JANUARY 2019 STEWARDSHIP ADVOCATE UPDATE

MONTHLY UPDATE FROM BEN GLEASON, IOWA CORN SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS MANAGER

Winter has fully arrived bringing snow, cold, and winter meetings. If you’re in Des Moines next week for the Iowa Power Farming Show, be sure to stop by Room 311 at 11:15 am for Iowa Corn’s conservation seminars on Tuesday and Wednesday. Click here for the complete list of seminars at the show.

 

Many winter meetings include continuing education credits for manure and pesticide applicators with additional training required for dicamba users. Don’t let your applicator license expire!

 

Last week, over 350 farmers, agronomists, partners, and I attended the fifth annual Soil Health Summit in St. Louis. The diversity of farmers and partners joining the Soil Health Partnership (SHP) continues to grow, and the summit’s topics ranged from working with landlords, drones, new soil health tests, and efforts by companies like McDonald’s and Cargill to demonstrate sustainability through soil health. Early in-field research by SHP farms shows no statistically significant yield drag from using cover crops, and organic matter is increasing.  SHP is working to expand its economic analyses on existing farms and piloting an Associate Program to allow more farmers to join the SHP network and strengthen the breadth and depth of its data collection. Click here if you’re interested in learning more about SHP or the Associate Program.

 

Finally, congratulations to John and Joan Maxwell, ICGA members who farm near Donahue, for winning the Exceptional Educators award for their efforts to tell their farm’s story to anyone and everyone!

 

                                                                                    

SHP Executive Director Shefali Mehta (left) and Iowa Field Manager Lisa Kubik (right) present an award to John Maxwell (center) at the Soil Health Summit.

 

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FARMER TO FARMER: Using a Variety of Conservation Practices

Adam Bierbaum of Griswold discusses the variety of conservation practices used on his farm to protect soil and water quality for future generations.

 

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

Jan. 24: Crop Advantage Series, Atlantic

Jan. 24: Middle Cedar River meeting, Toddville

Jan. 25: North Raccoon River meeting, Adel

Jan. 29: Cover Crop Workshop, Ankeny

Jan. 29: Crop Advantage Series, Iowa City

Jan. 29: Upper Wapsipinicon River meeting, Independence

Jan. 30: Crop Advantage Series, Denison

Feb. 4-5: Soil Health Conference, Ames

Feb. 5: Farmer Research Tour, Storm Lake

Feb. 6: Grazing Cover Crops, Boone

Feb. 7: Nutrient Reduction Strategy Meeting, Fairfield

Feb. 7: Farmer Research Tour, Ames

Feb. 11: Lunch and Learn, Nevada

Feb. 12: Crop Fair, Missouri Valley

Feb. 12: Stream Use Hearing, Urbandale

Feb. 12: Southfork Watershed Meeting, Iowa Falls

Feb. 12: CRP Management, Fairfield

Feb. 12: Farmer Research Tour, Cedar Rapids

Feb. 12-13: Agribusiness Showcase, Des Moines

Feb. 13: Stream Use Hearing, Washington

Feb. 14: Stream Use Hearing, Harlan

Feb. 14: Soil Health Workshops, Monticello

Feb. 19: Nutrient Management Short Course, Ames

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LATEST INFORMATION:

Water Quality Improvements Lead to Mussels’ Return, Lime Creek Off State Impaired Waters List

Iowa Issues Special Local Needs Label Outlining Dicamba-Specific Training Requirements

What Happens to Nitrogen When Manure is Applied on Frozen Soil or Snow?

New Conservation Practice Could Reduce Nitrogen Pollution in Agricultural Drainage Water

A Reminder from One Eastern Iowa Farmer:  Don’t Forget Grassed Waterways

Tyson Foods and EDF Launch Partnership to Accelerate Sustainable Food Production

Soil Health Partnership and The Nature Conservancy Renew Shared Commitment to a Sustainable Future

Management and Conservation in the Face of Lower Returns

Soil Health:  The Next Agricultural Revolution

Reviewing Key 2018 Developments in Agricultural Law & Taxation