Ag News Information & Resources November 2019

Fayette County

ISU Extension & Outreach

218 South Main Street

Fayette, IA 52142

Phone: (563-425-3331)

Fax: (563)425-3339

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/fayette/

Extension Links

Ag Decision Maker

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/

Beef Center

http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/

Dairy Team

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/

dairyteam/

ISU Nutrient Reduction Strategies

http://www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu/

Iowa State Research Farms

http://farms.ag.iastate.edu/farms

Iowa Water Quality Initiative

http://www.cleanwateriowa.org/

Manure Management

http://www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag/

Pesticide Management

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/psep/

Pork Center http://www.ipic.iastate.edu/

Fontana Park Forestry Field Day on November 8

Contact: Alex Hoffman, Iowa DNR Forestry Specialist, 563-608-0385,

alex.hoffman@dnr.iowa.gov

Please join us for a short walk around Fontana Park and learn about a wide array of forestry topics on November 8, from 9 am to noon. The day will also be a great opportunity to meet your local DNR foresters and Buchanan County Conservation Board staff while enjoying the fall in Iowa. The park is located at 1883 125th Street, Hazleton, IA 50641 and this event is free to attend. Sign in will start at 8:30 with the walk beginning at 9 am. Please dress for the weather!

Topics will include: • Tree Identification • Forest Improvement Practices • Emerald Ash Borer Update • Tree Planting Considerations • Forest Products • Tornado Forestry Follow-Up • History of Fontana Park, and more…

Women in Ag—Agronomy in the Field ZOOM Program

ISU Extension and Outreach—Fayette County is offering free Agronomy in the Field programs to women only, by ZOOM, once per month, from Novem-ber through April. The sessions begin at 6 pm, are 1.5 to 2 hours long and are recorded so if an interested person can’t join us for the live session, they can always go back and watch the archived recording. You may choose to participate in the ZOOM sessions from your home or at the Extension Office. ZOOM allows participants to either verbally ask us questions during the ses-sion or for participants to type questions in the chat box. Sometimes we get extra creative and have interactive things to do on the ZOOM!

2019/2020 Winter Agronomy in the Field Schedule

Nov. 19 – Crop Marketing Dec. 17 – Farming for Bushels or Profitability

Jan. 14 – Alternative Crops/Markets Feb. 18 – Growing Season Weather Outlook & Weather Resources

March 17 – Planning for Successful Implementation of a Herbicide Program April 7 – Early Season Scouting Tips and Tricks

Contact the Extension Office at 563-425-3331 or email dkahler@iastate.edu to register.

Contact: Liz Juchems, Iowa Learning Farms, 515-294-5429, ilf@iastate.edu

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will host a cover crop and wetland field day near Nashua on Thursday, November 7. The 12-2 p.m. event will be held at the Borlaug Learning Center, 3327 290th Street, Nashua. The event is free, open to the entire family and in-cludes a complimentary meal.

The field day will offer an opportunity to learn how labor availability and profitability have played into Floyd County farmer, Ben Johnson’s decision to adopt the reduced tillage practices. Ben will also share their ex-periences with cover crops and discuss how they have overcome challenges.

The field day agenda will continue with Matt Helmers, Iowa State University professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, highlighting the research behind the Conservation Learning Lab project and sharing the results from the two years of monitoring at the project Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program wetlands. Liz Juchems, Iowa Learning Farms conservation outreach specialist, will share results from cover crop projects examining species selec-tion, seeding techniques, water quality and soil health indicators like earthworms. Weather permitting, a field tour of nearby CREP wetland will conclude the program.

Cover crops continue to grow in popularity in Iowa due to their many benefits including increased soil organic matter, weed suppression potential and reduced soil erosion. Together with edge-of-field practices like bioreactors, wetlands and saturated buffers are key to reducing nitrate loss from agricultural land in Iowa.

The workshop is free and open to the public, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Con-tact Liz Juchems at 515-294-5429 or email ilf@iastate.edu.

Cover Crop and Wetland Field Day November 7 at Nashua

Iowa Organic Conference to Focus on Diversity and Profitability

Contact: Kathleen Delate, Departments of Agronomy & Horticulture, 515-294-7069, kdelate@iastate.edu

The 19th annual Iowa Organic Conference will be held Nov. 24-25, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Producers and experts from across the country will share tips for transitioning into organic pro-duction and methods to enhance organic operations. Conference registration is available online and is $100 until Nov. 17, and $120 thereafter. For additional conference information and directions, visit the 2019 Iowa Organic Conference webpage (https://register.extension.iastate.edu/iowaorganic).

High Tunnels are Focus of Upcoming Short Course

A high tunnel short course will be held at Reiman Gardens on the Iowa State University campus November 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The short course aims to:

• Highlight the importance of crop, environment and soil management for vegetable production in

high tunnels.

• Provide a platform to share resources, knowledge and expertise in the area of high tunnel vege-

table production.

• Connect growers, agricultural educators, Extension staff and industry personnel working in high

tunnels and in the area of local foods. The event will be held inside the Garden Room at Reiman Gardens,1407 S University Blvd, Ames, IA 50011. Online registration is required (https://www.extension.iastate.edu/vegetablelab/3rd-iowa-high-tunnel-short-course) and is requested by Oct. 31.

Produce Safety Alliance Training in Fayette on November 14

Contact: Ellen Johnsen, Dept. of Food Science & Human Nutrition, 515-294-6773. johnsene@iastate.edu

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host eleven Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training meetings from November 2019 through March 2020, including one in Fayette, on November 14. The training sessions are for fruit and vegetable growers interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, and Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). The cost for the workshop is $20 for Iowa residents and $120 for out-of-state growers. Get more information at https://www.safeproduce.cals.iastate.edu/fda-produce-safety-rule or call 515-294-6773.

Iowa Beef Center Podcasts Available

Hearing Safety Research Opportunity

Contact: Charles Schwab, Ag & Biosystems Engineering, Small Farm Sustainability, 515-294-4131, cvschwab@iastate.edu

The University of Iowa is conducting hearing safety research and is looking for participants

Are you interested in helping understand the noise of farming?

Researchers are developing a new training system to help farm workers understand the hazards of noise in the workplace. This system will consist of a small noise monitor, smart phone, and a laptop. We are looking for farm workers to try these new devices. You will learn how to protect your hearing.

For more information contact Jackie Curnick jacqueline-curnick@uiowa.edu

Contact: Dan Loy, Iowa Beef Center, 515-294-2333, beefcenter@iastate.edu

Historically we do not do many educational programs for farmers during this time of year because they are busy with harvest activities. Now is the time when our staff regroups and works to develop plans for the next year. That is the case this year as well. However, that doesn’t mean we are not still providing educa-tion for the beef industry. We’ve noticed in recent years an increase in phone calls and emails from beef producers during harvest as they pass the time in combines, grain carts and trucks. This time to think of-ten stimulates very engaging questions and ideas.

One of the more recent trends to pass the time and stimulate thoughts and ideas is the increase in podcasts. At the Iowa Beef Center, we have dipped our toes in the “podcast water” and would welcome your feedback. We have three podcast sessions now available that we hope you will listen to. You can find them on our web page at http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/podcasts.html. Our podcast “The Bull Pen” is designed to have extended conversations with interesting people on interesting topics. While we do not record them frequently, we are always interested in suggestions of topics or people who would be interesting guests.

How Iowa’s Cows (and their healthy pastures) Help Iowa Birds

Contact: Adam Janke, Extension Wildlife Specialist, 515-294-7429, ajanke@iastate.edu

Over 80% of Iowa’s landscape was once tallgrass prairie – an ecosystem comprising over 300 species of flowering plants maintained through regular fires and grazing by herds of elk and bison. This plant diversity resulted in an equally impressive assemblage of specially adapted birds that used the grasslands for raising their young each spring and summer. To-day, many of these birds are still found in Iowa’s countryside but in reduced abundance be-cause only about 11% of Iowa’s land is grasslands and these grasslands are quite different from the tallgrass prairie once found here.

Wildlife biologists and others concerned with the steady rate of decline among grassland breeding birds in Iowa and across the country are looking for ways to create more grasslands and to increase the diversity of existing grasslands to meet the habitat needs of more bird species. In their search for a way to regain some of the diversity that once de-fined Iowa’s landscape, bird lovers and biologists have found an unlikely ally; the cow.

Cows, through their variable preferences for forage plants and their tendency to trample plants they graze create diversity

where they feed. This is especially true within the first few days of being introduced into a paddock. That is why research in Iowa and neighboring states has found that rotational grazing, where cows are moved among patches of forage many times a month, can host higher densities and more species of breeding birds than conventional, continuously grazed pas-ture.Research on cows and forage in rotational systems also shows that the farmer and cows win with rotational grazing. This is because the rotating periods of grazing and rest afforded the plants in the pasture allow them to recover from grazing and invest more energy in new growth and roots – a win-win for cows, birds, and the farm.

Another promising development in the emerging practice of growing birds and cows on the same acres is the recently author-ized use of grazing in the management of fields enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CRP acres are critical-ly important for many of Iowa’s breeding birds, but many fields become so dense and low in plant diversity that they lose val-ue to birds through time. Introducing grazing into these fields can help reinvigorate the grassland and create conditions for birds while also providing cattlemen access to important forage during the early spring or late summer. To learn more about new rules for grazing CRP acres, visit your local NRCS office.

Cattlemen and bird enthusiasts share a lot in common in their concern for the health and well-being of Iowa’s grasslands. There, through careful management of plant growth, diversity, and structure, we’re learning we can grow cattle and birds to-gether on the same land that once grew birds and bison. This evolving recognition of how Iowa’s cows (and their pastures) can save Iowa’s birds is one sure to have lasting impacts on land, people, and local economies.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or status as a U.S. veteran, or other protected classes. Direct inquiries to the Diversity Advisor, 515-294-1482, extdiversity@iastate.edu

Contact: Richard Jauron, Extension

Horticulturist, 515-294-3108,

rjauron@iastate.edu

Protect trees and shrubs in the home landscape to limit damage done by wildlife during winter. Voles, rabbits and deer can cause severe damage to plants in the winter by feeding on twigs, bark, leaves and stems. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists tell how to protect woody plants.

How can I prevent deer from rubbing off the bark on trees in the

yard?

In fall, bucks rub their antlers on trees to remove the dried velvet from their antlers and to mark their territory. This rubbing removes the thin layer of bark on small trees and can seriously damage or destroy them. Trunk damage typically occurs 1.5 to 3.5 feet above the ground.

Damage caused by bucks rubbing their antlers on small trees can be prevented by driving three sturdy wooden stakes or fence posts around each tree in early fall. Space the stakes or posts about 18 inches apart.

How do I prevent rabbits from damaging trees and shrubs in

winter?

The most effective way to prevent rabbit damage to trees and shrubs in the home landscape is to place chicken wire or hardware cloth fencing around vulnerable plants. To adequately protect plants, the fencing material needs to be high enough that rabbits won’t be able to climb or reach over the fence after a heavy snow. In most cases, a fence that stands 24 to 36 inches tall should be sufficient.

To prevent rabbits from crawling underneath the fencing, pin the fencing to the soil with U-shaped anchor pins. Small trees can also be protected by placing white corrugated or spiral tree guards around their trunks. After a heavy snow, check protected plants to make sure rabbits aren’t able to reach or climb over the fencing or tree guards. If necessary, remove some of the snow to keep rabbits from reaching the trees or shrubs.

Damage may also be reduced by removing brush, junk piles and other places where rabbits live and hide. Live trapping and repellents are other management options.

How do I prevent vole damage to

trees and shrubs?

The meadow vole is a small, brown, mouse-like rodent that is common throughout Iowa. Though common, the meadow vole is secretive and seldom seen by most individuals.

Voles are herbivores. They feed on grasses and other herbaceous plants. They also eat seeds, fruits, tubers and bulbs. In winter, meadow voles may eat the bark on small trees and shrubs. Trees that are girdled (the bark is removed completely around the trunk) are effectively destroyed.

Damage to young trees and shrubs can be prevented by placing cylinders of one-quarter-inch hardware cloth fencing around plants. Bury the bottom 2 to 3 inches of the hardware cloth in the soil to prevent voles from burrowing under the fencing. When mulching, keep wood mulches at least 6 inches from the trunks of small trees.

To have additional questions answered, contact Hortline at hortline@iastate.edu or 515-294-3108.

Prevent Wildlife Damage to Trees and Shrubs

Upcoming Events

Nov 12 — Master Gardeners, 6:30 pm, Extension Office

Nov 13 — Ornamental and Turf CIC, 9 am, Extension Office

Nov 14 — Produce Safety Alli-ance Training, 9 am—5 pm, Ex-tension Office

Nov 18 — Pie Ala More, 5:30-8:30 pm, Fairgrounds

Nov 19 — Fumigation CIC, 9 am, Extension Office

Nov 19 — Extension Council meeting, 7:30 pm, Extension Of-fice

Nov 20 — Commercial Ag CIC, 9 am, Extension Office

Nov 28-29—Ext. Office closed

2020 Farm Bill Decisions

ISU Extension and Outreach meetings in Northeast Iowa will address en-rollment and election decisions for 2018 Farm Bill programs

Farmland owners and operators have the opportunity to make new decisions on enroll-ment and election in the USDA Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Cover-age (PLC) programs.

ISU Extension and Outreach will host ten (10) educational programs at multiple loca-tions throughout Northeast Iowa to discuss important considerations for Iowa farmland owners and operators. The meetings are approximately 2½ hours in length.

ISU Extension and Outreach—Fayette County will offer the program Wednesday, December 18, 1 pm, at the Fayette Opera House (corner of Main and Clark) in

Fayette.

There is no registration fee to attend, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged to al-low planning for materials and seating. Pre-register by calling the local ISUEO County Extension office hosting the meeting. Visit the Ag Decision Maker Farm Bill website or your county Extension office for a list of meeting times and locations.