ISU Extension and Outreach information and resources for north central Iowa

Cerro Gordo County

ISU Extension and Outreach

2023 S. Federal Ave. Mason City, IA 50401 641-423-0844 bartus@iastate.edu www.extension.iastate.edu/cerrogordo

AG NEWS TODAY

New Guide Provides Updated Weed Identifi-

cation and Herbicide Resistance Information

A convenient reference guide to assist producers and agronomists in the field

Article | Mon, 10/19/2015 - By Kristine Schaefer, Pesticide Safety Education Program,

515-294-4286, schaefer@iastate.edu

AMES, Iowa –Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has released a

new version of the Weed Identification Field Guide, first published in 2010, to

assist producers and

agronomists with ac-

curately identifying

weeds in Iowa corn

and soybean fields.

The Weed Identifica-

tion Field Guide, 2nd

Edition, includes ad-

ditional weed species

and updated infor-

mation on herbicide

resistance manage-

ment. The guide is

now available for pur-

chase online from the

Extension Store at

https://store.extension.iastate.edu/.

Kristine Schaefer, contributing author of the publication and pesticide safety

education program manager at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach,

said it was important to amend information about herbicide resistance and

management from the first edition, as issues continue to develop.

“One weed added was Palmer amaranth, a new weed to Iowa and one that has

shown resistance to glyphosate and other herbicides,” said Schaefer.

The 108-page booklet is organized into five sections: weed management, grass

weeds, broadleaf weeds, other weeds, and glossary and index. Each section

includes supplemental identification descriptions, enhanced photos and tools

for correctly distinguishing weeds that have similar characteristics.

“The guide is intended to help producers and agronomists identify weeds in the

field without having to go back to the office or check online to confirm identi-

fication,” said Schaefer.

The pocket-sized guide contains 35 illustrations and more than 250 high-

quality photographs of weeds found in Iowa. Funding for the development of

the guide was provided by the United Soybean Board Take Action program

and the Iowa Soybean Association.

Printed copies can be purchased online through the Iowa State University Ex-

tension and Outreach Extension Store for $10, and the PDF version can be

downloaded for $5.

PHOTO: Weed Guide in use. Adam Sisson.

Extension Links

Ag Decision Maker

www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm

Beef Center

www.iowabeefcenter.org

ISU Ag Newsletters

www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/newsletters

Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy

www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu

Iowa State Research Farms

www.ag.iastate.edu/farms

Iowa Water Quality Initiative

www.cleanwateriowa.org

Manure Management

www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag

Pesticide Management

www.extension.iastate.edu/pme

Pork Center

www.ipic.iastate.edu

November 2, 2015

… and justice for all Iowa State University Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, 3280 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating.

How Farmers Can Deal with Weeds

Resistance - Watch the Video

Online

ISU Extension and Outreach weed scientists and field agron-

omists educate farmers about diversifying their weed man-

agement to deal with weeds that have grown resistant to sim-

ple management systems.

View the video at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/

node/32248.

Farm Financial Management: 16 Ways to Stretch Cash Flow

PDF file from AgDM Newsletter - October 2015, By William Edwards, retired economist and Ann M. Johanns, extension program

specialist, 641-732-5574, aholste@iastate.edu

No matter how well you budget or how efficiently you manage your farm business, there may be periods in which cash

flow is negative. No one knows for sure when these periods will occur, and how long will they last, but every operation

should have a financial contingency plan to provide for unexpected cash flow shortfalls.

Sixteen actions can be taken to improve an operation’s liquidity when projected cash inflows fall short of projected cash

outflows. They are listed online in order of expediency at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/articles/edwards/

EdwOct15.html.

Financial stress can lead to increased stress in other areas. During unprofitable times in agriculture, check in with friends

and neighbors. If you or someone you know is struggling, encourage them to seek professional help, possibly from a

medical professional, clergy person or counselor. Assistance is also available at any time through the Iowa Concern Hot-

line, 800-447-1985.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers a free and confidential program called Farm Financial Planning. It

consists of one-on-one counseling with trained farm business consultants who provide help developing accurate financial

statements, budgeting alternative actions, and contacting other extension programs or outside services that may be useful.

More information is available at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/farmanalysis/. For a list of Farm Financial Planning

associates go to http://www.extension.iastate.edu/farmanalysis/associatelist.htm.

Pro-Ag Outlook and Management Seminars

From Ag Decision Maker

The Pro-Ag Outlook and Management Seminars are designed to provide agribusiness leaders with a concise evaluation of

current market conditions, expected trends in crop and livestock income potential and management implications. Partici-

pants will also receive an overview of the agricultural industry and learn how changes may affect Iowa producers.

Programs and speakers will vary by location. Highlights include:

• Corn & Soybean Market Outlook & Management Considerations - Dr.

Chad Hart, Extension Grain Marketing Specialist

• Swine & Beef Outlook & Management Considerations - Dr. Lee

Schulz, Extension Livestock Economist or Shane Ellis, Extension Field

Specialist

• Profit Analysis- Strategies for 2016 - Dr. Alejandro Plastina, Exten-

sion Economist

• And more! - Extension Field Specialists, Extension Field Agrono-

mists, ISU Legal Experts

Mason City Pro-Ag Outlook Seminar, Fri., Nov. 20, 1:00 pm, 4-H Learning Center, North Iowa Events Center, Mason

City, registration $20, call 641-423-0844. Read more at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/meetings.html.

Nashua Soil Health/Cover Crop Field Day Promotes Ag Evolution

Article | Fri, 10/30/2015 - 11:14 | By Liz Juchems, Iowa Learning Farms, 515-294-5429

AMES, Iowa – The Soil Health Partnership, along with the Iowa Learning Farms and Bremer County farmer partner

Mark Mueller, will host a cover crop and soil health field day on Thurs., Nov. 19, from 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at the Borlaug

Learning Center, ISU Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm, near Nashua. The event is free, open to the public

and includes a complimentary meal. Please RSVP to Elyssa McFarland, elyssamcfarland@gmail.com. Read more at

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/nashua-soil-health-and-cover-crop-field-day-promotes-agricultural-evolution.

Grain Storage: Core It, Cool It, Store It

Cooling grain for fall and winter storage Article | Tue, 10/27/2015 - By Greg Brenneman, Extension Ag Engineer, 319-337-2145, gregb@iastate.edu AMES, Iowa – Grain is quickly coming out of the fields this fall, with 92 percent of soybeans and 73 percent of corn har-

vested in Iowa as of Oct. 26, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

Since much of it has been harvested and put into the bin at 60 degrees and warmer, proper grain drying and cooling is

essential for storage life and grain quality. For safe grain storage during warmer conditions, Greg Brenneman, agricultural

and biosystems engineering specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach says you need to core it, cool it

and check it.

“With grain this warm, moisture migration within the grain mass and spoilage can occur very quickly, even with fairly

dry grain,” said Brenneman.

Core it - Fines and broken grain tend to accumulate near the center

of the bin and often cause aeration and storage problems. Bren-

neman recommends removing a few loads of grain from the center,

so the unloading sump will “core” the bin and remove most of

those fines. Then, remove grain until approximately half of that

center peak is gone.

After coring, the top of the grain should be visually inspected to

ensure an inverted cone has been created. If no cone is created,

bridging of the grain has taken place and a very unsafe condition

has been created. No one should enter the bin until situation has

been safely corrected.

Cool it - This week’s forecast shows cooler temperatures for Iowa, providing an ideal time to get stored grain cooled

down. However, farmers may still need to run fans later this fall to lower temperatures further.

“The sooner you can lower grain temperatures, the better,” said Brenneman. “Grain should be stored at 30 to 40 degrees

for winter storage, so you may still need to run fans a couple times during the fall to get grain down to wintertime storage

temperatures.”

The time required to completely cool a bin of grain depends on fan size. In general terms, a large drying fan will take 10-

20 hours to cool a bin of grain. However, a small aeration fan can take a week or more to completely cool a full bin.

In either case, it is best to measure the temperature of the air coming out of the grain to see if cooling is complete. It is

also much better to err on the side of running the fan too long rather than turning it off too soon.

Check it - If grain is dried down to the proper moisture and correctly cooled, it should store very well through the winter.

Even so, it is best to check stored grain at least every two weeks during the winter and once a week in warmer weather.

To do a good job checking grain, inspect and probe the grain for crusting, damp grain and warm spots. Also, run the fan

for just a few minutes and smell the exhaust air for any off odors.

For more details, order a copy of “Managing Dry Grain in Storage” AED-20 from Midwest Plan Service at https://www-

mwps.sws.iastate.edu/catalog/grain-handling-storage, or check out more grain drying and storage information at https://

www.ag.ndsu.edu/graindrying. Photo credit, Adam Sisson

Registration Open for Midwest Dairy Day

In-depth information on the use of genomic technology at annual workshop Article | Mon, 10/26/2015 - By Jenn Bentley, Extension Dairy Specialist, 563-382-2949, jbentley@iastate.edu

AMES, Iowa – Registration is open for the Midwest Dairy Day Genomics 101:

Putting Genomics to Work scheduled for Dec. 4, 2015. The workshop at Io-

wa’s Dairy Center located at 1527 Highway 150 S, Calmar, begins at 10 a.m.

and concludes at 2:30 p.m.

Midwest Dairy Day is free and generously supported by local businesses. The

day will include a presentation from Dan Weigel of Zoetis and Carla Stetzer

from Accelerated Genetics. The program will conclude with a panel of area

dairy producers. Lunch will be provided for all participants. To register, call

Northeast Iowa Community College at 800-728-2256, ext. 399. Registration

deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 25. Photo credit: NICC Calmar Dairy Facility

New Online Options for Certified Manure Applicators

Article | Thu, 10/22/2015 - By Daniel Andersen, Extension Agricultural and BioSystems Engineer, 515-294-4210, dsa@iastate.edu DES MOINES, Iowa – New online options make training and fee payment easier than ever for more than 4,500 certified

Iowa manure applicators. Online training is available to anyone interested in manure application, but is specifically de-

signed to help manure applicators meet state requirements to become certified.

Applicators can take training with any device that has internet access, but may find a personal computer provides the

best performance. If using a public access computer, check with the provider – coffee shop, library or motel – to see how

secure the connection is, especially when sharing information about bank accounts.

Online training modules cover topics like biosecurity for human and animal safety, and managing nutrients to improve

water quality. Each module is followed by a short activity. Online is similar to in-person or video training, however it’s

self-paced and applicators may complete one topic at a time or all topics in one sitting. Online training is also limited to

one applicator per computer.

Find a link to online training at www.iowadnr.gov/manureapplicator. This is also where applicators and business manag-

ers can check their own records for renewals, expiration dates and fees.

Traditional training options include two-hour workshops for confinement site ap-

plicators with agricultural and biosystems engineering specialists, livestock spe-

cialists and field agronomists with ISU Extension and Outreach. Commercial ap-

plicators are offered a three-hour training via statewide showing in early January.

Videotaped sessions are also available by appointment throughout the year.

Check the Manure Applicator section of the Iowa Manure Management Action

Group’s website www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag/ for a list of training dates.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM Ornamental & Turfgrass Pesticide Applicator Train-

ing Cerro Gordo Extension and Outreach, Mason City

Thursday, November 12, 2015

5:30 PM - 8:30 PM More Month Than Money Cerro Gordo Extension and Outreach, Mason City

Monday & Tuesday, November 16 & 17, 2015 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Mason City Tax School NIACC, Muse-Norris Center,

Mason City

Tuesday, November 17, 2015 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM Fumigation Pesticide Applicator Training Cerro Gordo

Extension and Outreach, Mason City

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM Commercial Ag Weed, Insect, and Plant Disease Pesti-

cide Applicator Training Cerro Gordo Extension and Outreach, Mason City

To view this newsletter online or find more information about these events, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/cerrogordo or call 641-423-0844.

Cerro Gordo County Extension and Outreach

Calendar of Events

Cerro Gordo Co. Extension Staff

Interim Regional Director Jerry Chizek 515-576-2119

jwchizek@iastate.edu

Executive Director John Sjolinder 641-423-0844 sjolinde@iastate.edu

County Youth Coordinator Bobbi Jo Wild 641-423-0844 bobbiw@iastate.edu

ISU Youth Specialist Gail Castillo 641-423-0844

gail@iastate.edu

Office Manager/Bookkeeper

JoAnn Bartusek 641-423-0844 bartus@iastate.edu

Office Assistant/Clover Kids

Becky Oelkers 641-423-0844 oelkers@iastate.edu

Agriculture Specialists

Livestock Russ Euken 641-923-2856 reuken@iastate.edu

Agronomy Angie Rieck-Hinz

515-532-3453 amrieck@iastate.edu

Farm Management Kelvin Leibold

641-648-4850 kleibold@iastate.edu