Agriculture

Deadlines/Dates
March 9: General Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is now open
March 20: Deadline to submit a Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)Offer
April 17: Deadline to submit a General Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Offer; Deadline to apply for the Farmer’s Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program
April 30: Deadline to apply for the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) Stage 1, SDRP Stage 1 Quality Loss, and SDRP Stage 2
May 14 – August 2: Primary Nesting Season 

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award. Families selected for this year’s honor will be recognized during a ceremony at the 2026 Iowa State Fair as part of Iowa’s America250 celebration, commemorating American independence and highlighting agriculture’s enduring role in our nation’s strength and prosperity.

The Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award recognizes farm families who demonstrate outstanding voluntary efforts to improve and protect Iowa’s soil and water resources while also serving as leaders in their community. Each year, farm families from across the state are honored for leadership in implementing conservation practices such as cover crops, no-till and reduced tillage, nutrient management, grassed waterways, wetlands, saturated buffers, bioreactors and many other innovative water quality practices that filter the water and hold soil in place.

Deadlines/Dates
March 9: General CRP Opens
March 20: Deadline to submit a Continuous CRP Offer
April 17: Deadline to submit a General CRP Offer; Deadline to apply for the Farmer’s Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program
April 30: Deadline to apply for SDRP Stage 1, SDRP Stage 1 Quality Loss, and SDRP Stage 2
May 14 – August 2: Primary Nesting Season 

USDA Announces Continuous and General Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment for 2026 
USDA announced the enrollment periods for agricultural producers and landowners to submit offers for the Continuous and General Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting offers for Continuous CRP from February 12, 2026, through March 20, 2026. Enrollment for General CRP will run from March 9, 2026, through April 17, 2026. FSA will announce dates for Grassland CRP signup in the near future.

Program supports on-farm dairy processing and labor-saving technology

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that applications are now open for the third year of Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grants. The program welcomes eligible dairy farmers and processors to apply for cost-share funding that supports on-farm dairy processing and labor-reducing technologies, helping bring more locally produced dairy products to Iowa consumers. The grant program is administered by Choose Iowa within the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Deadlines/Dates
April 30: Deadline to apply for SDRP Stage 1, SDRP Stage 1 Quality Loss, and SDRP Stage 2

Get Ready For Spring Prescribed Burns In Allamakee County
Excerpts pulled from Bailey Yotter, NRCS State Forester
Winter and early spring provide some of the best opportunities for Allamakee County landowners to prepare their grasslands and timber stands for prescribed burning. With the county’s rugged topography and extensive woodland acres, advance preparation is especially important to ensure burns can be carried out safely and efficiently once favorable weather conditions arrive. Constructing firebreaks well ahead of the spring burn window not only improves safety, but also helps landowners follow their written burn plans with confidence.

Iowa Learning Farms virtual field day is scheduled for March 12 at 1 p.m. CT; Discussion of manure application and cover crop planting time to maximize water quality benefits in corn

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, will host a virtual field day on Thursday, March 12, at 1 p.m. Central time. The event, which is available at no cost, will feature a live discussion with Dan Andersen, associate professor and extension agriculture engineering specialist at Iowa State University, Raj Raman, Morrill Professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and Philip Rockson, agricultural and biosystems engineering graduate research assistant at Iowa State.

The virtual field day aims to provide valuable insights into the impacts of different cover crop systems and manure application methods on water quality and corn yield.

Deadlines/Dates
February 26: Deadline to apply for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program
March 2: Deadline to apply for 2025 Livestock Indemnity Program
April 30: Deadline to apply for SDRP Stage 1, SDRP Stage 1 Quality Loss, and SDRP Stage 2

County Director Notes and Reminders
The Farmer’s Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program was announced by USDA Undersecretary Richard Fordyce, encouraging producers to contact their local FSA office to file an application. FSA staff have not been trained yet on this program and applications are not expected to be available until the last week in February. Payments could begin as early as February 28th, 2026.

Deadlines/Dates
February 26: Deadline to apply for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program
March 2: Deadline to apply for 2025 Livestock Indemnity Program

NRCS Highlights Innovation in Grazing: Virtual Fencing Offers New Solutions for Local Producers
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is encouraging local agricultural producers to explore the benefits of virtual fencing technology, an innovative approach designed to improve grazing systems and soil health. This cutting-edge technology offers a modern solution for managing livestock, providing flexibility and efficiency for today’s farmers.

Virtual fencing allows producers to create, move, and monitor grazing areas digitally, without the need for physical fences. This can lead to improved pasture management, better soil health, and increased operational efficiency. 

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dairy team has conducted a 2024 financial study examining the profitability of dairy milk production in Iowa. The findings are available in a new publication, “Profitability of Iowa Dairy Goat Production in 2024,” which can be downloaded from the ISU Extension Store.

Dairy goat producers are encouraged to review the findings and consider how they can use the data to strengthen decision-making and financial performance on their operations.

The study surveyed 16 Iowa dairy goat operations to determine the profitability of their farms. Like most industries, both higher-and-lower-profit producers were grouped by profit to benchmark their incomes and costs on a per milking doe basis. Additionally, many financial ratios were noted, along with their labor efficiencies, on a per-full-time-worker basis.

Deadlines/Dates
February 12: County Committee Meeting - Count Election Ballots
February 16: President’s Day - Office Closed
February 26: Deadline to apply for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program
March 2: Deadline to apply for 2025 Livestock Indemnity Program

Retirement
After 26 years of dedication, hard work, and countless contributions, Linda Winkie is hanging up her work hat and stepping into a well-deserved retirement! To celebrate this exciting new chapter, we’re hosting a card shower in her honor. Instead of a big party, we’re inviting friends, family, and colleagues to send cards filled with warm wishes, fond memories, and words of encouragement for her adventures ahead. 

Send cards to:
Linda Winkie
770 11th Ave SW
Waukon, IA 52172