Agriculture

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15-August 1: Primary Nesting Season
June 15: COC Election Ballots Mailed to Producers in LAA 3
July 15: Crop Certification
July 23: CRP General Signup
August 6: CRP Continuous Signup

Canada Thistle Control
by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist, NRCS

Join the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation in celebrating National Dairy Month with Breakfast on the Farm Saturday, June 26, from 8:30 a.m. – Noon at Iowa’s Dairy Center located just south of Calmar at 1527 Highway 150 South.

Enjoy a wholesome, dairy-rich breakfast of Dad’s Belgian Waffles served with real butter and whipped cream, sausage, cheese, yogurt, milk and, of course, ice cream. In addition to breakfast, visitors will enjoy activities including guided tram tours of Iowa’s Dairy Center, hand-milking a cow, petting zoo, inflatables, corn pools, Story Time with the Dairy Princess and more. This outdoor event will follow current CDC guidelines and guests are encouraged to wear masks and maintain social distance.

Breakfast on the Farm will be held rain or shine. Parking is available on-site and donations are appreciated. This event is made possible by the generous support from community sponsors.  

Participants will see realistic examples of forest and water quality improvement projects

A self-driven tour led by forestry specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Floyd and Mitchell counties will show Iowans some of the ways healthy forests can improve water quality and the value of land.

“From the Stream to the Forest: Conservation Practices for Producers and Landowners” will be held June 22 in Floyd and Mitchell counties, in north central Iowa, and includes a visit to the Tjaden family’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program wetland, two riparian forest buffer sites, an upland forest site and an oak savanna.

The goal is to show Iowans some realistic examples of how healthy forests and water quality are related, and some practices private landowners can implement if they choose.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15-August 1: Primary Nesting Season
June 15: COC Election Ballots Mailed to Producers in LAA 3
July 15: Crop Certification

Most farmers in Iowa are seeing a significant increase in what they pay for land rents this year, according to a recent survey conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

According to the “Cash Rental Rates for Iowa 2021 Survey,” which is conducted annually and available in the May Ag Decision Maker, rates have increased an average of 4.5%, an increase of about $10 per acre, for a total per-acre rent of $232.

Land considered to be “high quality” saw an average of a 3.9% increase, up from $257 per acre in 2020 to $267 in 2021. “Medium quality” land saw a 4.5 percent increase, from $223 per acre in 2020 to $233 in 2021, and “low quality” land is up 4.8%, from $188 per acre in 2020 to $197 in 2021.

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) has opened online registration at https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/News/Carbon-Credit-Markets-What-Farmers-N... for its upcoming virtual roundtable diving into key considerations for farmers seeking to adopt climate-friendly carbon sequestration and other practices with the hope of increasing their on-farm income.

IFBF’s “Carbon Credit Markets: What Farmers Need to Know” virtual roundtable will help answer questions and provide valuable insight as farmers seek to reduce their carbon footprint and navigate the ever-changing agriculture environment as private-sector companies present new opportunities and federal programs are developed with that focus.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15-August 1: Primary Nesting Season
June 15: COC Election Ballots Mailed to Producers in LAA 3
July 15: Crop Certification

Cover Crops Promote Beneficial Insects
by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist

As we launch into the crop growing season producers are beginning to think about crop pests like insects. All good producers will use an integrated pest management system, IPM, that includes a variety of tactics to control pests. One control method that may go unnoticed is the introduction of cover crops.  

Learn the latest information in dairy nutrition and management by attending the virtual 2021 Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference June 9-10. The new format is designed to improve the participant experience.

June 9 and 10 will feature live morning sessions designed to promote interaction and discussion between participants and the speakers. All presentations will be pre-recorded and will be made available to participants for viewing before the conference and for 60 days after the conference.

submitted by Eric Novey, Project Coordinator, Allamakee SWCD

Producing a profit over the past several growing seasons has been a challenge for most farmers. According to Iowa State University’s Department of Economics, “The financial situation of farm proprietors has been erratic over the past decade yielding both historic highs and historic lows. Volatility has been the most striking feature of Iowa agricultural sector performance.” The recent climb in commodity prices has been a welcome sight. However, producers should still seek to protect themselves from market volatility by finding innovative practices that add to their bottom line. Cover crops might be the answer.

Some benefits of cover crops include erosion control, weed suppression, improved soil structure, increased water infiltration, and nutrient capture from leaching. Many producers are aware of the benefits however, the added cost is still enough to deter many producers.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15-August 1: Primary Nesting Season
May 31: Office closed in observance of Memorial Day
June 15: COC Election Ballots Mailed to Producers in LAA 3
July 15: Crop Certification