MAY 2017 STEWARDSHIP ADVOCATE UDPATE

MONTHLY UPDATE FROM BEN GLEASON, IOWA CORN SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS MANAGER

With planting in full swing, it’s time to start thinking about adding some new conservation practices to your operation. Sign up is now open for statewide cost share funds to help implement cover crops, no-till, strip-till and nitrification inhibitors. Funding is limited so be sure to sign up before it runs out. Click here for more information.

While you’re at the soil & water conservation district office, ask about federal cost share from the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This is a new program created in the last farm bill. Although sign up is continuous, there is a June 16 deadline for the next round of cost share approvals. Click here for more information.

Finally, if you buried the planter in a wet spot, it might be time to do something different. This article outlines a variety of wetland conservation programs, including CRP, easements, and CREP. In addition, the Iowa Agricultural Mitigation, Inc is looking for wetland sites to restore to bank credits that others seeking mitigation can buy.

FARMER TO FARMER:

LET'S TALK Economics of Conservation

Dean Sponheim of Mitchell County started implementing conservation practices on his farm for economic purposes. When he discovered that the practices were also helping to preserve soil and water quality, it made perfect sense for him to continue incorporating the practices in his operation. Learn more about his experience with practices such as cover crops and strip tilling. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• MAY 30: COVER CROP FIELD DAY, SIOUX CENTER

• June 3: Big Creek Lake Appreciation Day, Polk City

• June 8: Cattle Stewardship Conference, Spirit Lake

• June 8: Strip till and cover crop field day, Holland

• JUNE 12 - 13: 4R NUTRIENT SUMMIT, MINNEAPOLIS

• June 13: Watershed field day, Hamilton county

• June 14: Monarch field day, Story county

• JUNE 14: NISHNABOTNA WATERSHED MEETING, OAKLAND

• June 20: Green Farmstead Workshop, Vinton

• June 20: Prairie on Farms field day, Dysart

• June 22: Herbicide research field day, Ames

• June 22: Prairie on Farms field day, Nashua

• July 12: Soil Health Partnership field day, Donahue

• July 19: Clear Creek Watershed Meeting, Coralville

• July 20: Economic Summit, Ames

• JULY 25: MIDDLE CEDAR WATERSHED MEETING, VINTON

• July 26: Manure management field day, Iowa Falls

• Aug 1: Saturated buffer and cover crop field day, Slater

• AUG. 3: PALMER AMARANTH IN CRP, BOONE

• Aug 3-4: National Strip Tillage Conference, Omaha

• Aug 9: Cover crop field day, Spirit Lake

• Aug 22-24: Drainage School, Nashua

LATEST INFORMATION:

• Conservation Freeze:  Popular Program Sees Change

• Neonic Insecticides Need Analysis Under Endangered Species Act 

• Farmers Surveyed on Efforts to Stop Monarch Butterfly Decline

• Branstad, Northey Express Support for Water Quality Projects in Boone County

• Farmer Happy With Cover Crop Benefits

• What EPA Head Scott Pruitt Will Mean for Farmers

• Update on Palmer Amaranth in Conservation Plantings

• Manure a Valuable Commodity

• General Mills Backing Soil Health Program