Agriculture

Wed
19
Sep

Silage making with 2018 weather challenges

Corn silage has always been a major feed component in dairy and beef rations. However, this year’s weather is making harvesting corn silage a challenge for many areas of the state. Northwest and northeast Iowa had excess rain early in the season making planting late so producers in northern Iowa may not be challenged as much with harvest, yet. Eastern Iowa was dry in the spring allowing early planting and now is challenged to harvest before the crop becomes too dry, especially with the heavy rains in September. Southern Iowa has been extremely dry all summer and is finally getting some needed rain but too late to impact grain crops.

While every area of the state has had different growing conditions all have been challenging. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialist Denise Schwab said a few basic principles of corn silage harvest are critical to harvest and store a high quality corn silage feedstuff.

Tue
18
Sep

Century and Heritage Farms recognized during Iowa State Fair


Lloyd family farm recognized as Heritage Farm ... Bill and Sandra Lloyd were present at the Iowa State Fair August 16 to receive the recognition of the family’s farm located at 639 State Highway 76, Harpers Ferry as a Heritage Farm. Not pictured, Michael and Gwen Lloyd. Submitted photo.

Hitchins family farm recognized as Heritage Farm ... Members of the Donald and Dorothy Hitchins family were present at the Iowa State Fair August 16 to receive the recognition of the family’s farm located at 1498 Iowa River Drive, New Albin as a Heritage Farm. Submitted photo.

Seibert family farm recognized as Century Farm ... Elizabeth and Richard Seibert were present at the Iowa State Fair August 16 to receive the recognition of the family’s farm located at 1136 Ludlow Road, Waukon as a Century Farm. Submitted photo.

Powell family farm recognized as Century Farm ... Members of the Lawrence L. and Patricia Powell family were present at the Iowa State Fair August 16 to receive the recognition of the family’s farm located at 1081 Smithfield Drive, Luana as a Century Farm. Submitted photo.

Metz family farm recognized as Century Farm ... Members of the Deb M. Metz and Mark E. Schlitter families were present at the Iowa State Fair August 16 to receive the recognition of the family’s farm located on Scott Hollow Road, Monona as a Century Farm. Submitted photo.

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 16. 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 359 Century Farms and 148 Heritage Farms were recognized. Among them were several Allamakee County farms, some of which are pictured below. The Adam and Kristy Anderson farm near Waterville was also recognized as a Heritage Farm but a photo was not available.

Tue
11
Sep

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 28: ARCPLC Signup Deadline; MPP-Dairy Premiums Due

Market Facilitation Program
USDA announced the trade mitigation program (Market Facilitation Program, MFP) the other week.  This program will aid farmers who were impacted from trade retaliation. The Farm Service Agency will administer this program and provide payments to corn, dairy, hog, soybean, wheat, cotton, and sorghum producers.
The signup period will run through January 15, 2019, and you are encouraged to apply after harvest is 100% complete. We recommend you bring production evidence with you when you apply. Payments will be issued on 50% of the production multiplied by the MFP rate for the specific commodity.  A second payment period, if warranted, will be determined by the USDA.

Tue
11
Sep

African swine fever cases in China highlight importance of biosecurity, vigilance by Iowa farmers

Disease has no human health or food safety concerns, but could cause significant trade disruptions

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig highlighted the importance of strict biosecurity by pork producers following the confirmation of several cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in China. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Pork Producers Association are encouraging pork producers to be on the lookout for clinical signs of the disease and to contact their veterinarian if they have herd health concerns.

Wed
05
Sep

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 28: ARCPLC Signup Deadline; MPP-Dairy Premiums Due

Managed Haying Requests
For those who have stopped in to request managed haying on your CRP ground, make sure the bales are off as soon as possible to avoid killing of the seeding underneath, but no later than September 30.  Any seeding destroyed due to the bales needs to be reseeded. 

Wed
05
Sep

Cover crops after corn silage

by Sara Berges,
Allamakee SWCD

One of the most important times to use cover crops is after corn silage harvest due to the minimal residue left and the removal of nutrients in the silage.  This is also one of the easiest systems in which to get a cover crop established.  If you haven’t planted cover crops before, cereal rye is the most common starter cover crop.  It establishes quickly, is very forgiving for depth, and can produce abundant biomass.  However, there are many more options after silage harvest due to the earlier timing than after corn grain or soybean harvest. 

Wed
05
Sep

2018 Women in Ag Tours - Allamakee County

Women across Iowa have the opportunity to visit diverse agricultural businesses through one-day bus tours this summer. Each tour is designed by local groups of women in agriculture and led by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county professionals and the Women in Ag program. Interested persons may sign up for a local tour, take a tour across the state, or join several tours.

While showcasing Iowa’s agricultural diversity, each tour will feature discussion around five common agricultural risks: 1) costs and benefits of production practices, 2) safety of families and employees, 3) impacts of changing regulation, 4) storing and marketing farm products, and 5) managing soil and water.

Wed
29
Aug

What's Up at the FSA Office?

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 3: Office closed in recognition of Labor Day
• September 28: ARCPLC Signup Deadline
• September 28: MPP-Dairy Premiums Due

Managed Haying Requests
For those who have stopped in to request managed haying on your CRP ground, make sure the bales are off that ground by September 30. 

USDA Microloans Help Farmers Purchase Farmland and Improve Property
Producers, Including Beginning and Underserved Farmers, Have a New Option to Gain Access to Land

Wed
29
Aug

Prairie Strips to the rescue? A new spin on a traditional conservation practice


Prairie strips aerial view ... Photo above shows an aerial view of prairie strips on the Larry Stone farm near Traer. Photo courtesy of Lynn Betts.

by Matthew Frana
Upper Iowa Watershed
Project Coordinator
Winneshiek County Soil & Water Conservation District

God’s Country…a term Iowans use to describe their state and home. Nowhere in the state is this truer than our beautiful northeast corner, where we take great pride in our county, community and environment.

Wed
29
Aug

Annual Fall Field Day scheduled for September 5

Iowa State University and the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association will be hosting the Annual Fall Field Day Wednesday, September 5, 2018, 1-4:15 p.m. at the ISU Research Farm in Nashua.

Presentations at the Borlaug Learning Center and on-farm tour will include:

- Crop Market Outlook: Steve Johnson, ISU Farm Management Specialist
- High Rates of Gypsum and Soil pH/lime update: Antonio Mallarino, ISU Soil Fertility Specialist
- Weed Management, Herbicide Resistance and Crop Injury: Meaghan Anderson, ISU Agronomist
- Corn and Soybean Diseases in 2018 and Management for 2019: Daren Mueller, ISU Plant Pathologist

This program is free and open to the public. Certified crop advisors can receive 4 CCA credits (1 CM, 1 NM, 2 PM) for $20 payable to Iowa State University.

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