Agriculture

By Sara Berges, Allamakee SWCD

Many of you have heard that you can receive a $5 per acre discount on your crop insurance premium for cover crops. There is a lot of confusion about how to apply for it and who is in charge of the program. The program is offered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture (IDALS) for acres of cover crops that were planted in 2017 without state or federal program incentives (WQI, state cost share, EQIP, CSP, etc.). The sign-up is available online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/covercropdemo. There is no paper form available at the Allamakee SWCD/NRCS office. The sign-up deadline is January 15, 2018.

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• December 15: Report acreages intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2018
• December 15: Sign up for, or opt out of, the 2018 Margin Protection Program
• December 25: Office closed for Christmas

Fall Forage Certification
Make sure you stop in and certify all forage and fall seeded crops by December 15! This includes all hay and pasture acres you are planning on cropping for the 2018 crop year. Also any cover crops that were seeded this fall will need to be reported. If reported after the December 15 deadline a $46 late-filed fee per farm can be assessed. 

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• December 15: Report acreages intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2018
• December 15: Sign up for, or opt out of, the 2018 Margin Protection Program
• December 25: Office closed for Christmas

Fall Forage Certification
Make sure you stop in and certify all forage and fall seeded crops by December 15! This includes all hay and pasture acres you are planning on cropping for the 2018 crop year. Also any cover crops that were seeded this fall will need to be reported. If reported after the December 15 deadline a $46 late-filed fee per farm can be assessed. 

The upcoming Driftless Region Beef Conference will showcase utilization of cover crops for feed by Midwest beef producers, according to Denise Schwab, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The conference will be held January 25-26, 2018, at the Grand River Conference Center in Dubuque.

“Cover crops have great potential to reduce erosion, improve soil health and protect water quality,” Schwab said.

“They also have the potential to produce high quality cattle feed if managed correctly. Our conference will feature several speakers presenting information on the value of cover crops in our diverse Midwestern farms.”

Jim Johnson from the Noble Research Institute will discuss how cover crops and cattle can improve soil health, and Morgan Hayes from the University of Kentucky will talk about how cover crops can be a compatible with manure application.

Iowa Ag Secretary also highlighted support for long-term water quality funding in meeting with Gov. Reynolds

Monday, November 27, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey requested an additional $150,000 for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Animal Industry Bureau to provide additional support for preparations for and potentially responding to a foreign animal disease outbreak. Northey also requested continued funding to support the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program and the Agriculture Drainage Well Closure Program.

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• December 4: Last day to return COC election ballots for eligible producers in LAA 2 
• December 15: Report acreages intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2018
• December 15: Sign up for or opt out of the 2018 Margin Protection Program

County Committee Election
Producers in Ludlow, Jefferson, Post, Franklin, Linton, and Fairview Townships should have received their county committee voting ballots last week.  The last day to return completed ballots to the FSA office is December 4.  If you’re an eligible producer in one of these townships, please be on the lookout for your ballot.  Committee members are a critical component of FSA operations.

by Sara Berges,
Allamakee SWCD

The recent cold winds that have been blowing and snow that will soon be flying might get you thinking about the need for a windbreak. Windbreaks not only help to reduce wind speed, but can control snow drifting, provide wildlife habitat and create an aesthetic appeal. Reduced wind speeds can provide monetary benefits by reducing heating costs for homes or confinement buildings.

REAP cost-share is often available through the Soil and Water Conservation District office and will pay 75% cost-share up to $1,500. However, funds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so you may not receive funds the same year you apply. Keep in mind that the maintenance length for cost-shared windbreaks is 20 years.

by Sara Berges,
Allamakee SWCD

With fungicide application to any crop, it is important to select opportunities where the probability of economic return is greatest. Iowa State University has conducted six years (2012-2017) of research looking at the economic and yield impact of fungicide application to alfalfa. Harvest schedules followed a four-cut system.  On average, first crop provided a higher percent yield response to a foliar fungicide application than for later crops.   This is because spring usually favors alfalfa diseases due to higher rainfall and there is higher yield potential for first crop than for later crops. In dry years, disease incidence was low and application of fungicide provided little yield response and often resulted in an economic loss. 

Agricultural lenders and suppliers, producers and policymakers grow nervous when commodity prices, input costs, farmland values and lease rates become volatile says Melissa O’Rourke, Farm and Agribusiness Management Specialist for Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach. “Add in weather variables and there is plenty of excitement to manage for the 2018 farming year.”

That’s why O’Rourke recommends that all producers and ag professionals in the region attend a Pro-Ag Outlook Forum December 8 in Decorah.

“Iowa State University agricultural economists cautioned farmers to be prepared for a downturn in commodity values and land,” notes O’Rourke. “Especially in light of these continuing conditions, we’re offering opportunities for producers and ag business professionals to get updated information to help make decisions that need to be made during the post-harvest period,” says O’Rourke.

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• November 23: Office closed in observance of Thanksgiving
• December 15: Report acreages intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2018
• December 15: Sign up for, or opt out of, the 2018 Margin Protection Program