Agriculture

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

The Allamakee County Committee meeting will be January 8, 2015 at 9 a.m. at the Allamakee County FSA Office.

This coming January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey more than 40,000 cattle operations nationwide to provide an up-to-date measure of U.S. cattle inventories. As cattle prices have rebounded and feed costs have declined, an updated look at cattle numbers across the nation will determine if producers have begun rebuilding their herds from last year’s level, which was the lowest in 60 years.
“In January 2014, Iowa’s cattle inventory of 3.7 million head ranked seventh in the U.S. Of the total cattle inventory, 1.23 million were cattle and calves on feed which ranked Iowa fourth in the nation,” said Greg Thessen, Director of the NASS Upper Midwest Regional Office. “Obtaining the current count of cattle will serve as a critical decision-making tool for producers and the entire agriculture industry.”

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

The next Allamakee County FSA Committee meeting will be announced at a later date.

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee county Executive Director

The next Allamakee County FSA Committee meeting will be announced at a later date.

Reminders  

Does your farm seek a highly motivated farm employee? Are you looking for a way to support the next generation of Iowa farmers by sharing your farming knowledge with an aspiring farmer? If so, consider becoming a trainer in Practical Farmers of Iowa’s Labor4Learning program.

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

The next Allamakee County FSA Committee meeting will be announced at a later date.

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

The next Allamakee County FSA Committee meeting will be Thursday, December 4, 2014 in the Allamakee County FSA Conference Room in Waukon at 9 a.m.

Reminders

Traditionally, farm leases have been oral rather than written. Is there a general feeling that a written lease implies a lack of trust in the other party? Is it widely known that a lease for a period longer than one year is required to be in writing?

Written leases can be beneficial to both parties, even if they have been in a lease arrangement for many years.  One of the biggest benefits of a written lease is that it provides a clear record of what was agreed to. After many years of oral leases, the parties may have a different recall of the lease agreement.

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

The next Allamakee County FSA Committee meeting will be Thursday, December 4, 2014 in the Allamakee County FSA Conference Room at 9 a.m.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recenlty highlighted the Farm to Food Donation Tax Credit and encouraged eligible farmers to consider applying. Iowa farmers who donate self-produced food commodities to food banks and food pantries can now qualify for the credit on state taxes, which is equal to 15% of the value of the commodities donated during the tax year or $5,000 whichever is less.