Acreage Living Newsletter
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What is Chinese Chestnut? November, 2019 |
Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) is a deciduous tree that produces edible nuts in September and October. This is a different species from the American chestnut that was decimated last century by a fungal canker blight that essentially eliminated it from the eastern U.S. forests. In Iowa Chinese chestnuts are grown more frequently in the southern half of the state. |
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Riparian Buffers Can Make Good Pollinator Habitat November, 2019 |
Farmers and landowners who want to increase pollinator habitat while also improving water quality should consider the benefits of saturated riparian buffers enhanced with native wildflowers. Establishing pollinator habitat within riparian zones, where the agricultural value is lower and where the conservation and wildlife benefits are likely to be high can be a win-win. |
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Minimize Hay Storage Losses November, 2019 |
You’ve done the cutting, raking, and baling, and now you have a field of round bales ready to be stored for future use. You’ve put in the time, money, and effort; why not do your best to preserve your investment? |
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Dairy Goat Management program to be held December 14th in Orange City and Elkader November, 2019 |
The Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach Dairy Team will host “Fine-Tuning Your Dairy Goat Management” as a part of their annual Dairy Directions program on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Orange City and the Keystone AEA in Elkader. |
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Women Managing Horses- A four-session course focusing on equine management decisions. November, 2019 |
This course offers women an opportunity to learn more about Iowa’s equine industry from a business and production perspective. Sessions cover financial documentation and breakeven analysis, equine insurance, annual horse health care plans, evaluation of feed rations, marketing your equine business, environmental management, and land use decisions. |
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Make this deer season lead bullet free – for the birds! November, 2019 |
Up to hundreds of tiny lead fragments can be left behind by a single bullet and when parts of the shot deer are left in the field (as is the case with gut piles or processed carcasses) other wildlife, including notably the bald eagle, can encounter the lead. |