Agriculture

Meeting
The next Allamakee County Committee meeting will be February 11 at 9 a.m. at the Allamakee County FSA Office conference room.

Reminders
December 1 through February 26: New CRP Signup

Milk Handlers Premium Payment option under the Margin Protection Program for Dairy Producers (MPP-DAIRY)
Dairy producers may remit premium payments for 2016 coverage no later than September 1, 2016. This premium payment deadline was modified to allow dairy operations with premium buy-up coverage with the option to have their milk handlers do the following:
• Deduct the operation’s MPP-Dairy Premium payment from the producer’s milk check
• Remit the premium payment to FSA on behalf of the dairy operation.

Education is a gift that beef producers can put to use every day. The Driftless Region Beef Conference February 4-5 is an educational event offering benefits to beef producers in four states.
The conference will be held at the Grand River Conference Center in Dubuque, a central location for driftless region producers and sponsors - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, University of Illinois Extension, University of Minnesota Extension, and University of Wisconsin Extension.
Efficient and economic beef and forage production in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin is the conference focus. It kicks off with the topic of animal health and handling at 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon. The evening discussion will explore innovative practices being used by beef producers.

“Many farmers saw the best ever yields in 2015 as it was a year of record production for both corn and soybeans in Iowa. Unfortunately there were several challenges as well. Iowa was at the center of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak this spring. Also, a significant drop in crop and livestock prices have created real challenges economically for farmers,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. “However, farmers are optimistic and are looking forward to 2016 and new opportunities.”

Meeting
The next Allamakee County Committee meeting will be January 14, 2016 at 9 a.m. at the Allamakee County FSA Office conference room.

Reminders
December 1 through February 26, 2016: New CRP Signup
January 18, 2016: Closed, Martin Luther King Day.

New General CRP Signup
December 1, 2015, through February 26, 2016 is the new general CRP signup. Land that is not currently enrolled in CRP may be offered for enrollment during CRP signup 49. In addition, CRP participants with contracts expiring on September 30, 2016, may submit offers at this time. Accepted contracts for CRP signup 49 will become effective on October 1, 2016.

CRP Meetings being held in January
This meeting will provide information on the new CRP Signup 49 and Continuous CRP program.

Meeting
The next Allamakee County Committee meeting will be January 14, 2016 at 9 a.m. at the Allamakee County FSA Office conference room.

Reminders
December 1 through February 26, 2016: New CRP Signup
January 18, 2016: Closed, Martin Luther King Day.

New General CRP Signup
December 1, 2015, through February 26, 2016 is the new general CRP signup. Land that is not currently enrolled in CRP may be offered for enrollment during CRP signup 49. In addition, CRP participants with contracts expiring on September 30, 2016, may submit offers at this time. Accepted contracts for CRP signup 49 will become effective on October 1, 2016. For more details contact the Allamakee County FSA Office at (563)568-2148.
In January, 2016 a public meeting will be held for producers who are interested in the CRP programs. The date, time and place will be announced at a later date.

Meeting
The next Allamakee County Committee meeting will be January 15, 2016 at 9 a.m. at the Allamakee County FSA Office conference room.

Reminders
December 1 through February 26, 2016: New CRP Signup
January 1, 2016: Closed, New Years Day.

County Committee Election Results
The LLA #3, which consist of Iowa, Lansing, Center, LaFayette, Paint Creek, and Taylor townships, are Cindy Gibbs was elected and Chris Wonderlich is First Alternate on the Allamakee County Committee. Congratulations to Cindy Gibbs and Chris Wonderlich.

Meeting
The next Allamakee County Committee meeting will be January 15, 2016 at 9 a.m. at the Allamakee County FSA Office conference room.

Reminders
December 1 through February 26, 2016: New CRP Signup
December 25: Closed, Christmas Day.
January 1, 2016: Closed, New Years Day.

New General CRP Signup
December 1, 2015, through February 26, 2016 is the new general CRP signup. Land that is not currently enrolled in CRP may be offered for enrollment during CRP signup 49. In addition, CRP participants with contracts expiring on September 30, 2016, may submit offers at this time. Accepted contracts for CRP signup 49 will become effective on October 1, 2016. For more details contact the Allamakee County FSA Office at (563)568-2148.

Iowa manure applicators, confinement and commercial, should plan now to complete training to renew their certificates by March 1.
Commercial applicators can take advantage of a January 5, 2016 program offered from 9 a.m. to noon at 74 Iowa and three out-of-state locations. Register with the local Iowa State University Extension and Outreach office by December 30.
Confinement site applicators can check the Extension training schedule for a convenient training time and location from January 11 to February 29, 2016.
New this fall, online training and fee payment are also available through the DNR’s www.iowadnr.gov/manureapplicator website.
Seven workshops in February are designed for applicators who work with mostly dry or solid manure from poultry, cattle or hog operations. They are open to both confinement and commercial applicators.

Reminders
December 1 through February 26, 2016: New CRP Signup
December 25: Closed, Christmas Day.
January 1, 2016: Closed, New Years Day.

New General CRP Signup
December 1, 2015, through February 26, 2016 is the new general CRP signup. Land that is not currently enrolled in CRP may be offered for enrollment during CRP signup 49. In addition, CRP participants with contracts expiring on September 30, 2016, may submit offers at this time. Accepted contracts for CRP signup 49 will become effective on October 1, 2016. For more details contact the Allamakee County FSA Office at (563)568-2148.

Early snowfall in much of northern Iowa may affect animal producers with confinement facilities when limits on applying liquid manure on snow-covered ground start December 21 due to runoff and nutrient loss being more likely when manure can’t be injected into the soil or incorporated into a field.
Confinement facilities with 500 or more animal units cannot apply liquid manure on ground covered with an inch or more of snow or one-half inch of ice. Generally 500 animal units is equal to 1,250 finishing hogs; 5,000 nursery pigs; 500 steers, immature dairy cows or other cattle; or 357 mature dairy cows. Except in emergencies state law limits liquid manure application from December 21 to April 1 on snow-covered ground unless manure can be properly injected or incorporated. Producers must call the local DNR field office to report emergency applications before they apply.
Starting February 1, 2016, liquid manure application on frozen ground is restricted.