MAY 2018 STEWARDSHIP ADVOCATE UPDATE

MONTHLY UPDATE FROM BEN GLEASON, IOWA CORN SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS MANAGER

While “normal” Iowa weather can be hard to define, this spring has proven to be anything but normal. As of May 20, corn planting in the state was running about five days behind the five-year average, so I hope the weather didn’t put too much of a damper on your planting.

As you wrap up spring planting, I encourage you to put two important dates on your calendars.

June 5: Iowa primary elections
For Republicans, there are five candidates running for secretary of agriculture. While they all support the voluntary approach to water quality improvement, they differ on their method of implementation. This year’s water quality funding bill provides discretion to the secretary as to how to spend many of those dollars. Click here to compare the candidates.

For Democrats, six candidates are running to be the party’s choice to compete with Gov. Kim Reynolds in November. When looking at these candidates, two environmental issues to consider include water quality funding and regulation of livestock facilities. Click here to compare the candidates.

June 15: Next cutoff for applications for federal cost share
Don’t miss this date if you are considering cover crops, conservation drainage practices, terraces or waterways, as it’s the final date applications are ranked and approved for federal programs like EQIP until later this fall. If your application is approved, you can make plans for fall implementation.

In addition to federal cost share programs, sign-up is open statewide for Iowa’s Water Quality Initiative cost share program, which provides financial incentives for cover crops, no-till, strip till and nitrification inhibitor for fall fertilizer. This program is usually first-come, first-served, so make sure you sign up as soon as possible. Click here for more information.

And finally, this article appeals to my competitive side. Currently, Indiana leads the nation with acres planted to cover crops. It would be great to beat Indiana and have Iowa set the bar for incorporating this conservation practice on the farm!

FARMER TO FARMER:

INSTALLING A BIOREACTOR

Chris Herbold, a conservation contractor, talks about installation of a bioreactor on the Bob Floss farm in Jasper County to improve water quality.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• May 29: Windbreaks 101, Fairfield

• May 29: Late Planting Options Meetings, Emmetsburg & Estherville

• May 30: Late Planting Options Meetings, Algona

• May 31: Grazing Workshop, Chariton

• June 2: Big Creek Appreciation Day, Polk City

• June 2: Middle River Watershed Tour, Winterset

• June 6: Pasture Walk, Lockridge

• June 6: Weather Station Field Day, Tripoli

• June 7: RUSLE2 Soil Loss Workshop, Altoona

• June 7: Upper Iowa Watershed Meeting, Decorah

• June 7: Women Landowners Cover Crop Workshop, Marshalltown

• June 8: Otter Creek Tour, West Union

• June 11-12: 4R Summit, Des Moines

• June 13: Blind Inlet Workshop, Iowa Falls

• June 14: Grazing Workshop, Chariton

• June 14: Upper Iowa Watershed Meeting, Decorah

• June 15: Conservation tour, Black Hawk & Benton counties

• June 15: Conservation Easements Celebration, Blairsburg

• June 18: Clear Creek Watershed Meeting, Coralville

• June 20: Nishnabotna Watershed Meeting, Oakland

• June 22: North Raccoon Watershed Meeting, Lake City

• June 25-26: ICGA Roundtables

• June 27: Boone River Watershed Field Day, Webster City

• July 10-12: One Water Summit, Minneapolis

• July 11-12: ICGA Roundtables

• July 26-27: National Strip-Tillage Conference, Iowa City

LATEST INFORMATION:

• REDUCED TILLAGE WIDENS PLANTING WINDOW 

• TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE IS REQUIRED TO MEET NUTRIENT-LOADING REDUCTION GOALS 

• CONSERVATION WORK TO TARGET PROTECTION OF TEN IOWA LAKES 

• 2018 RCPP FUNDING STILL AVAILABLE FOR FARMERS IN MOST PROJECT AREAS 

• WHY MONSANTO AND ITS RIVALS ARE TRYING TO SAVE BUTTERFLIES 

• WAIT, THERE’S PROFIT IN CONSERVATION PRACTICES? 

• PIG FARMING AND WATER QUALITY GO HAND-IN-HAND 

• HOW THE GROWING ‘ONE WATER’ MOVEMENT IS NOT ONLY HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT BUT ALSO SAVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS 

• THREE KEY THINGS TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT SOIL HEALTH 

• DELAY MOWING OF ROADSIDE DITCHES TO PROTECT GROUND NESTING BIRDS, POLLINATORS