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Pesticide Updates
As of February 28, 2022 farmers may no longer apply pesticide products containing chlorpyrifos. It is also illegal to sell or distribute those products. For more information see Updates on Chlorpyrifos Uses in 2022.
On March 15, 2022 the U.S EPA approved label amendments that further restrict the use of over-the-top dicamba products in Iowa and Minnesota. For more information on these restrictions and how they apply to use in Iowa, please see Dicamba Updates in 2022 in Iowa.
Private pesticide applicators, time is running short for you to meet your annual 2 hours of continuing instruction to maintain your certificate. You can find options to meet those training requirements in Reminders for Private Pesticide Applicators in Iowa: Part 1 Final Call for Continuing Instruction Courses. If you choose to meet training requirements by participating in the streaming event on April 5, you must register by 9:00 a.m. on April 4th. Once you meet your continuing instruction course requirements, don't forget to submit your form and fees to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Pesticide Bureau if your certificate expired on December 31, 2021. Reminders for Private Pesticide Applicators in Iowa: Part 2 Certification Renewal Reminder will provide options to renew your certificate. Finally, don't forget to meet your annual dicamba training requirements.
Your spring checklist
The digital ag folks, the same people who brought you Planter University in February, have provided a comprehensive set of resources and reminders for your spring maintenance checklist for tillage equipment, planters, dry fertilizer applications and sprayers. Check out the article and links, plus you can find more information at the Digital Ag Extension web site.
Northern Research Farm
Did you know the Northern Research Farm located at Kanawha, Iowa is the oldest research farm (1930) in the Iowa State University outlying farm system? Did you also know that this farm is not owned by Iowa State University? This 173-acre farmed is owned by the North Central Iowa Research Association. Research conducted at this farm is essential to farmers and agricultural business partners located across north central Iowa. Tillage and fertility trials are conducted on soil types and climate conditions represented in north central Iowa. Long-term soil fertility trials have been conducted since the 1960s! Other studies include date of planting trials, white mold in soybean research, soybean cyst nematode research, long-term tillage trials, fungicide trials and many other research projects. The association is currently in the midst of a capital campaign to raise $500,000 to expand the research and extension capacity of this farm. Of utmost need is a new building that will house staff, provide meeting space, and allow maintenance and upkeep of research equipment. The association provides three main ways you can financially support this capital campaign. You can donate directly to the North Central Iowa Research Association, a 501(c) 3 entity, you can work through your local cooperative to give gifts of grain, or you can work through the ISU Foundation. Questions regarding support of this capital campaign can be directed to association president, Greg Guenther at 515-395-8257. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Want to learn more about the history of this farm? Check out this video from the 75th Anniversary of the Northern Research Farm. (Pardon the closed-captioning!) And here is a link to the 2020 Fall Virtual Field Day series featuring the long-term tillage trials at the Northern Research Farm and 6 additional ISU research farms.
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Events
Agronomy in the Field is a hands-on, multi-session workshop series for women landowners, farmers, conservationists, and other women who are interested in learning more about agronomy and conservation. I will be offering this series from April through September 2022 at the NIACC farm, located east of Mason City, in partnership with the Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin and Mitchell County Extension offices. Sessions are designed to be hands-on and conducted in the field to see real-time conditions. Agronomy in the Field sessions will be offered April 27, May 11 and 25, June 8 and 12, July 20, August 17 and September 7 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. There is a $35 registration fee ($20 for high school or college students), which includes all materials and resources. To register for Agronomy in the Field, please complete this registration form: https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bIUjhQ37dOkxscm. Please register by Friday, April 22. For more information contact Angela Rieck-Hinz, ISU Extension Field Agronomist at amrieck@iastate.edu or 515-231-2830 or the Cerro Gordo County Extension Office at 641-423-0844.
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