Agriculture

'Keep on Farming' drive honors Caleb Jurgens

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 3:11pm

   Dozens of vehicles, mostly tractors and combines, made a trek from the Jones Regional Center (Kirkwood) to Monticello high school early in the morning on May 30.

   The Memorial Drive event was designed to honor Caleb Jurgens, the Monticello High School freshman and rural Hopkinton 15-year-old who was killed in a motorcycle-truck accident May 21.

   It carried the slogan, “Keep on Farming.”

   “It’s just a good way to honor Caleb,” said Keaton Hermsen, who will be an MHS senior in the fall.

Jones County Ag Breakfast

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 3:09pm

Signup is available for WQI cost share funding

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2023 - 3:08pm

   Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced in May that farmers and landowners may now sign up for water quality and soil conservation cost share funding as part of the state’s Water Quality Initiative (WQI).

   These funds assist farmers with adopting proven practices, including planting cover crops, transitioning acres to no-till/strip-till or applying a nitrogen inhibitor.

Departments: Nutrient Reduction Strategy is working

Published by admin on Wed, 05/31/2023 - 8:37am

   The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the three principals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, jointly announced May 24 that the

Organic dairy producers can benefit from assistance program

Published by admin on Wed, 05/31/2023 - 8:30am

   The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces assistance for dairy producers with the new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP).

Cash rents reach record high

Published by admin on Wed, 05/31/2023 - 8:30am

   Average cash rents in Iowa are the highest on record, according to the Cash Rental Rates for Iowa 2023 Survey conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

The survey shows an increase of 9 percent in 2023, for a state average of $279 per acre.

   The new record is 3.3 percent higher than the previous record set in 2013, when rent was $270 per acre. The increase in rent since 2013 compares to a 2.8 percent increase in the non-inflation adjusted price of corn, and a 4.4 percent decrease in the price of soybeans.

Beef awards

Published by admin on Wed, 05/24/2023 - 9:00am

USDA offers organic cost share program

Published by admin on Wed, 05/24/2023 - 8:56am

   The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will cover up to 75 percent of the costs associated with organic certification, up to $750 per category, through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP).

   Iowa Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages organic agricultural producers and handlers to apply for OCCSP by Oct. 31 for expenses incurred from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023.

Ag educator workshops scheduled

Published by admin on Wed, 05/24/2023 - 8:56am

   Professional development workshops for teachers and educators will be offered throughout the summer and around the state by the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) and partner organizations.

   The workshop closest to Monticello will be June 19-20 in Manchester.

County is part of Pork in the Pantry Program

Published by admin on Wed, 05/24/2023 - 8:52am

   Jones County was one of 40 Iowa counties that participated in the Pork in the Pantry Program, which provided more than 50,000 meals for underprivileged Iowans over the past few months.

   County pork producer organizations worked with the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) to donate pork to local food pantries. The IPPA matched up to $1,000 for each county, totaling nearly $40,000 statewide.

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