PHOTO: The Don and Glenda Eilers family poses with Zirkmeads Cinfull, the top-ranked Component Queens cow in the nation for dairy production. From left are Stacy Sickles, Mike Eilers, Jessica Sparks, Zirkmeads Cinfull, Don and Glenda Eilers. (Photo submitted)
A cow owned by Don and Glenda Eilers and family ranked first in the nation in the Component Queens category for milk production in the 2012 milking year.
Zirkmeads Cinfull was the winning cow in the category, which combines fat and protein production in a 305-day lactation period. Zirkmeads Cinfull totaled 1,087 pounds of protein and 1,991 pounds of fat for the year.
The Eilers family earned several whole-herd awards, as well. The herd tied for fifth place in the Current Pedigree Index (CPI)
PHOTO: After pumping milk into his truck’s tank, Jamie Schilling hoses out a farmer’s storage tank. (Photo by Pete Temple)
By Pete Temple, Express Sports/Ag Editor
When Jamie Schilling visits area dairy farms to collect milk, the farmers and Schilling like to engage in some good-natured needling.
With a photographer present, the jokes often run along the lines of, “Don’t take a picture of him, you’ll break the camera.”
High quality at a moderate cost of production. That was the general measure used by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association in its Carcass Challenge that wrapped up with awards on Tuesday, June 11, at the Starlite Convention Center in Ames.
A joint entry by the Jones, Dubuque and Delaware county cattlemen’s organization was the highest-placing area entry, finishing eighth overall.
The entry from Accu-Steel, Inc. – with its 15.5 square inches of ribeye – took the top Carcass
PHOTO: The Timm boys stand with their cattle, from left: Austin with Roger, Gavin with Roy, and Zach with Lily. (Photo by Emily Burds)
By Emily Burds, Express Intern
The Timm boys never had a second thought as to whether they wanted to show cattle or not. When asked when they started showing, middle son Gavin immediately said, “As soon as we could.”
PHOTO: Nick Miller continues to support the ag community through his job at Ohnward Bank & Trust as well as his service to the Dairy Producers and the Extension Council. (Photo by Kim Brooks)
By Kim Brooks, Express Editor
Growing up on a farm, kids learn hard work, responsibility and time management. Those attributes are all things Nick Miller of Monticello said he took with him after leaving
The nomination period for this year’s County Committee election began on June 17, announced John R. Whitaker, Iowa Farm Service Agency state executive director.
The nomination period continues through August 1, 2013, with elections taking place this fall.
“The committee election process allows all producers to have a better chance of having their opinions and ideas expressed in the community in Iowa and the nation. FSA sees the role of our county committees as one that is
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 39 Iowa counties as part of a Presidential Major Disaster Designation, according to John R. Whitaker, Iowa state executive director for the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Eligible family farmers with qualifying production and physical losses caused by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding from April 17, 2013 through April 30, 2013 may be eligible for low-interest emergency loans.
The Presidential Major Disaster Designation has been issued for 19 Iowa counties as the
By Jeff Potts
Pheasants Forever Biologist
Flooding has occurred again this year along many creeks and rivers in Jones County, and with the deluge of rain that has hit this spring we are seeing some cropland acres under water and other acres incurring heavy erosion or siltation.
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) can provide an alternative to the expense of replanting, loss of crop and decreased yields. Dr. Michael Swanson, Agriculture
JUNE 5 OUTSTANDING IN THEIR FIELD COLUMN — compiled by PETE TEMPLE, SPORTS/AG EDITOR
• Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey reported that Iowa fruit and vegetable growers are anticipating large crops of spring produce, according to an Iowa Department of Agriculture press release.
Iowa’s first crops of the spring such as strawberries, asparagus and rhubarb are starting to become available across the state, and should be followed in the next few weeks by leafy greens, radishes, carrots, green beans and
New soil rental rates are now being used for the Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Program, according to John R. Whitaker, state FSA executive director.
Maximum CRP rental rates are calculated using the three predominant soil types that make up the offered area. A weighted average of the individual rates associated with each soil type determines the overall rental payment per acre. Most soil rates have increased throughout the state.
“These new higher rates have been increased
The Food Safety Modernization Act passed in December 2010 addressed improvements needed to the U.S. Food Supply. Improvements identified included standards to ensure
John R. Whitaker, State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Iowa, announced that FSA will conduct several Conservation Reserve Program
General signup set
for Conservation
Reserve Program
MAY 8 OUTSTANDING IN THEIR FIELD COLUMN — compiled by PETE TEMPLE, SPORTS/AG EDITOR
• The Safe Electricity, a program of the Energy Education Council,
John R. Whitaker, state executive director for USDA’s Iowa Farm Service Agency, (FSA) reminds producers that in order to receive payments from USDA,