DECEMBER 2017 STEWARDSHIP ADVOCATE UPDATE

MONTHLY UPDATE FROM BEN GLEASON, IOWA CORN SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS MANAGER

Happy Holidays! We hope you have time to enjoy the season with those you love. Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 are significant dates, however, there are a few others we want you to know about.

• Dec. 21. While this date has already passed, applying manure to snow-covered ground is currently restricted after this date unless properly injected or incorporated. Click here for more information.

• Jan. 4. The next source water protection meeting is for the Osceola Rural Water System at 6:00 p.m. at the RL Johannsen Center in Sutherland. Other towns working to protect their wellheads include George, Holstein, Ida Grove, Kingsley, Rock Valley and Sanborn. If you are interested in attending one of these meetings, please contact Bridget Durst via email or phone at 712-262-4177.

• Jan. 8. The Iowa legislature begins its 2018 activities and significant, long-term funding for water quality is a priority for the Iowa Corn Growers Association. You don’t need to wait, contact your legislator now to encourage passage of Senate File 512!

• Jan. 15. This is the deadline to sign up for the cover crop-crop insurance demonstration project, which pays $5 per acre for cover crops seeded this past fall. The funding will be provided as a crop insurance premium discount for 2018 crops. Funding is limited and is first-come, first-serve so sign up here.

• Jan. 30 - 31. Iowa Corn is hosting seminars at 11:15 a.m. in room 311 at the Iowa Power Farming Show. Stop by to learn about the Soil Health Partnership and get a free rain gauge or nitrate test kit. Iowa Corn has a limited number of tickets to the show. Contact me via email or by phone at 515-225-9242 if you’re interested in free tickets. By accepting free tickets, I expect to see you at one of the seminars!

Finally, January is a great time to make sure your manure and/or pesticide applicator certification is up to date. Make sure to attend a continuing education course if needed. New this year is additional training required for restricted use dicamba pesticides. Watch DicambaTrainingIowa.org for future information.

FARMER TO FARMER:

LET'S TALK Conserving the Land for Future generations

Story County farmer, Mark Kenney, talks about the work he is doing on his farm to ensure that it's in good shape for his kids if and when they decide to farm one day. He talks about his experience with conservation practices such as grass waterways and cover crops.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Jan. 2: Land Stewardship Clinic, Iowa Falls

• Jan. 3: COVER CROP - CROP INSURANCE, Webinar

• Jan. 3: Crop Advantage Series, Sheldon

• Jan. 4: Crop Advantage Series, Okoboji

• Jan. 4: Manure Applicator Certification, many locations

• Jan. 5: Crop Advantage Series, Burlington

• Jan. 9: Crop Advantage Series, Storm Lake

• Jan. 9: Upper Wapsi Watershed Meeting, Independence

• Jan. 9: Southfork Watershed Meeting, Iowa Falls

• Jan. 10: Crop Advantage Series, Ames

• Jan. 11: Crop Advantage Series, Moravia

• Jan. 11: Middle Cedar Watershed Meeting, Vinton

• Jan. 12: Crop Advantage Series, Mason City

• Jan. 12: Ag Coffee - Cover Crops, Jefferson

• Jan. 16: Crop Advantage Series, Atlantic

• Jan. 16: Crop Fair, Missouri Valley

• Jan. 17: Crop Advantage Series, Fort Dodge

• Jan. 17: Clear Creek Watershed Meeting, Coralville

• Jan. 18: Crop Advantage Series, Waterloo

• Jan. 23: Crop Advantage Series, Le Mars

• Jan. 24: Crop Advantage Series, Iowa City

• Jan. 24 - 25: Iowa Pork Congress, Des Moines

• Jan. 25: Crop Advantage Series, Denison

• Jan. 25 - 26: Driftless Region Beef Conference, Dubuque

LATEST INFORMATION:

• Conservation Practices Protect Water Quality

• Iowa Not Considering Additional Restrictions for Dicamba

• Measuring Progress of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy

• Push by Farm Organizations for 2018 Action on Water Quality Funding

• Study Tries to Find Right Incentive to Promote Agricultural Conservation

• Eastern Iowa Farmer Sets Water Quality Tone

• Northey Asks for Disease Outbreak Funding Increase, Water Quality Decision

• No New Row Crop Herbicide Sites of Action Coming

• FFAR Awards $9.4 Million to Spur Next Leap in Agriculture:  Improved Soil Health

• Four Steps to Improve Soil Health