2024 October Stewardship Advocate

INREC Survey Results

The Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council (INREC) supports, monitors and reports on progress towards the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy efforts through science-based solutions and collaboration across Iowa’s agricultural production systems. INREC was formed created in 2015 to measure progress to meet the goals of the strategy. Iowa Corn is one of the founding members of INREC and is one of four on the board of directors. The board president is Roger Zylstra, a long-time contributor and member of Iowa Corn Growers Association.   Each winter, the INREC team hits the road, surveying 150 ag retailer locations out of the 600 across Iowa. The selection process is randomized to ensure unbiased, accurate insights into how Iowa farmers and landowners are managing their land to reduce nutrient runoff. Here’s what they discovered this year as a result of the survey: 

COVER CROPS – Cover crop usage continues to increase year after year! Since the survey’s inception in 2017, cover crop acres have increased from 1,597,614 acres to 3,841,525 acres in 2023 — an average increase of 320,559 acres each year!    Rye continues to be the #1 choice for Iowa farmers and landowners in 2023, dominating the other cover crops with 86.6% of the acres planted in Iowa being rye. Remaining cover crops are 6.1% oats, 5.5% species mix and 1.7% of other cover crops.  

TILLAGE – Conservation tillage and no-till methods continue to outpace conventional tillage. On average since 2017: 33.1% of farmers practice conservation tillage 36.4% of farmers practice no-till 32.9% of farmers practice conventional tillage.  This means 69.5% of Iowa’s farmland is managed with conservation tillage or no-till, reducing soil erosion and promoting healthier soils.  

NITROGEN USAGE – Corn/Soybean Rotation: In 2023, farmers applied an average of 166.6 lbs./acre of commercial-only nitrogen—16.8 lbs./acre less than in 2020, marking a nearly 10% reduction in use.  Corn-on-Corn: In 2023, nitrogen rates averaged 185.7 lbs./acre, down 23.2 lbs./acre from 2020, translating to an 11% decrease. 

 While fertilizer prices may be influencing these shifts, the adoption of advanced nitrogen-use efficiency technologies is also playing a major role in helping farmers reduce inputs while maintaining yields. 

PHOSPHORUS USAGE – Since 2017, 80.4% of Iowa’s corn and soybean acres have undergone soil testing for phosphorus levels, a vital step in determining where this nutrient is most needed.  What we found: 92.4% of these acres only apply phosphorus when soil levels are at or below optimum, showcasing farmers’ commitment to responsible application and sustainability.  By prioritizing soil testing, we’re not just enhancing crop performance; we’re also promoting sustainability and protecting our environment for future generations. 

MANURE USAGE – In 2023, only 23.5% of Iowa farmers applied manure from swine, dairy, beef or poultry sources to their corn fields.   76.5% of farmers in Iowa did not utilize any type of manure on their farmland. 

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Farmer to Farmer: Dan Keitzer

Dan Keitzer and his family farm in Des Moines County in southeast Iowa. They raise corn and soybeans and have a swine finishing business as well. Dan has been farming for more than 40 years and shares the farming duties with his wife, son and daughter.

Dan is passionate about the legacy he is creating for his family and their farm. He says “I am a strong advocate of sustainability, and I demonstrate that by using climate smart practices on my farm. I believe in leaving the land and water in better condition for future generations, especially since my kids are involved in the operation. I have been using various tillage practices for many years including no-till and minimum tillage. I use the manure from my swine operation to meet some of my crop fertility needs and I also use nitrification inhibitors with my anhydrous ammonia.” He continues, “I have incorporated these practices because they not only improve soil health and the water quality on my farms, they also are the practices used to calculate carbon intensity scores of the grain I produce.

”Dan’s cropping system is a balanced corn and soybean rotation. He plants a corn maturity range from 109-day to 117-day hybrids and uses a seed population calculator that takes into account seed costs, corn price and yield data to establish population rates. Dan has been doing grid sampling for the past 15 years. He believes that consistency in sampling, meaning always going to the same point, same depth and same radius around the point, is key to managing fertility so he always pulls his own samples. His son Keaton is now taking over sampling and fertility management. Dan says “Soil sampling is one of the most profitable jobs you can do yourself on the farm. It is not difficult to do and your return per hour is high.”

Like most farmers in Iowa, 2024 was a challenging year. The Keitzers had three corn planting windows…a short one in mid-April, another short one in late April and most of the corn and soybeans were planted in mid-May. Though soybean yields across the farm have been excellent, there has been variability in corn yields.

Dan comments “Planting conditions were never ideal, and we were always pushing the envelope on wet conditions. After planting we were consistently wet through early July. We never got big rains but had many rain events. Stands were good and plant health was excellent throughout the growing season even into the fall. Though the crop looked excellent, we are seeing highly variable yield results this fall. Some yields are excellent and above average, but some fields are disappointing. On the disappointing yields, kernel counts are good but the size is small. The below average yield results are occurring on ground that is flat and poorly drained, so I believe that the small kernel size is from nitrogen deficiency.” Dan continues saying, “Normally our nitrogen program is adequate, but we are going to have to reevaluate our plans going forward to cover us in a high precipitation year.

”Although Dan is very busy on the farm, he also takes time to serve his industry and local community. Dan recently provided oral comments at a USDA listening session on climate smart practices and producing biofuel where he talked about:

• The importance of the Department of Treasury finalizing the guidelines for the biofuels tax credits.
• Any tax credits should only apply to biofuels produced from domestic feedstocks, like corn.
• How a book and claim system would allow more farmers to participate in low carbon corn markets.
• The new guidelines should allow for more practices to be considered “climate smart” and that these practices should be decoupled, unlike in the 40B biofuel tax credit program.

Dan is the chair of Iowa Corn’s Industrial Usage and U.S. Production committee and is on the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) board of directors. Dan explains why he is involved with Iowa Corn saying “ICGA is extremely important in leading the development and continued promotion of export, ethanol and new corn uses. We need to always be looking for new demand and uses of corn and this is why Iowa Corn is so invested in the U.S. Grains Council and U.S. Meat Export Federation.” In addition to his involvement with Iowa Corn, he works locally with the Lions club and his church where he has been the treasurer for more than 30 years. He is also involved with the Des Moines County Fair, 4-H and extension.

Upcoming Events:

November 11 – Nutrient and Sediment Loads Measured from the Chesapeake Bay River Input Monitoring Network; Register at INRC Fall 2024 Water Research Seminar Series: Trends | Iowa Nutrient Research Center (iastate.edu)

Throughout November – ISU Extension and Outreach events; ISU Extension Calendar of Events – Events List (iastate.edu)

November 21 – The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers; 2024 Farming for the Future Conference – (supportfarmers.com); Iowa FFA Enrichment Center, Ankeny