Agriculture

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

REMINDERS:
July 1 – Sept 30: Sign-up for the 2017 MPP-Dairy program.
July 4: Office closed for Independence Day Holiday
July 5: County Committee meeting at 9:00 am at Waukon USDA Service Center
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

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

REMINDERS:

July 1 – Sept. 30:   Sign-up for the 2017 MPP-Dairy program
July 4: Office closed for Independence Day Holiday
July 5:County Committee meeting at 9:00 am at Waukon USDA Service Center
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

“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 Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey is reminding farmers the 2016 sign-up period is open for cost share funds for nutrient reduction practices.  This program has been popular with farmers interested in adding additional practices to their operation.  Practices eligible for this funding are cover crops, no-till or strip till, or using a nitrification inhibitor when applying fertilizer.

“With planting completed in much of the state, now is a great time for farmers to visit their local Soil and Water Conservation District office to sign-up for cost share and learn about other conservation programs available as well,” Northey said.  “We continue to see cover crop acreage expand, but we still have more work to do.  This program is a great way for farmers to try a practice and see how it fits on their farm.”

Collecting, analyzing and interpreting increasingly complex and large amounts of data has become an everyday occurrence in today’s world. The massive datasets being generated are commonly called Big Data.

To manage big data, build partnerships among private and public institutions and use data to improve the quality of life the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a coordinated initiative last November. The initiative set up four regional hubs throughout the United States. Iowa State University is a co-leader of the Midwest Big Data Hub grant, which includes 11 states and five universities.

Joe Colletti, senior associate dean in the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said the focus of the NSF initiative is to build a community of sharing.

AMES, Iowa — A new initiative at the Iowa State University Research Park will identify and fund innovative agricultural startups.

The accelerator program, called the Ag Startup Engine, is part of a broader Iowa State initiative that is working to foster business startup, innovation and technology transfer.

“Ag Startup Engine will deliver funding, mentorship and support to agricultural entrepreneurs with promising business concepts,” said Kevin Kimle, director of the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative in Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

“Because of our rich network of entrepreneurs and agribusiness leaders, the launch of this business startup program is a very natural and significant progression of our support of agricultural entrepreneurs,” Kimle said.

Hello!  I am currently the Acting County Executive Director (CED) for the Allamakee Co FSA office.  I live in Elkader and am also serving Clayton County farmers as their FSA CED since 2001.  I started working for ASCS back in 1985 in the Delaware County office and have kept moving north ever since.  I firmly believe that “service” is the mission of FSA, in fact it is our middle name.  I plan on being in the Waukon office two days each week, so please stop in and introduce yourself the next time you visit FSA. 

REMINDERS:
July 4 - Office closed for Independence Day Holiday
July 5 - County Committee meeting at 9:00 am at Waukon USDA Service Center
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)

The Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation and Iowa’s Dairy Center will host a new traveling, interactive exhibit from June 1-25 that is free, open to the public and celebrates the contributions of Iowa farmers during National June Dairy Month.

Join the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation for the Seventh Annual Breakfast on the Farm event Saturday, June 18 from 8:30 a.m.-12 Noon at Iowa’s Dairy Center in Calmar. Iowa’s Dairy Center is located just south of Calmar at 1527 Highway 150 South.

The Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation, Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), Iowa State University Extension and area dairy producers will be serving a wholesome breakfast including Dad’s Belgian waffles, Edgewood Locker sausage and dairy products produced and processed in northeast Iowa from Country View Dairy.

Guided tram tours of the nationally-recognized Iowa’s Dairy Center farm will also be provided. Children and families attending will enjoy the chance to meet some calves, visit several educational exhibits, milk a cow and watch robots milk cows.  Takeouts are available along with on-site parking; donations for the breakfast are appreciated.

The growing season is well underway in Iowa, and with it many farmers and certified applicators will be applying pesticides, herbicides and fungicides to crop fields. While on-target application is the goal, drift from these chemicals onto neighboring farm fields, yards and communities is a regular occurrence.

Each drift episode poses financial and health risks to nearby people, livestock, wildlife and the environment. To help reduce the number and severity of these occurrences, Practical Farmers of Iowa encourages chemical applicators and rural residents to be more aware of the prevalence and impact of pesticide drift.