Agriculture

Deadlines/Dates
September 17: Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP)
October 12: Coronavirus Food Assistance 2 (CFAP2)
October 15: Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers

Is Another Dust Bowl in Our Future?

by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist

In Northeast Iowa we have been blessed with timely rain this summer, but a large portion of the United States has not been so lucky. According to a recent article in Mother Jones rising temperatures and worsening droughts caused by global warming are making some scientists ask if we are headed for another Dust Bowl. The article shares some developments that climate “experts” say are pointing to that scenario:

The Iowa Nutrient Research Center at Iowa State University announces funding of over $1.4 million to support 11 new water quality and nutrient management projects for 2021-2022.

“These projects represent new areas of research, as well as further study of areas where we need to refine understanding to improve our ability to make sound recommendations,” said Matt Helmers, Iowa Nutrient Research Center director and professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State. “These studies reflect a number of research priorities identified by a broad group of stakeholders, including farmers and researchers, who met in early 2020.”

The new projects, listed below, fall into INRC’s edge-of-field, multi-objective and nutrient management categories.

Deadlines/Dates
September 1: Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Premiums Due
September 17: Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP)
October 12: Coronavirus Food Assistance 2 (CFAP2)
October 15: Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers

Pandemic Assistance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) for contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry and producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities. CFAP 2, which assists producers who faced market disruptions in 2020 due to COVID-19, is part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has set an Oct. 12 deadline for all eligible producers to apply for or modify applications for CFAP 2.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
September 17: Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP)
October 15: Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers

Commercial Nitrogen is not needed for Crop Production
by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist

New research has discovered a previously unknown process involving soil biology. This new knowledge could lead to farmers producing crops with a greatly reduced nitrogen rate with no yield loss. This research has been mostly conducted by James White, a plant biologist and pathologist at Rutgers University. The process is called the rhizophagy cycle.

John Kempf, the founder of a company called Advancing Eco Agriculture, says the rhizophagy cycle is a complete revolution in the industry’s understanding of agronomy and plant nutrition.

During this week of August 23, Black Sand Granary out of Patch Grove, WI will be aerially applying cover crops across many acres in southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa. The work completed is under guidance found within the USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

These low-flying, yellow planes will be dropping cover crop seeds (barley, rye, and medium red clover) into production fields. Planes will be operating out of local airports within the region during this time. The aerial seeding is intended to cover the ground with living plants after annual crops are harvested to improve soil health and water quality.

Any questions or concerns about the low-flying aircraft should be directed to Black Sand Granary at 608-412-5669 or the local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Field Office.
 

Drought, markets and water drainage are topics of the day

The annual fall field day at Iowa State University’s Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm will run from 1-4:30 p.m. Friday, August 27.

Chad Hart, professor in economics and extension grain markets specialist at Iowa State University, will kick-off the program in the Borlaug Learning Center, by providing his insights on “Markets, Droughts and Trade.”

Then the program heads to the field to research studies featuring Antonio Mallarino, professor in agronomy and soil fertility specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, who will share his information on “Interpreting Fall Soil Test Results and Considering Potential Carry-Over Nitrogen after a Dry Season.”

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
September 17: Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP)
October 15: Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers

USDA Announces Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters, Haulers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing up to $200 million to provide relief to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that have experienced losses due to COVID-19 as part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Loggers and truckers can apply for assistance through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) July 22 through Oct. 15, 2021. The Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers program (PATHH) is administered by FSA in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.

Becky McCrea, Waukee; Cindy Rockwell, Carlisle; and Molly Woodruff, Indianola; are tech industry veterans who work with top Iowa and national firms. They’re also a trio of Iowa female entrepreneurs who have developed Farmmee, an innovative app that connects farmers to farmers when they need it most.

Every farmer knows what it’s like to see a storm on the horizon with acres of crop to harvest before it hits. They also know the time-robbing impacts of breakdowns. Finding help quickly can be hard.

Not anymore. Farmmee (https://www.farmmee.com), solves dilemmas like this and more by quickly connecting farmers with farmers to solve immediate challenges. The app provides a robust collaboration network that lets farmers seek services by other farmers and also lets farmers offer their services to other farmers.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
September 17: Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP)

Natural Nitrogen for Crop Production
by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist

Dr. Christine Jones, one of the world’s preeminent microbiologists from Australia, wrote an article titled Nitrogen: the double-edged sword, in which she says that nitrogen is a component of protein and DNA and as such, is essential to all living things. She states that prior to the Industrial Revolution, around 97% of the nitrogen supporting life on earth was fixed biologically. Over the last century, intensification of farming, coupled with a lack of understanding of soil microbial communities, has resulted in reduced biological activity and an increased application of industrially produced forms of nitrogen to agricultural land.

This new publication provides a basic understanding of the major crops grown in Iowa

Growing successful field crops is a science, one that is learned and improved upon with years of experience. But sometimes it just makes sense to start with the basics. That’s the approach of a new publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach called the Field Crop Production Handbook.

This 144-page handbook provides a general overview of the essential aspects of producing field crops in Iowa. It focuses on the basics of crop establishment, but also on care and harvest, as well as the impacts on soil, water and wildlife.

“The handbook is useful for people who are new to agriculture or may be joining the family farm and want to get reacquainted with some of the basics of crop production,” said Erin Hodgson, professor and extension specialist in entomology at Iowa State University.