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WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – August 8, 2018 – Taking on the challenge of improving Iowa’s water quality and going the extra mile to protect soil and water has long been a priority for Chad Ide, who farms in the rolling hills of southwest Iowa with his father. Ide, an Iowa Farm Bureau member from Shannon City, was recently named the 2018 Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year for his wide-ranging conservation efforts and commitment to promoting conservation education. Now in its 66th year, the prestigious Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year Award is sponsored by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS). Ide will be presented with the award in early September at the Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI) annual meeting in Des Moines. “Conservation just comes naturally to me,” Ide said. “My dad has always been very conservation-minded, and it was something that just made sense to me, too.”
Ide and his father, Monty, have seen the environmental benefits of incorporating various conservation practices into their farming operation, but they’ve also seen economic benefits. In addition to conservation practices like buffer strips and terraces incorporated into their row crops, the Ides have added conservation efforts on their grazing ground which have benefited their cow-calf herd. “Conservation just fits really well with cattle,” Ide says. “We plant cover crops after we chop silage and after soybeans. That gives us a chance for some extra forage in the late fall and the early spring. Having that extra forage can really be a big help, especially in a year like this one when the cold weather in the spring kept the pastures down for so long.”
“Leading by example is so important, because everyone has a role to play in protecting our soil and water quality,” says IFBF President Craig Hill. “Our role as farmers is to do more than grow food; we must all work towards leaving the land and watershed better for the next generation. The regional and statewide award winners have certainly shown their commitment to protecting Iowa’s soil and water and a willingness to share their experiences with fellow farmers, so we can all work together to make big strides in conservation.”
“We continue to see farmers making investments and doing more to improve water quality and protect soil health,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said. “These conservation awards are an opportunity to highlight and recognize farmers who take the extra step in their conservation efforts and serve as conservation leaders in their communities and across the state.” For earning the award, Ide will receive the free use of a John Deere 6E Series utility tractor for up to 12 months or 200 hours. The tractor prize is sponsored annually by Van Wall Equipment of Perry and John Deere.
Ide was nominated for the award by the Union County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), and the application recognized him as a “steady leader in soil and water conservation in our county.” Along with being celebrated for his numerous on-farm conservation efforts, the Union County SWCD noted the Ides’ willingness to promote conservation education through field days, tours, and trainings which inspires other area farmers. Regional winners from 2018 include: John and Roger Wilcox of Woodbury County; the Patricia L. Smith Family Trust (owner) and Howard Farm and Mark Howard (operator) of Fayette County; Dennis and Cheryl Crall of Adair County; Dan and Ila Jean Taylor of Dallas County; Paustian Enterprise LTD of Scott County; and John Peck of Jefferson County.
(Press Release from the IA Farm Bureau)
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State agricultural officials say an insect that’s killed millions of ash trees has been found in three more Iowa counties. Officials said in a news release Wednesday that the emerald ash borer has been confirmed in Crawford, Delaware and Page counties. That brings Iowa’s total to 64 counties.
People are urged to report any suspected infestation. Mike Kintner with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship says tracking the whereabouts of emerald ash borers across the state helps in formulating treatment recommendations. Infected trees usually lose leaves at the top of the canopy and the die-off spreads downward. The trees usually die within four years.
The bugs are native to Asia and were first reported in the U.S. in Michigan in 2002 and in Iowa in 2010.
(Radio Iowa) — A central Iowa artist is busy creating special sculptures in butter for -two- major state fairs. Sarah Pratt, of West Des Moines, says the Iowa State Fair asked her to create the famed “Waterloo Boy” tractor in butter to honor the 100th anniversary of Quad Cities-based Deere and Company.
The Waterloo Boy tractor
Pratt says the tractor posed some construction difficulties. “The wheels are so open and exposed with the spokes and the gears and I really want that to shine through and not get bulky and clunky with a lot of structure,” Pratt says. “That’s been a challenge, to design something that will hold up, hold the butter weight, without getting in the way of the butter.”
As a 14-year-old 4-H member, Pratt learned how to sculpt from Norma “Duffy” Lyon, Iowa’s “butter cow lady” and Pratt took over in 2006 when Lyon retired. Also this year, the Illinois State Fair asked Pratt to create something unique for that state’s bicentennial, but she can’t reveal what it is before the unveiling at the fairgrounds in Springfield. “After a tradition has been, like the state of Illinois, for 200 years and the tradition of having butter sculptures in Illinois for over 90 years now, a lot of ideas have been done,” Pratt says. “It’s a mix between what’s fresh and what’s traditional.”
Butter sculpting is a family affair in the Pratt household. Her dad, brother and husband help out by welding the frame together. Environmentalists and sanitarians will be happy to know the butter is recycled. “Each fair has their own stock of butter that’s been donated by a local dairy producer,” Pratt says. “The cooler gets warmed up just a little bit, softens it, and then it gets scraped down, packed into the buckets really firm to leave out any air and moisture and then it gets frozen — until the next fair and then it starts all over again.”
The Iowa State Fair worked with Deere which sent Pratt photographs of the 1918 Waterloo Boy. She also visited the John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum in Waterloo to study the iconic tractor. At the Iowa State Fair, which opens Thursday, Pratt will answer questions and put the finishing touches on her butter sculptures — the tractor and a cow. She’ll have to complete her works of art for the Illinois State Fair before opening day, which is also Thursday.
(Iowa News Service) LOGAN, Iowa – Iowa vegetable farmer Danelle Myer admits she was both a bit headstrong and starry-eyed when she started farming in Harrison County, and that’s why she’s eager to share lessons learned from her seven-year undertaking. Myer is participating in the Whole Farm Financial Project through Practical Farmers of Iowa that evaluates profitability and helps with sustainability of the local food movement. Myer grew up on a farm, but didn’t take up vegetable farming until 2011 when she was 40. “And since the beginning, I’ve had kind of this stubborn, idealistic goal of making a living off of a farm, and so I thought this study would help me look at my numbers,” she relates.
Iowa farmer Danelle Myer started her One Farm on a half-acre in 2011 to grow tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, beets and other vegetables. (Danelle Myer)
Myer says by sharing her financial data with other farmers who participate in the project, there’s a chance to compare and contrast, learning what’s profitable and what isn’t. The project analyzed data from 2013 to 2016, and can be reviewed online at practicalfarmers.org. Myer says like many new farmers, she originally stretched herself too thin. Looking at her financials over several years, she has simplified operations, eliminating online orders and pop-up farm stands. “So, what I’m trying to do now is get better at what we do, get more efficient at what we do,” she states. “And instead of it being about more, more, more, it’s like, let’s just do a better job of growing less food and sell every single thing that we grow.”
One agriculture expert says a good, stable vegetable farm takes about 3 to 5 years to become profitable, and 8 to 10 years to become stable and self-functioning. Myer says being part of the Practical Farmers study has improved her perspective on her accomplishments. “It did give me a little bit of a positive boost, where I’m like, ‘You know what? I’m okay!'” she explains. “Even if I’m not making a living off of this within in the first five years of my farm, I am in the same boat with everybody else.”
Data from the three-year report shows that of the eight fruit and vegetable farms participating, four had a “favorable” four-year average net-income ratio. On average, 7 of the 8 farms earned from 79 to 100 percent of their total farm income from their crops.
(Radio Iowa) — The cost Iowans pay for an annual hunting or fishing license would rise from $17 to $20 under a proposal from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa DNR’s Fisheries Bureau, believes the fee increases are long overdue.
“It’s been 14 years for most licenses and some licenses, it’s been over 20 years since they’ve been raised,” Larscheid said. Revenue from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses is deposited into the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund, which receives no tax payer money from the state general fund. This would be the first increase in the price of a hunting license since 2002 and the first increase of a fishing license since 2004.
“Really, the modest increase we’re talking about – which is about a 17-percent increase – doesn’t even keep up with the cost of inflation since the last time the fees were raised,” Larscheid said. “What we’re going to be able to do with this increase is keep the programs we have going now and hopefully add back some programs that were reduced or actually cut in recent years.” According to Larscheid, even with the proposed increase, Iowa’s hunting and fishing license fees would remain lower than most other Midwest states.
“With the caveat that some states, such as Missouri and Minnesota, receive a lot of general funding from different initiatives that have passed over the years and not just license revenues that run the state’s trust fund programs,” Larscheid said. Until recently, hunting and fishing license fees were controlled by state lawmakers. The Iowa Legislature and Governor Reynolds approved a bill last year that shifted the authority to the Iowa DNR and the Natural Resource Commission.
“It puts it on us, the DNR and the Natural Resource Commission, to adjust the fees more often – hopefully – than in the past,” Larscheid said. “So, instead of going for a 17-percent or 30-percent increase, maybe a two-to-five-percent increase every couple of years, which I think would be more acceptable to most people – because people understand, you know, inflation happens.”
Full details on the proposed license fee increases are on the DNR’s website ( www.iowadnr.gov/hunting ) and Iowans can provide feedback either online or at “listening sessions” scheduled for August 21 from Noon until 2-p.m. One of the sessions is in Lewis.
Harlan, Iowa – Four Shelby County residents have been appointed to the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach council nominating committee. The committee is charged with nominating candidates for the five vacancies on the council before Aug. 29, 2018. Committee members selected to nominate extension council candidates for the 2018 election are Darren Goshorn, Cindy Hanson, Klare Veath and Joel Wahling.
By law, the nominating committee must include two women and two men and cannot include any current member of the council. The committee is required to take county geography into consideration when nominating candidates. Terry Maloy, director for the Iowa Extension Council Association said “Serving as an extension council member is one way to give back to your community. If you believe local educational opportunities are vital to the community’s well-being, then you should consider running for council. It is rewarding to know that people are able to improve their lives, farms, businesses and communities because of ISU Extension and Outreach’s education and information.”
Candidates nominated by the committee must submit petitions containing the names of 25 qualified voters to the county election commissioner by 5 p.m. on Aug. 29, 2018. Additionally, individuals may petition to have their names placed on the ballot through a self-nominating process by submitting petitions with 25 names to the election commissioner. Petition forms are available from the election commissioner and at the county extension office.
Voters will cast ballots for the nominees in the Nov. 6, 2018, general election. Successful candidates will serve four-year terms beginning in January 2019.
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today encouraged Iowans to take advantage of fresh fruits and vegetables available at the more than 200 farmers markets in Iowa as part of National Farmers Market Week, which runs from Aug. 5 to 11. “Farmers markets are a great place to find Iowa grown fruits, vegetables, meats and other products,” Naig said. “This is the time of year when our markets are packed with fresh, delicious, local foods. I encourage everyone to participate in National Farmers Market Week by visiting one of the markets in our state and supporting the farmers who are there.”
Donna Brahms, President of the Iowa Farmers Market Association also encourages everyone to visit their local farmers markets. “Iowa’s farmers markets continue to have great success, and many local markets are holding special events during National Farmers Market Week. The Iowa Farmers Market Association encourages everyone to visit and shop their local farmers markets,” she said. As part of National Farmers Market Week, Naig highlighted the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs. These programs provide eligible low-income seniors as well as women and children in Iowa with checks that can be redeemed for fresh, locally grown produce at authorized farmers markets and farm stands from June 1 through October 31, 2018.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship administers the programs in partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Department on Aging. For more information contact Stephanie Groom, Program Administrator, at 515-725-1179 or at Stephanie.Groom@IowaAgriculture.gov. Naig also encouraged Iowans to take advantage of the Department’s online Iowa Farmers Market Directory and Iowa Farmstand Directory. Both directories provide detailed information on market and farmstand locations, dates and hours open, links to websites, and details on FMNP check acceptance. The directories can be found here.
General questions on farmers markets and farmstands can be directed to the State Horticulturist, Paul Ovrom at paul.ovrom@iowaagriculture.gov or 515-242-6239.
DES MOINES – Mile-a-minute weed, an invasive weed from eastern Asia has been found for the first time in Iowa. Prior to this, mile-a-minute weed was known to be in the mid-Atlantic states, but only as far west as Indiana and Kentucky, and an outlier in Oregon. A concerned landowner in Marion County requested identification assistance with a vine that was growing on the edge of a wooded area surrounding his well-kept garden. Representatives from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach visited the site. ISU weed scientist, Bob Hartzler, and a field agronomist identified the plant as mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata).
It is unknown how widespread this invasive vine may be across the state. Iowans who think they have an infestation are encouraged to contact Bob Hartlzer at ISU at hartzler@iastate.edu or 515-294-1164, or Lane Kozel, deputy weed commissioner for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, at Lane.Kozel@IowaAgriculture.gov or 515-725-1468 for assistance with identification. Mile-a-minute weed is an invasive species in the Polygonaceae (smartweed) family. It is a herbaceous annual vine that can grow up to 20 feet long; has light green, triangular leaves; many sharp, downward curving spines on the stem, petiole and main leaf veins; a saucer-shaped sheath (ochrea) that encircles the stem at the nodes; and round, iridescent blue fruit about 0.25 inches in diameter borne mid-July until frost.
“Although this was my first encounter with mile-a-minute weed, it was easy to see why the plant is considered a threat,” according to Bob Hartzler. “This infestation was less than a quarter acre in size, but it was crowding out existing vegetation. The weight of the plant was pulling down a stand of miscanthus, a species known for establishing monocultures.” Mile-a-minute weed grows best in moist, sunny locations with an abundance of plant material such as leaves, duff, or brush on the soil.
Seed can be spread birds, rodents, and humans. Seeds can also move with water, especially from infestations along a stream. Human-assisted movement can deliver seeds to new sites with alarming speed. Movement of soil containing seeds via potted plants or equipment with soil attached is common in infested states. There is no easy method for eradicating invasive species, and mile-a-minute weed is no different. It appears this infestation had been present for at least five years, thus there will be a large seedbank present. Studies have shown seed can survive for at least eight years, and management will take a long-term commitment.
Herbicides can be effective, but multiple applications will likely be necessary during the growing season. Nonselective herbicides will damage other plants in the area, opening the site up for invasion of other weeds or new flushes of mile-a-minute weed. The plant has a small root system, so hand pulling is a relatively easy (gloves are recommended due to the spines) and effective way to remove plants. The Forest Service has worked on the biocontrol of mile-a-minute weed since 1996. Iowa officials are now investigating the potential for using a weevil that is host-specific to the invasive vine. The weevil has been released in other states since 2004, with success tied to weather conditions. “We are looking into the details associated with possible weevil releases to help control mile-a-minute weed,” said Kozel.
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