Farmers were asked to select the category of information provider that they would go to first when seeking information on crop production, nutrient management, pest and disease management, conservation, finances and marketing, Arbuckle explained. For each topic, farmers could choose fertilizer or agricultural chemical dealers, seed dealers, USDA/NRCS/SWCD service centers, private crop consultants, ISU Extension and Outreach, commodity associations and “other.”
For crop production — including corn production, soybean production and seed selection — seed dealers were the first choice for a plurality of farmers. A majority of farmers selected fertilizer or agricultural chemical dealers as their primary source of crop disease, insect and weed management information. Fertilizer or agricultural chemical dealers also were selected as the preferred provider of information on fertilizer application rates and nutrient management.
USDA/NRCS/SWCD service centers were designated as the preferred resource for information for both conservation tillage and soil and water conservation in general. Responses for farm financial management and marketing showed that many farmers did not select any of the listed entities as their primary information source, with 57 percent selecting other.
“Extension and Outreach ranked second or third in all categories, with the highest percentages being for pest and disease management, conservation, and farm financial management. Overall, 54 percent of farmers indicated that they would go to Extension first for at least one category of information. That said, chances are that much of the information farmers are receiving from other sources is based to some extent on Iowa State research,” Arbuckle said.
“ISU Extension and Outreach delivers science-based agricultural information both directly to farmers and through key agricultural stakeholders who also have contact with farmers. Agribusinesses, crop consultants, commodity groups, state agencies and other ag information providers rely heavily on Iowa State research and extension information as they formulate their technical assistance recommendations for farmers,” Arbuckle said.
“These partnerships help us make sure that farmers are able to base their decisions on current research. The bottom line is that together we are able to place science-based information in the hands of more farmers across the state,” he added. Arbuckle said the Farm Poll results demonstrate the value of this approach.
The 2012 Farm Poll also asked farmers how they preferred to receive information from ISU Extension and Outreach. For each of several topics they could choose from a list ranging from field days and workshops to webcasts and apps. Farmers were asked to check all that applied.
“In general, results indicate that farmers are fairly diverse in their preferences. Traditional, in-person events such as field days and meetings were the most popular means of delivery for most types of information. However, substantial numbers of farmers expressed preference for electronic distribution of materials and programming through online videos, webcasts and downloaded publications. Very few, however, selected smartphone or tablet apps,” Arbuckle said.
Conducted every year since its establishment in 1982, the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll is the longest-running survey of its kind in the nation. ISU Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and the Iowa Agricultural Statistics Service are all partners in the Farm Poll effort.
The 2012 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll summary report (PM 3036) and previous Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll summary and topical reports are available to download from the ISU Extension and Outreach Online Store, https://store.extension.iastate.edu/, and Extension Sociology, http://www.soc.iastate.edu/extension/farmpoll2012.html.
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]]>A record 100,000 acres of cover crops were planted in Iowa in 2012. This increasingly popular conservation practice protects soil from wind and water erosion and captures nitrogen that can otherwise leach from the soil and pollute nearby waterways.
All field days are free, open to the public and include lunch.
Each cover crop field day will include discussions and presentations including area-specific topics such as: no-tillage/strip-tillage systems, rotational grazing or grazing cover crops for livestock feed, soil and nutrient management benefits of cover crops and spring management for cover crops. For more information, contact Aaron Andrews at 515-294-4922 or Sarah Carlson at 515-232-5661.
Founded in 1985, Practical Farmers of Iowa is an open, supportive and diverse organization of farmers and friends of farmers, advancing profitable, ecologically sound and community-enhancing approaches to agriculture through farmer-to-farmer networking, farmer-led investigation and information sharing. Farmers in our network produce corn, soybeans, beef cattle, hay, fruits and vegetables, and more. For additional information, call 515.232.5661 or visit www.practicalfarmers.org.
Iowa Learning Farms is a partnership between the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (USEPA section 319); in cooperation with Conservation Districts of Iowa, the Iowa Farm Bureau and the Iowa Water Center. For more information, visit the ILF website: www.extension.iastate.edu/ilf.
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Edwards has this information from program specialists at the Risk Management Agency (RMA) office in St. Paul (which administers programs in Iowa). “Cover crops such as rye, for example, that were established in 2012 are not insurable themselves,” Edwards said. “And they will not affect the insurability of subsequent crops planted this year if certain rules are followed.”
The RMA filed a statement for 2013 that allows spring haying, harvesting or grazing of cover crops up to May 10 without affecting the eligibility of the following grain crop for multiple peril crop insurance coverage. The growth of the cover crop must be terminated either mechanically or with herbicide before any subsequent crop can be planted. Planting a grain crop into a living cover crop is not permitted.
Edwards said the RMA definition of a cover crop is “a crop generally recognized by agricultural experts as agronomically sound for the area for erosion control or other purposes related to conservation or soil improvement.”
For further detail, check with your local crop insurance agent.
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]]>“Internet and mobile communications technologies are becoming more widespread for communicating with farmers, and we wanted to know which technologies farmers are actually using,” said J. Gordon Arbuckle Jr., a sociologist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Arbuckle co-directs the annual Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll with Paul Lasley, another ISU Extension and Outreach sociologist.
“We provided Farm Poll survey participants with a list of communication technologies and asked them to select the ones they own or use regularly,” Arbuckle said.
A basic cell phone was the most common communications technology used by farmers in the survey. Seventy-five percent reported that they own and/or regularly use a cell phone without Internet access. Fifty-eight percent reported that they have or regularly use a computer with high-speed Internet access.
According to Farm Poll data, about 11 percent of farmers reported that they use a smartphone. Eleven percent had a computer with dial-up Internet access, 10 percent own or use a tablet computer such as an iPad or Kindle and 5 percent reported using a cell phone with Internet access.
“One of the motivations for this research was that a number of online surveys conducted by agricultural press organizations have found that a relatively high percentage of respondents report smartphone use.” Arbuckle said. “We felt that the online nature of such surveys might bias samples toward farmers who use such technologies. Our results indicate that, at least in Iowa, the percentage of farmers who use smartphones is substantially lower than some estimates.”
Arbuckle cautioned, however, that the Farm Poll, because it is a panel study that surveys the same farmers each year, is somewhat biased toward older farmers. “To the extent that older farmers are less likely to use more sophisticated communications technology, our results might underestimate the use of some technologies,” he noted.
“That said, use of high-tech communications technology in agriculture is definitely on the rise,” Arbuckle said. “From an ISU Extension standpoint, these developments are exciting, because they offer more ways to provide research-based information to farmers and the agribusinesses who serve them. I look forward to asking these questions again in a few years to see how things have changed.”
Conducted every year since its establishment in 1982, the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll is the longest-running survey of its kind in the nation. ISU Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and the Iowa Agricultural Statistics Service are all partners in the Farm Poll effort.
The 2012 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll summary report (PM 3036) and previous Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll summary and topical reports are available to download from the ISU Extension and Outreach Online Store, https://store.extension.iastate.edu/, and Extension Sociology, http://www.soc.iastate.edu/extension/farmpoll2012.html.
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]]>Women will learn about business, estate, retirement and succession planning from ISU Extension and Outreach specialists and area professionals. Besides brief presentations, there will be discussions based on participant questions with follow-up activities for family members to complete at home.
“We’re happy to be a partner in bringing this valuable program to Greene County,” said Michael Cooley, county extension coordinator. “This farm transition course is an opportunity for farm women to meet with others who share similar issues and concerns. A small class size will make it comfortable for everyone to speak up and get questions answered.”
Annie’s Project, an agricultural risk management education program for women, has successfully reached more than 8,000 farmers and ranchers in 30 states. “This new program emphasizes the role women play in helping transition farms from one generation to the next,” said Madeline Schultz, ISU Extension Value Added Agriculture Program specialist, and Annie’s Project National Co-Director. “Managing for Today and Tomorrow will empower women to take ownership of the future of their farms.”
During five weekly, three-hour sessions, farm women will learn about succession, business, estate and retirement planning. "Understanding the concepts behind estate and succession planning is a critical first step in developing a plan to transition the family farm to the next generation,” said Erin Herbold-Swalwell, attorney and guest course presenter. Herbold will share how women can discuss these concepts with the entire family and begin the process of estate and succession planning.
Angie Loew, Farm Credit Services of America financial officer in Carroll, was a member of the curriculum development team and will be a guest presenter for the course. “Working with farm women for 25 years and being involved with Annie’s Project, I’ve seen the benefits of this curriculum first-hand,” Loew said. “Women want to strengthen their role in agriculture and learn the skills necessary for successful farm transitions.” Farm Credit Services of America is a statewide sponsor of Annie’s Project courses.
Managing for Today and Tomorrow meets from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, Feb. 21 and 28, and March 7, 14 and 21 at the Greene County Extension Office, 104 West Washington St., Jefferson, Iowa. Refreshments will be served prior to class start time.
The cost is $75 per person, which includes a 300-page workbook with fact sheets, hands-on activities and presentations. Course size is limited, and registration is due by February 14.
For more information contact Madeline Schultz at 515-294-0588 or schultz@iastate.edu, or Michael Cooley at 515-386-2138 or mcooley@iastate.edu. Farm women may also register online at https://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/annie/quickregister.html.
Managing for Today and Tomorrow is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2011-49400-30584. More information can be found on the Annie’s Project website at www.extension.iastate.edu/annie.
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