(Radio Iowa) – The deadline is next Tuesday for Iowa farmers who planted cover crops last year — things like cereals, grasses and legumes — to get some money back through a new federal program which has Iowa roots. Sarah Carlson, strategic initiatives director for Practical Farmers of Iowa, says the U-S-D-A announced the Pandemic Cover Crop Program on June 1st, offering a premium of five-dollars-per-acre. Carlson says, “If farmers planted cover crops in fall of 2020, they can go into their FSA office by June 15th and certify their acres just like they would certify their crop acres through the 578 process, and then that $5 discount will show up on their 2021 crop insurance bills for those cover crops last year.”

While five dollars per acre may not sound like a lot, Carlson says for some farmers, it could mean the difference between losing money and making money. “If we look at the total cost to do a cover crop, this is around $25 an acre, and if farmers are able to make some cuts in their herbicide program or maybe feed some of the cover crops to livestock, the $5 helps us basically just get over the break-even point and they’re probably in the black then with those extra $5,” she says.

The Pandemic Cover Crop Program is modeled on a state-level program that’s been online in Iowa for several years, one which the Practical Farmers of Iowa helped launch.  “The origins were to think about those farmers who’ve tried cover crops for a long time, been wanting to still support them and keep derisking that practice, so $5 was a good investment in them from the state,” Carlson says. “That’s just paid off in extra acres that farmers plant, more nitrogen cleaned up in our waterways, and now, this program going federal.”

If there’s strong interest in the program from farmers across the country, Carlson says it’s hoped the same program will be rolled out again this coming fall.

(Radio Iowa) – A new report finds many Iowa farmers are having to shell out more money to cover a significant increase in land rent rates this year. Iowa State University Extension ag economist Wendong Zhang says it’s the first big boost in rental rates in eight years. “What we saw is a 4.5% growth to about $232 per acre,” Zhang says. “What is noticeable is that this is probably the first major increase in cash rent since 2013 when we had the land value peak.”

Better crop and land prices, along with lower interest rates and government payments were all factors, he says, in generating the land rent rate increase. Zhang says the rates vary based on the region. “In northwest Iowa, they’re seeing the average cash rent essentially show modest increase of $239 to $242, but in north-central Iowa, the increase is more, from $225 dollars to $238,” he says.

The 2021 cash rent survey is based on more than 13-hundred responses from Iowa producers and landowners.

(Radio Iowa) – Officials say two employees recently saw a bear on John Deere’s property north of Dubuque and Vince Evelsizer of the Iowa Department of Natural Resource suspects it was a male bear — since this is breeding season for bears. “It’s usually young males — 2-4 year old males — moving around and actively looking for females this time of the year,” he says, “even though it’s so hot out.” The bears tend to move at night, though, when it’s cooler, he says. There have been several recent black bear sightings in Dubuque County. “Even a couple of sightings where we got trail camera photos,” Evelsizer says.

Evelsizer, a furbearer biologist, says the animals are likely coming from Minnesota and Wisconsin. If they’re not looking for a mate, Evelsizer says they’re probably looking for food. “They’re most likely at this time of year to get into bird feeders or smelly garbage or people’s barbecues, that type of thing,” Evelsizer says.

As Radio Iowa reported last month, experts like Evelsizer say it’s likely black bears will start to have cubs in Iowa and groups of bears eventually will repopulate in the state. There’s been no recent confirmation baby bears have been born in Iowa, however. “We anticipate getting some more bears,” Evelsizer says. “There’ll be problems at times with them, but there’ll be fewer problems if we all kind of get used to the idea of living with more bears or trying to coexist.”

Evelsizer says over the next few years the Department of Natural Resources plans to use information from a program called “Bear Wise” to help Iowans get used to having black bears in their neighborhood.

(Iowa DNR News) – Iowa lakes and streams will soon be busy with paddlers eager to get on the water as summer is finally here. For many, it will be their first time out for the year, and experts advise they go through their equipment and review safety tips before heading to the water. “The number one hazard on the river is strainers,” said Todd Robertson, river programs outreach coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Strainers are piles of wood or trees that can appear anywhere on a river, especially after it rains. “These wood piles can trap a boat and paddler with little chance of escape if sucked under,” Robertson said. “The best way to avoid these strainers is to know how to properly navigate your boat or by portaging around them.”

The DNR has a paddler interactive map online where paddlers can report large strainers or new logjams at https://www.iowadnr.gov/Things-to-Do/Canoeing-Kayaking/Where-to-Paddle. Paddlers are encouraged to check the map before heading to the water. They should also check the condition of their lifejackets and replace any that are worn out or damaged. “If you’re using your lifejacket as a seat cushion or have it stored under the deck rigging, it’s not going to be there for you when you need it,” Robertson said. “Plan to wear it.”

On the rivers, watch for low-head dam warning signs that will direct paddlers how to get around these dangerous dams. Never go over a low-head dam, Robertson said. “The hydraulics and boil will keep you with little chance of escape.” Paddlers are in-between swims, he said, and in addition to wearing the lifejacket, paddlers should dress for the water temperature and not the air. There can be cool conditions even on summer days. During the heat of the summer, dehydration can take place while getting that workout so stay properly hydrated.

w/Kate Olson.

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(Radio Iowa) – Some farmers had to put seeds into their planters for a second time last week. The latest U-S-D-A report says some growers in the upper two-thirds of the state re-planted corn and soybeans due to frost damage that occurred in late May. Overall the report says 96 percent of the corn has emerged — which is nine days ahead of the five-year average. The corn that is up is rated at 77 percent good to excellent.

One-quarter of the soybeans remain to be planted heading into the week and that is now two-percent — which is almost two weeks ahead of normal. Eighty-six-percent of the soybeans have emerged. Soybeans are rated in 73 percent good to excellent condition.

(Radio Iowa) – Fishing is more popular in Iowa now than ever before and state officials are hoping to keep riding that wave by luring more people to the sport with free fishing tomorrow (Friday) through Sunday. Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa D-N-R’s Fisheries Bureau, says Iowans can try fishing without having to buy a license this weekend. He says it’s an excellent way to get hooked on what could become a lifelong past-time. “Go to our website for tips on fishing and also where to go fishing and how to take care of your catch,” Larscheid says. “We have a lot of county partners and city partners and different organizations that put on fishing clinics, including our own clinics. If you can find a clinic close to your area, if you’re new to fishing, you can really get some great tips on how to be successful.”

In recent years, Iowa has experienced a drop in hunting license sales as there are so many entertainment options vying for our attention, though fishing remains a favored activity. “Last year during the COVID crisis, we had an all-time record high of fishing license sales and this year is right behind that, so we’ve had two solid years in a row of increases in fishing participation,” Larscheid says. “Over the last ten years, we haven’t really seen the drop in numbers that we have seen in hunting.” Iowa boasts hundreds of lakes and thousands of miles of rivers, plus, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get outfitted for fishing.

“If you have a friend that’s an angler and is willing to take you, that’s the best way to get introduced to fishing,” Larscheid says. “There’s a lot of fishing clinics, especially during Free Fishing Weekend, and we have those interspersed throughout the year. Just check our website for one close to you, and at those clinics, we normally provide equipment for people to use.” To encourage young anglers, the D-N-R is also offering a frame-able certificate of accomplishment when they catch their first fish. Find details about that and much more at the Iowa DNR website: www.iowadnr.gov/fishing

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds chose Black Hawk State Park in Lake View as the backdrop for a bill-signing ceremony to approve a budget that expands spending on the state park system by two-million dollars. The plan also includes about 42 million dollars for a variety of water quality initiatives. Reynolds notes the first bill she signed into law as governor back in 2018 set the framework for using a variety of funding sources to finance projects to clean-up Iowa lakes and waterways. “We’re still not where we need to be,” Reynolds says, “so we’ll continue to look for opportunities to expand it.”

Early last year, Reynolds proposed a plan to raise the state sales tax — use part of the extra tax revenue to finance water quality projects and the rest to offset deeper income tax cuts. Reynolds called it her “Invest in Iowa” plan, but she quickly tabled it when the pandemic hit and created economic uncertainty.

(Radio Iowa) – Most farmers in the state have parked their planters. The U-S-D-A report shows corn planting is virtually complete and 87 percent of the seeds have already poked out of the ground. The emergence is five days ahead of the five-year average. The report shows 81 percent of corn is in good to excellent condition. Just seven percent of the bean crop remains to be planted and the pace is 12 days ahead of normal. Southeast Iowa still has one-quarter of its projected bean crop to be planted. Nearly three-quarters of the soybeans have poked out of the ground and the first condition rating finds 76 percent in good to excellent condition.

(Radio Iowa) – Two meatpacking plants in Iowa saw cancelled shifts and a halt in production this week, following a cyberattack on the world’s largest meat producer. J-B-S plants in Marshalltown and Ottumwa were forced to slow down or temporarily stop production lines. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says he’s concerned about interruptions which can hurt the industry, including local livestock producers. “Any disruption in packing capacity will push that supply back up on farms,” Naig says. “The good news right now is that we’re getting reports that many of the plants are operating — at a reduced capacity, but they are operating and that’s important.”

Naig says it’s past time for the U-S to examine its computer infrastructure and to make corrections to prevent further hacking. “The bigger picture here with these cyberattacks is that it was first on critical energy infrastructure, with the energy pipeline recently, and now with the food supply chain, we’ve got a lot of work to do as a country to shore up and defend our critical infrastructure,” Naig says, “and cyber is certainly one of those areas that needs a focus.”

J-B-S, which is based in Brazil, closed all of its beef plants on Tuesday after the breach. The White House says the ransomware attack likely came from a criminal organization based in Russia.