Agriculture

The annual Spring Field Day at the Iowa State University Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18.

Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, will kick off the program with a presentation focusing on accelerating conservation through partnerships and cost-share. Richard Roth, extension nitrogen science specialist at Iowa State, will provide insights on nitrogen management for the 2025 growing season. Wes Everman, extension weed management specialist at Iowa State, will discuss weed management and considerations for optimal weed control in 2025.  A complimentary meal will be served at noon, sponsored by Innovative Ag Services.

The field day is available at no cost and is open to the public, starting at the Borlaug Learning Center Headquarters on the ISU Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 26: Office Closed for Memorial Day
May 31: Deadline to request a Marketing Assistance Loan (MALs) for 2024 farm stored or warehouse stored grain
June 6: Deadline to submit a CRP offer
June 19: Office closed in observance of Juneteenth
July 15: Deadline for Acreage Reporting

FSA is accepting offers for both the General and Continuous Conservation Reserve Program for 2025
USDA announced several Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollment opportunities for agricultural producers and landowners. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting offers for both the General and Continuous CRP today through June 6, 2025.

The 2025 survey of cash rental rates for Iowa farmland shows that rates decreased, on average, by 2.9% in 2025 to $271 per acre. This is the first decline in cash rents since 2019, after a peak of $279 per acre the previous two years of the survey. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach conducts the annual Cash Rental Rates for Iowa Survey.

Crop reporting districts experienced differing results in cash rents: from a decrease of 6.9% in Crop Reporting District 8 (South Central) to an increase of 2.8% in Crop Reporting District 9 (Southeast). Every Crop Reporting District showed a decline, with the exception of the Southeast Crop Reporting District, which reported an average cropland cash rent 0.8% ($2) higher than its previous peak of $252 in the 2023 survey.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15-August 1: Primary Nesting Season (PNS)
May 26: Office Closed for Memorial Day
May 31: Deadline to request a Marketing Assistance Loan (MALs) for 2024 farm stored or warehouse stored grain
June 19: Office closed in observance of Juneteenth

Dairy farmers and industry professionals are invited to attend the 2025 Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference June 11 and 12 at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. This conference features the latest insights to improve productivity and profit for dairy producers.

“Dairy farmers can expect two days of timely topics and discussion,” said Gail Carpenter, assistant professor and extension dairy specialist at Iowa State University. “This is a great opportunity to learn more about topics ranging from dairy nutrition to reproduction, and to network with others in the industry.”

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 14: 2025  deadline to complete spring CRP Mid-Contract Management (MCM) activities
May 14: Deadline to establish new cool season grass practice CRP seedings
May 15-August 1: Primary Nesting Season (PNS)
May 26: Office Closed for Memorial Day
May 31: Deadline to request a Marketing Assistance Loan (MALs) for 2024 farm stored or warehouse stored grain
June 19: Office closed in observance of Juneteenth

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 14: 2025  deadline to complete spring CRP Mid-Contract Management (MCM) activities
May 14 – Deadline to establish new cool season grass practice CRP seedings
May 15-August 1: Primary Nesting Season (PNS)
May 26: Office Closed for Memorial Day
May 31: Deadline to request a Marketing Assistance Loan (MALs) for 2024 farm stored or warehouse stored grain

Compaction Limiting Yield
Farm equipment is obviously getting larger.  Speed of field work is important, but at what cost to our soil does the extra horsepower, with the extra weight have?  According to South Dakota State University Soils Field Specialist Anthony Bly, “Back in the day, they weren’t recommending any more than 5 tons per axle.  We’ve well exceeded that in most all of our tractors and combines today.”

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig invites eligible Iowa farm owners to apply for Century or Heritage Farm recognition as part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s (IDALS) Century and Heritage Farm Program. The program was created by the Department and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation to honor families who have owned their farms for 100 years and 150 years, respectively.

“Century and Heritage Farm families embody the very best of our state, showcasing the strength and perseverance that define Iowa agriculture. The pride, stories, and legacies of these multi-generational farm families are truly inspiring,” said Secretary Naig. “The Century and Heritage Farm ceremony at the Iowa State Fair is a celebration of Iowa agriculture, and I look forward to honoring these families every year. I encourage eligible families to submit their applications and join us at this great event.”

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 14: 2025  deadline to complete spring CRP Mid-Contract Management (MCM) activities
May 14 – Deadline to establish new cool season grass practice CRP seedings
May 15-August 1: Primary Nesting Season (PNS)
May 26: Office Closed in observance of Memorial Day
May 31: Deadline to request a Marketing Assistance Loan (MALs) for 2024 farm stored or warehouse stored grain

Conservation Reserve Program Reminders
Required Management (RM) - All Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract holders with a Required Management (RM) requirement for 2025 are required to complete management by May 14, 2025.  Please be aware, RM activities are prohibited during the primary nesting season of May 15-August 1.  The following options exist for management; disking, spraying, burning, or inter-seeding in combination.  

Livestock diseases have received substantial attention and global media coverage in recent years. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, has dominated the news as it has led to loss of millions of poultry, increased egg prices and viral spillovers to other livestock such as dairy cattle, and has recently been found to infect humans. However, there are many other diseases that impact Iowa’s livestock sector, the top U.S. producer of red meat and eggs, including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, or PRRS, and bovine respiratory syncytial virus, or bovine RSV, that cause billions of dollars in annual losses to farmers and increased consumer prices.