Agriculture

Mark your calendars for noon webinars September 19 and 26. Join the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Team as Dr. Larry Tranel, ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Specialist hosts “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”.  These webinars will include how to analyze a dairy for profits and the profitability of various dairy systems to focus on conventional, hybrid grazing dairy systems September 19 and the organic and organic “grass-fed” dairy systems September 26.  

These webinars are sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and North Central Risk Management Education Center. To join the webinar, log onto https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/isuedairy, or for more information contact Larry Tranel attranel@iastate.edu, 563-583-6496 or Jenn Bentley at jbentley@iastate.edu, 563-382-2949.

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 - December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up
• September 4: Office closed in recognition of Labor Day

Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation Compliance
Landowners and operators are reminded that in order to receive payments from USDA, compliance with Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions are required. Farmers with HEL determined soils are reminded of tillage, crop residue, and rotation requirements as specified per their conservation plan. Producers are to notify the USDA Farm Service Agency prior to conducting land clearing or drainage projects to insure compliance. Failure to obtain advance approval for any of these situations can result in the loss of eligibility and all Federal payments.

Top dairies competed for honors in the Holstein Dairy Cattle show judged Friday, August 11 at the 2017 Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Several Holstein exhibitors from Allamakee County and the surrounding local area participated in the show, bringing home some high honors.

Z-Breeze Holsteins of Posvtille brought home the highest honors for Allamakee County producers, placing second in the Spring Yearling Heifer: March 1-May 31, 2016 class with Nu-wave Applejack Allie, 3/2/2016. Z-Breeze Holsteins also placed 10th in the Senior Two Year Old Cow: September 1, 2014-February 28, 2015 class with Z-Breeze Sanchez Cecilia, 10/1/2014, and placed 20th in the Fall Heifer Calf: September 1-November 30, 2016 class with Z-Breeze Leverage Bardo, 9/5/2016.

Top dairies competed for honors in the Guernsey Dairy Cattle show judged Friday, August 11 at the 2017 Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Prairie Moon Guernseys, owned and operated by the Sivesind family of Waukon, claimed Reserve Champion Premier Breeder and Reserve Champion Premier Exhibitor honors.

South Lane Farm of Epworth was awarded the Grand Champion Female banner. Knapp Guernseys of Epworth exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Female and was awarded the Champion Premier Exhibitor title and Champion Premier Breeder title.

The Premier Breeder Award is given to the competitor who earns the most points for animals bred and exhibited by the entrant or others during the day's show. The Premier Exhibitor Award is given to the exhibitor who accumulates the most points based upon the day's placings.

Prairie Moon Guernseys placed in the following classes during the show:

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 - December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up

CRP Participants Must Maintain Approved Cover on Acreages Enrolled in CRP and Farm Programs
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants are responsible for ensuring adequate, approved vegetative and practice cover is maintained to control erosion throughout the life of the contract after the practice has been established. Participants must also control undesirable vegetation, weeds (including noxious weeds), insects and rodents that may pose a threat to existing cover or adversely impact other landowners in the area.

Congress has started to shape the 2018 Farm Bill, policy that will impact farmers, rural residents, and consumers. Iowa residents are invited to voice their opinion at three upcoming listening sessions co-hosted by the Iowa Farmers Union, Center for Rural Affairs, and Practical Farmers of Iowa.

“The goal of the meetings is to hear from farmers about their goals and challenges relating to conservation, beginning farmers, and other farm programs,” Johnson said. “You can ask questions about Farm Bill policies and learn about opportunities to engage with lawmakers. You can help set the agenda for rural America and the 2018 Farm Bill.”

The following meetings are set:

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 1 p.m.
Decorah Public Library
202 Winnebago St., Decorah, Iowa 52101

Thursday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m.
Washington Public Library
115 W. Washington St., Washington, Iowa 52353

Record number of farmers sign-up to try cover crops, no-till/strip till or nitrification inhibitor
 
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced today that a record number of Iowa farmers signed up to install nutrient reduction practices on their farm through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s statewide water quality cost share program.

More than 2,600 farmers signed up to try cover crops, no-till/strip-till or nitrification inhibitor on more than 270,000 acres in 98 counties. The state will provide nearly $4.8 million in cost share funds to match the $8.7 million investment by Iowa farmers.

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 - December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up

Elections for the 2017 County Committee
Elections for USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committees are underway in Allamakee County.

It is important that every eligible producer participate in these elections because FSA county committees are a link between the agricultural community and the USDA. The 2017 election in Allamakee County will be conducted for the representative Local Administrative Area (LAA): Ludlow, Jefferson, Post, Franklin, Linton, and Fairview townships.

County committee election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters Nov. 6, 2017.  The last day to return completed ballots to the Allamakee County USDA service center is Dec. 4, 2017.
Unauthorized Disposition of Grain

Helicopters and planes have become more noticeable over rural Allamakee County with crop dusting in full swing. Pictured above, Will Powell, owner and pilot for Alabama-based Xtreme Aviation, lands a helicopter on top of the truck used for refueling and refilling the water/chemical combination used on fields. Powell is one of several contractors applying fungicide to corn and beans in eastern Iowa. Powell is pictured below applying fungicide at a rural Lansing farm. Standard photos by Joe Moses.
 

The Annual August Field Day at the ISU Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm will run from 1:00 to 4:15 p.m. Friday, August 25. Chad Hart, ISU Economist, will kick-off the program in the Borlaug Learning Center, by providing his insights on the grain markets. Shawn Shouse, ISU Extension Ag Engineer, follows with tips on grain drying and storage for the upcoming harvest. We will then convene outside for the farm wagon tours; Alison Robertson, Extension plant pathologist, will share crop disease research results from the farm and their practical applications, and Bob Hartzler, Extension weed management specialist, will discuss Iowa’s first season with dicamba resistant soybeans and other weed management priorities.