Agriculture

Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Beef Specialist, and colleagues at the Orr Research Center near Baylis, Illinois, have looked into the effect of lush, spring pastures on beef cow pregnancy rates. The wet, high protein grass may cause nutritional challenges to high producing beef cows leading to lower conception rates. Their research showed a benefit from supplemental feed on AI conception rates. With the high cost of bred cows and feeder calves, some additional feed to improve conception rates may increase profitability.
As part of the 2015 Driftless Beef Conference in Dubuque, Meteer will present a breakout session on this research that includes the effects of supplementation on spring pastures.

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamake County Executive Director

Reminders
January 19 – Office closed for Martin Luther King Day.
January 22 - Meeting at 7 p.m. at Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank, Waukon - FSA for ARC/PLC program.
January 30 – Deadline for 2012 Livestock Feed Program (LFP) and 2012 Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).
January 30 – Deadline for the “Early Out” on CRP. Certain criteria must be met to qualify.
February 27 – Deadline for landowners to update yield history and/or reallocate base acres.
March 31 - Producers make a one-time irrevocable election of ARC or PLC for the 2014 through 2018 crop years.
After March 31 – Enrollment into 2014 & 2015 program.
Producers may contact the Allamakee County FSA office at 563-568-2148 for more information or make an appointment.  

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

The Allamakee County Committee meeting will be January 8, 2015 at 9 a.m. at the Allamakee County FSA Office.

This coming January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey more than 40,000 cattle operations nationwide to provide an up-to-date measure of U.S. cattle inventories. As cattle prices have rebounded and feed costs have declined, an updated look at cattle numbers across the nation will determine if producers have begun rebuilding their herds from last year’s level, which was the lowest in 60 years.
“In January 2014, Iowa’s cattle inventory of 3.7 million head ranked seventh in the U.S. Of the total cattle inventory, 1.23 million were cattle and calves on feed which ranked Iowa fourth in the nation,” said Greg Thessen, Director of the NASS Upper Midwest Regional Office. “Obtaining the current count of cattle will serve as a critical decision-making tool for producers and the entire agriculture industry.”

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

The next Allamakee County FSA Committee meeting will be announced at a later date.

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee county Executive Director

The next Allamakee County FSA Committee meeting will be announced at a later date.

Reminders  

Does your farm seek a highly motivated farm employee? Are you looking for a way to support the next generation of Iowa farmers by sharing your farming knowledge with an aspiring farmer? If so, consider becoming a trainer in Practical Farmers of Iowa’s Labor4Learning program.

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

The next Allamakee County FSA Committee meeting will be announced at a later date.

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 in Waukon at 9 a.m.

Reminders

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.