Agriculture

Iowa State University researchers have literally, and figuratively, shed new light on the odor problems arising from livestock facilities.

Jacek Koziel, an associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, and his team are using black light to help neutralize the volatile components that make up objectionable odors. Shined on surfaces coated with a thin layer of titanium dioxide, the black light initiates photo-catalytic reactions that have been found to significantly reduce several odorous chemicals that are found downwind of livestock operations.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, in conjunction with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, annually recognizes farm families who have continuously owned their farm land for 150 years or more with the Heritage Farm Award. Duane and Linda Flatland were presented this award by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey at the Iowa State Fair August 17 for their farm, which is located in Winneshiek County at 2295 Winnmakee Road, Waukon. Submitted photo.
 

Allamakee County will offer the Ornamental and Turfgrass Applicators Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, November 8, 2017. The program can be seen at locations across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) team.

The local attendance site is Allamakee County Extension, 218 7th Ave SE, Suite #102. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the course runs from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The registration fee is $35 on or before November 1 and $45 after November 1. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Allamakee County by phone at 563-568-6345.

Submitted by Sara Berges, Allamakee SWCD

As fall approaches and producers prepare for harvest, many are also preparing for cover crop seeding. Keep in mind a few points regarding seeding rates, methods, and seeding dates. If you are receiving government cost-share (either through state funds or federal EQIP funds) and are planting winter-hardy species like cereal rye, the planting deadline is October 21. Cereal rye should be planted at a rate of 55 lbs/acre of pure live seed (PLS) if drilling, 61 lbs/ac PLS if broadcasting with incorporation, and 66 lbs/acre of PLS if broadcasting without incorporation.  Pure Live Seed can be determined using the following calculation (percent germination + dormant seed) x (percent purity) all divided by 100. There are also calculators available online (such as on the allamakeeswcd.org website) or stop by the NRCS office for assistance.

Mark your calendars for a noon webinar September 26. Join the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Team as Dr. Larry Tranel, ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Specialist hosts “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”.  This webinar will discuss organic and organic “grass-fed” dairy systems.  

The webinar is sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and North Central Risk Management Education Center. To join the webinar, log onto https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/isuedairy, or for more information contact Larry Tranel attranel@iastate.edu, 563-583-6496 or Jenn Bentley at jbentley@iastate.edu, 563-382-2949.

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 – December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up
• September 30: End of fiscal year for FSA

Fall-Seeded Crops
For producers who have any fall seeded crops, such as hay and pasture, you have until December 15, 2017 to get those acres certified for the 2018 crop year.  Failure to do so will result in a late file fee for each farm with hay or pasture. 

Managed Haying Requests
For those who have stopped in to request managed haying on your CRP ground, make sure the bales are off that ground by September 30. 

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Farm Bureau celebrated families that have owned a farm for 100 years or 150 years

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recognized Century and Heritage Farm families during a ceremony at the Iowa State Fair again this year.  To qualify, a family must have owned at least 40 acres for 100 years or more in the case of Century Farms and 150 years or more for a Heritage Farm.

This year 354 Century Farms and 119 Heritage Farms were recognized. Among those honored farms were the following from Allamakee County (some of which are pictured on this same page): Ralph and Marie Plein family and Tom and Lynn Reburn family as Heritage Farms; and Donald Aldrich family, George Beardmore family, Donald Henningsgaard family, Vernalene Oelberg family, Dennis Schulte family and Bonnie (Myhre) Williams family as Century Farms.

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 – December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up

Fall-Seeded Crops
For producers who have any fall seeded crops, such as hay and pasture, you have until December 15, 2017 to get those acres certified for the 2018 crop year. Failure to do so will result in a late file fee for each farm with hay or pasture. 

Managed Haying Requests
For those who have stopped in to request managed haying on your CRP ground, make sure the bales are off that ground by September 30. 

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 - December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up
• September 4: Office closed in recognition of Labor Day

Maintaining Good Credit History
FSA Farm Loan programs require that applicants have a satisfactory credit history. A credit report is requested for all FSA direct farm loan applicants. These reports are reviewed to verify outstanding debts, if bills are paid timely and to determine the impact on cash flow.

Information found on a customer’s credit report is strictly confidential and is used only as an aid in conducting FSA business.

State, federal and extension experts are encouraging Iowa farmers to stay vigilant in their efforts to control Palmer amaranth. Iowa lawmakers added this fast-growing weed to Iowa’s noxious weed list in July as a response to a significant increase in the presence of Palmer across Iowa in 2016.

“Now is time for farmers to get out and scout fields for Palmer amaranth, especially if they know it is in their area or have land that was planted with a native seed mix in recent years. Palmer grows very quickly and produces a tremendous amount of seed, so our best chance to control this weed is to catch it and destroy it before it goes to seed,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.