ISU Extension News: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/isu-extension-news/crops.atom 2013-05-18T16:45:54Z Iowa State University Extension extensiononline@iastate.edu http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/farming-practices-minimize-ill-effects-bees-and-other-pollinators Farming Practices to Minimize Ill Effects on Bees and Other Pollinators 2013-05-13T11:44:01Z Farmers being observant with seed treatments at planting and pesticide applications during the growing season could minimize ill effects on bee populations, according to Iowa State University entomologists.

]]> 2013-05-13T09:59:03Z http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/2013-iowa-cash-rental-rates-survey-results-available 2013 Iowa Cash Rental Rates Survey Results Available 2013-05-13T11:49:17Z Results from the most recent survey of farmland rental rates conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach showed that the average estimated cash rent for corn and soybean land in the state for 2013 was $270 per acre, an increase of $18 per acre or 7 percent from last year.

]]> 2013-05-07T14:38:00Z http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/johnson-hired-field-agronomist-extension-and-outreach Johnson Hired as Field Agronomist for Extension and Outreach 2013-04-24T16:14:16Z Mark S. Johnson joined Iowa State University Extension and Outreach as a field agronomist for north central Iowa on April 15.

]]> 2013-04-24T15:53:27Z http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/isu-extension-and-outreach-has-emergency-water-storage-and-flood-recovery-information ISU Extension and Outreach has Emergency Water Storage and Flood Recovery Information 2013-04-18T16:40:30Z Iowans preparing for and recovering from both natural disasters -- drought and flooding -- have easy access to information from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

]]> 2013-04-18T15:21:13Z http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/corn-growth-and-development-publication-celebrates-two-years-success Corn Growth and Development Publication Celebrates Two Years of Success 2013-04-15T16:09:30Z Students, corn producers and agronomists are taking an in-depth look at corn, from the moment the seed is planted to maturity, with Corn Growth and Development (PMR 1009), a publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

]]> 2013-04-11T13:18:18Z http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/new-fda-produce-safety-rule-exemptions New FDA Produce Safety Rule Exemptions 2013-04-12T12:08:22Z The Food Safety Modernization Act signed into law in January 2011 addressed improvements needed to the U.S. food supply. One proposed section to the law addresses the safety of fresh produce by defining new produce standards for foods often consumed in raw form.

]]> AMES, Iowa – The Food Safety Modernization Act signed into law in January 2011 addressed improvements needed to the U.S. food supply. One proposed section to the law addresses the safety of fresh produce by defining new produce standards for foods often consumed in raw form.

“Also identified by the Food and Drug Administration in this section are foods not typically consumed in raw form such as eggplant, lentils or sweet potatoes,” said Catherine Strohbehn, food safety specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “These standards are in addition to the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 which continues and requires food facilities to follow preventative control rules and register with FDA.”

New definitions in proposed regulations
Under these new proposed regulations, growers need to be aware of new definitions, said Strohbehn. The proposed rule would define “farm” to mean a facility in one general physical location devoted to the growing and harvesting of crops, the raising of animals (including seafood) or both.

“Farm” includes (i) facilities that pack or hold food, provided that all food used in such activities is grown, raised, or consumed on that farm or another farm under the same ownership; and (ii) facilities that manufacture/process food, provided that all food used in such activities is consumed on that farm or another farm under the same ownership.

A broad definition of food is used – thus any item grown or produced on a farm that is ultimately intended for human consumption is considered a food.

"This includes seeds, soybeans and livestock, not just produce sales," said Angela Shaw, extension food safety specialist. "This also includes prepared foods such as pies and cookies that might be sold with farm-grown produce at a roadside stand."

Three categories of farm exemptions are defined. These exemptions apply to very small and small businesses. When estimating a farm’s average annual sales, farmers must include ALL defined food sources. Farms with three-year average annual sales for all defined food types going to any vendor of $25,000 or less are exempt as they are considered very small businesses.

Those farms with $300,000 or less with defined food types going to any vendor are exempt also as they are classified as small businesses. For example, a soybean grower for human consumption (annual sales of $300,000) with a small produce road side stand ($10,000) would total all the sales amounts ($310,000) and would no longer be exempt from this proposed ruling.   

The third category of exemptions applies to whether a qualified end-user is sold the product during the previous three-year period preceding the applicable calendar year: The average annual monetary value of the food sold directly to qualified end-users during such period exceeded the average annual value of the food sold to all other buyers during that period; AND The average annual monetary value of all food sold during such period was less than $500,000, adjusted for inflation.  

A qualified end user is defined as (a) a consumer of the food or (b) a restaurant or retail food establishment located within the same state as the farm that produced the food or not more than 275 miles from such farm. For example, a farm operation in Iowa selling a three-year average of $300,000 dollars’ worth of food to a restaurant or food establishment less than 275 miles from the farm and which also sold $100,000 at farmers’ markets would be exempt (combined annual monetary value is less than $500,000 and all sales to qualified end user).

It must be noted that such farms exempted under the new Produce Safety Ruling are NOT exempt under the adulteration provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which requires production of fruits and vegetables that are free of biological, chemical and physical contamination.

Produce Safety Alliance housed at Cornell University has provided additional information on exemptions of the ruling at http://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu/psa.html. Comments on proposed ruling can be expressed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FDA-2011-N-0921. Specific questions about the proposed ruling can be emailed to amy.berringer@fda.hhs.gov.

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]]> 2013-04-11T08:02:26Z http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/sustainable-agriculture-organization-focus-iowa-learning-farms-april-webinar Sustainable Agriculture Organization the Focus of Iowa Learning Farm's April Webinar 2013-04-11T09:14:58Z Andy Larson, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach specialist in small farm sustainability is the April 17 presenter for the Iowa Learning Farms' monthly webinar. Larson’s presentation will explore grantsmanship with Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education organization.

]]> 2013-04-10T10:19:37Z http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/2012-drought-may-mean-less-nitrogen-needed-2013-corn 2012 Drought May Mean Less Nitrogen Needed for 2013 Corn 2013-04-04T15:06:19Z The drought of 2012 has likely increased the carryover of nitrate-nitrogen (nitrate-N) into the 2013 season, according to field agronomists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Rather than just guessing how much nitrate-N has carried over from last year, they recommend that growers pull some soil samples this spring to estimate the carryover.

]]> 2013-04-04T14:20:01Z http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/elkader-cover-crop-workshop-hosted-iowa-learning-farms Elkader Cover Crop Workshop Hosted by Iowa Learning Farms 2013-03-22T09:00:18Z Iowa Learning Farms will host a workshop, along with Practical Farmers of Iowa, on Thursday April 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Johnson’s Restaurant, Elkader. The workshop will focus on cover crop management for soil health and erosion control. The workshop includes a visit to the Gary Kregel farm near Elkport.

]]> 2013-03-21T14:42:59Z http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/iowa-learning-farms-cover-crop-workshop-dordt-college Iowa Learning Farms Cover Crop Workshop at Dordt College 2013-03-21T14:19:12Z Iowa Learning Farms will host a workshop, along with Practical Farmers of Iowa, on Monday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dordt College Agricultural Stewardship Center, near Sioux Center. The workshop will focus on cover crops for erosion control, grazing and soil health.

]]> AMES, IOWA—Iowa Learning Farms will host a workshop, along with Practical Farmers of Iowa, on Monday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dordt College Agricultural Stewardship Center, near Sioux Center. The workshop will focus on cover crops for erosion control, grazing and soil health.

The workshop includes a presentation by Matt Helmers, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach agriculture and biosystems engineer. He will discuss cover crops and the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Cherokee County farmer Nathan Anderson will share his experiences using cover crops for soil health and grazing. Evan Wielenga, Blake Groneweg and Cam Gradert will discuss cover crop seed purchasing, application and establishment. Greg Marek, Sioux County NRCS district conservationist, will provide information on cost-share opportunities; and Dordt College students Michael Gallagher and Parker Merritt will talk about their research.

The event is free and includes a complimentary lunch. The public is invited to attend, but an RSVP is recommended. To register for this event, please call a county NRCS office: Lyon, 712-472-4021 ext 3; Sioux, 712-737-2253 ext. 3; or Plymouth, 712-546-8858 ext. 3.

The workshop will be at the Dordt College Agricultural Stewardship Center (ASC), 3101 370th Street, Sioux Center. The center is approximately two miles north of Sioux Center, located at the intersection of Highway 75 and County Road B-30 (370th St.).

Iowa Learning Farms takes a grassroots approach offering innovative ways to help all Iowans have an active role in keeping our state’s natural resources healthy and not take them for granted. A goal of Iowa Learning Farms is to build a Culture of Conservation, encouraging the adoption of residue management and conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best in-field management practices that increase water and soil quality while remaining profitable.


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