ISU Extension
Agronomy- Extension
IA State Univ.
IA Dept. of Ag
IA DNR

Northwest Area Extension

July 2004

In this issue
National Animal Identification Program
Soybean Aphid – What to Expect for 2004
Feedlot Runoff Control
2004 Leasing Meetings
Iowa Long-Term Care Asset Preservation

National Animal Identification Program
Jerry Weiss, ISU Extension Swine Filed Specialist

If you are a livestock producer the National Identification Program will affect you. Starting as early as August of this year farm numbers will be assigned and livestock will also have a number, individual as in the case of cattle or in groups for swine and poultry. A premise identification system is scheduled to be completed this summer. This ID system will allow for the beginning of pilot programs to test identification systems.

A national animal identification program will help the government and industry more quickly control outbreaks of a variety of animal diseases through the use of an efficient animal traceback system and reduce the economic impacts on the market. The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has received more than $18 million to begin implementation of this program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold a series of listening sessions across the country to discuss the development, structure, and implementation of this national ID program for livestock and poultry.

The listening sessions in our area are:
Ames, IA - August 26;
Joplin MO - August 27;
Appleton WI - August 30;
and St Cloud, MN - August 31.

The site and time of the meeting will be posted on the APHIS web site at http://www.aphis.gov/lpa/issues/nais/nais.html
 

Soybean Aphid – What to Expect for 2004
Paul Kassel, ISUE Crops Field Specialist

What we know about the soybean aphid.

• They are easily identified.

• They can cause major yield damage –treated and untreated comparisons from last year were in the 5 to 15 bu/a range.

• Dry weather can make the damage from aphids even worse.

• Insecticide applications are effective in controlling the aphids and are fairly inexpensive.

What is new for 2004?

Thresholds defined by Midwestern entomologists.

• 250 aphids per plant.

• the population of aphids is increasing.

• soybeans are in the late vegetative stage or early reproductive stages.

• the economic threshold incorporates a seven day lead-time before aphid populations reach 1000 aphids per plant.

• 1000 aphids per plant is the economic injury level, or when cost of treatment equals yield loss.

What is unknown for 2004?

• When the aphid problem may develop this summer.  Soybean aphids have been spotted in SE Iowa, but numbers have been very low in other parts of Iowa.

• Will aphid predators (like Asian multi-colored beetles) help control aphid numbers?

• How many insecticide applications may be necessary for good control, especially if treatments are applied earlier than last year?

Recommendations for 2004

• Check fields on a regular basis –starting in July and continuing through mid-August.

• Check several locations in the field – areas closest to groves and windbreaks may develop damaging populations sooner than other areas.

• Timeliness is important – last year yield benefits declined each day treatment was delayed.

Feedlot Runoff Control
Kris Kohl, ISUE Ag Engineer & Dennis DeWitt, ISUE Livestock Field Specialist

Iowa has regulated open feedlots since 1969.  Rules affecting open feedlots have remained essentially unchanged since 1987.  Over the last several years, the Iowa DNR has been visiting feedlots to enforce the required runoff controls.  The minimum level of manure control for all open feedlots regardless of size is the removal of settleable solids from the manure prior to discharge into a water of the state.  Normally this will cost only about $5 to $10 per head to complete. 

Lots over 1,000 head must contain all runoff and irrigate crop ground or pasture land.  Producers who have signed up under the “Iowa Plan” will be visited this summer by the DNR for the on-site assessment.   If it is determined that you need a permit, you will receive a letter with a timeline from the Iowa DNR and are required to work with a professional engineer to submit a plan.  The pace of visits has picked up and finding a local engineer may be difficult---so don’t delay. 

Lots under 1,000 head need to submit simpler plans showing the control structure locations and grass filters below the settling structures.  These filters need to contain grass.  The rule of thumb is one to two feet of length per head in the open feedlot.  Many of the feedlots will need to modify the existing system and try different strategies to achieve the higher levels of protection required.

To help producers get a look at real feedlot situations the following tours and meetings are planned by Iowa Beef Center, ISU Extension and Iowa Cattleman’s Association:

Friday, July 16, 9:00 am-12:30 pm - Solids Settling Field Day.  This will involve two on-site open beef feedlots in Plymouth and Sioux counties that are less than 1000 head.  Staff from IDNR and NRCS will be present.  For further information contact Carol Schneider at caroljo@iastate.edu (712/546-7835) or Cheryl Heronemus at hero@iastate.edu (712-737-4230)

Monday, July 19, 1:30 pm - White Family Farms, Estherville, 2002 ICA Commercial Cattleman of the Year and 2004 ICA Environmental Stewardship Award winner. Pasture management, heifer development, under 1000 head feedlot design requirements, and Environmental Management System (EMS) program will be discussed.  Grieg & Company Feedlot, Estherville operates a 2500 head National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitted feedlot with flush-flume confinement and outside lots with solids-settling basin.  We will view a 30-acre central pivot de-watering system in action.  A new Temple Grandin designed handling system will be shown.  For further information contact Holle Smith at holle@iastate.edu

Thursday, July 22 - Carroll County open feedlot tour viewing both under 1000 and over 1000 head open feedlots.  What are the options for removing water from solids-settling basins, designing a new open feedlot with tomorrow’s standards and view an already retrofitted feedlot meeting today’s DNR regulations.  For further information contact Dennis Moliter at dennis10@iastate.edu

Thursday, July 22 - Osage County Environmental Management Systems (EMS) for the Iowa Beef Feedlot Industry meeting.  Location is Friesen Financial Center, 2029 400 Street, Osage.  2 miles north of Osage on Highway 218 & 1/8 mile west.  Start time is 5:30PM.  Contact Neil Wubben at nwubben@iastate.edu

Tuesday, August 24, 1:00-3:30 pm - ISU Research and Demonstration Farm Field Day at the farm near Castana featuring solids settling, manure spreaders, vegetative filter strips, condensed distillers solubles for stocker and feedlot cattle, soybean rust, and pork niche markets.  Contact Cheri Hardison at chardi@iastate.edu

For further information on these meetings and tours contact your ISU county Extension office or the following ISUE field specialist:

Dr. Kris Kohl, ISUE Ag Engineer Field Specialist, kkohl1@iastate.edu

Dr. Beth Doran, ISUE Beef Field Specialist, doranb@iastate.edu

Russell Euken, ISUE Livestock Field Specialist, reuken@iastate.edu

Dennis DeWitt, ISUE Livestock Field Specialist, dewitt@iastate.edu

2004 Leasing Meetings
Ron Hook, ISUE Farm Management Specialist

The results of the most recent cash rental rate and land value surveys showed continued upward pressure on both cash rents and land values.  The state average cash rental rate rose by $3 per acre to $131 and the state average land value rose by $192 per acre to $2275.  These surveys are part of the information that will be covered in the upcoming farmland leasing workshops scheduled in northwest Iowa. 

These workshops will also examine the various clauses that should be included in a written lease.  These include the term or length of the lease, owner’s share of expenses in a crop share lease, the duties of the operator with regard to maintaining soil fertility, conservation compliance and government program eligibility.  The processes of terminating a lease and perfecting the landlord’s lien will be covered.

Most counties in northwest Iowa will be hosting a leasing workshop in August.  They are designed to assist landowners, tenants and other ag business professionals with financial issues related to farmland ownership, management, leasing agreements and related issues.  If you would like additional information about these workshops contact Ron Hook, 712-754-3648 or Tom Olsen, 712-732-5056.  Pre-registration for these workshops is requested, so call the host county Extension office and make your reservation today.    

Iowa Long-Term Care Asset Preservation Program
Ron Hook, ISUE Farm Management Specialist

Long term care (LTC) insurance is one of those things that you don’t think about until you find that you need it.  It can be a valuable tool for many to consider when putting together an estate plan.  A lengthy stay in a nursing home can consume many of the assets that were planned for passing on to the next generation.  Let’s take a look at how LTC insurance may fit into your estate plan.

The Iowa State Legislature established the Iowa long-term care asset preservation program in 1993.  An asset preservation policy can protect assets equal to the benefit amount you choose to buy.  For example, Mom and Dad have a particular asset worth $200,000 that they want to be able to pass on to their children.  They decide to purchase an asset preservation policy providing $200,000 of LTC coverage.  Once the $200,000 coverage and any other unprotected assets were used to provide care, they would be allowed to apply for Medicaid if they meet the income limit for Medicaid eligibility.  The protected assets would not have to be used to provide LTC because of the insurance coverage.

You may be wondering what is included in long term care.  It helps a person to live as they are now and may not help to improve or correct medical problems like traditional medical care does.  LTC may include help with activities of daily living, home health care, respite care, hospice care, adult day care, care in a nursing home, and care in an assisted living facility.  My father in law recently fell and after a short stay in the hospital was brought to the local care center to regain strength and possibly return home.

Iowans have a wealth of insurance information available through the Senior Health Information Program (SHIIP), a service of the state of Iowa.  Long term care can be expensive—the average private room rate in Iowa for 2001 was $118 per day or $3,608 per month or $43,300 per year in 2001 according to the “Iowa Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance” from SHIIP.  This cost did not include any additional therapies and medications.  In 2001, assisted living facilities reportedly charged $22,476 per year including rent and most other fees.  Part time home health care costs ranged from $12,000 to $16,000 in 2001.  These various LTC costs can be paid in a variety of ways—by using the personal resources of individuals and their families, long-term care insurance, and some assistance from Medicaid.  Medicaid assistance is available when income and asset levels meet federal and state guidelines.  The resource limit is $2,000 of countable resources and the income limit is $1,692 per month in 2004.  Obviously, most of an individual’s assets must be used before Medicaid is able to help.

For more information and assistance on Medicare and related health insurance issues contact SHIIP toll-free at 1-800-351-4664, by e-mail:  shiip@iid.state.ia.us or you can visit their website:  www.shiip.state.ia.us.  Look for the fact sheet “Iowa Long-Term Care Asset Preservation Program”, an excellent resource to help you learn more about this program that could be an important part of your estate plan.  If you have more questions about this topic, contact SHIIP, visit with your insurance agent or call Osceola County Extension at 712-754-3648 and ask for Ron Hook.

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