Agriculture

Annie’s Project, a six-week course designed especially to help farm women develop their management and decision-making skills, is being offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County. Online registration is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/womeninag or at the Allamakee County Extension office.

Classes will be held at the Allamakee County Extension Office Mondays from 6-9 p.m. beginning January 30 and continuing February 6, 13, 20 and 27, and March 6.  A light supper will be provided at 5:30 p.m. and is included in the registration cost.

Farm women participating in Annie’s Project courses become better business partners and owners by learning to manage and organize critical information for their own farms, while establishing networks with other farm women and agriculture business professionals.

Practical Farmers of Iowa is now accepting registrations for its 2017 annual conference, “Pass It On,” which will take place January 20-21 at the Iowa State Center Scheman Building, on the Iowa State University campus in Ames. All are welcome to attend. Register online at http://practicalfarmers.org.

This year’s theme celebrates the impact of farmer-to-farmer learning on farmers’ confidence to explore new or different farming practices, and their ability to improve farm profitability and land stewardship. Attendees will learn from their farming peers about different approaches to conserving money and soil; growing and marketing a range of crops; keeping good-quality financial and production records, accessing land and capital and more.

by Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

ATTENTION FARMERS - REMINDER:

December 12:    Deadline: ECP application sign up
December 13: Deadline: County Committee election ballots returned to the Allamakee County FSA office
December 15:    Deadline: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA
December 15:    County Committee meeting at 9:15am
December 16:    Deadline: 2017 MPP coverage election decision
December 26:    Office closed due to Holiday

by Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

ATTENTION FARMERS - REMINDER:

November 24: Office closed due to Thanksgiving
December 1: Deadline: NAP application for Honey
December 5: Deadline: County Committee ballots returned to the Allamakee County FSA office
December 12: Deadline: ECP application sign up
December 15: Deadline: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA
December 16: Deadline: 2017 MPP coverage election decision

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) Application Deadline Approaching for Honey Producers

by Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

ATTENTION FARMERS - REMINDER:

November 21: Deadline: NAP for Apples, Aronina Berries, and Grapes
November 24: Office closed due to Thanksgiving
December 1: Deadline: NAP for Honey
December 12: Deadline: ECP application sign up
December 15:    Deadline: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA
December 16: Deadline: 2017 MPP decision

No matter the farm enterprise, wintertime allows farmers a chance to reflect on the previous year and consider adjustments to improve their operation the following year. In order to support farmers’ efforts to continually improve, Practical Farmers of Iowa offers a free webinar series – called “farminars” – featuring practical knowledge on a range of topics for row crop, livestock and fruit and vegetable producers.

Beginning on Nov. 15 and continuing every Tuesday through Dec. 20, each farminar focuses on a unique production or business management topic. All presentations are led by an experienced farmer or subject-matter expert, and attendees are able to ask questions in real time using a chatbox while they listen and watch a slideshow. Farminars start at 7 p.m. CST on Tuesday evenings and last 90 minutes.

by Sara Berges
Allamakee SWCD

Commodity prices are expected to remain fairly stable for the next few years.  These lower prices are forcing farmers to focus more on input costs and return on investment (ROI) rather than just yields and revenue. The ROI shows a ratio of money gained or lost on an investment relative to the cost of the investment. Another way to look at it is how to get the biggest bang for the buck when looking at input costs (chemicals, seed, fertilizer, equipment, etc.) and expected yields and profits.

by Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

ATTENTION FARMERS - REMINDER:

December 12: ECP sign up deadline.
December 15: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA.
December 16: New deadline for the 2017 MPP decision.

Farm Storage Facility Loans
Farm Storage Facility Loans are now available for both new and used equipment, so if you are planning a big upgrade to your storage equipment or are considering adding any new equipment, stop in the office and inquire about the low interest loans that are available.

Denise Schwab
Extension Beef Specialist
dschwab@iastate.edu

PIT GASES POSE A DANGER IN BEEF BARNS
We have heard several reports of cattle deaths while pumping pits, but fortunately no human deaths. The following information comes from Dan Anderson and Jay Harmon from Iowa State University's Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. They discuss the dangers of gases that can be released when agitating and pumping liquid manure.

Hydrogen sulfide gas is a serious issue both in and around barns with liquid manure storage. The decomposition of organic matter in manure results in the release of several gases: ammonia, carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen sulfide among them. Most of the time these gases are emitted at low levels, but any time manure is being agitated or pumped, or the surface is disturbed, hydrogen sulfide can be rapidly released.

An Ag in The Classroom workshop is being scheduled for agriculture friends in northeast Iowa who respect farmers, love agriculture, enjoy being with kids and have some free time to work with children in the classroom. The Ag in The Classroom volunteer workshop is scheduled for January 20 at the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Dairy Center in Calmar.

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