Agriculture

submitted by Sara Berges, Allamakee SWCD

Now is a good time to think about your farm lease for next year.  According to Iowa law, if you want to terminate your rental agreement or make changes in your current lease terms, you must properly serve a notice of termination by September 1. This applies to both cash and crop-share leases, but not custom farming contracts.
 
In 2013, the Iowa Legislature made a change in state law regarding lease termination. The previous law exempted termination notice for parcels under 40 acres.  Now, a written notice of termination is required on all tracts of rented farmland, regardless of size. Farm leases automatically continue as written from year to year unless either party gives a notice of termination. Even an oral lease is automatically renewed if it is not properly terminated.

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

Reminders
June 15-Aug. 3: Nominations for COC elections.
June 15 - September 30: ARC/PLC sign-up period for 2014/2015 program.
July 1 - September 30: 2016 MPP (Dairy) Program sign-up.
August 1: Last day to request reconstitution for 2015.

The next Allamakee County Committee meeting will be Tuesday, July 28, at 9 a.m. in the Allamakee County FSA conference room.

Reminders
June 15 - August 3: Nominations can be received for the COC elections.
June 15 - September 30: ARC/PLC sign-up for 2014/2015 program.
July 1- September 30: 2016 MPP (Dairy) Program sign-up period.
August 1: Last day to request a reconstitution for 2015.

On many stretches of state highway, the Iowa Department of Transportation allows land owners and others to harvest hay out of the roadside by permit. The permitting process begins in the spring, but mowing for hay is not allowed until July 15 by Iowa law, with some exceptions. The Iowa DOT requires a permit for several reasons, one of which is the protection of habitat.
“By delaying haying until July 15, we lose a little on hay quality, but gain much benefit for wildlife,” said Joy Williams, an Iowa DOT agronomist. “Roadsides are important corridors of habitat for many species. Leaving the roadside undisturbed during early summer not only benefits nesting wildlife, but also leaves cover and flowers for bees and other pollinators, including the Monarch butterfly, whose populations are declining.”

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

Reminders
June 15 - August 3: Nominations can be received for the COC elections.
June 15 - September 30: ARC/PLC sign-up for 2014/2015 program.
July 1 - September 30: MPP (Dairy) Progam sign-up
July 15: Deadline to certify all crops and CRP acres for FSA purposes.
August 1: Last day to request a reconstitution for 2015.

Private landowners in nine Iowa watersheds that cover portions of 19 counties have until July 17 to sign up for conservation practices to help reduce nutrient loading in focus watersheds across the state.
Through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering higher than normal payment rates on conservation practices such as cover crops, grassed waterways, nutrient management, and terraces.
“There are more than a dozen conservation practices available for adoption through this sign-up,” said Paul Goldsmith, who coordinates RCPP for NRCS in Iowa. “We are offering higher payment rates through RCPP than we do for most of our other programs.”
The nine selected watersheds currently have water quality improvement projects. Goldsmith said the assistance through RCPP will help build momentum toward completing those efforts. Private landowners in the following watersheds are eligible:

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

Reminders
June 15 - August 3: Nomination period for the COC elections.
June 15 - September 30: ARC/PLC sign-up for 2014/2015 program deadline.
July 1 -  September 30: 2015 2016 MPP (Dairy) Program.
July 15: Deadline to certify all crops and CRP acres for FSA purposes.
August 1: Last day to request a reconstitution for 2015.

2015 Crop Certification
Currently the county office is certifying crops. The deadline to certify is July 15. After July 15, it will cost $46 per farm to late file certifications. CRP, ARC/PLC and other programs require crop certification before any payments will be issued in the programs. For more information, call the FSA Office at 563568-2148.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recently highlighted the Iowa Legislature’s continued commitment to partnering with farmers to make significant long-term progress in protecting Iowa’s soil and water resources. The Legislature approved $9.6 million to support the Iowa Water Quality Initiative in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. The legislation now goes to Governor Branstad and must be signed before going into effect.
“Farmers have greatly increased their financial commitment to improving water quality in recent years and I appreciate our state’s leaders doing the same. Iowa is a model nationally for the progress that can be made on this important issue. These funds will allow us to continue to expand our water quality efforts and engage more Iowans,” Northey said.

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

Reminders
June 15 - August 3: Nominations can be received for the COC elections.
June 15 - September 30: ARC/PLC sign-up for 2014/2015 program.
July 3: Office closed for the Independence Day.
July 15: Deadline to certify all crops and CRP acres for FSA purposes.
August 1: Last day to request a reconstitution for 2015.

2015 Allamakee County Committee Elections
The nomination period began June 15 and ends August 3. Request nomination forms from the Allamakee County FSA Office or obtain a nomination form online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.
The townships involved for the elections are Iowa, Lansing, Center, La Fayette, Paint Creek and Taylor.

The Annual Spring Field Day at the ISU Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm will run from 1-4:15 p.m. Wednesday, June 24. The program will start with Elwynn Taylor, ISU Extension Climatologist, providing a crop-weather forecast; followed by Matt Liebman, ISU Agronomist, to address the economics of diversified crop rotations; then Antonio Mallarino, ISU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist, will cover N management in crop rotations; and Matt Helmers, ISU Extension Ag Engineer, will address various water quality project on the research farm and their implications.