Agriculture

The year 2020 brought many challenges and uncertainties to the world, and agriculture most definitely felt the impact.

Wild price swings, supply chain disruptions and economic hardships caused farmers across Iowa to review their finances and operating plan in great detail.

During these difficult times – and any time farmers are looking for financial advice, they can turn to the Farm Financial Planning Program with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Seven farm financial associates are available to help, and will work one-on-one to develop confidential financial plans that help producers across the state. The associates are part-time extension employees with career training in farm budgeting and financial analysis, with farm backgrounds and an understanding of the current farm situation.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
Dec. 11: CFAP 2 Signup; Dairy Margin Coverage Signup
March 15: 2021 ARCPLC Signup

Enrollment Begins for Ag Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs for 2021
Agricultural producers can now make elections and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2021 crop year. The signup period opened Tuesday, Oct. 13.  These key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) safety-net programs help producers weather fluctuations in either revenue or price for certain crops, and more than $5 billion in payments are in the process of going out to producers who signed up for the 2019 crop year.

Registration is open for the annual Pro-Ag Outlook meetings

The annual Pro Ag Outlook and Management meetings will be held virtually this year due to COVID-19 concerns. With a virtual format, participants will be able to hear from five Iowa State University Extension and Outreach economists. There will be one speaker each day from 1-2 p.m. from December  7–11.

This webinar series will take an in-depth look into the outlook for agriculture in 2021 as producers, ag lenders, and suppliers start planning for next year. The webinar series is designed to provide participants with a concise evaluation of current market conditions, expected trends in crop and livestock income potential, and management implications. Time for participant questions will be included at the end of each day’s presentation.

Dairy producers across Iowa have a new way of receiving information, thanks to a new podcast launched by dairy specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “Dairy News & Views from Iowa State University” began recording in April, featuring timely topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic and dairy production.

The podcasts are recorded every two weeks, and feature commentary by ISU Extension and Outreach dairy specialists Jennifer Bentley and Fred Hall, in conversation with other Iowa State dairy industry experts.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
Dec. 11: CFAP 2 Signup; Dairy Margin Coverage Signup
March 15: 2021 ARCPLC Signup

Fall Tillage
by LuAnn Rolling, NRCS District Conservationist
We ended up with an earlier than usual fall harvest, this is a good thing. Using this window to till the soil is not a good thing.

Tillage degrades soil structure, causes erosion and compaction, kills earthworms and destroys the soil ecosystem. Tilling the soil is the equivalent of an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, and forest fire occurring simultaneously to the world of soil organisms. Simply stated, tillage is bad for the soil.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is encouraging Iowa farmers to “keep the stubble” on their harvested crop fields and improve soil health during No-Till November.

First launched in 2017, the NRCS project is mirrored after the national cancer awareness No Shave November campaign that encourages people not to shave during the entire month. The NRCS campaign encourages farmers to keep tillage equipment in their machine sheds this fall and keep the crop stubble on their fields. The campaign has reached more than 1.5 million people through Twitter and local media since 2017.

“No-till farming is a cornerstone soil health conservation practice which also promotes water quality while saving farmers time and money,” says Iowa NRCS State Conservationist Jon Hubbert. “One of the first soil health principles is ‘do not disturb’. This campaign is a fun way to remind farmers about the important relationship between tillage and soil health.”

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
October 30: WHIP+ Signup; 2020 Organic Certification Cost Share Program Signup
Dec. 11: CFAP 2 Signup; Dairy Margin Coverage Signup
March 15: 2021 ARCPLC Signup

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
October 30: WHIP+ Signup; 2020 Organic Certification Cost Share Program Signup
Dec. 11: CFAP 2 Signup; Dairy Margin Coverage Signup

Conservation Opportunities - Buffer Strips, Windbreaks, Waterways
by LuAnn Rolling, Allamakee District Conservationist

This week I would like to discuss several opportunities that are currently available to advance soil health on your farms. The first would be installing contour buffer strips and there are two ways the NRCS and the Allamakee Soil & Water Conservation District, SWCD, can assist with these financially.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team monthly webinar series continues Wednesday, October 21 from 12-1 p.m. This program “What does this season’s corn silage look like?” features a presentation by Neal Wininger, Feed and Forage Consultant, Dairyland Labs Arcadia, Wisconsin.

Neal Wininger, Feed and Forage Consultant, Dairyland Labs will discuss what the lab analysis from this year’s corn silage samples are telling him about the quality of the crop and what producers can anticipate about how it will convert into milk in the tank. Producers, dairy consultants and industry representatives can attend the webinar at:

https://iastate.zoom.us/my/dairyteamfredprogram

No registration is required and there is no fee.

For more information contact the Iowa Extension Dairy Field Specialist in your area:

A new federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) will support Iowa State scientists and collaborators as they develop improved seed corn tailored to the needs of the rapidly growing organic industry.

The lead investigator for the four-year, $1,996,500 grant is USDA Agricultural Research Service research geneticist Paul Scott, an affiliate professor of agronomy at Iowa State. Thomas Lübberstedt, the Frey Chair in Agronomy and Director of the Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding at Iowa State, will partner on the project, along with Martin Bohn from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Angela Linarez from the University of Puerto Rico.