Agriculture

Wed
30
Jun

What's Up at the USDA Office?

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15-August 1: Primary Nesting Season
July 15: Crop Certification
July 23: CRP General Signup
August 6: CRP Continuous Signup

Wed
30
Jun

ISU Farm Management Specialist reminds Iowa farm employers to focus on employee well-being

Early heatwave is a reminder to think about employee needs

The late-spring heatwave that blanketed Iowa and much of the Midwest is a reminder for farm employers and employees to focus on human resources.

Melissa O’ Rourke, Farm Management Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, said people are the most valuable asset in a farm or rural business.

“In any business, including farming, the most important resource is the people,” O’Rourke said. “We need to do whatever we can to preserve and protect what I think of as a priceless resource - our people.”

In the June edition of Ag Decision Maker, O’Rourke outlines some basic ways that farm employers can protect workers from heat stress and illness. She also provides an updated checklist that covers all the major aspects of farm worker hiring and employment.

Wed
23
Jun

What's Up at the USDA Office?

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15-August 1: Primary Nesting Season
June 15: COC Election Ballots Mailed to Producers in LAA 3
July 15: Crop Certification
July 23: CRP General Signup
August 6: CRP Continuous Signup

Wed
23
Jun

Virtual Roundtable: “Carbon Credit Markets: What Farmers Need to Know” set for July 14

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) has opened online registration at https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/News/Carbon-Credit-Markets-What-Farmers-N... for its upcoming virtual roundtable diving into key considerations for farmers seeking to adopt climate-friendly carbon sequestration and other practices with the hope of increasing their on-farm income.

IFBF’s “Carbon Credit Markets: What Farmers Need to Know” virtual roundtable will help answer questions and provide valuable insight as farmers seek to reduce their carbon footprint and navigate the ever-changing agriculture environment as private-sector companies present new opportunities and federal programs are developed.

Wed
23
Jun

Northeast Research Farm Field Day; Dry weather and corn rootworm to be topics

Get a 2021 crop progress update at annual field day

The Annual Spring Field Day at Iowa State University’s Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm will run from 1-4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 24.

“As we continue to experience warm and dry weather conditions, part of our program will focus on implications and expectations of the 2021 crop, to help producers in future planning,” said Terry Basol, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Elwynn Taylor, Iowa State University climatologist emeritus, will start the program by providing his insights on crop weather for the 2021 growing season.

Erin Hodgson, professor and extension specialist in entomology at Iowa State, will share the latest research on corn rootworm management.

Wed
16
Jun

What's Up at the USDA Office?

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15-August 1: Primary Nesting Season
June 15: COC Election Ballots Mailed to Producers in LAA 3
July 15: Crop Certification
July 23: CRP General Signup
August 6: CRP Continuous Signup

Canada Thistle Control
by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist, NRCS

Wed
16
Jun

Breakfast on the Farm scheduled for June 26 at Iowa’s Dairy Center located in Calmar

Join the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation in celebrating National Dairy Month with Breakfast on the Farm Saturday, June 26, from 8:30 a.m. – Noon at Iowa’s Dairy Center located just south of Calmar at 1527 Highway 150 South.

Enjoy a wholesome, dairy-rich breakfast of Dad’s Belgian Waffles served with real butter and whipped cream, sausage, cheese, yogurt, milk and, of course, ice cream. In addition to breakfast, visitors will enjoy activities including guided tram tours of Iowa’s Dairy Center, hand-milking a cow, petting zoo, inflatables, corn pools, Story Time with the Dairy Princess and more. This outdoor event will follow current CDC guidelines and guests are encouraged to wear masks and maintain social distance.

Breakfast on the Farm will be held rain or shine. Parking is available on-site and donations are appreciated. This event is made possible by the generous support from community sponsors.  

Wed
16
Jun

Stream to the Forest Tour will show benefits of conservation practices in action June 22

Participants will see realistic examples of forest and water quality improvement projects

A self-driven tour led by forestry specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Floyd and Mitchell counties will show Iowans some of the ways healthy forests can improve water quality and the value of land.

“From the Stream to the Forest: Conservation Practices for Producers and Landowners” will be held June 22 in Floyd and Mitchell counties, in north central Iowa, and includes a visit to the Tjaden family’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program wetland, two riparian forest buffer sites, an upland forest site and an oak savanna.

The goal is to show Iowans some realistic examples of how healthy forests and water quality are related, and some practices private landowners can implement if they choose.

Wed
09
Jun

What's Up at the USDA Office?

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15-August 1: Primary Nesting Season
June 15: COC Election Ballots Mailed to Producers in LAA 3
July 15: Crop Certification

Wed
09
Jun

Annual survey shows Iowa land rents up significantly in 2021

Most farmers in Iowa are seeing a significant increase in what they pay for land rents this year, according to a recent survey conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

According to the “Cash Rental Rates for Iowa 2021 Survey,” which is conducted annually and available in the May Ag Decision Maker, rates have increased an average of 4.5%, an increase of about $10 per acre, for a total per-acre rent of $232.

Land considered to be “high quality” saw an average of a 3.9% increase, up from $257 per acre in 2020 to $267 in 2021. “Medium quality” land saw a 4.5 percent increase, from $223 per acre in 2020 to $233 in 2021, and “low quality” land is up 4.8%, from $188 per acre in 2020 to $197 in 2021.

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