FEBRUARY STEWARDSHIP ADVOCATE UPDATE

MONTHLY UPDATE FROM BEN GLEASON, IOWA CORN SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS MANAGER

It is starting to feel like spring here in Iowa and it won't be long before planting season is upon us! Things are heating up at the Iowa Capitol as contentious issues, such as school funding and collective bargaining, were being debated. Water quality funding will remain on the back burner until budgets are finished.

The recent Iowa Power Farming Show brought thousands of farmers to the Iowa Events Center. Iowa Corn talked to many attendees at our booth, and we hosted water quality seminars featuring Secretary Bill Northey, Dr. Larry Weber from the Iowa Flood Center and several Iowa farmers who have upped their conservation efforts. Check out the highlight video below from the first seminar, and look for footage from the second seminar in the March update.

The Iowa Pest Resistance Management Plan was announced at the show by Secretary Northey, Associate Dean John Lawrence from Iowa State University and Iowa Corn Promotion Board Director Larry Buss. The plan outlines approaches for effective crop management that will prevent pest resistance to chemical, genetic and agronomic practices. To learn more, go to www.ProtectIowaCrops.org. 

Finally, do you know someone who goes above and beyond to implement conservation efforts on their farm? Consider nominating them for the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award. 

FARMER TO FARMER:

LET'S TALK Water Quality

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Iowa Corn farmers Doug Holliday and Wayne Humphreys discuss water quality, soil health and conservation in a panel discussion at the recent Iowa Power Farming Show.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• COVER CROP WORKSHOP: NASHUA, FEB. 22

• Boone River Watershed Meeting: Renwick, Feb. 23

• COVER CROP WORKSHOP: CENTRAL CITY, FEB. 23

• Turkey river meeting: postville, feb. 23

• MAXIMIZING ECONOMIC RETURNS TO FERTILIZER: WAUKON, FEB. 27

• COVER CROP WORKSHOP: KNOXVILLE, FEB. 28

• Palmer Amaranth Workshop: Independence, March 1

• COVER CROP WORKSHOP: CLARION, MARCH 2

• Palmer Amaranth Workshop: Washington, march 2

• Cover Crop Workshop: Webster City, March 2

• Farmland Drainage Workshop: Eddyville, March 3

• Cover Crop Workshop: Sioux Center, march 8

• Cover Crop Workshop: Eldora, March 9

• Iowa Corn Crop Fair: Coon Rapids, March 14

• Palmer Amaranth Workshop: Traer, March 20

• Palmer Amaranth Workshop: Williamsburg, March 21

• Middle Cedar Meeting: Vinton, March 21

• Iowa Water Conference: Ames, March 22 - 23

• Iowa Corn Day on the Hill: Des Moines, March 29

LATEST INFORMATION:

• Ag Secretary Expects More Water Quality Funding 

• Fertilizer Use Accounts For Soils, Farm’s Strengths

• Restoring Soil Health Takes Time

• Ag Legal Battles in 2017

• Pyrethroids Up For Review By EPA

• Iowa Pest Resistance Management Plan Unveiled

• Nitrogen Myths and Realities

• Des Moines Water Works CEO:  You Can Shoot the Messenger But Not the Messenger

• Water Quality Reports Budget

• Analytics Show Links Between Soil Health and Enhanced Farm Performance

• Uncover 4 Key Mindsets to Successful Cover Cropping