February 27, 2023

2023 February Stewardship Advocate

Corn farmers who split-apply nitrogen now have another option for crop insurance coverage. For an additional premium, growers can cover the risk of weather preventing side-dress nitrogen from being applied between V3-V10 stage of growth. If weather prevents the side-dress application, indemnity payments will be made to farmers who have this additional coverage option.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) introduced the details of the Post Application Coverage Endorsement (PACE) in 2022 and then expanded the program to include all counties in Iowa for the 2023 crop year.

The Illinois Corn Growers Association worked with the National Corn Growers Association to seek RMA approval. “The idea stemmed from our internal research saying that the #1 reason more farmers don’t split apply their nitrogen is the risk of not getting it done. We wanted to provide a risk management product to cover the possible loss from split application,” said Megan Dwyer of the Illinois Corn Growers Association.

The PACE endorsement does not cover yield loss. Yield loss is covered by the underlying base policy. The coverage window is V3-V10 so if you put a percent of your N on pre-plant or with the planter you’d still be able to use this for the later application. The PACE endorsement is available through your local crop insurance agent.

LATEST INFORMATION:

ICGA Hosts Informational Farm Bill Priorities Session

ICGA Releases Top State and Federal Policy Priorities for 2023

U.S. Grains Council Launches Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol At Annual Winter Meetin g

Conservation Concerns Tool | Farmers.gov

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability of Inflation Reduction At Funding for Climate-Smart Agriculture Nationwide

Years of monarch research shows how adding habitat will help conservation

USDA Announces General Conservation Reserve Program Signups for 2023

Revising the Definition of “Waters of the United States”

UPCOMING EVENTS:

February 22: Iowa Nitrogen Initiative, AgState Cooperative, Albert City

February 23: Iowa Nitrogen Initiative, Virtual

February 24: Iowa Nitrogen Initiative, Washington County Extension, Washington

February 28: Western Monarch Mystery Challenge – Webinar

March 1, March 8, March 15, March 22 and March 29: Iowa Learning Farms Webinars – Webinars

March 2: Midwest Covers and Grains Conference – Cedar Rapids

March 2: Edge of Field Batch and Build Workshop – Ames

March 3: North Central Iowa Research Association Annual Meeting – Britt

March 8: Highlights from a Decade of INRC Research & Impacts: Bioreactors, Ditches & Oxbows – Webinar Series

March 28: Planning Your Pollinator Habitat – Webinar

Farmer to Farmer

We’d like to introduce Greg Wandrey as the new Iowa Corn Director of Sustainability. He previously worked at the Farmers Business Network where he was responsible for regulatory approval of new products and lead negotiator with the EPA. He also worked for The Nature Conservancy where he was responsible for developing the 4R plus program which included a coalition of groups supporting nutrient stewardship applying nutrients using the Right source, at the Right time, using the Right rate, and in the Right place. Greg worked for Pioneer (Corteva) where he had responsibility for corn marketing, business improvement, regulatory approval, and compliance. Greg has a B.S. degree in Agronomy (ISU), a master’s degree in Agronomy (ISU) and Plant Breeding, and a PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics (U of MN).

Greg grew up on a crop and livestock farm near Dyersville, Iowa. He has experience bringing coalitions together and working with environmental and agricultural groups. He also has experience working with government agencies. Please help us welcome Greg to the Iowa Corn team.