Agriculture

Deadlines/Dates
July 13-19: Allamakee County Fair
July 15: Deadline to Report Acres
August 2: Primary Nesting Season Ends
August 12: Deadline to submit an SDRP application

Deadlines/Dates
July 13-19: Allamakee County Fair
July 15: Deadline to Report Acres
August 12: Deadline to submit an SDRP application

Grazing Field Day to be hosted by Waukon NRCS 
Local livestock producers and landowners looking to enhance their pasture management and explore cutting-edge technologies are invited to a special Grazing Field Day hosted by the Waukon NRCS office and area staff. The event will take place Friday, July 24 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 1352 Hawes Rd, Harpers Ferry.

Effective grazing management is a cornerstone of successful livestock operations, optimizing forage utilization and promoting healthy pastures. Rotational grazing has proven benefits for both livestock and land, improving forage quantity and quality while building soil health. This field day aims to delve deeper into these established practices and introduce exciting new advancements.

Dairy producers are growing herd size while keeping cows productive longer, a financial strategy shaped by strong beef cattle markets, fewer replacement needs and rising value per animal, according to benchmark findings by Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica). As the industry celebrates National Dairy Month, these insights highlight how producers are adapting and positioning their operations for long-term success. The insights are drawn from FCSAmerica’s proprietary dairy benchmarking program, which reflects detailed financial and production data across a broad portfolio of operations representing 144 dairy sites in a multi-state region from Minnesota to Texas and from Michigan to California.

Deadlines/Dates
July 3: Office closed in observance of Independence Day
July 13-19: Allamakee County Fair
July 15: Deadline to Report Acres
August 12: Deadline to submit an SDRP application

FSA Ready for Your 2026 Acreage Report
With the planting season now behind us, we wanted to take this opportunity to send a friendly reminder about certifying your planted acres. Completing your certifications promptly is essential for keeping your records up to date and ensuring you remain eligible for future program benefits. By submitting your information in a timely manner, you help us support you more efficiently and avoid any potential issues down the road. If you have any questions about the certification process or need assistance at any stage, please feel free to reach out. 

Deadlines/Dates
May 14 - August 2: Primary Nesting Season
July 3: Office closed in observance of Independence Day
July 13-19: Allamakee County Fair
July 15: Deadline to Report Acres
August 12: Deadline to submit an SDRP application

Livestock producers and land managers interested in learning more about pasture productivity and grazing management practices are invited to participate in the Iowa Grazing Academy this July and August. The Iowa Grazing Academy consists of online sessions and in-person field days that provide practical skills and strategies for improving grazing practices.

The online sessions will be held July 13–22 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Participants can join all sessions or choose those that fit their schedule. All sessions will be recorded and available for later viewing.

Deadlines/Dates
May 14 - August 2: Primary Nesting Season
June 19: Office closed in observance of Juneteenth 
July 3: Office closed in observance of Independence Day
July 13-19: Allamakee County Fair
July 15: Deadline to Report Acres
August 12: Deadline to submit an SDRP application

FSA Offers Safety Net Programs for Honeybee Producers
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers two programs that have specific safety net benefits for producers of honeybees and honey. The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) assist producers when disasters impact honey production or damage or destroy colonies, hives or honeybee feed.

Deadlines/Dates
May 14 - August 2: Primary Nesting Season
June 19: Office closed in observance of Juneteenth 
July 3: Office closed in observance of Independence Day
July 13-19: Allamakee County Fair
July 15: Deadline to Report Acres
August 12: Deadline to submit an SDRP application

Deadlines/Dates
May 14 - August 2: Primary Nesting Season
June 19: Office closed in observance of Juneteenth 
July 3: Office closed in observance of Independence Day
July 13-19: Allamakee County Fair
July 15: Deadline to Report Acres
August 12: Deadline to submit an SDRP application

FSA Ready for Your 2026 Acreage Report
As this planting season draws to a close, we wanted to send out another quick reminder. If you have completed your planting, please reach out to the FSA office and report your acreage as soon as possible. Timely reporting helps us keep everything on track. Thank you for your cooperation and all your hard work during the season!

Livestock manure is a rich source of fertility, and Iowa has abundant supplies from about 8,200 livestock farms. About 20% of cropped acres across the state are estimated to receive manure. 

“Farmers respect manure and want to get the most value from it, but that’s not easy. Manure management is complicated,” said Dan Andersen, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University andknown by many as “Dr. Manure.” 

As a result, manure is often underutilized as a resource to boost crop yields and soil health, according to Andersen. And when it is not managed well, manure can contribute to the state’s water quality problems.  

Studying multiverse of factors influencing management 
“We have to develop modern strategies for smarter use to encourage farmers to recycle this resource. A main goal of mine is to help make sure producers have good data to inform their decisions,” he said.