20 Aug 2013

2014 Upper Midwest Regional Master Gardener Conference

By Amanda Heitz
Quad City Master Gardeners can find information for the 2014 Upper Midwest Regional Master Gardener Conference on Facebook/Growing Along the River. Updates are posted as they become available regarding speakers, tours and much more! The conference, to be held June 25-28, at the Waterfront Convention Center, is hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener Program.  The bi-annual conference will feature speakers, seminars, tours, vendors, a silent auction and more.  The conference is open to Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri active Master Gardeners along with one friend.

If you've ever been interested in becoming a Master Gardener, now is a good time to sign up and complete the classes in time for conference registration.  For Iowa residents, classes are starting in September. Contact the Iowa State University Scott County Extension at 563-359-7577. In Illinois, contact the Illinois State University Extension for next available classes at 309-756-9978. Trained volunteer Master Gardeners provide home horticulture information and education to the community.
16 Aug 2013

ISU Extension and Outreach Scott County Calendar

By Amanda Heitz

August 27, 2013 ISU Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7:00 pm

 

September 3, 2013 Summer Gardening Webinar, Scott County Extension Office, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm

 

September 6, 2013 Pesticide Applicator Testing, Scott County Extension Office, 10:00 am-2:00 pm

 

September 24, 2013 ISU Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7:00 pm

 

Visit our events calendar at our web site: http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/

01 Aug 2013

SCOTT COUNTY EXTENSION CALENDAR.

By Amanda Heitz

August 13, 2013 Summer Gardening Webinar, Scott County Extension Office, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm

August 27, 2013 ISU Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7:00 pm

September 3, 2013 Summer Gardening Webinar, Scott County Extension Office, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm

September 6, 2013 Pesticide Applicator Testing, Scott County Extension Office, 10:00 am-2:00 pm

September 24, 2013 ISU Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7:00 pm

Visit our events calendar at our web site: http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/

26 Jul 2013

Dairy Beef Feeding for Profit

By Amanda Heitz

Feeding dairy steers has been common on northeast and east central Iowa farms and others are looking at dairy steers with supplies of feeder cattle being low.

An educational conference on feeding dairy steers will be the focus of two Extension programs in NE Iowa, August 6 at Monticello and August 7 at Cresco.

Dr. Lee Schultz, ISU Extension Livestock Economist will discuss the current feeder calf availability including both beef and dairy calves, as well as share his outlook on the fed cattle market and profitability in the feedlot industry. Dr. Dan Loy, ISU Beef Specialist, will discuss the use of growth promoting technologies such as implants, ionophores and beta-agonists in dairy beef steers and their impacts on marketing options.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Steven Rust from Michigan State University, speaking on their research and experience in feeding Holstein steers for the beef market. His research includes feeding systems, rations, and housing for Holstein beef steers. Another featured speaker will be Shawn Walter from Professional Cattle Consultants (PCC) at Hydro, Oklahoma. Shawn will share some of their closeout and performance data comparing Holstein to beef cattle. PCC has over 35 years of feedlot data with over 120 million head of cattle in their database, and they currently represent over 2.5 million head of feeding capacity from more than 100 feedyards. Dr. Darren Katzung, DVM, with Southwest Vet Services in Wisconsin, specializing in dairy calf health and will share his experiences with calf health and its impact on feedyard performance. A panel on marketing fed dairy beef will discuss the options and preferences of packers.

Both programs will begin at 9:15 am and conclude at 3 pm. The August 6 session will be at the Jones County Extension office in Monticello, and the August 7 session will be at the Howard County Fairgrounds in Cresco. Registration for the event is $20 to cover the lunch and materials. Sponsors helping defer speaker expenses include Merck Animal Health, Big Gain Feed, Iowa Beef Center, Innovative Ag Services, Silver Edge Coop, Cargill Feeds, C US Bank and Cresco Bank & Trust. To register for the program in Monticello contact Denise Schwab at the Benton County Extension office 319-472-4739 or dschwab@iastate.edu or for the Cresco meeting contact Sue Barnes at the Howard County office 563-547-3001 or skbarnes@iastate.edu. Please call by August 2 to ensure adequate meals.

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09 Jul 2013

2014 Upper Midwest Regional Master Gardener Conference

By Amanda Heitz

Area Master Gardeners, mark your calendar for the 2014 Upper Midwest Regional Master Gardener Conference "Growing Along the River" to be held June 25-28, 2014 at the Waterfront Convention Center, Bettendorf, Iowa.  The conference is hosted by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener Program. The bi-annual conference will feature speakers, seminars, tours, vendors, a silent auction and more.  The conference is open to Master Gardeners from Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri.

An active Master Gardener may register one friend to attend with them. If you've ever been interested in becoming a Master Gardener, now is a good time to sign up and complete the classes by conference registration.  For Iowa residents, contact Iowa State University Scott County Extension & Outreach at 563-359-7577 for classes starting in September 2013. In Illinois, contact the Illinois State University Extension for next available classes at 309-756-9978. Trained volunteer Master Gardeners provide home horticulture information and education to the community.

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09 Jul 2013

Beef Facility Comparison

By Amanda Heitz

Iowa State University Extension & Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District are hosting a Livestock Facilities Meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to provide information to producers who are considering feeding cattle under roof. It will be held on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, from 9:30 - Noon at the Clinton Community College Campus in Maquoketa located at 501 West Washington Street.

The major focus of the meeting will be to compare and contrast mono-slope deep bed pack barns, slatted floor deep pit barns, and hoop buildings. Speakers for the program include Dr. Dan Loy, Iowa State University beef Specialist on facility comparison and management; Dr. Greg Brenneman, ISU Extension Agricultural Engineer, on manure from different types of facilities and it's economic value; and Lori Schnoor, Jackson County District Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), on water quality improvements to feedlots and funding available. A panel of producers will also discuss their experience with different types of facilities.

The meeting is free, and is open to any interested producer. For more information on the program contact Lori Schnoor at the Jackson County NRCS office at 563-652-2337 ext. 3.

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02 Jul 2013

Gardening Webinar Series 'Moisture Extremes in the Landscape' Begins July 23

By Amanda Heitz

The Iowa Master Gardener program is once again offering a series of summer garden webinars to be hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Because weather patterns over the past couple of years have moved rapidly from drought to flood, the theme of the 2013 series is "Moisture Extremes in the Landscape."

"Iowa Gardeners are dealing with a variety of extreme conditions this summer," said Denny Schrock, state Master Gardener coordinator. "There are areas of the state that have gone from drought and abnormally dry conditions to flooding, places that have received twice the normal precipitation amount, and areas that have received only a fraction of the normal amount of rain."

The Iowa DNR Water Summary Update shows the extremes - places where abnormally dry conditions are overlaid by much above normal stream flow, and sections of the state where flooding and below normal amounts of precipitation overlap. Schrock said plant selection and landscaping decisions can help gardeners manage the weather extremes and the summer webinar series will cover those topics.

Summer webinar dates, topics and presenters

• Tuesday, July 23 - "Landscape Plants for Moisture Extremes" - Richard Jauron, horticulture specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach; "Waterwise Landscaping" - Denny Schrock, Iowa Master Gardener coordinator, Iowa State University

• Tuesday, Aug. 13 - "Diagnosing Drought Damage, Flood Damage and Other Abiotic Stress Injury on Landscape Trees and Shrubs" - Jeff Iles, horticulture department chair at Iowa State University

• Tuesday, Sept. 3 - "Efficient Home Landscape Irrigation" - Mike Baron, irrigation and water management specialist, The Toro Company

The summer webinar series, in its fourth year, is offered by the Iowa Master Gardener program in response to requests for more Iowa gardening educational opportunities. The sessions are open to all interested gardeners; participants are not required to have completed Master Gardener training to attend.

Sessions will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Scott County Extension office in Bettendorf, Iowa.  Cost for each session is $5.00.  Contact the Scott County Extension office at 563-359-7577 to register.

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02 Jul 2013

ISU Extension to Offer Farmland Leasing Workshops

By Amanda Heitz
Every year is different and 2013 is not an exception to that rule.  The drought has broken, flooding is back, and the CSR ratings are being revised and will be called the CSR2 starting in October.  Change in agriculture is occurring at a record pace and landlords and tenants need to do their best to keep up with the changes.

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension is offering a Farmland Leasing workshop on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Johnson County Extension Office at 3109 Old Highway 218 South in Iowa City.  Another workshop will also be offered on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, starting at 1:00 p.m. at Buzzy's at 414 Main Street in Welton.

Jim Jensen and Ryan Drollette, ISU Extension Farm Management Specialists, will be the presenters. According to Jensen & Drollette, "The 2013 Extension Cash Rental Survey is out and will be discussed as well as the profit potential for tenants." Are cash rents keeping up with land values that have increased over 100% in the past six years?

Jensen & Drollette will be discussing land values, leasing practices, and lead an interactive discussion on methods to calculate cash rent.  Jensen stated, "The most frequent stumbling block for setting a cash rental rate is determining the land quality of the farm.  Rents on various quality soils and ways to determine land quality will be discussed. Land values and cash rental rates for various grades of land have not increased at the same percentage rate.  

The Farmland Leasing workshop cost is $25 per person and includes the 2013 Farm Leasing Arrangement booklet and copies of the presentation. To pre-register call the Johnson County Extension Office at 319-337-2145 or the Clinton County Extension office at 563-659-5125.

Registration cost can be paid at the door approximately 30 minutes before the workshop begins.

For those that pre-register 1 business day prior to or at the meeting, a $5 late registration fee will be added.

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06 Jun 2013

Spring Field Day Tour at ISU SE Iowa Research Farm on June 27

By Amanda Heitz
Farmers and those who advise farmers about crops will want to attend the annual spring field day for the Iowa State University Southeast Iowa Research Farm near Crawfordsville on June 27 beginning at 1:00 p.m. One of the features on the tour will be Virgil Schmitt's presentation on "Crop Weather Outlook & How New Weather Stations Will Benefit Iowa Farmers." Schmitt is an extension field agronomist with Iowa State University.

Also highlighted on the tour will be "Managing Nitrogen for Corn after a Rye Cover Crop" by John Sawyer, ISU Extension Agronomist - Soil Fertility; "Managing Glyphosate Tolerant Waterhemp in Soybeans" by Jim Fawcett, ISU Extension Field Agronomist; and "Crop Season Review" by Myron Rees, Farm Superintendent.

Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits will be available for attending the event for a fee.  Those wishing to obtain additional CCA credits can come at 9:00 a.m. for a morning training session with a focus on soil and water management.  The credit fee for Certified Crop Advisors attending the morning session is $50.00 and includes lunch.  There is no fee for the afternoon tours.

A lunch will be available at noon for $5, followed by a demonstration on grain safety by the Washington County Health Department. Please register by June 25 for the morning CCA session and the noon lunch by calling the Johnson County Extension Office at 319-337-2145.

To reach the farm, follow U.S. Highway 218 one and three quarters miles south of Crawfordsville, then two miles east on county road G-62, then three quarters mile north.  Signs will be posted to guide you to the event.

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06 Jun 2013

ISU Extension to Offer Farmland Leasing Workshops

By Amanda Heitz
Every year is different and 2013 is not an exception to that rule.  The drought has broken, flooding is back, and the CSR ratings are being revised and will be called the CSR2 starting in October.  Change in agriculture is occurring at a record pace and landlords and tenants need to do their best to keep up with the changes.

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension is offering a Farmland Leasing workshop on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Johnson County Extension Office at 3109 Old Highway 218 South in Iowa City.  Another workshop will also be offered on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, starting at 1:00 p.m. at Buzzy's at 414 Main Street in Welton.

Jim Jensen and Ryan Drollette, ISU Extension Farm Management Specialists, will be the presenters. According to Jensen & Drollette, "The 2013 Extension Cash Rental Survey is out and will be discussed as well as the profit potential for tenants." Are cash rents keeping up with land values that have increased over 100% in the past six years?

Jensen & Drollette will be discussing land values, leasing practices, and lead an interactive discussion on methods to calculate cash rent.   Jensen stated, "The most frequent stumbling block for setting a cash rental rate is determining the land quality of the farm.  Rents on various quality soils and ways to determine land quality will be discussed. Land values and cash rental rates for various grades of land have not increased at the same percentage rate.  

The Farmland Leasing workshop cost is $25 per person and includes the 2013 Farm Leasing Arrangement booklet and copies of the presentation. To pre-register call the Johnson County Extension Office at 319-337-2145 or the Clinton County Extension office at 563-659-5125.

Registration cost can be paid at the door approximately 30 minutes before the workshop begins.

For those that pre-register 1 business day prior to or at the meeting, a $5 late registration fee will be added.

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