Agriculture

Practical Farmers of Iowa is holding a series of free farm transfer workshops across Iowa in November and December to help farm families understand the farm ownership landscape in Iowa and possible strategies to start the farm transition process.

Each workshop runs from 5-8 p.m. and will be hosted by a local farmer or landowner. Bios of each host are available on Practical Farmers’ website.

Mike Downey, of Next Gen Ag Advocates and Farm Financial Strategies, Inc., will lead the events and discuss the why and how of farmland transition, including farm leasing trends, how to communicate with family about your farmland transition and next steps to be thinking of in the farm transfer process.

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
November 11: Closed in Observance of Veterans Day
December 6: Market Facilitation Program
December 11: ARC/PLC Decision Meeting
December 13: Dairy Margin Coverage Program for 2020

A gathering of 25 farm ladies from a 75-mile radius around Cresco, from as far away as Preston, LeRoy and Houston, MN and Northwood and Waukon in Iowa, gathered Wednesday, October 23 for a Women Caring for the Land event that began with a Meet and Greet session serving coffee and donuts to allow the ladies to get acquainted. Event hostess Carol Dowe opened the meeting with thanks to the Lord and thanking CUSB Bank of Cresco for making its Grange Hall available for the event, as well as to the team of Sandy Good, Nancy Bolson, Mary Barth, Terry Falck and Lori Hageman, who all helped to put the event together. Each lady then introduced herself and described her farming setting and relationships.

In order to help Iowans understand their options under the 2018 Farm Bill, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is planning meetings across the state.

More than 50 informational meetings will be held, beginning November 12 in Grinnell, with a focus on explaining the different farm bill titles and programs that pertain to each part of the state. The meeting series stretches through the winter for landowners and producers to attend now, or following harvest, at a location that is convenient for them.

The agenda is similar at all meetings, and will include ISU Extension and Outreach farm management specialists and family life specialists, and local Farm Service Agency representatives.

Allamakee County will offer the Commercial Ag Weed, Insect and Plant Disease Management Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, November 20. The program will be shown at locations across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).

The local attendance site is 218 Seventh Avenue SE, Waukon. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the course runs from 9-11:30 a.m. The registration fee increases after November 13. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office at 563-568-6345.

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
November 11: Closed in Observance of Veterans Day
December 6: Market Facilitation Program
December 11: ARC/PLC Decision Meeting
December 13: Dairy Margin Coverage Program for 2020

Farmers, Landowners and Ag Professionals Offered Guidance on Farm Bill Decisions
ISU Extension and Outreach meeting in Northeast Iowa will address enrollment and election decisions for 2018 Farm Bill programs

Upcoming Iowa State University Extension and Outreach meetings will provide guidance for Iowa farmland owners and operators reviewing options under the 2018 Farm Bill. Farmland owners and operators have the opportunity to make new decisions on enrollment and election in the USDA Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.

This edge-of-field practice offers benefits for the soil, water and for pollinators

Farmers and landowners who want to increase pollinator habitat while also improving water quality should consider the benefits of saturated riparian buffers enhanced with native wildflowers. Establishing pollinator habitat within riparian zones, where the agricultural value is lower and where the conservation and wildlife benefits are likely high, can be a win-win.

“Landowners looking for the combined benefits of native habitat and water quality can capture both by establishing pollinator-friendly species on top of saturated buffers,” said Dana Schweitzer, program coordinator with the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium at Iowa State University.

Senators’ Seeding Rural Resilience Act praised by state-wide and national farming and mental health organizations

As the only farmers currently serving in the U.S. Senate, U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Jon Tester (D-Montana) are receiving praise from farm and mental health organizations across the country for the introduction of their Seeding Rural Resilience Act, which aims to curb the rising rate of farmer suicides in America.

“Farmers are increasingly feeling the pain of sinking commodity prices, devastating natural disasters and ongoing trade disruptions. That, coupled with the largely solitary nature of farming, has led more and more family farmers to desperation and feelings of hopelessness. This should not be the case. This bill continues important efforts to raise awareness about this issue and provide the assistance necessary to encourage farmers and their families during difficult times,” Grassley said.

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
November 11: Closed in Observance of Veterans Day
December 6: Market Facilitation Program
December 11: ARC/PLC Decision Meeting
December 13: Dairy Margin Coverage Program for 2020

Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC)
Sign up for 2020 coverage runs from October 7 – December 13, 2019. Every operation that will participate in 2020 needs to stop in and sign a new application that certifies you are still marketing milk, including those producers who locked in for 5 years (even though you can’t change your coverage levels).

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
December 6: Market Facilitation Program
December 13: Dairy Margin Coverage Program for 2020

2019 Crop Commodity Loan Program Information
• Corn: $2.12
• Soybeans: $6.18
• Crop year commodity loan rate for October is 2.750%

October 2019 CCC and FSFL Interest Rates
New rates were issued for the month of October and are as follows:
• 1.500% for 3 years
• 1.500% for 5 years
• 1.625% for 7 years
• 1.625% for 10 years
• 1.750% for 12 years
• 1.750% for 15 years