Agriculture

Country Heritage Community (CHC) will once again be offering the Maize Maze in Elgin, beginning July 30. This year the theme will be “The Amazing Iowa Barns," and CHC is seeking the assistance of area residents in sharing their own barn stories or photos.

Many who have had the opportunity to grow up on a farm will remember the role that the barn played in the structure of daily life. From milking, to stacking hay, to jumping from the beams into a haystack - all have their own story.

Area residents are invited to share their story and have it on display at the 2016 Maize Maze. All stories will have a chance to win the honor of "Best Iowa Barn Story." Stories are to be no longer than two pages (if typed, size 12 font). There will be two divisions of competition, one for ages 17 and under and another for ages 18 and over.

“Sharing Solutions” is the theme of the 10th annual Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny on July 26. The Conference will offer opportunities for valuable take-aways on an array of current farm challenges: marketing strategies for low commodity prices, financial risk management, transition hurdles, high cash rental rates, and bootstraps for beginning farmers.

The one-day Conference runs from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Karey Claghorn, CEO of the Iowa Soybean Association, and former Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, will kick it off with “Navigating the New Normal: the 2017 Ag Outlook”.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is hosting multiple farmland leasing meetings during July and August at various times and locations throughout northeast Iowa. The annual meeting is offered to address questions that land owners, tenants or other interested individuals have about leasing farmland.

Topics will include land values and cash rent trends, cost of production, methods for determining a rental rate, legislative updates regarding leases, and communicating with tenants or landlords.

“More than half of Iowa’s farmland is rented, and strong landlord/tenant relationships are important for the long-term viability of Iowa’s valuable farmland,” said Melissa O’Rourke, ISU Extension Farm & Agribusiness Management Specialist. O’Rourke is a licensed attorney with extensive experience in working with farm, ranch and agribusiness interests.

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

Dates to Remember:

July 15: Deadline to certify a 2016 crop report (FSA-578)
Aug 1: Deadline to sign-up for the 2016 ARC-Co Program (sign a CCC-861)
Aug 1: Last day to request a farm or tract reconstitution for 2016 crop year
Sept 1: Premiums are due for 2016 MPP buy-up coverage

Crop Reporting and ARC-CO sign-up for 2016
We are down to the last couple of days before the certification deadline (July 15th)– and only two more weeks to accomplish the annual sign-up for ARC-CO program (August 1st).  Don’t delay – get it done today.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey encourages Iowa hay and straw producers to register or update their listing on the Iowa Hay and Straw Directory. The directory lists Iowa producers with hay and straw for sale, as well as organizations and businesses associated with promoting and marketing quality hay and straw.

“The directory has been a great tool for both buyers and sellers and we hope farmers will take the time to review and update their information so that it remains a valuable resource,” Northey said.  “This directory can serve as a critical link for those producing hay and those looking to buy, so we encourage Iowans to take advantage of this free directory.”

The listing is available to interested buyers throughout the nation, however only sellers from within Iowa can be included on the list.

The Allamakee County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will be hosting a small grain workshop Wednesday, August 10 at the Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank Community Room in Waukon. Registration for the event will start at 9:30 a.m. with the program starting at 10 a.m. Those attending can learn more about growing food grade small grains or small grains for cover crop seed.

Speakers will include a representative from Grain Millers in St. Ansgar, Stefan Gailans from Practical Farmers of Iowa, and Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D). Information will cover variety selection, planting timing and populations, fertilizer recommendations, weed/disease management, harvest, storage and infrastructure hurdles and opportunities. The event will provide an opportunity for producers to learn more about adding small grains to their rotation.

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

Dates to Remember:

July 15: Deadline to certify a 2016 crop report (FSA-578)
Aug 1: Deadline to sign-up for the 2016 ARC-Co Program (sign a CCC-861)
Aug 1: Last day to request a farm or tract reconstitution for 2016 crop year
July 1 – Sept 30: Sign-up for the 2017 MPP-Dairy program
Sept 1: Premiums are due for 2016 MPP buy-up coverage

by Jason Johnson
Public Affairs Specialist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Des Moines

Before Allamakee County livestock producer Ryan Collins purchased his own farm in 2011, he knew USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) could help him plan a rotational grazing system through previous experiences with the agency on land his family rented.

So, one of his first calls was to the NRCS office in Waukon when he decided to implement a similar grazing system for his herd of cow/calf pairs on his newly-acquired 170-acre farm near Harpers Ferry.

A rotational grazing system - also referred to as prescribed grazing - means dividing pastures into four or more small paddocks with fencing. The animals move from paddock to paddock on a prearranged schedule based on forage availability and livestock nutrition needs.

In order to have a successful prairie planting, it is important to manage the weeds so that they don’t outcompete the prairie seedlings. One of the best ways to manage weeds in a new CRP planting with native species (CP2, CP25, CP33, CP42) is through mowing.

New plantings should be mowed several times during the first, and possibly the second year, to ensure establishment of adequate cover. Producers don’t need to get permission from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to mow during the first two years of a new planting. The best results are usually obtained by mowing three to five times during the first year and often one to two times during the second year.

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

Dates to Remember:
July 1-September 30: Sign-up for the 2017 MPP-Dairy program
July 4: Office closed for Independence Day Holiday
July 5: County Committee meeting at 9 a.m. at Waukon USDA Service Center
July 15: Deadline to certify a 2016 crop report (FSA-578)
August 1: Deadline to sign-up for the 2016 ARC-Co Program (sign a CCC-861)
August 1: Last day to request a farm or tract reconstitution for 2016 crop year
September 1: Premiums are due for 2016 MPP buy-up coverage.