Agriculture

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team will continue its monthly webinar series on Friday, Sept. 12, from noon to 1 p.m. CDT.

Kristiana Coutu, director of the Beginning Farmer Center and counsel for the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State University, will discuss common reasons why federal immigration officials may contact agricultural employers or visit farms.

Additionally, Coutu will provide practical information to help producers understand what to expect and how to prepare for potential interactions with immigration enforcement officials.

“Agricultural employers are increasingly concerned about immigration enforcement and have questions about how it may directly impact their farm,” said Fred Hall, extension dairy specialist at Iowa State. “This webinar will address situations dairy farm employers should be aware of, along with key compliance areas that every agricultural employer should understand.”

Deadlines/Dates
July 10: Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) opened
September 30: Fiscal Year End

Drone - Seeding Cover Crops in Allamakee County: Timing, Benefits and Cost-Share
Cover crops are a proven soil health tool for reducing erosion, improving water infiltration, and building organic matter. In Allamakee County, growers and conservation partners are increasingly using aerial and drone seeding to get cover crops established where and when ground equipment can’t go - or when timing is tight. Below is a practical guide to drone application of cover crops in Allamakee County: the best windows to seed, why it’s worth doing, and how the Iowa Financial Incentive Program (IFIP) and other cost share options can help.

The I-29 Moo University Beef on Dairy Dialogue webinar series will continue Thursday, August 28, from noon to 1 p.m. CDT.

Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University’s Charles Breedlove professor of agribusiness, will discuss current cattle supply and demand fundamentals, as well as expectations for prices, production and cattle inventories for 2025 and beyond.

Fred Hall, extension dairy specialist at Iowa State, noted that the webinar will benefit dairy and beef cattle producers. “This presentation will include interactions between beef and dairy sectors in the broader beef market. All producers are invited to attend.”

Since 1989, Peel has served as the extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State. His primary areas of focus are the livestock market outlook and education in marketing and risk management for livestock producers.

Deadlines/Dates
July 10: Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) opened
August 15: Deadline to enroll in Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP)
September 30: Fiscal Year End

Annual Review of Payment Eligibility for New Crop Year  
FSA and NRCS program applicants for benefits are required to submit a completed CCC-902 Farming Operation Plan and CCC-941 Average Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information for FSA to determine the applicant’s payment eligibility and establish the maximum payment limitation applicable to the program applicant. 

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach invites dairy producers and pasture enthusiasts to two upcoming pasture walks in Clayton and Allamakee counties this September.

Pasture walks are informal educational opportunities designed to highlight key aspects of pasture management and provide practical answers to common questions. These events are open to all producers who rely on forage-based systems.

“These pasture walks will offer participants a close look at innovative grazing practices, sharemilking arrangements and low-cost parlor systems tailored for grass-based dairy operations,” said Jenn Bentley, extension dairy specialist at Iowa State.

The first pasture walk will take place Wednesday, September 3, at the farm of Andy Schaefer, located at 25037 Lake Road, Garnavillo. Schaefer will share insights on his sharemilking program with a young couple, provide a walking tour focused on pasture management and offer an inside look at his parlor design.

Deadlines/Dates
July 10: Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) opened
August 15: Deadline to enroll in Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP)
September 30: Deadline for ARCPLC Revisions

Nesting Season Ends 
August 1: Now’s the Time to Manage Your CRP
As of August 1, the primary nesting season for CRP lands is officially over in Iowa. This means landowners can now resume weed control, mowing, interseeding, and other management practices - but with care and strategy.

The I-29 Moo University Dairy Webinar Series continues on Tuesday, Aug. 12, from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. The webinar will focus on revisions to the USDA milk pricing system with a presentation from Lawrence Jones, a consultant with The FARME Institute.

Fred Hall, extension dairy specialist at Iowa State, stated that the webinar will address several important questions, including:
• Why do we price milk the way we do?
• What is a make allowance?
• What is the rationale behind changing the Federal Milk Marketing Order formulas?
• What are some of the unintended consequences of these changes?

“Lawrence Jones will explain these questions in great depth, the good, the bad and the ugly, and help producers understand how it will affect changes in their milk check,” he said.

There is no fee to participate in the webinar; however, online registration is required at least one hour prior to the webinar.

Deadlines/Dates
July 10: Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) opened
July 30: Joint FSA/NRCS CRP and Kernza Field Day
August 1: Deadline to submit a COC Nomination and Deadline to request a Reconstitution 
August 15: Deadline to enroll in Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP)
September 30: Deadline for ARCPLC Revisions

Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) SIGNUP
Producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for $16 billion in assistance through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP).

To expedite the implementation of SDRP, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is delivering assistance in two stages. Stage One sign-up started on July 10.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dairy team will continue its dairy goat webinar series this fall. All webinars will be from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Central time, and topics will include timely updates on a variety of dairy goat issues, including milk quality, reproduction and animal care.

“Dairy goat production is a widely important industry in Iowa,” said Jenn Bentley, dairy field specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We are pleased to continue this educational opportunity with a lineup of quality speakers and presenters to provide producers and industry providers with practical take-home information.”

Deadlines/Dates
July 30: CRP/Kernza Field Day 
August 1: Deadline to submit a COC Nomination  
August 15: Deadline to enroll in Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP)
September 30: Deadline for ARCPLC Revisions

Conservation Cost Share Now Available in Allamakee County: Apply for IFIP and REAP Funds
The Allamakee Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is now accepting applications for cost share funding through the Iowa Financial Incentives Program (IFIP) and the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Program. These state-funded programs provide financial assistance to landowners and operators interested in installing approved conservation practices to protect natural resources and improve long-term farm sustainability.