Agriculture

by Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

ATTENTION FARMERS - REMINDER:
December 12: ECP sign up deadline.
December 15: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA.
December 16: New deadline for the 2017 MPP decision.

by Sara Berges, Allamakee County Soil and Water Conservation District

With all the talk in the media about greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change, we may be missing discussions about the huge potential soils have for sequestering greenhouse gases.  Soil holds three times the amount of carbon dioxide currently in the atmosphere.  By increasing soil organic carbon, we can work to offset some of the greenhouse gas emissions caused by our dependence on fossil fuels as well as improve the ability of our soils to handle rainfall extremes.

Soils are natural carbon sinks but need to be managed to function as such.  A recent editorial in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation gives two recommendations for improving the soils ability to sequester greenhouse gases; keeping the soil covered year-round and having livestock out on the land. 

by Antonio Mallarino, Professor of Soil Fertility & Nutrient Management, Extension Specialist

Bumper grain yields are being harvested from most Iowa fields this fall. However, due to low crop prices producers are thinking of reducing phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer application rates. A few important management options should be considered when making decisions with unfavorable crop/fertilizer price ratios.

by Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

ATTENTION FARMERS - REMINDER:
Dec 12: ECP sign up deadline
Dec 15: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA
Dec 16: New deadline for the 2017 MPP decision

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) - Official Application Period Announced
Due to the recent flooding in Allamakee County, farms suffering severe damage may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) administered by the Allamakee County Farm Service Agency (FSA) if the damage:

by Cindy Mensen, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

ATTENTION FARMERS - REMINDER:
Nov. 15: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA
Dec. 16: New deadline for the 2017 MPP decision
Nov 15: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA
Dec 16: New deadline for the 2017 MPP decision

Price Support
As you harvest your grain and are looking for some additional income this fall, consider putting your grain up as collateral for a Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) at the FSA office.  Loans disbursed during the month of October are at an interest rate of 1.625%.  Grain must be harvested and stored in a safe farm-stored structure or in a warehouse to be eligible for loan. Loan rates for Allamakee County are:

submitted by Sara Berges
Allamakee SWCD

One big question many farmers have as a result of the recent flooding is how to mitigate damage to crop fields and their soils. The floods likely left behind debris, scour holes, and sand deposits. If the crop was under water, it will likely need to be destroyed using a brush hog, tillage or other approved method. Contact a crop insurance provider with questions.

If fields were under water for a while, much of the beneficial soil biology may have been destroyed. One way to improve soil health would be to plant a cover crop. It is too late in the year to plant a winter-kill species, like oats, and have enough growth to provide much benefit. Instead, a winter-hardy species like cereal rye or winter wheat would help to develop soil structure through their fibrous root systems. They will also help to protect the soils from spring rains.

More often than not, harvest will yield field ruts in addition to grain, especially after Iowa’s record-setting September rains. Before managing these ruts with tillage, farmers should consider several factors, said State Agronomist Barb Stewart of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Des Moines.

Before performing any tillage, first double check if this operation would still meet highly erodible land conservation compliance requirements. “When in doubt, please visit your local NRCS office,” said Stewart.

Second, wait as long as possible to start tillage operations, so the soil can dry out as much as possible. Perform tillage operations when the soil at or just above the tillage operating depth is dry enough to prevent soil smearing and compaction. Iowa State University Agricultural Engineer Mark Hanna recommends the following for assessing soil moisture conditions:

by Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director

ATTENTION FARMERS - REMINDER:
Nov. 15: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA
Dec. 16: New deadline for the 2017 MPP decision
Oct 4-18: Annual CRP Rental payments to be issued
Oct 5-7: Payments issued for ARC-Co and PLC programs
Nov 15: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA
Dec 16: New deadline for the 2017 MPP decision

by Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

ATTENTION FARMERS - REMINDER:
Oct. 10: FSA office will be closed for Columbus Day
Nov. 15: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA
Dec. 16: New deadline for the 2017 MPP decision

State Representative Patti Ruff of McGregor has announced that the weight limit on roads has been lifted to help farmers bring in their crops. This will allow transportation of oversized and overweight loads of grain on Iowa roads until the fall harvest is complete.

“The weight limit lift on Iowa roadways is essential for farmers to get their crops to market as efficiently as possible,” said Ruff. “This will help ease the burden on Iowa farmers during their busiest time and expedite the harvesting process prior to the change in weather conditions.”

The proclamation signed by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad allows oversized and overweight loads of soybeans, corn, hay, straw, silage and stover to be transported on Iowa highways, excluding interstates. Loads may not exceed 90,000 pounds gross weight without a permit. The proclamation will expire November 19.