Mark Licht, ISU Extension field agronomist, visits with a few Iowa farmers about their experiences with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach crop production and protection initiatives. Crops Extension learning opportunities for farmers and field advisers include the statewide crop advantage series, integrated crop management conference, crop diagnostic clinics, crop management clinics and crop scouting schools. ISU Extension and Outreach also has partnered with industry and commodity groups to create additional tools, such as field guides.

 

Highlights from Crawford, Carroll, Greene, Shelby, Audubon and Guthrie counties:

• Families Together
  The Families Together program focused on nutrition and health, family finance and improving family communication. Families learned that small changes can lead to better health and stronger finances over time. After participating in this program families listed ways they are trying to improve their lives including: stop drinking pop, walking more and eating less, setting exercise goals, tracking everything, making better choices, making progress every day, reducing spending habits, saving for retirement, and more. One participant responded: “I am in more control of what happens than I once thought.”
• Farmland Leasing
  Participants in the Farmland Leasing program received the updated land value and cash rental rate survey. Examples of farmland lease agreements were provided and explained. Discussion also took place on determining fair cash rents and how to write and terminate a farm lease.
• Ricochet
  In Guthrie County, Panorama seventh graders practiced skills of communication and leadership in the eight week Ricochet training held during regular class time. Community leaders shared leadership experiences and advised the group. Each class planned a community service project and completed it before the school year ended, including sprucing up the cemetery and local beaches.
• Farmland Drainage
  Subsurface drainage is an important part of agricultural systems in Iowa. To function most efficiently, all components of a subsurface drainage system should be designed to work together for optimum efficiency. The Farmland Drainage program provides information essential for designing and planning a new drainage system or retrofitting an existing system along with the economic and long-term benefits of tiling properties.
• For more information, visit: Crawford, Carroll, Greene, Shelby, Audubon and Guthrie county webpages.