Agriculture

Wed
13
Jun

June 21 field day will explore unique vegetable farm business set-up, financials of starting a farm

When Hannah Breckbill and Emily Fagan started farming together at Humble Hands Harvest in 2017, they took an unconventional approach: They structured their business to function like a cooperative.

“We think this approach needs to be replicated in order to bring more farmers onto the land,” Hannah says.

Humble Hands Harvest is a 2-acre organic vegetable farm that sells to local restaurants, at farmers markets and through a CSA. Hannah has been farming since 2009 and started Humble Hands Harvest in 2013. After a flood during harvest in 2016 destroyed half of the original land she was farming, she decided to relocate. In 2017, she bought an old hay field and teamed up with Emily to build a diversified farm from scratch. In addition to vegetables, they are developing a perennial polyculture system, integrating nut and fruit crops, and incorporating livestock.

Wed
13
Jun

Dairy experts to present on range of topics at Iowa-Wisconsin Silage Conference June 21

Dairy experts from across the Midwest will present at the Iowa-Wisconsin Silage Conference on June 21 in Dubuque. Experts from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, as well as from the University of Wisconsin, University of Nebraska and industry will provide information on a wide range of topics dealing with growing and using silage.

Registration and check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. on June 21. The program starts at 9:30 a.m. and adjourns at 3:30 p.m. It will be held at the Best Western Plus Dubuque Hotel and Conference Center (3100 Dodge Street, Dubuque).

The following topics will be discussed during the conference:

Wed
06
Jun

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• May 15 – August 2: Primary Nesting Season. No MCM Activities on CRP Acres
• June 15: Final Planting Date for Soybeans
• July 15: 2018 Crop Reports
• August 1: ARC/PLC Sign-up

Crop Reporting
The Allamakee County FSA office welcomes all county farmers to come in and report their 2018 crops.  Certifying your crops is a requirement for many FSA programs.  This includes all spring planted crops and land uses.  Forages and pastures were to be reported last fall, and if you missed that deadline, we will be asking for that report now and collecting a late fee.  100% of the farm must be reported to be eligible for programs.  Please report what is planted on your farm by the deadline of July 15.

Wed
06
Jun

Peake Orchards and Dairy hosts the Northeast Iowa Food and Farm Network


Peake Orchards and Dairy ... A group touring the orchard is pictured above. Jeremy and Jodi Peake, pictured below, show Dayna Burtness and Nick Nguyen the suction of the milking machine. Submitted photos.

Touring the dairy facility ... Jodi Peake, pictured above, showing a milker to Dayna Burtness. Submitted photo.

Rain showers stayed at bay to provide a small group of local farmers with a beautiful evening tour of Peake Orchards and Dairy Sunday, May 20. Jeremy and Jodi Peake and their daughters Molly and Leah hosted the farm tour.

Some of the group arrived early to see milking in progress in the tie-stall barn, which was an opportunity for experiential learning. Many of the attendees specialized in other farming systems including vegetable production or small livestock, so there were many in-depth questions about how the dairy production system works from start to finish.

Jeremy shared that he selects his herd (mainly Jerseys and some Ayrshire genetics) to succeed in their grazing system, where the cows are never fed any grain. They milk year-round, utilizing baleage and hayleage over the winter months. The herd of around 40 milking cows are moved to fresh pastures 3-4 times per day, and are milked twice per day.

Wed
06
Jun

Iowa leaders celebrate fifth anniversary of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy


Mike Naig ... Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig speaking at the event. Submitted photo.

The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy is a science and technology-based framework to assess and reduce nutrient loss from both point sources (such as municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants) and nonpoint sources (stormwater runoff from both urban and agricultural landscapes) in Iowa.

The Strategy was finalized May 29, 2013, and in the five years since there has been significant work by farmers, landowners, communities, businesses, stakeholders and partners to help improve water quality in Iowa.

Wed
30
May

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• May 15 - August 2: Primary Nesting Season. No MCM Activities on CRP Acres
• May 31: Marketing Assistance Loans for Prior Year Harvested Corn and Soybeans
• May 31: Final Planting Date for Corn
• June 1: Margin Protection Program (MPP) Signup
• June 15: Final Planting Date for Soybeans
• July 15: 2018 Crop Reports
• August 1: ARC/PLC Sign-up

County Office Committees
County committees play a vital role in the administration of federal farm programs. They make decisions on commodity price support loans, conservation programs, emergency/disaster programs, employing County Executive Directors and other significant agricultural issues with the USDA.

Wed
30
May

Naig: Cost share available for water quality practices

Assistance available for farmers and landowners trying cover crops, no-till/strip till or nitrification inhibitor
 
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today the 2018 sign-up period is open for statewide cost share funds to help farmers install nutrient reduction practices. Practices eligible for this funding are cover crops, no-till or strip till, or using a nitrification inhibitor when applying fertilizer.

“This program has been very popular with farmers interested in adding water quality focused practices on their farm. We continue to see farmers and landowners taking on the challenge of improving water quality and this is a great way for them to get started with a new practice,” Naig said.

Wed
23
May

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• May 15-August 2: Primary Nesting Season. No MCM Activities on CRP Acres
• May 31: Marketing Assistance Loans for Prior Year Harvested Corn and Soybeans
• May 31: Final Planting Date for Corn
• June 1: Margin Protection Program (MPP) Signup
• June 15: Final Planting Date for Soybeans
• July 15: 2018 Crop Reports
• August 1: ARC/PLC Sign-up

Secretary Perdue Names FSA Administrator
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today the appointment of Richard Fordyce to serve as Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). In his role, Fordyce will provide leadership for FSA and its mission to support agricultural production across America through a network of over 2,100 county and 50 state offices.

Wed
16
May

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• May 15 - August 2: Primary Nesting Season. No MCM Activities on CRP Acres
• May 31: Marketing Assistance Loans for Prior Year Harvested Corn and Soybeans
• June 1: Margin Protection Program (MPP) Signup
• July 15: 2018 Crop Reports
• August 1: ARC/PLC Sign-up

Wed
16
May

Naig reminds farmers, apiarists to update information on Iowa Sensitive Crop Directory

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig encourages eligible farmers and apiarists to register or re-save their data in the Iowa Sensitive Crop Directory for the 2018 growing season. Two new mobile apps have been released to make it easier for members to access and input data.

“Iowa partnered with FieldWatch just last year to update and improve our state’s Sensitive Crop Directory and have been pleased by the positive response from applicators as well as specialty crop farmers and beekeepers. Hopefully these new apps will make the directory even more user friendly for everyone,” Naig said.

The FieldCheck app is designed to give applicators more functionality from their mobile device and while in the field.

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