The Delaware County 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl team recently represented Iowa, earning third place in the North American Invitational. This Delaware County team is only the sixth Iowa team to earn third place or higher in the 38 years Iowa has competed. Read more about Delaware County Dairy Quiz Bowl Team Earns Third Place at National Contest
Produce growers may not grow the same quantity of product as row crop producers, but tracking the numbers is just as important, if not more so. A November Ag Decision Maker article and its corresponding publication outline the importance of good record keeping and offer links to budget worksheets and decision tools. Read more about Produce Growers Should Consider a Budget for Each Crop
The Great Plains Growers Conference will be held Jan. 9-11 in St. Joseph, Missouri. The conference will include information on organic, greenhouse and conventional fruit and vegetable production, cut flowers, honeybees and new this year – industrial hemp. Read more about Great Plains Growers Conference and Trade Show to be held in January
The Women in Ag Leadership Conference, Dec. 3, will feature inspirational speakers who have knowledge and skills that attendees can use to immediately help them lead and succeed in their farm or agribusiness career. Read more about Generations of Leadership Is Focus of Women in Ag Leadership Conference
The meetings will give producers a solid foundation of current research-based crop production information to help make smart, informed decisions for their farming operation. Read more about Crop Advantage Program Gives Producers Information for Making 2020 Decisions
The weekend after Thanksgiving is traditionally when most Christmas tree buying occurs. Whether you cut your own tree or buy a pre-cut tree there are several things to consider before buying and when selecting a fresh tree. Read more about Yard and Garden: How to Select and Care for Fresh Christmas Trees
The annual Iowa Organic Conference begins this weekend, and will feature a special movie at the University of Iowa Memorial Union: “Dreaming of a Vetter World.” Read more about Dreaming of a Vetter World to Show During Iowa Organic Conference
Recognizing the complexities of farm succession, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is planning to hold a four-day Returning to the Farm Seminar, Jan. 10-11, and Feb. 14-15. Read more about Farm Families Can Focus on Succession at Returning to the Farm Seminar
Workshop attendees will hear about the benefits of cover crops from local farmers, and from cover crop specialists on choosing seed varieties, innovative application methods, and best management practices for termination and row crop planting into increased residue.
Read more about Cover Crop Workshop in Sioux Center Is Dec. 11
Iowa Learning Farms, along with the Clayton County Soil and Water Conservation District, will host a cover crop workshop on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Luana Savings Bank. The event is free, open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal. Read more about Cover Crop Workshop Set for Luana on Dec. 5
Master Gardener volunteers with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach continue to improve the lives and communities of Iowans. Twenty-two counties across the state received Growing Together Mini-Grants in 2019, which resulted in about 115,000 pounds of produce being donated to nearby pantries. Read more about Growing Together Mini Grantees Donate More Than 100,000 Pounds of Produce in 2019
Horticulture specialists with Iowa State University share information about how snow can either benefit or damage landscape plants. Read more about Yard and Garden: Snow and Landscape Plants
In response to high levels of both personal and financial farm stress, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering four “Farm Couple Getaways” aimed at farmers wanting to take advantage of activities to improve farm family communication, work on farm or family goal-setting, or work on farm transitioning, or who would just like a weekend away to discuss farm and family issues. Read more about Farm Couples Can Enjoy a Weekend Getaway This Winter
The Iowa Pork Industry Center, in collaboration with the Iowa Pork Producers Association, will hold six workshops in December to address preparations for an outbreak of a foreign animal disease. Read more about IPIC Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness Workshops in December
Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Titan Machinery in Grundy Center. Read more about Cover Crop Workshop Dec. 3 in Grundy Center
Iowa Learning Farms will host a special webinar on Monday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. about using the systems approach to soil and water conservation with Benjamin Turner from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Read more about Webinar to Cover Systems Approach to Soil and Water Conservation
New farmland drainage practices for water quality improvement will be the focus of a workshop Dec. 18 in Fort Dodge. Participants will learn essential information for designing and planning new water quality practices, such as bioreactors, control structures, saturated buffers and wetlands. Read more about Drainage Water Quality Practices Workshop Will Cover Options
Iowans who want to become a certified crop adviser should take note of upcoming exam dates, as well as an ISU Extension and Outreach online training course intended to help them prepare. Read more about Certified Crop Adviser Test Prep Available Online
Horticulture specialists with Iowa State University share information about when to delay cutting back perennials and which perennials need mulch protection from extreme winter temperature fluctuations that cause heaving. Read more about Yard and Garden: Late Autumn Perennial Care
“Fine-Tuning Your Dairy Goat Management” meetings will be held Dec. 14 as a part of ISU Extension and Outreach's annual Dairy Directions program. The meetings will be held at the ISU Extension and Outreach, Sioux County office in Orange City and the Keystone AEA in Elkader. Read more about Pair of Dairy Goat Management Programs on Dec. 14
Wet conditions have created significant challenges this year for cattle producers who want to put up hay for winter forage needs. Producers who still need to put up hay this fall may want to consider making baleage as an option for dealing with cold and wet weather conditions. Read more about Iowa Beef Center Offers Baleage Information as Winter Forage Option
Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 12 p.m. about the research being done at Iowa State University on grazing cover crops. Read more about Monthly Webinar Looks at Grazing Cover Crops Integrated into Row Crops
A wet growing season caused challenges for farms across the state in 2019, including at Iowa State University’s Research and Demonstration Farms. Weather-related topics were frequently included in field days as the growing season progressed. Read more about Field Days in 2019 Were Reflective of the Difficult Growing Season
November is National Family Caregivers Month and an opportunity to remind family caregivers to take care of themselves. ISU Extension and Outreach offers “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” to help family caregivers find the support they need. Read more about Class Offers Tools to Help Family Caregivers Take Care of Themselves
Farm liquidity across Iowa has been in decline over the past several years, despite a slight increase in 2018. Read more about Iowa Farm Liquidity in Decline, Aside from Government Payments
