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Derryl McLaren, State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Iowa, reminds producers that March 15, 2005 is the final date for producers to complete and sign the application for NAP (Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program) coverage for all 2005 spring planted crops. Coverage fees must also be paid by the March 15, 2005.

Producers who purchased NAP coverage on Spring Seeded Crops in 2004 have until March 15, to obtain continuous coverage by paying the applicable service fees for Spring Seeded Crops.

Machinery management decisions are an important part of the farm business. Sorting out all of the options for acquiring the use of newer machinery can be a challenge. Should a producer own, rent seasonally, lease or share ownership of a single machine or a line of machinery? How can a group of people own machinery together and make it work? What are your current machinery costs? These and other important questions about machinery economics will be covered at a “Farm Machinery Management and Economics” seminar on March 8 from 1 to 3 pm at the Allamakee County Farm Bureau Building in Waukon.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge recently encouraged Iowa families to participate in Iowa's Century Farm Program sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau. The Century Farms Program was initiated during the (1976) Bicentennial to honor farm families who have owned their farmstead for 100 years or more. To date, the program, which annually awards certificates from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, has awarded over 15,000 certificates since 1976.

Septic systems serve an important function in rural homes and they need regular maintenance. Understanding how they work will help you avoid problems and costly repairs.

A conventional septic system has two primary parts: the tank and the soil absorption field (sometimes called a leach field) biologically treats the wastewater and soaks it into the soil absorption field from things that would cause it to fail, namely grease and solids.

Iowa State University Extension is pleased to announce that the North Central Iowa Beef Conference originally planned for Sat.y, Jan. 22, has been rescheduled for Mon., Feb. 28, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The event will be at the Franklin County Convention Center on Highway 3 and will include a program for producers and a variety of commercial exhibits.

Just last week, I talked about the impact ethanol is having on the nation's energy programs and markets, but this week, a caution: The energy bill that will (or should) solidify ethanol's position in the pantheon of renewable fuels for the 21st Century is slow a-bornin'.

Halloween parties are all about creating shivers down the spine. When it comes to refreshments, there's no need to worry about making things look beautiful or tasteful. This is the one time of the year when you get to revel in making everything look unsightly and downright unnerving! You can have all kinds of fun creating spooky or nauseating special effects with your food, even playing gross games with it!


Frightfully Fun Fog

Ahh, the taste of summer! We all love fresh sweet corn right out of the garden - sweet and juicy, plain or dripping with butter. But some area farmers are experiencing a loss to both their sweet corn and field corn crops. A loss, not from weather, but theft. Alan Heitman of rural New Albin was recently robbed of a portion of his corn crop - and the thefts continue. "Every time I go out to the fields there is more damage, more corn gone. It just makes me sick," Heitman said. He estimates he has already lost over 100 bushels and the losses continues to mount. The culprits? Raccoons.