Agriculture

We are excited to announce that the Allamakee County Soil and Water Conservation District has been awarded $235,907.00, for a three-year project, that involves interseeding cover crops into V4-V7 Corn. The funding for this project came from the USDA Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) program.

Short planting windows after commodity crop harvest has some producers frustrated and looking at other methods of getting cover crops established. One option is interseeding cover crops into corn between the V4-V7 growth stages. Doing this allows cover crops to get established prior to corn canopy.  After canopy the cover crop will go dormant from being shaded out and then restart growth once the corn is harvested. The overall goal of this project is to get more producers to try interseeding as an option for cover crop establishment.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 - August 1: Primary Nesting Season - No MCM work on CRP acres
June 30: 2020 ARCPLC Election
July 15: Crop Certification
September 30: PLC Yield Update

CRP Reminders
The primary nesting season runs from May 15 - August 1. Please contact the FSA office if you need to perform spot maintenance activities on your CRP acres during this time. Cosmetic mowing of your CRP acres is always prohibited, but you can spot treat areas that are threatened by undesirable vegetation throughout the year. A written request must be made before the County Committee grants approval to conduct maintenance during the nesting season.

As a reminder, volunteer trees and woody vegetation must be controlled and removed from CRP acres. Failure to control undesirable vegetation on CRP can result in financial penalties.

Iowa Learning Farms will visit the farm of Wade Dooley April 24

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Conservation Learning Group, is hosting a free virtual field day Friday, April 24 at 1 p.m.

The event will include video footage from the field and live interaction with Marshall County farmer Wade Dooley as he shows changes he is making within the family farming operation to adjust to changing markets and climate.

Dooley is farming for the future, finding systems that allow him to learn, adapt and get excited to try again next year.

For Dooley this means making big changes: moving away from row crops to CRP acres, raising cover crops for seed, extending his rotations and growing a grass-fed, cow-calf operation.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers multiple resources to help Iowa’s farmers during this difficult time

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact agricultural markets and supply chains, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has resources that can help. “We are seeing the financial crunch hit across all of agriculture,” said Chad Hart, associate professor in economics and extension grain markets specialist with Iowa State University.

Resources
Hart said one of the resources Iowans are turning to are the farm financial associates, who volunteer with the Farm Financial Planning Program at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

There are six financial associates who cover the state, with backgrounds in banking and lending. The associates work with farmers on individual financial plans and advising.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 - August 1: Primary Nesting Season – No MCM work on CRP acres
June 30: 2020 ARCPLC Election
July 15: Crop Certification
September 30: PLC Yield Update

Mid-Contract Management (MCM) on CRP Acres
Now that temperatures are starting to feel more like spring, please start thinking about your MCM, if you are scheduled for this year.  Those that are scheduled for this year would have received a packet from our office this past fall detailing what needs to be done.  You do have until May 14, 2020 to complete the work, but now is a good time to start lining up contractors if you haven’t already done so, buy seed if needed, and get equipment ready.  If you have technical questions, need a seeding plan, or contractor list please contact the NRCS office.  Any other questions can be directed to FSA.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
June 30: 2020 ARCPLC Election
July 15: Crop Certification
September 30: PLC Yield Update

USDA Service Centers
Though USDA Service Center doors are locked, they are open for business by phone and email.  Field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While our program delivery staff will continue to come into the office on a rotational basis, they will be working with our producers by phone, and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center first. The Allamakee County USDA Service Center is (563) 568-2148.  More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

Iowa Beef Center issues guidance on dealing with possible disruptions from COVID-19

Disruptions caused by COVID-19 grow each day. Volatility in the cattle market was one of the first disruptions, and now with ethanol plants slowing production or shutting down, local availability of corn co-products may be limited.

Dan Loy, director of the Iowa Beef Center and extension beef specialist at Iowa State University, said making plans now based on current and potential input availability will help producers determine their next steps.

“This situation is very local, continuously changing, and will vary from producer to producer and community to community,” Loy said. “Supply disruptions could potentially affect other inputs such as feed additives, implants and trace nutrients. Hopefully these disruptions will be short-lived.”

Here are three tips to help cattle feeders manage the current challenges for their operation.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
June 30: 2020 ARCPLC Election
July 15: Crop Certification
September 30: PLC Yield Update

USDA Service Centers
As of March 25, USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While our program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with our producers by phone, and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. Contact the Allamakee County USDA Service Center at 563-568-2148. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
June 30: 2020 ARCPLC Election
July 15: Crop Certification
September 30: PLC Yield Update

USDA Launches New Conservation Pilot Program for Prairie Pothole Producers to Plant Cover Crops
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced a new pilot program that enables farmers in Prairie Pothole states to receive payments for planting cover crops on their land for three to five years. The new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP) pilot is available to producers in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. The signup for this pilot starts March 30, 2020 and ends August 21.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
June 30: 2020 ARCPLC Election
July 15: Crop Certification
September 30: PLC Yield Update

Glomalin, Holding it All Together
by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist, Allamakee County
We’ve been talking about healthy soil and soil microorganisms.  One of these is mycorrhizal fungi and how important it is for healthy plant function. This fungi attaches to the plant roots and can grow out from the roots to assist in obtaining nutrients and water. What we haven’t discussed is that this fungi is covered with a special coating called glomalin. This is a sticky compound that keeps water and nutrients from getting lost on the way to and from the plant.