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ContactVery interesting publication on the phenomena of allelopathy. Check out chapter 3 to read more about the specifics of allelopathic chemicals from different small grains.
Very interesting publication on the phenomena of allelopathy. Check out chapter 3 to read more about the specifics of allelopathic chemicals from different small grains.
Cover crops are growing! If you’ve seen some bright green fields around the countryside then you are probably seeing some winter rye or winter wheat cover crops that farmers planted last fall. This picture was taken near Malcom, IA March 27, 2012. 45 farmers, NRCS and FSA personal joined the Iowa Learning Farms and PFI staff at the farm of Joe Kriegel to learn about cover crops. Joe spoke about seeding cover crops following corn silage harvest. He was able to get good growth from tillage radish and sweet clover last fall when drilled after corn silage harvest. Joe also plans to harvest the winter rye for grain this summer and then have seed for his own fields and fields he custom drills. He is planning to grow tillage radish after rye harvest and then plant corn in 2013 without any nitrogen. Joe invited everyone back to his farm to see how things turn out.
COVER CROP FIELD DAYS Will continue Thursday March, 28 in Calumet; Tuesday April 3 at Nashua; Wednesday April 4 at Crawfordsville and Thursday April 5 at Lewis. Please contact the PFI office if you have more questions: 515-232-5661
CHECK OUT UPCOMING COVER CROP MANAGEMENT FIELD DAYS AROUND THE STATE OF IOWA. Thanks for the Iowa Learning Farm for organizing a great line-up of field days this spring!
March 27–11a.m. : Joe Kriegel farm in near Malcom, Iowa, on Tuesday, March 27, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Directions: The field day site is located at 1243 440th Ave., Malcom, Iowa. From interstate 80, take exit 191 south on Highway 63 for 2.5 miles, then east on 440th Ave. 0.4 miles to grain bins on north side of the road. From Montezuma, the site is 5 miles north on Highway 63 to 440th Ave.
Speakers: Joe Kriegel farmer host; Mark Kennett pilot from Kennett Flying Service; Mark Pokorny; Sarah Carlson PFI and John Lundvall ILF
March 28–10:30a.m.: ISU Ag and Natural Resources Extension and Outreach FEEL (Field Extension & Education Lab) site, Boone County 10:30 a.m.; noon lunch
Directions: one mile south of Highway 30 on U Ave (south of United Community School) and one-half mile west on 240th Street
Speakers: Jeremy Gustafson, PFI member and Boone area farmer, Tom Kaspar NLAE, Sarah Carlson PFI, Jackie Comito ILF and Ralph Storm Storm Flying Service
March 29–10:30 a.m.: ISU Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm, O’Brien County 10:30 a.m.; noon lunch
Directions: 6320 500th St., Sutherland; 11 miles north of Cherokee on Highway 59 and one-quarter mile east on County Road B62
Speakers: Dan Wilson PFI Board member and Primghar area farmer; Pilot from Bart’s Flying Service, Storm Lake; Tom Kaspar NLAE and Aaron Andrews (ILF)
April 3–10:30 a.m.: ISU Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm, Floyd County 10:30 a.m.; noon lunch
Directions: 3321 290th St., Nashua; 1.2 miles west of Nashua on Highway B60. After taking the Nashua exit off Highway 218/27, go one mile south on Windfall Ave. (gravel) and 0.2 miles east on 290th St.
Rick Juchems farmer; Brian Berst with Klinkenborg Aerial Spraying (pilot); Tom Kaspar NLAE; Jackie Comito ILF
April 4–1 p.m.: ISU Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm, Washington County Noon lunch, 1:00 p.m. program
Directions: 3115 Louisa-Washington Road, Crawfordsville; Go 1.75 miles south and two miles east of Crawfordsville on the Washington-Louis County Line Road
Speakers: Steve Nebel Ag Air pilot and experienced cover crop farmer;Tom Kaspar NLAE; Jackie Comito ILF; Sarah Carlson; We will discuss annual ryegrass versus winter rye cover crops;
April 5–10:30 a.m.: ISU Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm, Pottawattamie County 10:30 a.m.; noon lunch
Directions: 53020 Hitchcock Ave, Lewis; 11 miles southwest of Atlantic on Highway 6, then one-half mile south on County Road M53 (525th St.) and three-quarter mile east on Hitchcock Ave.
Mark Peterson (farmer) Tom Kaspar NLAE and John Lundvall (ILF)
Insuring Crops Planted Following a Cover Crop
Feb 15, 2012
The following statement, frequently referred to as the “double crop” statement, is part of the actuarial documents for certain states and counties in the Topeka Region:
Insurance shall not attach or be considered to have attached on any planted non-irrigated acreage from which, in the same calendar year: 1) a perennial hay crop was harvested; or 2) another crop, including a cover crop, has reached the headed or budded stage prior to termination (regardless of the percentage of plants that reached the headed or budded stage) or has been harvested.
Q: What is the purpose of the “double-crop” statement?
A: The “double crop” statement is part of the Special Provisions in counties throughout Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. It attaches to most non-irrigated, spring planted crops (e.g. corn, soybeans)
Q: What is RMA’s definition of a cover crop?
A: 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.
Q: I am following my cover crop with non-irrigated soybeans, which I want to insure. Agricultural experts have advised me that I should “keep the cover crop on until the (cash) crop is ready to be planted”. What is RMA Topeka Regional Office’s advice?
A: For insurance to attach to your soybeans, your cover crop must be terminated before it reaches the headed or budded stage. As soon as the first head or bud appears in your cover crop, insurance cannot attach to the soybeans.
RMA recommends that you discuss plans related to cover crops with your crop insurance agent prior to planting the cover crop.
Q: I use a cover crop mix in my field. Some varieties head or bud earlier than others. For crop insurance purposes, at what point is that cover crop considered to be headed or budded?
A: The moment the first head or bud appears in your field. Once the cover crop reaches the headed or budded stage prior to termination, regardless of the percentage of plants that reached the headed or budded stage, insurance cannot attach to the subsequent non-irrigated crop if the “double crop” statement is on the Special Provisions.
Q: Does the cover crop need to be terminated by chemical or mechanical means?
A: No. As long as the cover crop is terminated by any means (including winterkill) before any plant reaches the headed or budded stage, a subsequent crop may be planted and insured provided all other insurability conditions are met. However, if not all plants are terminated and if any reach the headed or budded stage the insurability of the following non-irrigated crop is affected.
Ever wonder what stockpiled pasture looks like on a cold and rainy December day? Well then you should have been at the Carneys’ pasture walk this past Saturday!
Luckily, Bruce put us in the stock trailer so we wouldn’t get too wet…
One brave soul who arrived a little late even walked out in the rain to join us in the pasture (Jake Myers). (more…)
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