Agriculture

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
February 17: Office closed in observance of Presidents’ Day
March 31: 2025 DMC Signup deadline
April 15: 2025 ARC/PLC Signup deadline

Offseason Management of CRP
Now is a great time for landowners to consider winter management of lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program or CRP. The next few months are an ideal time to begin scouting for weeds, trees, and shrubs that are beginning to sneak their way in. Although you may be required to burn or mow as part of your mid-contract management, these onetime practices alone often aren’t sufficient to remedy unwanted vegetation.

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Iowa Geological Survey, is hosting a free virtual field day Thursday, February 13 at 1 p.m. Join the virtual for a live discussion with Alison Robertson, Iowa State University Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology Professor, and Peter O’Brien, United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Research Agronomist.

Cereal rye is the most common cover crop grown in Iowa because of its winter hardiness as well as its contribution to soil health and water quality. Greater cereal rye biomass increases the benefits received. However, there are trade-offs associated with increased cereal rye biomass - most importantly for growers is the potential for corn yield drag.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
January 31: Deadline to request 2024 MALs and LDPs for all eligible wool, mohair and unshorn pelts
February 17: Office closed in observance of Presidents’ Day
March 31: 2025 DMC Signup deadline
April 15: 2025 ARC/PLC Signup deadline

Join the Northeast Iowa Dairy & Agriculture Foundation for the NRCS Field Day and Annual Meeting Tuesday, Feb. 11. The event will be held at the Wilder Business Center starting at 9 a.m.

This year’s NRCS Field Day theme is Roots and Ruminants: Maximizing Farm Productivity. The event features agricultural experts such as Brian Dougherty, Daniel Olson and Eric Fuchs presenting valuable insight into farm production with topics ranging from managing manure, digestible fiber for your herd and grazing cover crops.

Additionally,  Iowa dairy farmer, Dan Venteicher, will lead the afternoon sessions with a unique perspective of social media in agriculture.

The Northeast Iowa Dairy & Agriculture Foundation annual meeting will begin at 3 p.m. and will feature the business meeting and election of board members.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
January 31: Deadline to request 2024 MALs and LDPs for all eligible wool, mohair and unshorn pelts
February 17: Office closed in observance of Presidents’ Day

The Importance of Plant Diversity
In a recent article written by Jay Fuhrer, a retired soil health specialist from the NRCS, titled “The Elusive Holy Grail: Plant Diversity and Why You Need It,” he emphasizes that to sustain farming practices indefinitely, it is crucial to cultivate a healthy landscape characterized by nutrient-dense crops, achievable through the adoption of plant diversity principles.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is advising Iowa pet owners to keep their cats and dogs away from sick or deceased wild birds and animals. Pet owners should also discourage indoor/outdoor cats from hunting wildlife because of the ongoing threat posed by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) circulating within wild and migratory birds.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
January 20: Office closed in observance of Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr
January 31: Deadline to request 2024 MALs and LDPs for all eligible wool, mohair and unshorn pelts
February 17: Office closed in observance of Presidents’ Day

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
January 8: Deadline to apply for Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops Program (MASC)
January 9: FSA County Committee Meeting
January 20: Office closed in observance of Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr
January 31: Deadline to request 2024 MALs and LDPs for all eligible wool, mohair and unshorn pelts

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
January 1: Office closed in observance of New Years Day
January 2: Deadline to report number of honeybee colonies for NAP and ELAP programs
January 8: Deadline to apply for Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops Program (MASC)
January 9: FSA County Committee Meeting
January 20: Office closed in observance of Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr
January 31: Deadline to request 2024 MALs and LDPs for all eligible wool, mohair and unshorn pelts

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
December 25: Office closed in observance of Christmas Day
January 1: Office closed in observance of New Years Day
January 2: Deadline to report number of honeybee colonies for NAP and ELAP programs
January 9: FSA County Committee Meeting
January 20: Office closed in observance of Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr
January 31: Deadline to request 2024 MALs and LDPs for all eligible wool, mohair and unshorn pelts