Agriculture

Wed
20
Nov

What's Up at the FSA Office?

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
December 2: County Committee Election Ballots Due
December 6: Market Facilitation Program
December 11: ARC/PLC Decision Meeting
December 13: Dairy Margin Coverage Program for 2020

Wed
20
Nov

Managing SCN for 2020 should begin now


Figure: Example sampling pattern in a field with different management zones. Each “x” represents the location from which a soil core was collected. Submitted graphic.

Table: Magnitude of possible soybean yield losses corresponding to SCN soil sample egg count results from the Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic. Submitted table.

Now that the 2019 corn and soybean harvest is in full swing, it is not too early to start thinking about and planning for the 2020 growing season as well. For soybean farmers in Iowa, a critically important fall activity that can pay large dividends is soil sampling to determine soybean cyst nematode (SCN) population densities in fields in which soybeans will be grown in 2020. Also, some farmers might consider sampling fields for SCN in which soybeans were grown in 2019 that produced disappointing yields for no apparent reason. Often, SCN infestations are found in areas of fields in which soybean yields were inexplicably low.

Wed
20
Nov

Cover crop workshop to be held in Luana December 5

Iowa Learning Farms, along with the Clayton County Soil and Water Conservation District, will host a cover crop workshop Thursday, December 5 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Luana Savings Bank. The event is free, open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal.

Cover crops continue to grow in popularity in Iowa due to their many benefits including reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, and increased soil organic matter. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from local farmers about the benefits of cover crops, choosing seed varieties, innovative application methods, best management practices and opportunities for cost share.

Together with no-till and strip-till, cover crops can significantly reduce soil erosion and encourage infiltration of water during rain events. Converting to no-till and strip-till can also help improve profitability by reducing costs and time spent in the field.

Wed
13
Nov

What's Up at the FSA Office?

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
December 2: County Committee Election Ballots Due
December 6: Market Facilitation Program
December 11: ARC/PLC Decision Meeting
December 13: Dairy Margin Coverage Program for 2020

County Committee Election
Producers in Waterloo, Union City, Hanover, French Creek, Union Prairie, and Makee townships should have received their county committee voting ballots last week.  The final day to return completed ballots to the FSA office is December 2.  Committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA. They work to make FSA agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers.

Wed
13
Nov

Century and Heritage Farms recognized during Iowa State Fair


Rush family farm recognized as Heritage Farm ... Members of the Elmer J. Rush and Marcia Rush families were present at the Iowa State Fair August 15 to receive the recognition of the family’s farm located at 1151 Rush Drive, Waukon as a Heritage Farm. Submitted photo.

Bakkum family farm recognized as Heritage Farm ... Members of the Jason and Katelynn Bakkum and Keith and Carol Bakkum families were present at the Iowa State Fair August 15 to receive the recognition of the family’s farm located at 1461 Bakkum Road, Waukon as a Heritage Farm. Submitted photo.

Ness family farm recognized as Heritage Farm ... Scott and Karen Ness were present at the Iowa State Fair August 15 to receive the recognition of the family’s farm located at 1509 Family Lane, Waterville as a Heritage Farm. Submitted photo.

Hanson family farm recognized as Century Farm ... Members of the James A. Hanson family were present at the Iowa State Fair August 15 to receive the recognition of the family’s farm located at 1230 Iron Mine Drive, Waukon as a Century Farm. Submitted photo.

Mellick family farm recognized as Heritage Farm ... Members of the Thomas and Mary Mellick family were present at the Iowa State Fair August 15 to receive the recognition of the family’s farm located at 1749 Liddiard Bottoms Road, Waukon as a Heritage Farm. Submitted photo.

Schoon family farm recognized as Century Farm and Heritage Farm ... Members of the Nancy Lee Schoon family were present at the Iowa State Fair August 15 to receive the recognition of the family’s farm located at Red Oak Road on the south, Mullarkey Drive on the NW Corner, Harpers Ferry as a Heritage Farm and Century Farm. Submitted photo.

Todd and Mari (Rush) Mellick have unique honor of farms in each of their families being recognized

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Farm Bureau celebrated families that have owned a farm for 100 years or 150 years

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig recognized Century and Heritage Farm families during a ceremony at the Iowa State Fair August 15. To qualify, a family must have owned at least 40 acres for 100 years or more in the case of Century Farms and 150 years or more for a Heritage Farm.

This year 332 Century Farms and 153 Heritage Farms were recognized. Among them were several Allamakee County farms, some of which are pictured below. The Frederick L. Miller family farm near Waukon was also recognized as a Heritage Farm but a photo was not available.

Wed
13
Nov

Farm transfer workshops planned across Iowa, starting November 19

Practical Farmers of Iowa is holding a series of free farm transfer workshops across Iowa in November and December to help farm families understand the farm ownership landscape in Iowa and possible strategies to start the farm transition process.

Each workshop runs from 5-8 p.m. and will be hosted by a local farmer or landowner. Bios of each host are available on Practical Farmers’ website.

Mike Downey, of Next Gen Ag Advocates and Farm Financial Strategies, Inc., will lead the events and discuss the why and how of farmland transition, including farm leasing trends, how to communicate with family about your farmland transition and next steps to be thinking of in the farm transfer process.

Wed
06
Nov

What's Up at the FSA Office?

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
November 11: Closed in Observance of Veterans Day
December 6: Market Facilitation Program
December 11: ARC/PLC Decision Meeting
December 13: Dairy Margin Coverage Program for 2020

Wed
06
Nov

Successful gathering in Cresco of Women Caring for the Land ...

A gathering of 25 farm ladies from a 75-mile radius around Cresco, from as far away as Preston, LeRoy and Houston, MN and Northwood and Waukon in Iowa, gathered Wednesday, October 23 for a Women Caring for the Land event that began with a Meet and Greet session serving coffee and donuts to allow the ladies to get acquainted. Event hostess Carol Dowe opened the meeting with thanks to the Lord and thanking CUSB Bank of Cresco for making its Grange Hall available for the event, as well as to the team of Sandy Good, Nancy Bolson, Mary Barth, Terry Falck and Lori Hageman, who all helped to put the event together. Each lady then introduced herself and described her farming setting and relationships.

Wed
06
Nov

Farm Bill meetings planned across Iowa

In order to help Iowans understand their options under the 2018 Farm Bill, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is planning meetings across the state.

More than 50 informational meetings will be held, beginning November 12 in Grinnell, with a focus on explaining the different farm bill titles and programs that pertain to each part of the state. The meeting series stretches through the winter for landowners and producers to attend now, or following harvest, at a location that is convenient for them.

The agenda is similar at all meetings, and will include ISU Extension and Outreach farm management specialists and family life specialists, and local Farm Service Agency representatives.

Wed
06
Nov

Commercial Ag Weed, Insect and Plant Disease Applicators course scheduled for November 20

Allamakee County will offer the Commercial Ag Weed, Insect and Plant Disease Management Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, November 20. The program will be shown at locations across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).

The local attendance site is 218 Seventh Avenue SE, Waukon. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the course runs from 9-11:30 a.m. The registration fee increases after November 13. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office at 563-568-6345.

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