ANR News
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Vol. 11, #6
This electronic newsletter from Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources will be sent on an occasional basis to ag field specialists and all CEEDs. It is intended to provide current information to its readers. Let us know of topics you would like addressed.
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IN THIS EDITION:
Jerry's Comments
Bioenergy Web Program Available
Upcoming ANR Lunch and Learn Dates and Topics
ANR Extension Professional Development and Program Summit
Recent Weather Events Raise Questions about Iowa Fence Law
Asian Soybean Rust Found in Bin of Iowa Soybeans
Sale of Pesticides at Farm Auctions
Regional Bioenergy Conference Announced and Call for Papers
Funding Opportunities
Selected Calendar of Events
ANR Field & State Staff Directory Update
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JERRY'S COMMENTS
During the past weeks I have had an opportunity to read the annual reports that faculty, staff and field specialists submitted for the integrated Experiment Station and ANR Extension FY06 plan of work. ANR Extension continues to lead many great educational activities and programs. A few results selected from a large number of items submitted include (these are FY00 - 06 POW's and not all POW's are represent in the following comments):
- Crop Nutrient Management. Six workshops that focused on RUSLE2 and the Iowa P-Index were delivered to 128 participants, mostly consultants and service providers. The participants service 2,490 clients and manage 1.39 million crop acres. In addition, participants reported that each year they developed more than 1,690 nutrient management plans.
- Commercial Horticulture. A total of 36 video segments for "Gardening in the Zone" were produced and aired weekly from March through October. These 2-minute segments were watched by 153,000 viewers each week resulting in 5,355,000 impressions during the 36 week season
- Iowa Pork Industry Center. The Sow Longevity Spreadsheet, a decision aid software program, was released in 2004. The software is being used by producers, consultants, university faculty and staff, industry and financial entities in the United States and 35 other countries that impact a population of more than 28 million sows.
- Strengthening Iowa’s Dairy Industry. Six dairy producers constructed low cost parlors after receiving design assistance from ANR Extension staff, saving an average of $20,000 per parlor compared to more traditional systems. Total savings exceeded $120,000 in equipment costs. Also, eighteen dairy producers implemented changes in dairy facility design as a result of Extension staff suggestions. They equated these changes to increased cow comfort and increased milk production by $30 per cow. These herds averaged 70 cows for a total increased income of $37,800.
- Pesticide Applicator Training. Each year approximately 8,000 commercial pesticide applicators participate in training programs conducted by ANR Extension. Post-training feedback ask if participants successfully implemented new pesticide safety activities as a result of the previous year of pesticide applicator training. 73% of the respondents stated that as a result of previous training they now use personal protective equipment listed on the product label when applying pesticides.
These are a few examples of the educational efforts that you and the ANR Extension team are leading to help Iowa agriculture provide food, feed, fuel and fiber for the nation and the world.
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BIOENERGY WEB PROGRAM AVAILABLE
The archive of the Alternative Crops and Alternative Policies for Bioenergy Web program delivered on March 5 is now available. Several ISU economists and bioenergy experts presented information on five issues. Go to: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/webcast/
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UPCOMING ANR LUNCH AND LEARN DATES AND TOPICS
The following ANR Lunch and Learn session dates and topics have been scheduled:
March 23, Iowa Meat Goat Industry: Opportunities and Challenges (Dan Morrical)
April 13, Natural Resources and Environmental Stewardship -- Practice-based Survey
Results (Lois Wright-Morton)
Each session is offered via Breeze from noon to 12:45 pm and is designed to address the following points:
1. An outline of the opportunities, potential economic impacts, and/or challenges associated with the topic.
2. A review of new or available resources.
3. A discussion of programming implications.
Previous ANR Lunch and Learn sessions are archived at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/staff/lunchandlearn.html
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ANR EXTENSION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAM SUMMIT
On March 27 and 28, the first ANR Extension Professional Development and Program Summit will be held in Ames. The event will be held at the Gateway, North Prairie Room, starting at 10:45 a.m. with an opening message from Vice President for Extension, Jack Payne.
A year ago newly formed ANR Extension development and delivery teams crafted new plans-of-work that began to transition ANR Extension from the traditional style of base programming to a more accountable style that responds to changing priorities in Iowa Agriculture. The term ‘transition’ is used because ANR Extension needs to complete this process. The goal is to directly link 2008-2012 plans-of-work to new opportunities unfolding in Iowa agriculture. Priorities identified during our most recent comprehensive needs assessment are dynamic and cut across academic departments and development and delivery teams. They have the potential to significantly change Iowa agriculture over the next decade and usher in a new era for ANR Extension as well.
All ANR faculty, field specialists, and program staff are asked to participate. All County Extension Education Directors are invited to participate. See agenda at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/staff/programplanning.html
We are requesting pre-registration to aid in arranging activities, meals, and refreshments. To pre-register, please complete the following information and send to agdir@iastate.edu .
Name: ___________________________________
Tuesday, March 27 attendance ___ Yes ___ No
Wednesday, March 28 attendance ___ Yes ___ No
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RECENT WEATHER EVENTS RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT IOWA FENCE LAW AND RULES FOR TRESPASSING LIVESTOCK - by Roger A. McEowen*
The recent winter weather has caused damage to numerous fences, particularly in western Iowa. Reports have come in that snow completely buried fences in some locations, severely damaging them and allowing livestock to walk out of enclosed pastures. So, a quick review of Iowa law on the rules for rebuilding fences and liability for trespassing livestock is in order.
Under Iowa law, adjoining landowners are deemed to own a partition fence (a fence that is located on the property line) in common. Thus, adjoining landowners have an obligation to share equally in building and maintaining partition fences. That’s the case even if one landowner doesn’t have livestock – that’s what the Iowa Supreme Court said in 2001. Prior to that, in 1995 the Court upheld the law as constitutional against a challenge by a non-livestock owner claiming that the rule constituted a taking of private property without compensation. So, the place to start is to discuss the matter with your neighbor on the other side of the fence. Many landowners use the so-called “right-hand” rule to settle the building and/or maintenance issue. That means they meet at the mid-point of the fence facing each other with each agreeing to fix that portion of the fence to their right.
If the parties can’t agree how to fix the fence, Iowa law vests the township trustees, acting in their capacity as “fence viewers” with jurisdiction over such matters. Upon request, the fence viewers will meet and assign the part of the fence which each owner shall rebuild or pay for and set the time for completion. The fence viewers may also specify the kind of repairs to be made. If the fence is not repaired within the time prescribed in the order, the fence viewers will require the complaining landowner to deposit enough money with them to pay for repairing the fence together with the fees of the fence viewers and costs. The complaining landowner will be reimbursed as soon as the taxes are collected.
Iowa law specifies that all orders and decisions made by the fence viewers are to be in writing, signed by at least two of them, and filed with the township clerk. Appeals of decisions of the fence viewers can be filed with the county district court.
Under Iowa law, if livestock escape an enclosed pasture the presence of the livestock on a roadway gives rise to a rebuttable presumption or inference of negligence. The injured or damaged party, however, must still show that the livestock owner failed to exercise “due care” in keeping the livestock enclosed. An escape due to a weather-related event coupled with an attempt to recover the livestock as soon as possible would certainly relieve the livestock owner of liability.
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*Leonard Dolezal Professor in Agricultural Law and Director of the ISU Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Member of the Kansas and Nebraska Bars; honorary member of the Iowa Bar.
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ASIAN SOYBEAN RUST FOUND IN BIN OF IOWA SOYBEANS
Asian soybean rust has been conclusively identified on soybean plant tissue, which was submitted to the Iowa Soybean Rust Team. The soybean residue is reported to have been recovered from a bin of soybeans produced in Iowa in 2006. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/news_detail.php?var1=308
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SALE OF PESTICIDES AT FARM AUCTIONS
Pesticides are a frequent wagon or miscellaneous item at rural and urban auctions. Questions have been raised at Private Pesticide Training sessions, "Is this legal?" and "Who is liable?" In response to these questions, Chuck Eckermann, the IDALS Pesticide Bureau Chief included the following in a letter to professional auctioneers in Iowa.
"Occasionally the pesticide bureau receives reports from concerned citizens about the sale of pesticides at farm auctions. I would like to remind anyone preparing for a farm auction that the sale of pesticides at farm auctions is subject to both state and federal pesticide laws. Any person who sells a pesticide classified as “restricted use” is required to be licensed with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Pesticide Bureau as a pesticide dealer pursuant to Iowa Code section 206.8. Any person that purchases a restricted use pesticide is also required to be certified and the licensed dealer is required to keep records showing the name and address of the purchaser and their pesticide applicator certification number.
Sale of pesticide products in opened or partially full containers and containers that do not have the manufacturer’s original labeling is unlawful under state and federal pesticide laws as well. Containers that are not properly labeled or that have been opened present some serious safety concerns for both the applicator and the crop where it may be applied. There is no guarantee that an opened container contains the original product at its original purity and concentration.
Violations of the Iowa Pesticide law (Iowa Code chapter 206) are considered serious misdemeanors. Violations of the federal law (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act) may be subject to civil penalties up to $6,500 for each unlawful sale of a pesticide. The term pesticide is defined as meaning insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides etc.”
For more information please contact Chuck Eckermann, Chief, Pesticide Bureau, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at 515-281-8591 or e-mail at chuck.eckermann@idals.state.ia.us."
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REGIONAL BIOENERGY CONFERENCE ANNOUNCED AND CALL FOR PAPERS
Impacts of Increased Bio-Fuel Production on the Midwest Landscape
October 16-18, 2007
Holiday Inn
450 Main Street
Dubuque, Iowa
With regional and national attention focused on the use of renewable bio-fuels, energy conservation and energy independence, the impact on the environment (specifically on soil and water quality and quantity) is a critical dimension of the dialog that has often been in the background. The desire for less reliance on fossil fuels and foreign sources of energy will have a dramatic impact on national soil and water resources. The goal of the conference is to elevate the debate beyond just technology creation and narrow economic development aspects to address soil conservation, water quality and human decisions about land management and how these intersect in the public debate surrounding bio-based fuels; and in particular, increases in grain based bio-fuel production.
Organized by the West North Central Region of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.
Call for Papers:http://www.swcs.org/documents/WNC07Call.pdf (Closes March 31, 2007)
Registration: Opens August 1, 2007
Contact Information:
Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant
Phone/Fax: 217-968-5512
Email: cvnghgrn@uiuc.edu
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Pollution Prevention (P2), Environmental Protection Agency
PURPOSE: Assist businesses and industries in identifying better environmental strategies and solutions for reducing or eliminating waste at the source.
The program is aimed as reducing harmful pollutants across all environmental media: air, water, and land. EPA is interesting in supporting projects that reflect comprehensive and coordinated pollution prevention planning and implementation efforts within the State of Tribe. Applicants are required to describe outcome and output environmental measurement efforts in their proposals. Examples of outcome measures expected to be achieved under the grants awarded through this program include but are not limited to: pounds of hazardous materials reduced, BTUs of energy conserved, gallons of water saved, and dollars saved through P2 efforts. Proposals must include information and discussion on four national requirements: promote multimedia pollution prevention, commit to working towards state and national pollution prevention program goals, promote partnerships, and demonstrate measurable environmental results. Grants will range from $20,000 to $180,000. The maximum project period is 3 years. One half of the project cost must be covered by non-federal matching funds. See guidelines for more information.
http://www.epa.gov/p2/pubs/grants/ppis/2007fpp2grant.htm
DEADLINE: April 2, 2007
National Integrated Water Quality Program, CSREES, USDA
PURPOSE: to contribute to the improvement of the quality of our nation's surface water and groundwater resources through research, education, and extension activities.
Project will address water quality issues in agricultural, rural and urbanizing watersheds. Eight topical themes are identified in the RFA. Extension education projects must create opportunities and incentives for behavioral change that lead to protection or improvement of water resources. Integrated projects must present a full-integrated research, education and extension approach to solve water source problems at the whole watershed scale. See the RFA for specific priorities.
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1134
Projects may be multi-year. Matching funds are required of the projects provides a particular benefit to a specific agricultural commodity. Extension field specialists with project ideas should collaborate with campus faculty.
DEADLINE: April 4, 2007
Grants.gov application required
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
PURPOSE: to form broad-based community partnerships that will assess toxic problems and implement solutions.
Two levels of cooperative agreements will be given. Level 1 agreements will assist in the forming of partnerships and the identification of problems and proposed solutions. Level 2 agreements are for communities that have already established their broad-based partnerships and have completed environmental assessments. The Level 2 agreements will help the partnership implement solutions to reduce risks and will develop procedures for project sustainability. The web site gives abstracts of funded projects. Guidelines are available at:
http://www.epa.gov/care/agreements.htm#apply
DEADLNE: April 9, 2007
Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA
PURPOSE: to help eligible entities to improve and expand domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities.
Grants of up to $75,000 are available; the project period may be for up to 3 years. Eligible applicants include: agricultural cooperative, local government, nonprofit corporation, public benefit corporation, economic development corporation, regional farmers' market authority, and tribal government. All eligible entities must apply for FMPP funds on behalf of direct marketing operations that include two or more farmers or farm vendors who produce and sell their own products through a common distribution channel. Eligible grant uses are described in the guidelines. Applications may be submitted in paper form or electronically through Grants.gov.
For application information, see:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/fmpp/
DEADLINE: April 13, 2007
Water Quality Projects for Section 319 Funding, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
PURPOSE: to protect or improve water quality in Iowa through the implementation of nonpoint source pollution control projects.
About half of the funding will be targeted to "impaired waters." Eligible project activities include: control of agricultural and non-agricultural sources of nonpoint source pollution, implementation of best management practices in the watersheds of priority surface and ground waters, public information and education programs on nonpoint source pollution and its control, programs providing technical assistance for control of nonpoint source pollution, and programs addressing water body restoration. Project proposals selected will be included in the IDNR's application to EPA for Section 319 funding. The approximate start date is January 1, 2008. Guidelines and application materials are available at:
http://www.iowadnr.com/water/nonpoint/app2.html
DEADLINE: April 16, 2007
New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE), CSREES, USDA
PURPOSE: to increase the capacity of each State to contribute expertise and content to the development of eXtension.
One award will be made (about $356,250 per year for 4 years). Only Extension Directors of 1862 land-grants and 1890 land-grants are eligible to submit. The successful applicant will work within the context of the eXtension Business Case and the 2005-2007 long-range implementation plan. Involvement of other states/organizations can be in the form of subcontracts. No matching is required. See the guidelines for NTAE priorities and details:
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1560
DEADLINE: April 16, 2007 (electronic application through Grants.gov)
Risk Management Agency, USDA
PURPOSE: to deliver training and information in the management of production, marketing, and financial risk to US agricultural producers. Priority is given to educating producers of crops currently not insured under Federal crop insurance, specialty crops, and underserved commodities.
Agreements will be funded under two partnership programs:
1) Commodity Partnerships Program (up to $100,000 for a one-year project). Guidelines list priorities for each RMA Region. DEADLINE: 04/23/07
2) Commodity Partnerships for Small Sessions Program (up to $10,000 for a one-year project) DEADLINE: 04/23/07
3) The Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Program will provide training and information to limited resource, socially disadvantaged and other traditionally under-served farmers and ranchers, who produce priority commodities. The program will support a wide range of innovative outreach and assistance activities; the work plan will provide for substantial involvement of RMA in the project. Projects will be one year in length. DEADLINE: 05/01/07
Applications may be submitted by paper or electronic through Grants.gov. Matching is not required but is preferred. Application information is available at:
http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements/
FY 2007 Nutrients Benefits Valuation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
PURPOSE: to improve the empirical methodologies to the economic valuation of the benefits from reducing nutrient levels in the nation’s water bodies.
Outcomes are intended to assist States in their attempts to estimate monetary benefits associated with nutrient reductions as they strive to adopt numeric nutrient criteria into State water quality standards. Project proposals must include studies that estimate the economic value of ecological benefits associated with the reduction of nutrients to water. Proposals that use a production function approach, where changes in stressors are linked to changes in ecological goods or services through an ecological production function, are preferred; such production functions contribute to the transferability of values from one context to another.
EPA anticipates making 1 or 2 awards for project periods of up to two years. Cost sharing is not required but encouraged. Guidelines are available at:
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/nutrient/grants/
DEADLINE: May 1, 2007
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SELECTED CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 21-22: Central Plains Dairy Expo, Convention Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.
http://www.centralplainsdairyexpo.com/
March 24: Blazing a New Trail with Organic Farming – Part 2, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., NICC Cresco Center. For more information contact the Howard County Extension Office at 563-547-3001.
March 27-30: ANR Professional Development, Ames.
April 3: Value Added Ag Forum and Tour - Entrepreneurship in Agriculture Processing and Marketing, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For more information contact Madeline Schulze at 515-294-0588 or schultz@iastate.edu.
April 10: Community Futures – The Small Town in the Bioeconomy, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Scheman Bldg., ISU Center, Ames. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/bioeconomy/communityfutures/
April 30-May 4: Fourth National Aquaculture Extension Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio.
http://southcenters.osu.edu/aqua/extension%20conference/Extension%20conference.htm
May 7-10: 2007 Urban Extension Conference, Hyatt Regency, Kansas City, Missouri. (Early bird registration deadline March 30, 2007). http://extension.missouri.edu/urbanconf/
May 16: Soil Management and Land Valuation Conference 2007, Ames.
http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/soilmanagement/home.html
ISUE Calendar of Events website: http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/
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ANR FIELD & STATE STAFF DIRECTORY UPDATE
The ANR Field & State Staff directory has been revised and is available at:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/contacts.html
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Publisher: Gerald Miller
Managing Editor: Paul Brown
Editor: Julie Honeick