Agriculture

Boots in the Barn to start in January

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer a new program for female beef and dairy producers held in northeast Iowa starting in January. Boots in the Barn is a three-part series for women involved in cattle production. Three workshops will be offered January 4, 11, and 18. Dairy topics will be discussed from 1-3 p.m. and beef topics from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

“We’ve had great success with programs designed specifically for women,” said Denise Schwab, beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “Women often prefer to learn in small groups and with hands-on opportunities. They like to ask lots of questions of presenters without feeling intimidated, so programs designed specifically for women are very effective.”

Attention agriculture friends in NE Iowa! Do you respect our farmers? Do you love agriculture? Do you enjoy being with kids? Do you have some free time to work with children in the classroom? Then this event is perfect for you! Join us for an Ag in The Classroom volunteer free workshop January 19 at the NICC Calmar Dairy Center.

Howard County Farm Bureau and Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation have partnered with NICC Calmar Dairy to host an Agriculture in the Classroom County Contacts Workshop Friday, January 19, 2018. There will be a 9 a.m. optional tour of the NICC Robotic Dairy Operation and the new Beef Learning Facilities. The workshop will begin at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northeast Iowa Community College Dairy Center 1527 Iowa 150, Calmar, IA 52132.

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.