Agriculture

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 - August 1: CRP Primary Nesting Season
May 31: Deadline to apply for a Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) for 2023 crops
June 19: Office Closed – Juneteenth
July 4: Office Closed – Independence Day
July 15: Acreage Reporting Deadline for FY24

2024 Crop Acreage Reporting
2024 acreage certification map packets have been sent to all operators in Allamakee County the last week of April. Be sure to look through your packets to verify all your operated farms were included.

Policy Updates for Acreage Reporting
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently made several policy updates for acreage reporting for cover crops, revising intended use, late-filed provisions, grazing allotments as well as updated the definitions of “idle” and “fallow.”

Join the Northeast Iowa Dairy and Agriculture Foundation in celebrating National Dairy Month with Breakfast on the Farm Saturday, June 22, from 8 a.m. - 12 Noon at Iowa’s Dairy Center, located just south of Calmar at 1527 Highway 150 South.

Enjoy a wholesome, dairy-rich breakfast of Dad’s Belgian Waffles served with real butter and whipped cream, sausage, ham, cheese, yogurt, milk and ice cream. In addition to breakfast, visitors will enjoy activities including guided tram tours of Iowa’s Dairy Center, petting zoo, inflatables, corn pools, and more.

Breakfast on the Farm will be held rain or shine. Parking is available on-site and donations are appreciated. This event is made possible by generous support from community sponsors.

For more information, visit www.iowadairycenter.com and follow along with the Breakfast on the Farm Facebook event.
 

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 - August 1: CRP Primary Nesting Season
May 31: Deadline to apply for a Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) for 2023 crops
June 19: Office Closed – Juneteenth
July 4: Office Closed – Independence Day
July 15: Acreage Reporting Deadline for FY24

Cost Sharing Available
Cost sharing on conservation practices is still available. Through the State of Iowa Division of Soil Conservation, IDALS, applications are taken continuously for terraces, grade stabilization structures (ponds), sediment basins (dry ponds) and waterways.  The cost sharing is 50 percent up to the estimated cost.

Farm families will be honored August 15 at the Iowa State Fair

The June 1 deadline for eligible Iowa farm owners to apply for Century or Heritage Farm recognition is quickly approaching, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is encouraging farm families to apply today.

The program, which was created in partnership by the Department and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, honors families who have owned their farms for 100 years and 150 years, respectively. This is the 48th year of the Century Farm Program, which started in 1976 as part of the Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration. To date, more than 21,000 farms from across the state have received this distinction. This is the 18th year of the Heritage Farm Program and more than 1,800 farms have been recognized since this program began in 2006.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 - August 1: CRP Primary Nesting Season
May 31: Deadline to apply for a Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) for 2023 crops
June 19: Office Closed – Juneteenth
July 4: Office Closed – Independence Day
July 15: Acreage Reporting Deadline for FY24

Farm families will be honored August 15 at the Iowa State Fair

The June 1 deadline for eligible Iowa farm owners to apply for Century or Heritage Farm recognition is quickly approaching, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is encouraging farm families to apply today.

The program, which was created in partnership by the Department and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, honors families who have owned their farms for 100 years and 150 years, respectively. This is the 48th year of the Century Farm Program, which started in 1976 as part of the Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration. To date, more than 21,000 farms from across the state have received this distinction. This is the 18th year of the Heritage Farm Program and more than 1,800 farms have been recognized since this program began in 2006.

Jewell Enterprises has developed a managed grazing system including over 10,000 feet of buried water lines with quick couple attachments, water tanks on skids, subdivision fences with high tensile wire, and some silvopastures. Robert Jewell has moved cows on about a daily basis for over three years now. Jewell and his dad farm together and have also seeded some cover crops on grain fields for additional fall or early spring grazing.

Jewell will share his experiences at a pasture walk on Tuesday, June 25, at 6:00 pm. In addition, Jacob Hawes, NE Area Grassland Specialist, will speak on cost share opportunities to improve pastures and soil health, and Denise Schwab, ISUEO beef specialist, will discuss grazing efficiency.  Some of the grazing practices to be highlighted include buried water lines to each paddock, pasture subdivision layout, division fencing, and the equipment he uses to make moved cows easier.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 14: Deadline to complete CRP Management Activities
May 15 - August 1: CRP Primary Nesting Season
May 31: Deadline to apply for a Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) for 2023 crops
July 15: Deadline to report 2024 crops

Crop Reporting Reminders
Maps are now available at the Allamakee County FSA Office for acreage reporting purposes. These certification maps were mailed to all Allamakee County producers the week of April 29, 2024.

Please see the following acreage reporting deadlines for Allamakee County:
• December 15th Fall Seeded Grains
• July 15th Spring Seeded Crops, annual forages, CRP

What if Iowa farmers could collect field drainage and rainfall to supply the right amount of water at the right time for crop production – and improve water quality in the process? That dream is coming closer to reality, thanks to the emerging technology of drainage water recycling (DWR) already in practice on several Iowa farms.

Precipitation in Iowa is generally adequate to produce good crops. However, yields are often limited when the timing and volume of rainfall doesn’t coincide with crop water needs. By storing drainage water in the spring to reuse in the summer as supplemental irrigation during dry periods, DWR can increase crop yields and make cropping systems more predictable and resilient to weather extremes.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 14: Deadline to complete CRP Management Activities
May 15 - August 1: CRP Primary Nesting Season
May 31: Deadline to apply for a Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) for 2023 crops