Agriculture

Traditionally, farm leases have been oral rather than written. Is there a general feeling that a written lease implies a lack of trust in the other party? Is it widely known that a lease for a period longer than one year is required to be in writing?

Written leases can be beneficial to both parties, even if they have been in a lease arrangement for many years.  One of the biggest benefits of a written lease is that it provides a clear record of what was agreed to. After many years of oral leases, the parties may have a different recall of the lease agreement.

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

The next Allamakee County FSA Committee meeting will be Thursday, December 4, 2014 in the Allamakee County FSA Conference Room at 9 a.m.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recenlty highlighted the Farm to Food Donation Tax Credit and encouraged eligible farmers to consider applying. Iowa farmers who donate self-produced food commodities to food banks and food pantries can now qualify for the credit on state taxes, which is equal to 15% of the value of the commodities donated during the tax year or $5,000 whichever is less.

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

The next Allamakee County FSA Committee meeting will be Thursday, December 4, 2014 in the Allamakee County FSA Conference Room at 9 a.m.

Reminders

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and State Agronomist Barb Stewart with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced recently that farmers participating in state cost-share and most federal financial assistance programs now have until November 15, 2014 to plant winter hardy cover crops and still qualify for assistance.

Dairy producers interested in utilized robotic milking systems on their farm are encouraged to attend this year’s Midwest Dairy School on Maximizing Robotic Milking Systems.
This year the Midwest Dairy School will provide you with more in-depth information on robotic milking systems specifically with research and nutrition.   
This program, set for November 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., is open to dairy producers, students, lenders and industry persons. ISU Extension and Outreach, the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation and Northeast Iowa Community College are hosts for the annual event.
Marcia Endres, University of Minnesota Associate Professor and Extension Dairy Scientist, will share her findings from her research study on 52 dairy farms in Minnesota and Wisconsin that use robotic milking systems.  Participants will then have an opportunity to take part in a Q and A while visiting an active robotic milking system at Iowa’s Robotic Dairy Center.

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

The next Allamakee County FSA Committee meeting will be held Thursday, November 6 at 9 a.m. in the Allamakee County FSA Conference Room.

Reminders
April 15, 2014 – January 30, 2015 sign-up for the LIP/LFP/ELAP/TAP programs.
Attention Farmers: All forage or fall seeded crops need to be certified by December 15, 2014. After December 15, 2014 there will be a late file of $46 per farm.

MPP-Dairy Program Sign-up Extended to December 5
The sign-up for the MPP-Dairy Program is from September 2, 2014 to December 5, 2015 (extended) for the 2014 and/or 2015 milk calendar years. The Allamakee County FSA Office will need pound totals for 2011, 2012 and 2013 before signing up.
For more information or to set up an appoint to work through the application process, contact the FSA Office.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recently announced that $501,500 in cost share is available through a new program designed to help farmers with organic certification expenses. Farmers are eligible for 75 percent reimbursement of eligible certification expense, limited to $750 per certification scope, which include: crops, wild crops, livestock and processing/handling.
 The deadline to apply for the assistance is November 3, 2014.
 “There can be significant costs associated with organic certification and this new program is designed to help farmers offset some of that expense,” Northey said. “Organic producers can contact our Department for more information and a copy of the application.”

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

The next Allamakee County FSA Committee meeting will be held Thursday, October 30 at 9 a.m. in the Allamakee County FSA Conference Room.

MPP- Dairy Program
The sign-up for the MPP-Dairy Program is from September 2, 2014 to November 28, 2014 for the 2014 and/or 2015 milk calendar years. The Allamakee County FSA office will need 2011, 2012 and 2013 pounds for each year before signing up.
For more information on this program, contact the Allamakee County FSA Office. We are willing to work with small groups in the office to talk over the MPP program with you. Please call to set up a time.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recently announced that farmers participating in the state cost share programs that are intending to plant cover crops have until November 1, 2014 to get the cover crops planted and still qualify for assistance.
This extension is only available for winter-hardy, small grains that are likely to establish yet this fall, specifically winter rye, winter triticale and winter wheat.  Other species such as oats, radishes, turnips and legumes are not likely to provide the desired growth to be effective this late in the season. There are an estimated 108,000 acres of cover crops supported by state cost share programs.