ISU Extension and Outreach information and resources for north central Iowa

Floyd County

ISU Extension and Outreach

112 N Main Street Charles City, IA 50616 641-228-1453 beranek@iastate.edu www.extension.iastate.edu/floyd

AG NEWS TODAY

Veterans in Ag Program Helps Veterans Get

Start in Farming

ISU Extension and Outreach

provides resources for veter-

ans to transition from military

service to farming Article | 11/11/2016 | By David W.

Baker, Extension Farm Transition

Specialist, 515-294-7814,

baker@iastate.edu AMES, Iowa – Paul Havran

smiles from behind a large desk

in his West Des Moines office.

“I’m not the normal face of a

beginning farmer,” said Havran,

a master sergeant in the Iowa

Air National Guard. “But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been pursuing that dream

all my life. Since I was nine years old I’ve wanted to own land. I just grew up

thinking that everyone wanted to own land and farm.”

Havran grew up in south central Iowa, helping his grandfather with chores.

They gathered eggs, raised chickens and always had farm fresh beef on the

table. “I always thought about how peaceful that was and how I wanted that

same connection to the land,” Havran said. “That want was always there – an

itch I just couldn’t quite scratch.”

“I wanted to join the military, get a degree from Drake University, retire at 40

and own 1,000 acres by the age of 50,” Havran said. “That was my plan at age

nine. I’m fortunate, I’ve met just about all those goals.”

“This summer we closed on 40 acres near Milo. It’s not quite 1,000 acres, but

it’s where I start.”

Havran’s agricultural adventure is just beginning. He secured his first 40 acres

near Milo in south central Iowa with the help of Dave Baker and the Veterans

in Ag program, John Baker, an attorney-at-law and administrator with the Be-

ginning Farmer Center, and a Farm Service Agency (FSA) microloan. That

land will be the home to his growing cow/calf operation; another FSA loan will

allow him to purchase additional Black Angus cows and bring his herd to a

dozen.

“Farming provides an internal peace,” Havran said. “Farmers have an ethic of

care and conservation of the land and I see that for the next generation. That’s

the biggest element that links all of us together. It’s a hard work ethic but it’s

also going above and beyond what you need to be doing. It’s your time that

you are putting in but it’s also what you see in the future and someday that fu-

ture will get passed down to your family.”

Read more at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/veterans-ag-program-

helps-veterans-get-start-farming. For more information about the Beginning

Farmer Center and the Veterans in Ag program, visit www.extension.iastate.

edu/bfc or contact the center at (877) BFC-1999 or bfc@iastate.edu.

Extension Links

Ag Decision Maker

www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm

Beef Center

www.iowabeefcenter.org

ISU Ag Newsletters

www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/newsletters

Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy

www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu

Iowa State Research Farms

www.ag.iastate.edu/farms

Iowa Water Quality Initiative

www.cleanwateriowa.org

Manure Management

www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag

Pesticide Management

www.extension.iastate.edu/pme

Pork Center

www.ipic.iastate.edu

November 16, 2016

… and justice for all Iowa State University Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, 3280 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating.

2016 Iowa State University Land Value Survey

Contact: Wendong Zhang, Extension Economist, 515-294-2536, wdzhang@iastate.edu AgDM Newsletter-November 2016, http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/

Dr. Wendong Zhang with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Center for

Agricultural and Rural Development is administering the 2016 ISU Land Value Survey. This

survey will be sent out to farm managers, appraisers, brokers, ag lenders and other agricultural

professionals via paper and online for participation from November 1, 2016 to December 2,

2016. The results of this survey will be released at a press conference on Tuesday, December

13 at the ISU Alumni Center.

If you are an agricultural professional knowledgeable about the farmland market who hasn’t

participated before, but would like to participate in this year’s survey, please contact Dr.

Wendong Zhang at wdzhang@iastate.edu or call 515-294-2536. You can also see the land val-

ue trends at the county, district and state level since 1950 at the new, interactive Iowa Farmland Value Portal at http://

card.iastate.edu/farmland/.

2016 Pro-Ag Outlook

Management Options for Lenders and Agri-businesses By Kelvin Leibold, Extension Farm Management Field Specialist, (641) 648-4862, kleibold@iastate.edu

The annual Pro-Ag Outlook meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 18 at NIACC with registration at 12:30 p.m. and

the meeting from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

The registration fee is $20 per person. Please register by November 17 by calling Cerro Gordo County Extension and

Outreach at 641-423-0844. Walk-ins welcome.

Other locations are available at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/meetings.html.

2017 Crop Clinic December 9 in Mason City

Cerro Gordo County Extension and Outreach will host the annual Corn and Soybean Clinic and pesticide recertification

on Friday, December 9 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania, Mason City. A noon meal sponsored by

agribusinesses will begin at 12:30 p.m.

There is no fee for the program or lunch. The private pesticide recertification will begin at 1:30 p.m. The recertification

fee is $20. For more information or to register for lunch, please contact the Cerro Gordo County Extension and Outreach

office at 641-423-0844.

USDA Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook

By Mildred Haley, USDA Coordinator, mhaley@ers.usda.gov and Keithly Jones, USDA Coordinator, kjones@ers.usda.gov

USDA forecasts for net exports (exports minus imports) of red meat and poultry in 2016 and 2017 show progressive in-

creases, largely due to recovery in the U.S. beef sector and expectations of solid growth in poultry exports. U.S. beef ex-

ports are expected to increase by almost 9 percent in 2016 and by almost 7 percent next year, as beef sector recovery con-

tinues and U.S. production increases. Net poultry exports (broiler meat and turkey) are forecast to increase both this year

(+4 percent) and in 2017 (+5 percent) due to stronger production, driven by lower feed costs and by strong foreign de-

mand for relatively low-priced meat protein. More at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=80347.

Remember Who Owns the Cornstalks in Iowa

Kristine Tidgren, Staff Attorney, Center for Agriculture Law and Taxation, Iowa State University (Article reprinted with permission from the Center for Agriculture Law and Taxation, April 2015)

Corn stalks hold value in Iowa, not only as bedding and food for livestock throughout

the winter months, but also as a fuel source for renewable energy companies produc-

ing biofuels. In rental agreements, it is important to specify who holds ownership of

the corn stalks in any lease agreement.

The Iowa Court of Appeals had the opportunity to interpret Iowa Code §562.5A,

which, in the absence of a writing to the contrary, grants tenants the right to harvest

corn stalks until the lease terminates. Little has been written about his law, which was

enacted in 2010 in response to the growing value of corn stalks. Agricultural attorneys

must be aware of this law and its impact on their clients. The recent case provides a

good overview of its significant implications and sets forth key parameters for its ap-

plication. Read more online at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/smallfarms/

remember-who-owns-corn-stalks-iowa.

Pit Gases Pose a Danger in Beef Barns

Gas can be released during times of agitation and pumping and can be

potentially dangerous Article | 11/02/2016 | By Daniel Andersen, Extension Agricultural and BioSystems

Engineer, 515-294-4210, dsa@iastate.edu and Jay Harmon, Agricultural and Bio-

systems Engineering, 515-294-0554, jharmon@iastate.edu

AMES, Iowa – Hydrogen sulfide gas is a serious issue both in and around

barns with liquid manure storage. The decomposition of organic matter in

manure results in the release of several gases: ammonia, carbon dioxide,

methane and hydrogen sulfide among them. Most of the time these gases

are emitted at low levels, but any time manure is being agitated or pumped,

or the surface is disturbed, hydrogen sulfide can be rapidly released.

Although all are potentially dangerous, hydrogen sulfide tends to be the

most concerning in these cases. Hydrogen sulfide has an intense rotten egg

smell, so it is relatively easy to detect its presence, even in very low concen-

trations, but people quickly suffer olfactory fatigue and lose the ability to

smell it. This makes it necessary to use analytical instruments to detect dan-

gerous levels.

Consider monitoring equipment for safety—Hydrogen sulfide monitors can

be purchased to help keep those working around manure safe. A monitor,

which is small enough to wear, ranges in cost from $99 to $800 and will alert you if the situation is dangerous. There are

numerous options available for monitoring hydrogen sulfide levels when working with manure.

Best tips for agitation—Hydrogen sulfide can spike quickly and without warning during pit pumping. This can result in

hazardous concentrations for both the animals and the farm employees around the facility. Aggressive agitation can con-

tribute to the risk of gas spikes when agitation first begins and when the pit becomes nearly empty. The manure agitation

technique used can make a big difference in how much, and how quickly, hydrogen sulfide is off-gassed from the ma-

nure.

People should NEVER enter a building being pumped. Use yellow caution tape to mark barn entrances to block door or

consider lockout tags during pumping. If possible, remove animals before pumping. For barns with multiple pits, move

cattle out of the room with the pit being agitated. Following are a few best practices regarding manure application.

Read more at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/pit-gases-pose-danger-beef-barns. For more information on this

topic or other manure related issues, please contact the Iowa Manure Management Action Group, http://

www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag/.

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure

By John D. Lawrence, ISU Director of Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension, 515-509-3907 (cell), jdlaw@iastate.edu

Driving across the state this fall I see more cover crops than ever before, but it remains a fraction of the acres needed to

reach the Nutrient Reduction Strategy goal. An important step on the continuum to changing behavior is raising aware-

ness. The old adage, “you can’t manage what you don’t measure” rings true for nutrients. Soil tests and late season stalk

nitrate tests are two indicators that many farmers use to adjust how much fertilizer to apply. However, do they know how

many nutrients they are losing from their field to surface water?

RetaiN is a tile monitoring project coordinated by Jamie Benning, Water Quality Program Manager with ISU Extension

and Outreach and Clare Lindahl, Executive Director of Conservation Districts of Iowa. RetaiN is an easy to use nitrate

testing kit to encourage farmers to gather their own nitrate data to support decision making related to nitrogen manage-

ment and reduction of nitrate loss. The kits include a bottle of 25 Hach nitrite testing strips and a booklet with nitrate

monitoring instructions, nitrogen practice information and data log section all in a shippable box. The Hach test strips are

simple and easy to use and provide the farmer with a reading in 60 seconds. Farmers are encouraged to record their data

in the booklet and observe the nitrate levels over the growing season. The test strips let the farmer measure if he or she is

losing nitrates from their field to surface waters. Further learning takes place when they discuss their data with other

farmers in peer groups to learn what works and what doesn’t to manage nitrogen.

The evaluation feedback from farmers, watershed coordinators, and ISUEO specialists using the kits is overwhelmingly

positive. Conducting on-farm tile monitoring through the RetaiN project has been a catalyst for farmers to consider im-

plementing nitrate reduction practices, prioritize additional nitrogen management and explore additional monitoring. One

farmer wrote, "The kit is quick, very simple to use and gives you immediate results. It helps me determine if I am losing

any nitrogen." For more information about the RetaiN project, visit: www.retainiowa.com.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Commercial Ag Weed, Insect, Disease Charles City

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Log on and Learn: Health Insurance Part 1 and 2 Charles City

Thursday, November 17, 2016 1:40 PM - 2:40 PM Pick a Better Snack - IC Charles City

Saturday, November 19, 2016 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Wreath Making Workshop Charles City

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Clover Kids - Palooza Charles City

Tuesday, November 22, 2016 1:40 PM - 2:10 PM Pick a Better Snack - RRMR Rockford

Monday, November 28, 2016 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM 4-H Ambassadors Meeting Charles City Saturday, December 3, 2016 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Beef Weigh-In Ionia

Tuesday, December 6, 2016 3:15 PM - 5:00 PM Clover Kids - Charles City Charles City

Wednesday, December 7, 2016 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Pest Control Operators Charles City

To view this newsletter online or find more information about these events, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/floyd or call 641-228-1453.

Floyd County Extension and Outreach

Calendar of Events

Floyd Co Extension Staff Regional Extension Director Donovan Olson 641-423-0844 donovano@iastate.edu County Executive Director Lesley Mehmen Milius 641-228-1453 lmehmen@iastate.edu 4-H Program Assistant Andrea Hobson 641-228-1453 ahobson@iastate.edu Food Nutrition Program Assistant Julie Mayhew 641-228-1453 jmayhew@iastate.edu 4-H Office Assistant Kim Vance 641-228-1453 kvance@iastate.edu Office Assistant/Bookkeeper Jane Beranek 641-228-1453 beranek@iastate.edu

Agriculture Specialists Livestock Russ Euken 641-923-2856 reuken@iastate.edu Agronomy Terry Basol 641-435-4864 tlbasol@iastate.edu Farm Management Melissa O’Rourke 712-737-4230 morourke@iastate.edu