Agriculture

Wed
13
Mar

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

Prescribed Fire 101 Workshop
Wednesday, March 20, Pheasants Forever (PF), Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) will hold an informational meeting, inside, for landowners and land managers from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (registration from 9-9:30 a.m.) at the Upper Iowa University campus (501 Washington St., Fayette, IA). It will take place in the Andres Center room 202 on the second floor, with an elevator available for assistance. Afterwards, weather permitting, we may have an opportunity to watch a live demonstration burn in a nearby field to see how to implement a successful burn. This event is open to landowners, producers, and land managers and is free of charge.

Wed
13
Mar

Farmer of land near Waukon announced as 2019 Iowa Certified Crop Adviser of the Year


Iowa Certified Crop Advisor of the Year ... Waukon area farmer Adam Kramer, pictured above at right, and his daughter, Harper Kramer, pictured above at left, are shown following his acceptance of the 2019 Iowa Certified Crop Advisor of the Year Award at the Iowa CCA recognition luncheon at the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference (ASC). Submitted photo.

The Iowa Certified Crop Advisers (CCA) announced the 2019 Iowa CCA of the Year earlier this month. Adam Kramer, small business owner in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin and Waukon, Iowa farmer, has accepted this annual award during the Iowa CCA recognition luncheon at the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference (ASC) held February 12, 2019.

A certified crop adviser utilizes best management practices that protect the environment and lead growers to produce higher yields and increased profitability for their farms. Farmers and employers prefer to work with CCAs because they have demonstrated commitment, education, expertise, and experience to make a difference in a client’s business.

Wed
13
Mar

Platform connects farmland owners with land seekers

Practical Farmers of Iowa is pleased to announce the launch of its newly redesigned land-matching website, FindAFarmer.net, a free tool that aims to connect farmland owners with land seekers to preserve family farms. Practical Farmers first developed the tool in 2011 as a way to help Iowa’s aging farmland owners find possible successors, and to support beginning farmers facing the difficulty of accessing land.

The most recent Farmland Ownership and Tenure Survey, released last summer by Iowa State University, shows that 60 percent of Iowa farmland is owned by someone 65 years or older, and 35 percent is owned by someone 75 years or older. In addition, more than half of Iowa’s farmland is farmed by someone other than the owner. FindAFarmer can help retiring farmers find a non-family successor to continue the farm and non-farming landowners find a tenant for a rental arrangement. The site can also help facilitate many other unique land access situations.

Wed
06
Mar

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

FSA and the 2018 Farm Bill
No program sign-ups (CRP, dairy, ARCPLC) currently. We will announce dates once known.

Below is information regarding programmatic changes in the 2018 Farm Bill.  More information can be found at www.farmers.gov/farmbill. 

ARCPLC
• Producers can make a new election for either ARC or PLC in the 2019 crop year which will also apply to the 2020 crop year. 
• Producers may change elections annually during the 2021 through 2023 crop years. 

Wed
06
Mar

Eastern Iowa Feedlot Forums

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association is hosting three free educational events for feedlot producers in eastern Iowa in March. Each “Feedlot Forum” will include a free meal, a trade show, an update from the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa Beef Industry Council, and three educational speakers.

Craig Belknap will be joining us from Diamond V and speaking on the topics of immunity, health, and performance and how you can improve your own cattle operation.

Straight from Washington, D.C., NCBA’s Scott Yager will be giving an environmental regulations update. This will give producers the opportunity to give feedback on some issues that you are facing on the home front.

Paul Mussman of AgWest Commodities will be providing the market outlook, letting producers know what to expect in the cattle markets in the next year.

Producers can RSVP by calling 515-296-2266 or at www.iacattlemen.org. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Wed
06
Mar

Search begins for Iowa’s Best Burgers

Iowa’s beef producers are asking their fellow Iowans to help find Iowa’s Best Burger in 2019. In this year’s quest, the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) are encouraging you to nominate your favorite burger, whether it’s gourmet or down-home style.

This is the tenth year the two groups are holding the annual Iowa’s Best Burger contest, which officially kicked off February 11, 2019. During the first phase of the contest, Iowans are encouraged to nominate their favorite burger before March 11, 2019. At that point, the 10 restaurants with the most nominations will be visited by a secret panel of judges, who will determine the ultimate winner. The 2019 Best Burger in Iowa will be announced May 1 with the kick-off of May Beef Month in Iowa.

Tue
26
Feb

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

Mid-Contract Management (MCM) on CRP Acres
Even though we still have plenty of snow on the ground, now is a good time to 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.  Most have until May 14, 2019 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 contact the NRCS office. Any other questions can be directed to FSA.

Once you complete your MCM, please notify the FSA office, sign the FSA-848B form, and provide acceptable evidence of practice completion to determine proper cost share payment.

Tue
26
Feb

Annie’s Project offers ‘Managing for Today and Tomorrow’ Program Series focused on estate management and succession planning

It is often hard to talk about passing the family farm on to the next generation. A program offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Clayton County can support farms and farm women with those decisions.

Managing for Today and Tomorrow is a five-session course designed especially to help farm women learn about the four components that create a successful transition - succession, business, estate, and retirement planning. Clayton County will offer the course beginning Thursday, March 7, 2019 and continuing March 14, March 21, March 28 and April 4. Online registration is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/womeninag.

Tue
26
Feb

Boots in the Barn program scheduled for March

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host Boots in the Barn, a program for women beef and dairy producers, in March in the Waukon area. Boots in the Barn is a three-part series for women involved in their dairy or beef cattle operation.

The course will be held March 7, 14 and 21. The March 7 session will feature Denise Schwab, beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, who will provide information on understanding expected progeny differences (EPD), sire catalogs and how that relates to sire selection for dairy and beef producers. A panel of experts will provide information on how to apply this information to an operation, specifically addressing dairy and beef crossbreeding programs. The session will be held at Farmers and Merchants Bank Community Room in Waukon from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Tue
19
Feb

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

USDA to Host 2018 Farm Bill Implementation Listening Session
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey announced that USDA is hosting a listening session for initial input on the 2018 Farm Bill. USDA is seeking public input on the changes to existing programs implemented by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Risk Management Agency. Each agency will take into account stakeholder input when making discretionary decisions on program implementation.

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