Agriculture

Study the factors that make up your score now, before new policy becomes effective
 
Farmers who want to gain a better understanding of their Carbon Intensity Score can take advantage of a simple calculator developed by an economist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

The calculator relies on just five input numbers, according to Alejandro Plastina - corn acres, nitrogen use and corn yield with current farming practices, change in nitrogen use and change in yields under new farming practices.

The score is a calculation of how much carbon is used per bushel of crop production and is an important measurement used for selling grain to certain ethanol plants that plan to participate in the federally incentivized Carbon Intensity Score program.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
August 2-  31: Non-Emergency Haying of CRP
August 2 - September 30: Non-Emergency Grazing of CRP
Current – October 31: Organic Certified Cost Share Program (OCCSP)
December 2: Deadline to return COC ballots to FSA Office

Conduct Business Online Through the Farmers.gov Portal
Looking for ways to do business with USDA that saves you time? Look no further than farmers.gov.
When you create an account for the farmers.gov authenticated customer portal, you have access to self-service features through a secure login. Managing your business with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is faster than ever. From e-signing documents, viewing, printing, and exporting maps and receiving notifications of payment disbursements, a farmers.gov authenticated account makes doing business with USDA easy and secure.  

Learn updates in drone technology, trends for the upcoming harvest

Iowans can gain valuable knowledge in various agricultural topics at Iowa State University’s Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm annual fall field day August 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Doug Houser, digital agriculture extension specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will begin the program by providing the most current and up-to-date information regarding drone/UAV technology, and its use in the agricultural sector. Alison Robertson, professor and extension plant pathologist, will give an update on crop diseases of the growing season and expectations going into this year’s harvest. Kapil Arora, extension agricultural and biosystems engineering specialist, will share his insights on tile drainage and water management.

Cover Crop Fact Sheets Explain Many Options Available to Iowa Farmers

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are collaborating on a series of cover crop fact sheets for Iowa farmers interested in adopting the practice or trying new cover crops to achieve specific goals on their operation.

Thousands of Iowa farmers plant cover crops annually to help reduce soil erosion, increase soil organic matter, suppress weeds, minimize soil compaction, scavenge excess nutrients, or provide supplemental livestock grazing. A large percentage of Iowa farmers use cereal rye, oats, wheat, radishes and turnips. However, there are many other cover crop options available.

The collection of fact sheets includes legumes like hairy vetch and cowpeas, broadleaves like flax and buckwheat, grasses such as millets and triticale, and brassicas like camelina and rapeseed.

by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig

Over the past few months, following the devasting storms and floods that have affected so many Iowans, I have traveled to communities, visiting farms, businesses and homes that have endured the worst of Mother Nature’s power. I had the opportunity to listen to farmers, business owners, community leaders and many others in the ag community who were directly impacted. My heart goes out to all who experienced these catastrophic disruptions.

Immediately following a disaster, the focus is on ensuring the health and safety of our families, community members and those in our care, including pets and livestock. But soon, the work of clean up eventually progresses toward rebuilding and recovery. I’ve been inspired by the kindness, generosity, grit and fortitude of Iowans as they demonstrate a deep determination to help each other and to rebuild stronger than ever.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 - August 1: CRP Primary Nesting Season
July 31: End of July Continuous CRP Batching Period
August 1: Nomination Period for COC Election in LAA

Learn the many options available when considering which cover crops to plant

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service are collaborating on a series of cover crop fact sheets for Iowa farmers interested in adopting the practice or trying new cover crops to achieve specific goals on their operation.

Thousands of Iowa farmers plant cover crops annually to help reduce soil erosion, increase soil organic matter, suppress weeds, minimize soil compaction, scavenge excess nutrients or provide supplemental livestock grazing. A large percentage of Iowa farmers use cereal rye, oats, wheat, radishes and turnips. However, there are many other cover crop options available.

The collection of fact sheets includes legumes like hairy vetch and cowpeas, broadleaves like flax and buckwheat, grasses such as millets and triticale, and brassicas like camelina and rapeseed.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 - August 1: CRP Primary Nesting Season
July 31: End of July Continuous CRP Batching Period
August 1: Nomination Period for COC Election in LAA

Late Summer Pasture Seeding

by Jacob Hawes, NRCS Area Grazing Specialist

The late summer seeding window begins in August for pasture and hay plantings, and although it is not as popular as the spring seeding option, it can still be a great opportunity to get cool season pastures established this year. There are several advantages to seeding late summer versus the spring, that may ease some apprehensions about seeding during this timeframe.

Amid disease outbreaks, producers should examine their current biosecurity plans

Announcements of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza should not cause alarm among cattlemen, although this should alert producers to examine their current biosecurity plan, according to a beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Denise Schwab said the announcements are reminders of how any disease can spread to cattle.

“Basic biosecurity practices are essential daily steps for the prevention of all diseases, and cattlemen should always be alert to the potential of disease spread,” she said. “Diseases can be spread by aerosol, direct animal-to-animal contact, oral (through feed or water), reproduction, vector-born (biting or sucking insects), or by vehicles and fomites (shoes, clothes, contaminated feed, needles). Everything we do to prevent this spread reduces the risk of diseases.”

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 - August 1: CRP Primary Nesting Season
July 31: End of July Continuous CRP Batching Period
August 1: Nomination Period for COC Election in LAA

Farm Service Agency Seeking Nominations for Farmers to Serve on Local County Committees
Nominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2024 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by August 1, 2024.

Elections for committee members will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA). LAAs are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county.