Agriculture

Wed
13
Mar

What's Up at the USDA Office?

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
March 15: Deadline to sign up for the ARC PLC program
March 29: Deadline to sign up for General CRP
April 29: Deadline to sign up for Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC)
May 14: Deadline to complete CRP Management Activities
May 15 - August 1: CRP Primary Nesting Season
May 31: Deadline to apply for a Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) for 2023 crops

Dairy Producers Can Enroll for 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage Beginning February 28
Starting February 28, dairy producers are now able to enroll for 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), an important safety net program offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provides producers with price support to help offset milk and feed price differences. This year’s DMC signup begins Feb. 28, 2024, and ends April 29, 2024.

Wed
13
Mar

USDA announces Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up for 2024

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin signing up for the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting March 4 and running through March 29 of this year. This conservation opportunity gives producers tools to conserve wildlife habitat while achieving other conservation benefits, including sequestering carbon and improving water quality and soil health.

“Historically, CRP has been important to us but it has become more important through time,” said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “As a percentage of habitat on the landscape, CRP has grown from 42 percent in 1990 to 62 percent in 2023. As CRP goes in Iowa, so goes Iowa pheasants, and that’s why the Farm Bill is so important to us.”

Wed
06
Mar

What's Up at the USDA Office?

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
March 15: Deadline to sign up for the ARC PLC program
May 15 - August 1: CRP Primary Nesting Season

Taking Second Round Applications
Although NRCS takes program applications on a continual basis, we are still taking applications for the second round of funding and have a new way of processing applications more efficiently through ACT NOW.

Wed
06
Mar

‘Soil Health Economics’ Workshop scheduled for March 19 in Ridgeway

How can a dollar value be put on soil health? That will be the topic of discussion during a “Soil Health Economics: Learn the Value of Low-Input, Soil-Building Farm Systems” workshop Tuesday, March 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Ridgeway Community Center, 690 County Street.

Sign-in for this Land Stewardship Project (LSP) event begins at 8:30 a.m.; pre-registration is required and financial assistance for the workshop registration fee is available upon request, which includes lunch by Estelle’s Eatery. For details and to register, see https://bit.ly/LSPRidgeway. For more information, contact LSP’s Alex Romano at aromano@landstewardshipproject.org. The snow date has been scheduled for Thursday, March 21.

Wed
28
Feb

What's Up at the USDA Office?

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
February 29: Final date to submit an application for 2023 Livestock Indemnity Program (losses due to eligible adverse weather event)
March 15: Deadline to sign up for the ARC PLC program
May 15 - August 1: CRP Primary Nesting Season

ARC PLC Enrollment
The deadline is fast approaching so please stop in the office or call the Allamakee County FSA office to get enrolled today. We are also able to send enrollments through the mail or via electronic signature. The deadline to complete enrollment and any election change is March 15.

Wed
28
Feb

Small Farm and Beginning Farmer Webinars offer guidance and insight to entrepreneurs

Learn about small-farm topics related to crops, livestock and business management

Are you ready to cultivate your dreams and turn that small plot of land into a thriving and sustainable farm?

Join Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for the Small Farm & Beginning Farmer series, designed exclusively for beginning farmers and small acreage owners.

Hosted by ISU Extension and Outreach in Muscatine County, this series is a combination of informative webinars and hands-on, in-person events. It is tailored to provide essential insight and practical advice for those venturing into farming or seeking to enhance their small-scale agricultural operations.

Each session, led by industry experts and seasoned professionals, covers critical topics relevant to the challenges and opportunities of small-scale farming.

Wed
21
Feb

What's Up at the USDA Office?

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
March 15: Deadline to sign up for the ARC PLC program

Taking Second Round Applications
Although NRCS takes program applications on a continual basis, we have just announced our second round cutoff for program applications and a new way of processing applications more efficiently through ACT NOW.

Wed
14
Feb

What's Up at the USDA Office?

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
February 19: Office closed for observance of President’s Day
March 15: Deadline to sign up for the ARC PLC program

Interest Rates Move Lower - Farm Storage Facility Loans
The Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFL) allows producers of eligible commodities to obtain low-interest financing to build or upgrade (new or used) farm storage and handling facilities.

These loans include but are not limited to: storage bins, wet holding bins, new concrete foundations, permanently affixed grain handling and drying equipment, equipment to improve, maintain, or monitor the quality of stored grain, silage bunkers, grain carts, grain trailers, hay storage structures, and bulk tanks for dairy operations.  

Wed
14
Feb

Secretary Naig encourages applications for Century and Heritage Farm recognition

Applications for 2024 recognition will be accepted through June 1

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig encourages eligible Iowa farm owners to apply for Century or Heritage Farm recognition as part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Century and Heritage Farm Program. The program was created by the Department and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation to honor families who have owned their farms for 100 years and 150 years, respectively.

To be included for recognition in 2024, completed applications must be postmarked or received by the Department by June 1, 2024. The ceremonies honoring the 2024 Century and Heritage Farm families will be held on August 15, 2024, in the historic Livestock Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair.

Wed
07
Feb

Beef specialist to discuss how cover crops can work on livestock farms

Soil health event in Tama County will feature Denise Schwab February 13

A beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will discuss the ways that cattle and cover crops can coincide during a February 13 event in Tama County.

Denise Schwab will speak during the Tama Soil and Water Conservation District meeting called “Above, Below and Cattle: the ABCs of Soil Health and Profitability.” The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Reinig Toledo Civic Center, 1007 S. Prospect Drive, Toledo.

“By incorporating annual forages along with traditional perennial forages, cattlemen can stretch grazing days while providing rest to perennial pastures and improving cow condition,” said Schwab. “Annual forages also provide important crop rotations to corn-soybean rotations.

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