Agriculture

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

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recognized Century and Heritage Farm families during a ceremony at the Iowa State Fair again this year.  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 354 Century Farms and 119 Heritage Farms were recognized. Among those honored farms were the following from Allamakee County (some of which are pictured on this same page): Ralph and Marie Plein family and Tom and Lynn Reburn family as Heritage Farms; and Donald Aldrich family, George Beardmore family, Donald Henningsgaard family, Vernalene Oelberg family, Dennis Schulte family and Bonnie (Myhre) Williams family as Century Farms.

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 – December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up

Fall-Seeded Crops
For producers who have any fall seeded crops, such as hay and pasture, you have until December 15, 2017 to get those acres certified for the 2018 crop year. Failure to do so will result in a late file fee for each farm with hay or pasture. 

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. 

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 - December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up
• September 4: Office closed in recognition of Labor Day

Maintaining Good Credit History
FSA Farm Loan programs require that applicants have a satisfactory credit history. A credit report is requested for all FSA direct farm loan applicants. These reports are reviewed to verify outstanding debts, if bills are paid timely and to determine the impact on cash flow.

Information found on a customer’s credit report is strictly confidential and is used only as an aid in conducting FSA business.

State, federal and extension experts are encouraging Iowa farmers to stay vigilant in their efforts to control Palmer amaranth. Iowa lawmakers added this fast-growing weed to Iowa’s noxious weed list in July as a response to a significant increase in the presence of Palmer across Iowa in 2016.

“Now is time for farmers to get out and scout fields for Palmer amaranth, especially if they know it is in their area or have land that was planted with a native seed mix in recent years. Palmer grows very quickly and produces a tremendous amount of seed, so our best chance to control this weed is to catch it and destroy it before it goes to seed,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.

Mark your calendars for noon webinars September 19 and 26. Join the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Team as Dr. Larry Tranel, ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Specialist hosts “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”.  These webinars will include how to analyze a dairy for profits and the profitability of various dairy systems to focus on conventional, hybrid grazing dairy systems September 19 and the organic and organic “grass-fed” dairy systems September 26.  

These webinars are sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and North Central Risk Management Education Center. To join the webinar, log onto https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/isuedairy, or for more information contact Larry Tranel attranel@iastate.edu, 563-583-6496 or Jenn Bentley at jbentley@iastate.edu, 563-382-2949.

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 - December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up
• September 4: Office closed in recognition of Labor Day

Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation Compliance
Landowners and operators are reminded that in order to receive payments from USDA, compliance with Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions are required. Farmers with HEL determined soils are reminded of tillage, crop residue, and rotation requirements as specified per their conservation plan. Producers are to notify the USDA Farm Service Agency prior to conducting land clearing or drainage projects to insure compliance. Failure to obtain advance approval for any of these situations can result in the loss of eligibility and all Federal payments.

Top dairies competed for honors in the Holstein Dairy Cattle show judged Friday, August 11 at the 2017 Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Several Holstein exhibitors from Allamakee County and the surrounding local area participated in the show, bringing home some high honors.

Z-Breeze Holsteins of Posvtille brought home the highest honors for Allamakee County producers, placing second in the Spring Yearling Heifer: March 1-May 31, 2016 class with Nu-wave Applejack Allie, 3/2/2016. Z-Breeze Holsteins also placed 10th in the Senior Two Year Old Cow: September 1, 2014-February 28, 2015 class with Z-Breeze Sanchez Cecilia, 10/1/2014, and placed 20th in the Fall Heifer Calf: September 1-November 30, 2016 class with Z-Breeze Leverage Bardo, 9/5/2016.

Top dairies competed for honors in the Guernsey Dairy Cattle show judged Friday, August 11 at the 2017 Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Prairie Moon Guernseys, owned and operated by the Sivesind family of Waukon, claimed Reserve Champion Premier Breeder and Reserve Champion Premier Exhibitor honors.

South Lane Farm of Epworth was awarded the Grand Champion Female banner. Knapp Guernseys of Epworth exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Female and was awarded the Champion Premier Exhibitor title and Champion Premier Breeder title.

The Premier Breeder Award is given to the competitor who earns the most points for animals bred and exhibited by the entrant or others during the day's show. The Premier Exhibitor Award is given to the exhibitor who accumulates the most points based upon the day's placings.

Prairie Moon Guernseys placed in the following classes during the show:

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 - December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up

CRP Participants Must Maintain Approved Cover on Acreages Enrolled in CRP and Farm Programs
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants are responsible for ensuring adequate, approved vegetative and practice cover is maintained to control erosion throughout the life of the contract after the practice has been established. Participants must also control undesirable vegetation, weeds (including noxious weeds), insects and rodents that may pose a threat to existing cover or adversely impact other landowners in the area.

Congress has started to shape the 2018 Farm Bill, policy that will impact farmers, rural residents, and consumers. Iowa residents are invited to voice their opinion at three upcoming listening sessions co-hosted by the Iowa Farmers Union, Center for Rural Affairs, and Practical Farmers of Iowa.

“The goal of the meetings is to hear from farmers about their goals and challenges relating to conservation, beginning farmers, and other farm programs,” Johnson said. “You can ask questions about Farm Bill policies and learn about opportunities to engage with lawmakers. You can help set the agenda for rural America and the 2018 Farm Bill.”

The following meetings are set:

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 1 p.m.
Decorah Public Library
202 Winnebago St., Decorah, Iowa 52101

Thursday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m.
Washington Public Library
115 W. Washington St., Washington, Iowa 52353