ISA policy process underway

ISA is currently holding district policy conferences across the state. As each district considers feedback to a member survey, they reach consensus on their three top priorities and elect two delegates to attend ISA’s state policy conference, scheduled for Dec. 10 in Ankeny.

To learn more, click here.

Agronomic tip of the week

Control weeds vs. manage weeds!
"Our weed management program today is so efficient that we often take weed management for granted since we know we can kill any weed. The problem is we often do it too late." ISU Associate Professor Palle Pedersen believes weeds are the most yield-limiting pest we have in Iowa fields today and addresses the issue in this week’s agronomic tip.

To learn more, click here.

Protein concentration of U.S. soybeans increases in 2009

The average protein concentration of soybeans harvested in the U.S. as of Nov. 23 was 35.3 percent, 1.2 percent higher than in 2008, according to the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) 2009 U.S. Soybean Quality Survey.

To learn more, click here.

Soybeans remain leading U.S. ag export

The 2008/09 marketing year for U.S. soy exports showed no signs of slowing down the continuing trend of year-after-year growth. With more than 1.56 billion bushels of U.S. soy exported, soy remains the leading U.S. agriculture export valued at $15 billion. 

To learn more, click here.

USDA Rural Development Energy program helps producers purchase new grain-drying systems

The need for extra post-harvest grain drying has been well documented this fall. REAP loan guarantees and grants can be used for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, feasibility studies and energy audits. Farms may be able to finance up to 75 percent of eligible project costs through a USDA Rural Development program.

To learn more, click here.

Workshops offered for writing Rural Energy grants

Workshops on writing grants for the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (see previous article) will be offered in several Iowa locations in early 2010 for farmers with small to mid-sized operations and owners of rural “main street” businesses.

To learn more, click here.

USB Web site tool helps farmers improve sustainability

The United Soybean Board encourages U.S. soybean farmers to try the Fieldprint Calculator, a free tool. The Fieldprint Calculator analyzes the use of natural resources and inputs in tabulating a farm's environmental "Fieldprint," and can show farmers how management decisions affect the overall sustainability of their farm.

To learn more, click here.

Advice on grain storage, marketing & year-end strategies

Steve Johnson, Iowa State University Extension farm & ag business management specialist, recorded a webcast titled "Grain Storage, Marketing & Year-end Strategies" on Nov. 19.
Click here for the Webcast.
Click here for the pdf handout.

Updated policy conference schedule

District 1 – Dec. 8 – Spencer Golf and Country Club, Spencer –11:00 to 1:30
District 5 – Dec. 8 – Score Pavilion, Nevada – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
District 8 – Dec. 7 – Pizza Ranch, Pella – 11:00 to 1:30
District 9 – Dec. 4 – Riverside Casino, Riverside – 11:00 to 1:30
State Policy Conference – Dec. 10 – Marriott, Ankeny – 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.

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