2022 January Stewardship Advocate

MONTHLY UPDATE FROM BEN GLEASON, IOWA CORN SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS MANAGER

January 2022

Happy New Year! January has almost flown by, which brings us to Iowa Corn’s annual seminars at the Iowa Ag Expo in Des Moines. On February 1 and 2 at 10 am, we’ll be hosting farmer panels to discuss how soil health improvements help with resilient crops even in drought. You can attend the seminars in meeting room 401 on the ballroom level of the convention center or watch the livestream on Iowa Corn’s Facebook page.

 

Another opportunity is brought to you by a new partnership between National Corn Growers Association and Pheasants Forever (PF). The collaboration will provide free technical assistance, including a site visit by a PF biologist, to help corn farmers evaluate conservation concerns including pollinator habitat. For more information or to request a site visit click here, email pollinator@pfqf.org or call Brent Rudolph at 517-980-4570.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture has extended the deadline to this Friday, January 28 for its crop insurance discount for cover crops. Farmers who planted cover crops this fall may be eligible for a $5/acre discount on spring crop insurance. Sign up at apply.cleanwateriowa.org.

Finally, One Good Idea is a new website where farmers can learn from other farmers about how to be successful and profitable with soil health and other stewardship practices. Be sure to check out the website and follow on social media to submit or receive new ideas.

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Latest Information

Senators Talk with EPA on Pesticide Concerns

A Guide to the Recent USDA Conservation Investments

Report Shows Commitment to Nutrient Loss Efforts

USDA Offers Expanded Conservation Program Opportunities to Support Climate Smart Agriculture in 2022 

USDA Announces Details of New Insurance Option for Conservation-Minded Corn Farmers

Balancing Tradition and Innovation

Off-Season Cover Crops Expand as U.S. Growers Eye Low-Carbon Future

The Net-Zero Farmer: Understand Your Farm’s Carbon Footprint

Midwest States Take Different Approaches to Water Quality

Top Ten Agricultural Law Issues in 2021

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Upcoming Events

January 26 Focus on Phosphorus, Webinar

January 27 Crop Advantage Series, Denison

February 1-3 Iowa Ag Expo, Des Moines

February 1 Profit in Perennial Vegetation, Washington

February 2 Boone River Watershed Management Plan, Clarion

February 3 Redefining the Field Edge, Virtual

February 8 Windbreak School, Tama

February 8 Prairie Strips, Webinar

February 8 Soil Fertility Workshop, Algona

February 10 Soil Fertility Workshop, Nashua

February 11 Thriving Conservation Culture, Clarion

February 14 Soil Fertility Workshop, Logan

February 15 Soil Fertility Workshop, Denison

February 15 Prairie Strips, Webinar

February 16 Soil Fertility Workshop, Coon Rapids

February 16 Legal Roundup of Glyphosate, Webinar

February 22 Prairie Strips, Webinar

February 22 Soil Fertility Workshop, Elkhorn

February 23 Soil Fertility Workshop, Grundy Center

February 23 Focus on Phosphorus, Webinar

February 23 Soil Fertility Workshop, Lytton

February 24 Soil Fertility Workshop, Ogden

February 24 Soil Fertility Workshop, Tipton

February 25 Soil Fertility Workshop, Waterloo

February 28 Soil Fertility Workshop, Fayette

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Farmer to Farmer video

Farmer to Farmer:  Cover Crop Challenges

At a field day panel discussion, Iowa farmers talk about the challenges they’ve faced and how they’ve overcome those challenges while using cover crops.