2022 February Stewardship Advocate

MONTHLY UPDATE FROM BEN GLEASON, IOWA CORN SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS MANAGER

Spring is right around the corner. Before everyone gets busy in the field, be sure to nominate your friends and neighbors for the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards. Nominations will be accepted until May 2 with the awards ceremony in August at the Iowa State Fair. Click here for more information.

Deadlines are quickly approaching for several conservation incentive programs: 

• NRCS is accepting applications for Conservation Incentive Contracts until February 25. This is a new program for conservation practices that support soil health and regenerative grazing.
• The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign up is open until March 11. This is a great opportunity to put unprofitable acres into perennial vegetation for wildlife and other environmental benefits in exchange for a rental payment. Click here for more information.
• The Pandemic Cover Crop Program provides a $5/acre crop insurance discount if cover crops are planted during the 2022 crop year. This can be added on top of the Iowa cover crop program. To participate in the program, farmers must report cover crop acres by March 15. Click here for more information.

Finally, don’t forget about the partnership between National Corn Growers Association and Pheasants Forever (PF). The collaboration provides 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.

LATEST INFORMATION 

EPA Says Updated ESA Pesticide Policy Will Protect Tools 

Know Definitions of Common Carbon Terms 

Healthier Soils, Resilient Crops, Cleaner Water 

How to Unlock the Secrets in Soil Test Data 

Soil Health Nurtures Ground and Feeds Long-term Profitability 

On-farm Monitoring Informs Management to Keep Phosphorus in Place 

Public and Private Partners Launch Project to Increase Cover Crop Acres in Des Moines River and Raccoon River Watersheds 

Beyond Honeybees:  Pollinators in Agriculture 

A Love for the Land and Livestock Drives Conservation Decisions

UPCOMING EVENTS 

February 24 Soil Fertility Workshop, Ogden 

February 24 Soil Fertility Workshop, Tipton 

February 25 Soil Fertility Workshop, Waterloo 

February 28 Soil Fertility Workshop, Fayette 

March 1 Soil Fertility Workshop, Dyersville 

March 1 Cover Crop Brunch, Oskaloosa 

March 2 Soil Fertility Workshop, Riceville 

March 3 Research Farm Annual Meeting, Britt 

March 3 Research Farm Annual Meeting, Iowa City 

March 3 Soil Fertility Workshop, Mt Pleasant 

March 4 Soil Fertility Workshop, Ottumwa 

March 8 Perennial Vegetation Workshop, Prairie City 

March 10 Flood Mitigation, Virtual 

March 15 Perennial Vegetation Workshop, Calmar 

March 17 Soil Fertility Workshop, LeMars 

March 22 Roadsides for Monarchs, Webinar 

March 23 Legalities of Carbon Contracts, Webinar 

March 23 Cover Crop Field Day, Grand Mound 

March 23 Focus on Phosphorus, Webinar 

March 30 Farm to Brew, Dyersville

FARMER TO FARMER VIDEO 

Farmer to Farmer: Improving Soil Health on Rented Land 

Panelists from Iowa Corn’s soil health seminars at the Iowa Ag Expo share their experiences with having successful conversations about soil health practices with their landlords. Go to https://www.iowacorn.org/corn-production-research/farming-practices/renting-farmland-landowner-tenant-resources/ for additional resources.