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

July 2003

In this issue
Bean Leaf Beetle – What  Is Next?
Country of Origin Labeling
NW Iowa Sheep & Goat Field Day
Iowa Quality Market Beef Cow
Value Added Program
Keep Cattle Cool in Hot Weather
Farm Management Thoughts

Bean Leaf Beetle – What  Is Next?
by Paul Kassel, ISUE Crops Field Specialist

The overwintering beetles that damaged newly emerged soybeans this spring are now dead.  However, they laid eggs.  These eggs will soon hatch and the resulting larvae will feed on soybean roots.  There is no economic damage from this root feeding.

The bean leaf beetle adult will emerge in early to mid-July.  This is called the first generation.  These beetles will feed on soybean leaves, but will cause little damage. However, the first generation will lay eggs that produces the second generation.  The first and second generation will appear to be continuous.  The second generation will cause the most damage to soybeans because they feed on soybean pods.

How do we manage this pest?  Your management strategy will depend on your need to prevent bean pod mottle virus, prevent pod feeding, or both.

If you want to prevent Bean Pod Mottle Virus:
You would have needed to spray an insecticide as the beetles emerged in early May.  This would have prevented the beetles from infecting the newly emerging soybeans.  Likewise, you will need to spray the emerging beetles in early July to prevent further infections.

If you want to prevent pod feeding:
Include a residual insecticide with your last herbicide application in mid-July. The idea is to kill the first generation so that the second generation is prevented or greatly reduced.  The overlapping nature of the first and second generations may make this strategy less than effective.

Scout the first generation beetles in July.  Thresholds are available that will enable you to predict the size and potential damage from the second generation based on the size of the first generation.  Insecticides, if needed, would be applied in August. This strategy presents a good alternative in terms of ease of scouting, and timeliness of insecticide application to accommodate insecticide preharvest intervals.

Scout second generation beetles in August.  Thresholds exist that predict the damage to soybean pods based on the size of second generation population. Crop scouting is more difficult with this strategy and it may be more difficult to comply with insecticide pre-harvest intervals.

Please contact your ISU extension office for more information.

Country of Origin Labeling
by Jerry Weiss, ISUE Swine Field Specialist

On June 10 a satellite program, Country of Origin Labeling, originated from Iowa State University. If you were unable to attend, but would like to view the program, a videotape is available to check out from your county Extension office.

Presenters were: William Sessions, from USDA, Washington D.C.; John Lawrence, ISU Extension Economist and director of the Iowa Beef Center; and Dr. James McKean, ISU Extension Veterinarian and associate director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center. USDA also has a web site for you to view. It is www.ams.usda.gov/cool

The COOL program is a provision of the 2002 US Farm Bill.  Be sure to keep yourself informed.  If you produce beef or pork this program will affect you.  Final rules are still being written, but will go into effect by September 2004.

NW Iowa Sheep & Goat Field Day, Tuesday July 1, 2003 @ 4:30 pm
by Dennis DeWitt, ISUE Livestock Field Specialist

Beginning location: Tom & Deb Metzger farm,  Larchwood, IA
The Metzger's 50-60 head ewe flock has been on the STAR Accelerated Lambing System, Cornell University since 1994. 

Tom works a full day job off the farm.  The STAR system allows him to spread market price risk and income throughout the year.  Tom will share what it takes to make the STAR Lambing System successful.

Dr. Jeff Held, South Dakota State University Extension Sheep Specialist, will discuss factors to consider when selecting an alternative to the traditional spring lambing system.  The individual producer must carefully consider all of the factors involved before starting an alternative lambing system.

Second location:  Dave DeGroet farm, Larchwood, IA 
You will see 200 Boer does with kids grazing on oat & turnip pasture.   The increasing interest in Boer Goats is due to increased demand for lean meat and changing consumer preferences in the U.S. and worldwide. Dave has spoken in many states about Boer Goats.  He is the regional 'expert'!   

Dave has been using a Hoops building since 1995. After attending one of the Northwest Iowa Sheep Producers field days about turnips as a feed source, Dave tried turnips and still likes using them today to improve his grazing program. 

Third location:  Wes & Esther Moser farm, Lester, IA
The Wes and Esther Moser family will be demonstrating how to set-up and use semi-permanent fence, temporary fences (3 or 4 strands of electrified string), electrifiable netting and boundary fences in grazing a large ewe flock. 

If an energizer does not control livestock, the solution is not necessarily a more powerful energizer. Grounding the electric fence is one of the most important aspects of making sure an electric fence works effectively. Improving the grounding may be the lowest cost, most effective means of improving the electric fence system. Dennis DeWitt, ISU Extension Livestock Field Specialist will explain why grounding, spacing, and depth are so important for a successful electric fencing system.

A light lamb burger meal will be served for a modest fee.  To assist in the evening meal preparation, please make a reservation or if you need further information, email Dennis DeWitt at dewitt@iastate.edu or phone 712-336-3488.

The Northwest Iowa Sheep Producers Association and Iowa State University Extension Service sponsor these programs with partial funding from the Iowa Sheep & Wool Promotion Board.

Iowa Quality Market Beef Cow Value Added Program
by Dennis DeWitt, ISUE Livestock Field Specialist

Iowa State University Extension in cooperation with four prominent beef organizations are teaming up to bring a cutting-edge market beef cow program to northwest Iowa. Cow Herd Improvement Program Services (CHIPS) and Iowa Lakes Controlled Grazing, Inc., in conjunction with the Iowa Beef Center and Iowa Lakes Community College, are offering the second Iowa Quality Market Beef Cow Value Added Program, aimed at providing information to area beef producers they can use to add value to their beef cow enterprise. 

Participating producers will receive feedlot performance, average daily gain and carcass merit data on market beef cows. The first group of market beef cows averaged $75.18 added value per head.

Only Iowa cow-calf producers with Iowa cows will be accepted.  No back-tagged cows will be allowed to participate.  The cows should be in good health and dehorned or polled.  Upon delivery they will then be implanted and fed 70 to 90 days prior to harvest.  John Lawrence and Daryl Strohbehn, with the Iowa Beef Center at ISU, will make marketing arrangements with the new Iowa Quality Beef Supply Cooperative, Tama, Iowa for the marketing of these beef cows. 

Entries are due Friday, August 29.  A minimum of 30 cows will be required in the overall marketing group. Delivery will be on Tuesday, September 2 to Iowa Lakes Community College Farm Laboratory, 4 miles west of Emmetsburg on highway 18.  The feeding program costs will be financed at 8 percent interest.  Final settlements will be made after harvest of the entire group. Additionally, there will be an $8 per head data collection fee.

For more information or to enter, contact:
Greg Wood, CHIPS Technician at 712-262-2264 or gwood@iastate.edu;

Dennis DeWitt, ISU extension livestock field specialist at 712-336-3488 or dewitt@iastate.edu; or

Neal Williamsen, ILCC instructor, 712-852-5259, nwilliamsen@iowalakes.edu.

Keep Cattle Cool in Hot Weather
by Kris Kohl, ISUE Ag Engineer

Before the hot weather gets here plan strategies to reduce the impact of the heat.  The most important item is water.  If you have an extra spicket spliced in the water line under the water then you can add a simple tank and float to supply extra water to the cattle.  This extra water will reduce crowding and allow less aggressive animals water.

Sprinkling or wetting the cattle will also provide relief on hot days.  It is important to get big drops that will completely wet the hide and then let the water evaporate to cool the animals.  If spray nozzles are used, choose flood nozzles or similar choices that will produce the big drops.  I have also seen the cheap black plastic pipe strung up along the feed bunks and a 1/16 inch hole drilled every 8 feet provide excellent cooling without much expense.  The key is to chose a system and get it in place before it’s too hot.

Farm Management Thoughts
by Ron Hook, ISUE Farm Management Specialist

Non-Starlink Claim deadline now July 31—Farmers that grew non-starlink corn in 1998-2002 and have not filed a corn loss claim, have been given until July 31, 2003 to file.  A malfunctioning web site on May 30 resulted in the deadline extension to July 31.  Claim forms are available on-line at: http://www.non-starlinkfarmerssettlement.com or stop at your local County Extension office for help in getting your claim form.

Cash rents and land values move higher— The latest ISU cash rent survey shows an increase of 3% in the overall average of typical cash rents in the state of Iowa.  The average increased $4 per acre from $124 in 2002 to $128 in 2003. 

The overall average rent in Area 1 was up $4 to $126 per acre.  Meanwhile Area 5 rent was up $3 to $132 per acre.

It is important to remember that this survey reflects the best judgment of respondents as to the rent levels for differing qualities of land in their counties.  There may be several reasons for differing rental amounts including presence of terraces or creeks affecting planting and harvest time, difficult access to fields, USDA program base and yields, and fertility levels.

According to the latest ISU Land Value Survey the average value of an acre of farmland in Iowa reached $2083 per acre an increase of $157.  This is the second highest dollar amount reported since the survey was begun in 1941.  The highest amount reported was $2147 in 1981.

Land in northwest Iowa increased an average of 8.7% to $2434 per acre. High quality land averaged $2776 per acre with medium and low quality at $2278 and $1571, respectively.

Positive influences on land values given by respondents were low interest rates, government farm payments, good crop yields, commodity price improvement, stock market declines, scarcity of land on the market, and strong investor demand.

Negative influences mentioned were poor commodity prices, variability in the farm economy, general economic outlook and world conditions. 

The Cash Rent Survey and Land Value Survey are available on line at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/feci/Leasing/ or you can obtain a copy of each at your local County Extension office.

Agricultural Websites of Interest

ISU Extension - http://www.extension.iastate.edu
National Resources Conservation Service - www.nrcs.usda.gov
Farm Service Agency - www.fsa.usda.gov
Illinois Extension decision-making tools - www.farmdoc.vivc.edu

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