Agriculture

Field day planned for June 16 in Kanawha

Tar spot, recent analysis of the corn nitrogen rate calculator and a review of current growing season issues will highlight the summer field day of the Iowa State University Northern Research and Demonstration Farm.

The field day will take place June 16 at the farm’s southern location, one mile south of the main farm on R35 or 1040 James Ave. Registration and refreshments will begin at 9 a.m. and the field day will start at 9:30 a.m. Certified Crop Adviser credits will be available. Lunch will be served at noon and the field day will conclude by 1 p.m.

Matt Schnabel, farm superintendent, will begin the day with a season review of the farm activities, followed by Greg Guenther, North Central Iowa Research Association president, with an update on the on-going capital campaign.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 – August 1: Primary Nesting Season
July 15: Spring Crop Reporting

Nutritional needs change significantly across gestation and lactation

A new publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach helps horse breeders determine the dietary needs of their mares during gestation and lactation.

A mare’s gestation or pregnancy is approximately 340 days, or 11 months, according to Peggy Auwerda, associate professor in animal science and extension equine specialist at Iowa State University. The dietary needs change significantly during gestation and lactation, and are critical to the health of the horse and its foal.

“Special attention must be given to the diet of the pregnant mare from conception to foaling,” said Auwerda. “This publication provides some background and definition as to what the gestating and lactating mare needs, and illustrates it with both tables and figures.”

Webinars on dairy goat management and care planned throughout the year

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dairy team will continue its quarterly dairy goat webinar in 2022 with all webinar dates and topics identified. All webinars will be from noon to 1:15 p.m.

• June 14 - Join Paul Plummer, ISU College of Veterinary Medicine, and executive director of National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Education, as he discusses Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis and practical ways to manage the spread of CAE in your herd.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 – August 1: Primary Nesting Season
July 15: Spring Crop Reporting

Cover Crops More Effective than Insecticide
by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationst
In a newly published study researchers from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences found that early season plant cover, such as cover crops, can be more effective at reducing pest density and crop damage than insecticide applications.

“Plant cover, such as cover crops, can provide habitat for populations of natural enemies of pests, “said study co-author John Tooker, entomology professor at Penn State speaking to No-Till Insider magazine.  “Winter cover crops, for example, can harbor predator populations outside the growing season of the cash crop.”  

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig encourages eligible farm owners to apply for the 2022 Century and Heritage Farm Program now. The program was created by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation to recognize families who have owned their farms for 100 years and 150 years, respectively.

“The Century and Heritage Farm Program recognizes the strength and resiliency of Iowa’s multi-generation farm families,” said Secretary Naig. “I always look forward to celebrating with the families and hearing stories about their incredible farming legacies. I am grateful for the investments they make to protect our rich farmland and their continued commitment to our state’s agriculture community.”

To apply, download the application on the Department’s website at iowaagriculture.gov/century-and-heritage-farm-program.

Warmer temperatures and drier conditions are in the forecast and farmers will soon be in the fields in full-force. That means more equipment will be on the roadways in the coming days.

Moving farm equipment on public roads can be a dangerous activity. Farm operators need to drive defensively and remain alert every second they are on the road. Steven Freeman, a professor in agricultural systems and bioengineering at Iowa State University, reminds equipment operators of some important dos and don’ts this spring.

Additional information is also available in the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication “Safely Sharing the Road with Farm Vehicles.” Download at https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/5134

Injuries can happen when farm equipment operators:

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 – August 1: Primary Nesting Season
July 15: Spring Crop Reporting

May 2022 CCC and FSFL Interest Rates
New rates were issued for the month of May and are as follows:
• 2.625% for 3 years
• 2.625% for 5 years
• 2.625% for 7 years
• 2.625% for 10 years
• 2.750% for 12 years

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 – August 1: Primary Nesting Season
July 15: Spring Crop Reporting

It Can be Scary to Make the Switch to Soil Health
by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist
Barry Fisher, recently retired from the USDA in the NRCS Soil Health Division, is now a Certified Crop Advisor and operates Fisher Soil Health, a consulting firm specializing in soil health and regenerative farming.  In an article in the April 2022 Issue of No-Till Farmer he says he can understand that it’s easy for a producer to be complacent about soil health, particularly when overall yields continue to climb and growers are raising some of the best crops of their careers.  He states that, “Psychologically, it’s a challenge to make management decisions which pose risks to a long string of successful harvests.”  

Spring grazing of cover crops will be the focus of a Land Stewardship Project (LSP) pasture walk May 19, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Oak Creek Pastures near Ossian (1963 155th Street). This event is free and open to the public and sign-in begins at 4:45 p.m. Supper will feature Oak Creek Pastures grass-finished beef sloppy joes, homemade baked beans with bacon, chips, and bars (a small donation is requested to cover the cost of the meal).

Participants are asked to dress for the weather. Reserve a spot by May 17 at https://bit.ly/37GLJVm or by contacting LSP’s Alex Romano at aromano@landstewardshipproject.org.

Directions: From Highway 52, turn onto 155th Street; look for LSP signs.