful for what we provide, and we’re not promoting something,” mentioned DeJong, who retired final week after an almost 41-year profession with the Iowa State College Extension and Outreach, the final 30 of them as a area agronomist serving 9 Northwest Iowa counties. The Extension will host a thank-you occasion at 5 p.m. Wednesday on the Le Mars Conference Heart.
DeJong has answered numerous questions from producers in search of the most recent crop farming improvements and from media members who continuously search his perception for information tales. With entry to knowledge compiled by researchers in Iowa, in addition to different states and nations, and hours spent at take a look at websites and analysis plots, he at all times has a solution and is pleased to share it.
“When you simply do analysis and don’t get the data out, what worth is it?” he informed the Sioux Metropolis Journal. “That’s the good factor about this job is the educational is steady.”
Agriculture will be an unpredictable enterprise. Rising up on a household farm between Maurice and Orange Metropolis in Sioux County, DeJong realized settling right into a profession in agriculture will be simply as unpredictable.
Attending Iowa State after graduating from Maurice-Orange Metropolis Excessive College, DeJong started as a pre-veterinary drugs main, however says chemistry lessons satisfied him his future was elsewhere in agriculture. He would earn an ag enterprise diploma with a finance main, however an internship with an ag lender wasn’t that thrilling. He took a job out of faculty promoting swine seed inventory, a flowery manner of claiming he offered boars. He didn’t actually like that both.
A good friend with the ISU Extension inspired DeJong to use for one of many service’s many openings, and he landed a job because the county Extension director in Greenfield, Iowa, in 1982. Three years later, he got here to the Woodbury County Extension workplace as an agriculturalist and lined horticulture, too, launching the county’s grasp gardener program in 1986 earlier than turning into the county’s Extension director.
After a reorganization in 1992, DeJong was named the agronomist for Northwest Iowa, working first in Sioux Metropolis earlier than shifting to the Extension’s Plymouth County workplace in Le Mars, the place he and spouse Lorraine, a retired center college trainer, nonetheless stay.
The Extension’s retooling helped DeJong discover his area of interest of passing the most recent research-based info on to farmers.
“Typically when change comes, persons are afraid what’s going to occur. But when I hadn’t modified roles, I don’t know if I might have lasted with the Extension all these years,” he mentioned.
He’s helped quite a few farmers since then navigate the ever-changing agriculture trade, whether or not it’s informing them of simpler manure purposes or utilizing on-farm trials to search out the perfect soybean plant density of their fields. Name him throughout the rising season, and also you’re more likely to attain him in his pickup truck heading to test crop progress, examine storm injury or have a look at diseased crops.
Hectic at instances, sure, nevertheless it’s higher than sitting within the workplace.
“I’d relatively be out within the area,” he mentioned.
That probably gained’t change in retirement. He’ll nonetheless fear if the realm is getting sufficient rain and marvel how the crops are faring.
“My spouse in all probability thinks I’ll drive higher as a result of I gained’t be fields up and down the highway,” he mentioned, laughing.
DeJong has no instant post-retirement plans, however is aware of he’ll stay concerned in agriculture in some way. It will be a disgrace to not cross on what he’s realized to producers frequently looking for higher yields.
“To me, it doesn’t make sense for all I’ve realized to die with me,” he mentioned. “There’s nonetheless possibilities to have my finger in it, and I simply haven’t figured it out but. My identification has been a crop specialist for a very long time. The query is, what is going to my identification be after this?”
It’s one of many few ag-related inquiries to which he doesn’t instantly know the reply.
However simply because the corn and beans do each spring, he is aware of a brand new alternative will sprout up.
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The rich continue to get richer.
The Iowa women’s wrestling program added to an already loaded roster late Friday night with the commitment of Isabella Marie Gonzalez. She is the No. 3 pound-for-pound recruit in girls high school wrestling regardless of age and the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2025.
Gonzalez, who is ranked No. 1 nationally at 120 pounds at the high school level by USAWrestling, has the makings of a star. She was the U17 World Team representative (finishing fifth) for the United States at 53 kilograms this summer. She was also a U17 Pan-American Games champion in 2023, fitting the mold of what coach Clarissa Chun looks for in international success.
From the state of California, she is a two-time state champion, a multi-time Fargo medalist and a Super 32 champion.
“I am excited to announce my official commitment to the University of Iowa,” Gonzalez wrote in an Instagram post. “Thank you to everyone who has continued to support me through my journey. Go Hawkeyes!”
This is the first commit of the 2025 class for the Hawkeyes, who brought in seven freshmen and 11 total new faces in 2024. Given the proposed roster limits of 30 coming next season, the number of newcomers isn’t likely to match or exceed the 2024 number.
Regardless, this is a high-profile addition for the Hawkeyes in a weight that needed some additional talent. The lone question is whether that will be at 117 or 124 pounds for the Hawkeyes. Her addition to depth behind Brianna Gonzalez at 117 or potentially competing for a spot right away at 124 pounds will be a welcome addition either way.
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
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Hoping to end a chaotic buildup with a strong performance, Iowa football plays its final road game of the regular season Saturday at Maryland. Big Ten Network will televise the 11 a.m. CT contest.
The Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten Conference) have had all kinds of drama at quarterback this week despite coming off a bye week. Brendan Sullivan is out this week with an ankle injury, while Cade McNamara (concussion) has been medically cleared but isn’t ready to start. That means walk-on Jackson Stratton, who made a second-half cameo last time out at UCLA, will likely be Iowa’s starting quarterback Saturday. Who will be his backup remains undetermined.
On the other side, Maryland (4-6, 1-6) is trying to claw its way to a bowl game after dropping five of its last six. Its most recent stumble came last week in a 31-17 home loss to Rutgers.
Here’s how to watch the Iowa vs. Maryland game today, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:
Watch Iowa vs. Maryland football live on FUBO (free trial)
What channel is Iowa vs. Maryland on today?
TV channel: BTN
Livestream: Fubo (free trial) and Fox Sports Live
Iowa vs. Maryland will broadcast nationally on BTN in Week 13 of the 2024 college football season. Guy Haberman and Yogi Roth will call the game from the booth at SECU Stadium, with Rhett Lewis reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Iowa vs. Maryland time today
Date: Saturday, November 23
Start time: 11 a.m. (CT)
The Iowa vs. Maryland game starts at 11 a.m. CT from SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland.
Iowa vs. Maryland predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Nov. 22
Moneyline: Iowa -200, Maryland +165
Spread: Iowa -4.5
O/U: 44.5
Iowa football schedule 2024
- Aug. 31: vs. Illinois State, (W, 40-0)
- Sept. 7: vs. Iowa State, (L, 20-19)
- Sept. 14: vs. Troy, (W, 38-21)
- Sept. 21: at Minnesota, (W, 31-14)
- Oct. 5: at Ohio State (L, 35-7)
- Oct. 12: vs. Washington (W, 40-16)
- Oct. 19: at Michigan State, (L, 32-20)
- Oct. 26: vs. Northwestern, (W, 40-14)
- Nov. 2: vs. Wisconsin, (W, 42-10)
- Nov. 8: at UCLA, (L, 20-17)
- Nov. 23: at Maryland, 11 a.m.
- Nov. 29: vs. Nebraska, 6:30 p.m.
- Record: 6-4
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Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara said he didn’t travel to Saturday’s game at Maryland after not being fully cleared from a concussion sustained last month.
McNamara on Friday went to X to respond to what he called “ridiculous accusations” about his status with the team. The senior said he remains “a proud member of this football team.”
McNamara last played Oct. 26 against Northwestern, when he sustained the concussion. Brendan Sullivan stepped in and started Iowa’s next few games, but an ankle injury has sidelined him for the Maryland matchup. Sources told ESPN that Sullivan likely will not return until Iowa’s bowl game. Jackson Stratton, a walk-on who transferred to Iowa from Colorado State, will start against Maryland.
Iowa listed McNamara as the starter on its Monday depth chart, and he said he had been cleared to practice Sunday but “had an adverse reaction, which is common for someone coming out of [concussion] protocol.” He said he did not participate in practice Monday and for the rest of the week, and continues to work with team doctors and a concussion specialist.
Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday that McNamara’s status was “cloudy,” but that the quarterback had been cleared to play.
“Whether or not he can play effectively or not, we’ll see,” Ferentz said.
Ferentz said on his radio show Wednesday that Stratton was in line to make his first start.
“He’ll get the start,” Ferentz said. “Confident that he’ll do a great job. He stepped in, did a really nice job in our last ballgame, and he’s got a good ability to throw the football, and he’s learning every day.”
Stratton completed 3 of 6 passes for 28 yards in Iowa’s loss against UCLA on Nov. 8. He appeared in four games for Colorado State in 2022 and none last season.
McNamara, a transfer from Michigan who helped the Wolverines to the 2021 Big Ten title, has opened the past two seasons as Iowa’s starter. He sustained an ACL tear in September 2023 that cost him the rest of the season. McNamara has 1,022 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions at Iowa.
He wrote on X that he intends to play in Iowa’s regular-season finale Nov. 29 at home against Nebraska.
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