Agriculture

Wed
02
Oct

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
December 6: Market Facilitation Program

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Payments
We will soon be issuing payments for the Conservation Reserve Program.  CRP payments begin with those contracted prior to 2008. Barring no computer delays, those payments will begin being issued October 2. For CRP contracts that began after the 2008 Farm Bill, payments will be issued starting October 9. Remember that these take a few days to be deposited into your account.

Wed
02
Oct

Iowa farm income appears higher, but farm values decline

The Iowa farm costs and returns report compares income and cost data for 600 Iowa producers

The “2018 Iowa Farm Costs and Returns” analysis is now available, and despite a slight increase in net farm income last year, farmers saw another year of tight margins and a decrease in total farm assets and net farm worth.

The average accrual net farm income (adjusted for inventory changes and accrued expenses) increased by 6% in 2018, to $58,832.

“It wasn’t a huge increase in income, but at least we didn’t see a decline,” said Alejandro Plastina, assistant professor and extension economist at Iowa State University. “However, the rate of return on assets remains very low, compared to historical averages.”

Wed
02
Oct

Corn earworm picks up activity in Iowa


Photo 1 ... Corn earworm adult. Photo by Robert J. Bauernfeind, www.ipmimages.org.

Photo 2 ... Corn earworms are messy feeders, generally active at the ear tip. Photo by Ashley Dean, Iowa State University.

Photo 3 ... Corn earworm caterpillars are variable in color. Photo by Ashley Dean, Iowa State University.

by Dr. Erin Hodgson, Associate Professor and Extension Entomologist Specialist and ANR Crops Team Leader, Integrated Crop Management News and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Corn earworm  (Photo 1) is common in Iowa corn. It is a migratory pest, migrating from the southern and southeastern U.S. every summer. There are two general fights to the Midwest every summer, but the first flight is not of economic concern. Iowa’s corn is more vulnerable to infestation of the second flight, arriving in late July. Yield losses can occur in late-planted cornfields, where caterpillars can infest >50% of plants. It is more common to see corn earworm issues in sweet corn, white corn, popcorn, and seed fields. Kernel injury can promote ear mycotoxins (e.g., fumonisins and aflatoxins) and further reduce grain quality. The frass (excrement) can also be a contaminant for corn processing.

Wed
25
Sep

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
December 6: Market Facilitation Program

Managed Haying Requests
For those who have stopped in to request managed haying on your CRP ground, make sure the bales are off as soon as possible to avoid killing of the seeding underneath, but no later than September 30. Any seeding destroyed due to the bales needs to be reseeded. 

Payments to Deceased Producers
In order to claim a Farm Service Agency (FSA) payment on behalf of a deceased producer, all program conditions for the payment must have been met before the applicable producer’s date of death.

If a producer earned a FSA payment prior to his or her death, the following is the order of precedence for the representatives of the producer:

Wed
18
Sep

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
September 20: Dairy Margin Coverage Program Sign-Up
December 6: Market Facilitation Program

Managed Haying Requests
For those who have stopped in to request managed haying on your CRP ground, make sure the bales are off as soon as possible to avoid killing of the seeding underneath, but no later than September 30. Any seeding destroyed due to the bales needs to be reseeded. 

USDA Fruit, Vegetable and Wild Rice Planting Rules Unchanged from Previous Farm Bill
Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced fruit, vegetable and wild rice provisions that affect producers who intend to participate in certain programs authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014 as amended by the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018.

Wed
18
Sep

Iowans to observe Farm Safety Week September 15-21

Farm safety celebrated with proclamation signed by Gov. Reynolds

The Iowa Farm Safety and Health Week will be held September 15-21 in conjunction with the National Farm Safety and Health Week. This year’s national theme is “Shift Farm Safety Into High Gear.”

This is the 76th observance of the National Farm Safety and Health Week. This special week of safety and health observance is still relevant today because agriculture ranks as the most dangerous industry in the United States.

Farm safety week is used by farm safety professionals and organizations to remind those working within agriculture to be cautious. The fall harvest time is typically the busiest season of the year and the time when agriculture reports the largest number of injuries.

Wed
18
Sep

Extra riders on tractors are a high risk for fatality

The National Children’s Center estimates one child dies about every three days in an agriculture-related incident. One common incident where children are harmed is when they are an extra rider on a farm or lawn care tractor.

“Tractor rides have an intrinsic appeal for kids and a willingness for adults to allow them,” said Charles Schwab, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering with extension and outreach responsibilities at Iowa State University. “The well-intended activity of a child riding on the tractor with a parent or grandparent is an extremely dangerous situation that too often ends in death.”

Around one-fourth of tractor deaths each year are from runovers. These usually happen when an extra rider falls under the back tractor wheel and is mortally crushed. An easy saying to remember is: “One seat, one rider,” and as adults it is our responsibility to keep youth safe by not allowing them to be the extra rider on tractors. Be firm and say no.

Wed
11
Sep

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
September 20: Dairy Margin Coverage Program Sign-Up
December 6: Market Facilitation Program

Managed Haying Requests
For those who have stopped in to request managed haying on your CRP ground, make sure the bales are off as soon as possible to avoid killing of the seeding underneath, but no later than September 30. Any seeding destroyed due to the bales needs to be reseeded. 

September Facility Loan Interest Rates
The interest rates for September are as follows:
• 1.625% for 3 years
• 1.625% for 5 years
• 1.750% for 7 years
• 1.875% for 10 years
• 1.875% for 12 years
• 2.000% for 15 years

Wed
11
Sep

Can weed seed production be reduced with late-season herbicide applications?


Figure 1 ... Waterhemp seed, August 29. Submitted photo.

Figure 2 ... Giant ragweed seed, August 29. Submitted photo.

by Dr. Bob Hartzler, Professor of Agronomy - Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
 
Problems caused by unfavorable conditions this season have resulted in greater than normal weed escapes. These weeds may reduce crop yields and definitely will contribute to future weed problems via new seed. While it is too late to protect crop yields, a common question is whether herbicides can be used to reduce the quantity of viable weed seed produced by weeds. While there is no simple answer due to the many different scenarios across the state, in most situations late-season applications are not warranted.

Wed
11
Sep

Ergot: Six things to be mindful of with ergot in small grains and grasses


Figure 1 ... Ergot bodies (left to right) from bromegrass, rye and wheat. Submitted photo.

Figure 2 ... Mature ergot body on the seed head of bromegrass. Submitted photo.

Figure 3 ... Several ergot bodies on quackgrass. Submitted photo.

Figure 4 ... Ergot bodies will germinate giving rise to mushroom-like structures (1/2 to 3/4 inch in length) that release spores. Submitted photo.

Figure 5 ... At left, wheat spike with ergot body on uppermost spikelet and at right, wheat spike with honey dew (yellow to orange sticky sap) indicating a successful infection by the pathogen. Submitted photo.

by Andrew Friskop, North Dakota State University; Ethan Stoetzer, Iowa State University; Daren Mueller, Iowa State University; Darcy Telenko, Purdue University; and Keith Johnson, Purdue University 

One plant disease to keep a lookout for when harvesting grains and grasses for animal and human consumption is ergot. The ergot pathogen generates toxic alkaloids that potentially could create problems with livestock feeding, and when trying to market a small grain crop. This article will review some of the commonly asked questions pertaining to ergot.

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