ISU Extension and Outreach Information and Resources

ISU Extension Bremer County 720 7th Ave SW

Tripoli, IA 50676

Phone: (319) 882-4275

Fax: (319) 882-4292

www.extension.iastate.edu/bremer

Extension Links: Acreage Living

Ag Decision Maker

Beef Center

Corn Production and Nitrogen

Usage

Dairy Team

Iowa Water Quality

ISU Horticulture Extension

ISU Natural Resources

ISU Nutrient Reduction

Strategies

Manure Management

Master Gardener Program-ISU

Newsletters from ISU Extension

Pesticide Management

Plant and Insect Disease Lab

Pork Center

Soil Fertility

Family Fun at the County Fair By Theresa Silm, Michigan State University Extension

Local county fairs provide 4-H and FFA members with opportunities to show their cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, dogs, llamas, small animals, rabbits, chickens and cats, demonstrating what they have learned. Visitors have a chance to see animals they may not have seen before. The youth exhibitors like to talk about their animals, so take a minute and ask them what kind or breed the animal is, what it eats or how they take care of it. Sometimes the exhibitor might offer to let you touch their animal, but it is a good idea never to touch or pet the animals without the owner’s permission and their help.

Some fairs have petting tents or baby animal tents specifically designed for visitors to see and touch the animals, so that might be another option. Remember to be sure everyone washes their hands well after touching any animals. To make it easy, just stick a small container of hand sanitizer in your pocket and take it along when you go.

Walking around the fair is a great way to get a little extra exercise into your family’s day and provides lots of conversation starters for all ages. Check out the flower and vegetable displays and see what new types you can find. Ask children to look for something that they haven’t seen before or something they could plant in your family garden next year. Looking at all the exhibits is a good time for you to talk about skills your child might like to learn and to find out how to get involved in a 4-H club near you.

Of course, there are a lot of other things to see and do at a county fair, this is just a start, so check out the one closest to you.

FARM AND YARD

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or status as a U.S. veteran. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all pro-grams.) Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Ross Wilburn, Diversity Officer, 2150 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, 515-294-1482, wilburn@iastate.edu.

FOR RURAL AND URBAN FAMILIES

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Information and Resources

Too Much Manure? Can Iowa use all it’s Manure for Fertilizer? Daniel Andersen, ISU Professor and Extension Ag Engineering Specialist

Summary and implications Iowa is a national leader in pork and egg production, and also has strong dairy, beef, and turkey production industries. This can lead to a question: where does all that manure go?

Farmers in Iowa have a need for the nutrients in manure (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and numerous others) to help support crop production. However, to be effectively used as a fertilizer each county must have sufficient crop production to use the available manure nutrients.

So what is the situation in Iowa? To get a good estimate of where Iowa stands, manure and crop production were compared on a county by county basis to see if there are locations where surplus manure nutrients exist. Download the graph and article at: https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/Too-Much-Manure-Can-Iowa-use-all-its-manure-for-fertilizer

Materials and methods Data from the census of agriculture was used to make estimates of livestock populations and the Iowa agricultural survey was used to estimate crop production within each county. The nutrient utilization capacity of crop land was estimated by multiplying the amount of a commodity produced by the nutrient content of that commodity.

Results and discussion Results indicated that while both manure production and the nutrients available in manure have generally increased over the last 50 years, the nutrient assimilative capacity from crop production has increased much more rapidly. This has resulted in Iowa being able to obtain progressively less of its nutrient needs from animal manures. At the current time it is estimated manure nutrients can provide only about 25 percent of the state’s nitrogen and phosphorus needs.

Rural Iowa at a Glance - 2017...ISU Rural Sociology Department

This bulletin summarizes current demographic, economic, and social trends in rural Iowa between 2006 and 2016. It is modeled after the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural America at a Glance. Current year data are presented along with changes from last year and five years ago. Data are reported for Iowa’s metro, micropolitan, and rural areas. Metropolitan includes central counties with an urban center over 50,000 people, plus outlying suburbs linked by commuting patterns. Micropolitan counties have an urban center of at least 10,000 people, plus surrounding suburbs. Rural counties (technically noncore) have no urban center of 10,000 or more. Visit https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/Rural-Iowa-at-A-Glance-2017-Edition to download the Edition.

Northeast Iowa Research and Demonstration Farm and Borlaug Learning Center Located 1.2 miles west of Nashua, this 260 acre research farm was established in 1976 by the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association. In 2009, the Borlaug Learning Center building opened and it housed ISU Extension and Outreach and farm staff. This is one of 13 research farms where ISU conducts science-based research. Each has unique variations in soils, climate and agricultural enterprises. At Nashua the predominant soil types are Kenyon, Floyd, and Clyde with loamy soils overlaying glacial till. Experiments focus mainly on corn and soybean production, such as planting dates, row spacing, plant populations and long-term tillage. Agronomists and plant breeders conduct breeding programs and variety evaluations on small grains, corn, soybeans and forages. Weed, insect and disease control strategies are studied and evaluated annually. Horticulturists conduct garden produce evaluations for yield potential and pest control. They use a demonstration garden to display new horticultural varieties and cultural practices that can be adopted by home gardeners. Researchers study soil fertility and soil management systems. Agronomists study nutrient requirements of area crops and crop rotations, and evaluate fertilizer and lime rates and placement to observe crop yield response. Researchers from ISU and the USDA’s National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment carry out extensive water-quality testing based on timing, rate and placement of fertilizer, pesticide and animal manure applications. Field drainage tile lines and groundwater wells from 40 one-acre plots are monitored and sampled to determine the extent of chemical, nutrient and pesticide leaching. The farm is a regional site for USDA groundwater research. The Borlaug Learning Center is named for Norman E. Borlaug, agricultural scientist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, who was born near Cresco in Howard County, Iowa. Borlaug, who is called the father of the Green Revolution, was a leader in developing higher yield crops and also founded the World Food Prize. The center displays highlights of Borlaug's achievements and his successful effort to provide food security and promote world peace. The building provides office space and meeting rooms for staff and public use and incorporates a number of energy-saving features. The results of more than 120 agricultural research trials conducted last year at Iowa State University’s Research and Demonstration Farms are available online and can be downloaded at no charge. “These research reports are a valuable resource for farmers, agricultural educators and agribusiness people needing the latest information on crops, soils, horticulture and livestock management,” said Mark Honeyman, associate dean for operations for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The reports are annual agricultural research and demonstration project updates, offering updates on agricultural research and agricultural-related scientific activities. They are available at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/farmprogressreports/ Land, climate and agricultural enterprises vary considerably from one area of Iowa to another. To find solutions to problems in each area and to study the impacts of regional differences, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences puts scientists in the fields of research farms across Iowa. Iowa State farms near Ames are used for intensive studies and for teaching purposes.

Winter Dessiccation Injury, (University of Nebraska Extension)

Each spring many homeowners find dead, brown foliage on their evergreen plants, particularly arborvitea and boxwood, but also pine, spruce, fir, juniper and yew. The extent of the symptoms can vary from brown needle tips on one side of the plant, to one or two branches, to the whole tree. Injury is found on the outer portion of the branches and is often most severe on the side of the tree facing the wind or a source of radiated heat, such as a south or west-facing brick wall or street. Winter desiccation is a common type of winter injury that occurs when the amount of water lost by the foliage exceeds the amount picked up by the roots. Winter wind accompanying dry periods can accelerate water loss from the needles, and needle death is more extensive on the side of the tree facing the prevailing wind. Other common terms for this type of injury are winter burn, winter drying or winter scorch. Symptoms When water usage exceeds available water, the needles, leaves and twigs dry out and die. Usually evergreen leaves or needles hold their green color even after the injury has occurred until warm spring temperatures arrive, resulting in delayed browning symptoms. Affected needles turn yellow or reddish-brown at the tip, and dieback to the base. Factors that can predispose evergreen trees to winter desiccation are 1) white or lava rock around the base of the tree; 2) poorly develop root systems due to improper planting; 3) girdling roots; 4) root injury; 5) soil compaction; 6) stress due to insects or disease; and 7) tree genetics, i.e., trees from a southern United States source. Preventing Winter Desiccation Summer watering- The key to preventing winter desiccation is to maintain adequate soil moisture throughout the summer, fall and into winter. Provide damaged plants with one inch of water per week, allowing them to growth vigorously and avoid further injury next winter. Trees that have suffered from drought conditions at any time during the year will not be able to withstand dry winter conditions as well as trees that have consistently received adequate moisture. Winter watering- Many people put their water hoses away for the winter, but periodic watering during the fall and winter at times when the ground is not frozen can be very beneficial. Trees and shrubs benefit from slow, deep watering with a hose that has been left to trickle for an hour or so. Turfgrasses also benefit from a periodic deep watering. Mulching- Apply a 3-6 foot diameter ring of mulch around the base of trees and shrubs, with 3-4 inches of an organic material like coarse wood chips to help conserve soil moisture. Loss of trees due to winter injury is unnecessary and costly, not only in monetary terms, but in intangible values such as shade, protection and beauty. Deep-watering trees in fall may mean the difference between healthy, vigorous trees or stressed, struggling trees next spring.

Replacement Strategies for Farm Machinery A complete line of machinery is one of the largest investments that a farm business can make. Yet, unlike land or buildings, machinery must be constantly monitored, maintained, and eventually replaced. How and when equipment is replaced can mean a difference of thou-sands of dollars in annual production costs. Farm record summaries point out some of the differences between the more profitable and the less profitable farms in Iowa. The table below shows the wide range of machinery costs per acre and machinery in-vestment per acre from a sample of Iowa farms. Table 1. Variation in machinery costs by profit group Cost Area High Third Middle Third Low Third Machinery cost/acre $116 $141 $139 Machinery investment/acre $405 $545 $559 Source: Iowa Farm Cost and Returns, FM 1789, 2016 Costs related to the machinery line clearly had a large effect on whether farms were high profit producers. Many producers give less attention to machinery costs than other cost areas because the cash expenditures are made infrequently. And, once the investment is made, depreciation and interest (except on loans) be-come noncash costs, and are less visible. For this complete article https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/html/a3-30.html or visit your local ISU Extension office.

Turfgrass Management Calendar: Kentucky Bluegrass Lawns Adam Thoms, Assistant Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist and Nick Christians, University Professor of Horticulture, ISU

Turf management is all about timing and persistence. The overall appearance of a

lawn is directly related to the proper timing of maintenance activities and sticking

with a solid, well-timed plan for several years in a row. The following suggestions are

for lawn care throughout the year in Iowa. Because every site is different, these

practices may need to be adjusted to suit different situations. Dates for southern

Iowa are 1-2 weeks earlier, for northern Iowa about 1-2 weeks later than indicated.

June through August Mowing – Raise the mowing height during hot, dry weather; mowing heights over three inches are preferred. Increasing the mowing height helps control weeds, creates a deeper root system, and will make the lawn less susceptible to insects, diseases, and drought. Watering – In order to remain actively growing during the summer, lawns require about one inch of water per week from natural rainfall and supplemental irrigation. In very hot weather lawns may need 1.25 inches of water per week. Fertilization – Do not fertilize during summer to prevent diseases. Weed control – Herbicide use generally is not recommended during summer. If a preemergence herbicide was not applied in the spring, juvenile crabgrass plants may be controlled with a postemergence herbicide. To view the calendar: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/valueaddedag/improve-lawn-care-turf-grass-management-calendar

Bremer County Extension Staff Bill Arndorfer Regional Director Ron Lenth County Education Program Coordinator Katie Diemer County Youth Coordinator Tammy Curley Office Manager/Bookkeeper Jeannette Mukayisire Family Finance Specialist

Area ISU Extension Ag Engineering Kapil Arora, pbtiger@iastate.edu 515-382-6551 Agromomy Terry Bosol, tlbasol@iastate.edu 641-435-4864 Farm Management Melissa O’Rourke, morourke@iastate.edu 563-382-2949 Dairy Specialist Jen Bentley, jbentley@iastate.edu 563-382-2949

Calendar of Events June 21 – 4-H Communications/Clothing Event, 9 am, Waverly Junior High, 6:30 pm Presentations June 23 - Breakfast on the Dairy, Iowa Dairy Center, Calmar, 8-12 pm June 24 - 4-H/FFA Horse Workout, 6 pm, Dustin Cole’s, 16939 Quarry Ave Clarksville June 26 – 4-H/FFA Dog Classes, 6 pm, Waverly Fairgrounds June 27 - Field Day @ Nashua Research Farm, 1-4:15, Nashua June 28 - “Insects and Trees” webinar, 6:30pm, Extension Office, Tripoli July 1 – Iowa State Fair entries due https://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/statefair July 5 - “Bees and Vegetables” webinar, 6:30pm, Extension Office, Tripoli July 8 - 4-H/FFA Horse Workout, 6 pm, Dustin Cole’s, 16939 Quarry Ave Clarksville July 9 – 4-H Leaders Pre-Fair Meeting, 6:30 pm, Extension Office July 10 – 4-H/FFA Dog Classes, 6 pm, Waverly Fairgrounds July 13-14 – 4-H/FFA Poultry PT Testing, Dave Foelske’s, 5 pm-9 pm, Tripoli July 17 – 4-H/FFA Dog Classes, 6 pm, Waverly Fairgrounds July 17 - 4-H/FFA Horse Workout, 6 pm, Dustin Cole’s, 16939 Quarry Ave Clarksville July 19 - “Compost and Roses” webinar, 6:30pm, Extension Office, Tripoli July 22 - 4-H/FFA Horse Workout, 6 pm, Dustin Cole’s, 16939 Quarry Ave Clarksville July 24 - 4-H/FFA Dog Classes, 6 pm, Waverly Fairgrounds July 29-Aug 4 - Bremer County Fair, Waverly Fairgrounds

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