Agriculture

The Allamakee SWCD will be hosting a Cover Crop and Manure Field Day on Thursday, April 6 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.  We will meet at the Scott Ness Farm, 1509 Family Lane, Waterville, IA and then drive to at least 2 additional sites in the county.  We will show cover crops that were established by broadcasting or drilling in the fall.  Manure was injected or broadcast before or after cover crop planting, depending on the site.  You’ll be able to see that cover crops and manure can work well together and learn from the local NRCS agronomist, SWCD project coordinator, and other producers.  No RSVP is required.  In the event of inclement weather, an announcement will be made on KNEI as well as the Allamakee SWCD website at allamakeeswcd.org.  If you have questions, please email Sara Berges at sara.berges@ia.nacdnet.net or call 563-568-2246 ext. 3. 
 

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• ARC/PLC Sign-up: August 1
• Marketing Assistance Loans for Prior Year Harvested: Wheat, barley, honey, oats - March 31; Corn, soybeans - May 31   

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

Payment Limitations by Program
The 2014 Farm Bill established a maximum dollar amount for each program that can be received annually, directly or indirectly, by each person or legal entity. Payment limitations vary by program for 2014 through 2018.

Below is an overview of payment limitations by program.

Commodity and Price Support Programs
The annual limitation for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) and Market Loan Gains is $125,000 each.

Conservation Programs
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) annual rental payment and incentive payment is limited to $50,000. CRP contracts approved before Oct. 1, 2008, may exceed the limitation, subject to payment limitation rules in effect on the date of contract approval.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced the State Soil Conservation Committee Research and Demonstration Fund has assistance available for research, education or demonstration projects focused on reducing nonpoint pollution. Funds are available to collaborative teams of scientists, farmers, institutions, soil and water conservation districts and educators.

Applications must be submitted to the State Soil Conservation Committee by May 19, 2017. A July 1 start date for selected projects is anticipated.

“Projects should be focused on sustaining and improving the environmental quality of our soil and water. We all recognize that we still have a lot to learn about protecting and improving our soils and water, and these funds are targeted towards projects that will improve their sustainability,” Northey said.

Groups promoting fruits and vegetables, nuts and flowers encouraged to comment on program priorities, consider applying for funds

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today reminded Iowans that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is accepting applications for grant funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The grants are available to support projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in Iowa.

The Iowa Specialty Crop Block Grant Program has been allocated $282,032.76 for 2017 from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service that administers the program.

Eligible farm owners are encouraged to apply for the 2017 Century and Heritage Farm Program. Applications are available on the Department’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov or may also be requested from Becky Lorenz, Coordinator of the Century and Heritage Farm Program via phone at 515-281-3645 or by email at Becky.Lorenz@IowaAgriculture.gov. The ceremony to recognize the 2017 Century and Heritage Farms is scheduled to be held at the Iowa State Fair Thursday, August 17 in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion.
 

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

This past month has been filled with solid manure applicator trainings. We’ve had the opportunity to have Drs. Antonio Mallarino and Mazhar Haq, ISU agronomy department, present their work on phosphorus management. This presentation was extremely informative with discussions relevant to balancing fertility management and water quality challenges, why transport factors need to be considered along with soil test concentrations, and it had specific information relevant to manure application decisions and phosphorus management. A couple of which we wanted to specifically point out.

Why would farm landowners be interested in the topic of soil health?  Managing soil health helps to increase water infiltration, water holding capacity, and nutrient availability and reduces runoff, erosion, and nutrient leaching.  Because the economic value of cropland is largely based on its ability to produce a crop, improving soil health helps to protect the long-term value of this investment.  As a landowner, do you understand soil health and what your renters do to impact (improve or decrease) soil health? What practices can you encourage to improve soil health?

NRCS recommends farmland owners ask (potential) renters these five soil health questions.

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