Area4 8 2015 by Iowa Farm Bureau

IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN

APRIL 8, 2015

SOUTH EAST IOWA

Ready to take the Beck 300 Challenge? Participants can receive 30 acres of FREE Crop Health Imaging from FARMserver™. Deadline to sign up is April 24.

MAHASKA . KEOKUK . WASHINGTON . LOUISA . MUSCATINE . MONROE . WAPELLO JEFFERSON . HENRY . DES MOINES . APPANOOSE . DAVIS . VAN BUREN . LEE

ICA bull sales at Bloomfield, Dunlap demonstrate continued strength in markets seeking superior genetics SUBMITTED BY HENRY The first two sales in the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) Bull Evaluation Program have resulted in a strong indication that Iowa cow-calf producers are seeking superior genetics for their commercial herds. At the first sale held in Bloomfield on March 16, the 36 bulls brought an average price of $4,175, which broke the historical ICA sale records by more than $700. That record was set in May 2012 at the Tama Livestock Auction, when the average bull price was $3,420. The Dunlap sale on March 27 also broke the old record; the 31 head of bulls sold there averaged $3,698. “There are several reasons why the ICA evaluation program creates successful sales,” says Kellie Carolan,

ICA’s seedstock manager. “First, our consignors are putting good cattle in a program with 30 years of history. Second, the buyers are looking for the types of bulls that will help them grow the cow-calf segment, and the stock sold at our first two sales will definitely improve the commercial herd.” There will be a final sale of seedstock that has gone through the ICA evaluation program. On May 1, a sale will be held at the Tama Livestock Auction in Tama that features both heifers and bulls. That sale will conclude ICA’s 30th anniversary year of the program. To recognize the consignors and buyers through the year, the ICA Bull and Heifer Evaluation Program Committee will host a meal right before the sale. In addition, buyers at the sale will

be entered into a drawing for a $500 or one of two $200 credit certificates that can be used on a purchase that night, or a purchase at a future sale date through the 2016 sales. For more information about the ICA Bull Evaluation Program or to receive a sale catalog, contact the ICA office at 515-296-2266. You may also view the sales catalog and other bull and heifer test information on the ICA website at www.iacattlemen.org.

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Young farmers tour Ottumwa Water Works

Young farmers from Wapello, Davis, Jefferson and Van Buren counties met with the Ottumwa Water Works for a tour and open discussion on how farmers and water treatment facilities can work together to improve water quality. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVIS, JEFFERSON, VAN BUREN AND WAPELLO COUNTY.

FARM FAMILY FAVORITES

Easy Stroganoff Creig Caruth, Nevada (Story County) 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. round or pork steak 4 (10-3/4-oz.) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 (1-oz.) envelope onion soup mix

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 1/4 tsp. paprika 1 c. fat-free sour cream

Cut steak into 1/4-inch strips, and then cut strips into 3/4-inch to 1-inch pieces. It’s easier to cut strips evenly when they are frozen. Mix soup, soup mix and spices together in a crock pot. Add meat and stir until well coated. Cover, and cook on high 4 to 6 hours or on low for 8 to 10 hours. Stir in sour cream before serving. Serve over noodles, rice or toast.

Cherry Coke Salad Barbara Strohbehn, Gladbrook (Tama County) 1 (20-oz.) crushed pineapple 1/2 c. water 2 (3-oz.) packages cherry gelatin

1 (21-oz.) can cherry pie filling 3/4 c. cola

Drain pineapple, reserving juice, and set pineapple aside. In a sauce pan or microwave, bring pineapple juice and water to a boil. Add gelatin, and stir until dissolved. Stir in pie filling and cola. Pour into a serving bowl. Refrigerate until slightly thickened. Fold in reserved pineapple. Refrigerate until firm.

Bar-B-Cued Meatballs Lizzie Gingerich, Hazelton (Buchanan County) 3 lbs. ground beef 1/2 c. milk 2 eggs 1/2 c. onion, chopped 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 2 c. oatmeal 1/2 tsp. pepper 2 tsp. chili powder 3 tsp. salt

Sauce: 3 c. ketchup 1-1/2 c. brown sugar 1 Tbsp. minced onion 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all meatball ingredients. Form into balls, and place in baking pan in a single layer. Combine all sauce ingredients, and pour over meatballs. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.

Those participating in the trip included, from left, Heath Greiner of Bloomfield, Dana and Carl Scott of Mount Pleasant, Andy Hora of Riverside, Karen and Don Niebuhr of Albia and Jeff Chown of Nichols. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE IOWA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION.

FB members discuss vital crop insurance programs, international trade with elected officials during trip to Washington, D.C. Forty-seven Iowa Farm Bureau leaders visited Capitol Hill and met with their elected officials during the annual spring national policy trip March 23-26 to discuss key farm issues, including protecting crop insurance programs and approving ongoing trade negotiations, including the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). “TPA is really the key to getting any trade deals, and we need them to continue to build our exports,” said Don Niebuhr, a member from Monroe County. “These trade deals are important to the entire U.S. economy, and especially to agriculture.” Iowa Farm Bureau members met with each member of Iowa’s congressional delegation in Washing-

ton, D.C., to discuss pressing farm issues including protecting crop insurance programs from budget cuts that would weaken the vital safety net for farmers, the development of international trade opportunities and reiterated their strong opposition to the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Iowa farmers brought very real concerns to their lawmakers in Washington, and they asked for commitment to support important matters back home on the farm,” said Kevin Kuhle, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) national policy advisor. “Our local Farm Bureau members proved their knowledge of diverse policy issues and engaged Iowa’s congressmen and senators in conversations regarding

the importance of crop insurance protections and pressed for the support of international trade opportunities that would benefit Iowa agriculture.” The Iowa delegation met with Congressmen Rod Blum, Steve King, David Young and Dave Loebsack and also with Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst. The Iowa Farm Bureau national policy trip takes place twice annually for select county leaders. Each year, one-half of Iowa’s 100 county Farm Bureaus have the opportunity to send a representative to speak on behalf of agriculture and rural Iowa. To learn more about the spring or summer national policy trip and other opportunities for Iowa Farm Bureau members, go to www.iowafarmbureau.com.

IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN

APRIL 8, 2015

NORTH WEST IOWA

Data Worth Collecting Is Data Worth Using Planting Tip: Clean monitors are happy monitors. Be sure to upload your data into FARMserver every night after planting to keep it safe all season long. For more planting tips, visit

LYON . OSCEOLA . DICKINSON . EMMET . SIOUX . O’BRIEN . CLAY . PALO ALTO . PLYMOUTH . CHEROKEE BUENA VISTA . POCAHONTAS . WOODBURY . IDA . SAC . CALHOUN . MONONA . CRAWFORD . CARROLL . GREENE

www.FARMserver.com

Farm Bureau members discuss vital crop insurance programs, international trade with their elected officials during trip to Washington, D.C. position to the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Iowa farmers brought very real concerns to their lawmakers in Washington, and they asked for commitment to support important matters back home on the farm,” said Kevin Kuhle, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) national policy advisor. “Our local Farm Bureau members proved their knowledge of diverse policy issues and engaged Iowa’s congressmen and senators in conversations regarding the importance of crop insurance protections and pressed for the support of international trade opportunities that would benefit Iowa agriculture.” The Iowa delegation met with Congressmen Rod Blum, Steve King, David Young and Dave Loebsack and also with Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst. The Iowa Farm Bureau national policy trip takes place twice annually for select county leaders.

Forty-seven Iowa Farm Bureau leaders visited Capitol Hill and met with their elected officials during the annual spring national policy trip March 23-26 to discuss key farm issues, including protecting crop insurance programs and approving ongoing trade negotiations, including the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). “TPA is really the key to getting any trade deals, and we need them to continue to build our exports,” said Don Niebuhr, a member from Monroe County. “These trade deals are important to the entire U.S. economy, and especially to agriculture.” Iowa Farm Bureau members met with each member of Iowa’s congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., to discuss pressing farm issues including protecting crop insurance programs from budget cuts that would weaken the vital safety net for farmers, the development of international trade opportunities and reiterated their strong op-

FARM FAMILY FAVORITES

Easy Stroganoff Creig Caruth, Nevada (Story County) 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. round or pork steak 4 (10-3/4-oz.) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 (1-oz.) envelope onion soup mix

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 1/4 tsp. paprika 1 c. fat-free sour cream

Cherry Coke Salad Barbara Strohbehn, Gladbrook (Tama County) 1 (20-oz.) crushed pineapple 1/2 c. water 2 (3-oz.) packages cherry gelatin

1 (21-oz.) can cherry pie filling 3/4 c. cola

Sauce: 3 c. ketchup 1-1/2 c. brown sugar 1 Tbsp. minced onion 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all meatball ingredients. Form into balls, and place in baking pan in a single layer. Combine all sauce ingredients, and pour over meatballs. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.

Those participating in the trip included, from left, Susan and Ben Albright of Lytton, Chris Ten Napel of Ireton, Doug Gronau of Vail, Marian and Jim Wess of Alton and Mark and Kim Riesselman of Manilla. Photo courtesy of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

Each year, one-half of Iowa’s 100 county Farm Bureaus have the opportunity to send a representative to

speak on behalf of agriculture and rural Iowa. To learn more about the spring or summer national pol-

icy trip and other opportunities for Iowa Farm Bureau members, go to www.iowafarmbureau.com

ICA bull sales at Bloomfield, Dunlap demonstrate continued strength in markets seeking superior genetics SUBMITTED BY CHEROKEE The first two sales in the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) Bull Evaluation Program have resulted in a strong indication that Iowa cowcalf producers are seeking superior genetics for their commercial herds. At the first sale held in Bloomfield on March 16, the 36 bulls brought an average price of $4,175, which broke the historical ICA sale records by more than $700. That record was set in May 2012 at the Tama Livestock Auction, when the average bull price was $3,420. The Dunlap sale on March 27 also broke the old record; the 31 head of bulls sold there averaged $3,698. “There are several reasons why the ICA evaluation program creates successful sales,” says Kellie Carolan, ICA’s seedstock manager. “First, our consignors are putting good cattle in a program with 30 years of history. Second, the buyers are looking for the types of bulls that will help them grow the cowcalf segment, and the stock sold at our first two sales will definitely improve the commercial herd.” The Bloomfield sale included 14 head of senior yearling bulls, which averaged $4,021. The top-selling senior bull was Lot 62 consigned by Butch and Patsy Neumeyer of Golden Chute Ranch in Walker. The bull sold for $7,700

to Curtis Claeys of Delmar. The 22 yearling Angus bulls sold in Bloomfield averaged $4,272. The top-selling yearling Angus was Lot 84 consigned by Mike Kaefring of Tipton. He sold for $6,500 to Merlin Burden of New London. Information about the top ten bulls, consignors and buyers is on the ICA website at www.iacattlemen.org/bloomfieldtestsaleinformation.aspx. The pattern of solid sales continued at Dunlap. The top-selling bull there was a yearling Simmental consigned by Nate and Carrie Horman of CNN Cattle Company of Roland. The Lot 143 bull sold for $7,500 to Will Jones of Sioux Rapids. In all, the 10 yearling Simmental bulls at the sale averaged $3,135. The eight yearling Charolais bulls at the sale averaged $4,994. The second-highest selling bull, Lot 131, came from this group. The bull was consigned by Larry Wakefield of Wakefield Farms of New Richland, Minn., and he was purchased for $6,800 by James Reiser of Arion. The yearling Angus bulls (10 head) averaged $3,405 at the Dunlap sale. The top selling lot in this group was Lot 104 consigned by Larry Bridgewater of Spencer Grove Farms near Walker. Bryce Riessen of Danbury purchased the bull for $5,500. There were three head of yearling

Simmental Composite bulls at the sale, averaging $3,000. Lot 156 was the top seller of this group, bringing $3,500. Jeremy and Gary Walter of Farragut were the consignors, and Curt and Chad Havick of Mapleton were the buyers. You can see the full list of the top 10 bulls, consignors and buyers for the Dunlap sale at http://www.iacattlemen.org/dunlaptestsaleinformation.aspx. There will be a final sale of seedstock that has gone through the ICA evaluation program. On May 1, a sale will be held at the Tama Livestock Auction in Tama that features both heifers and bulls. That sale will conclude ICA’s 30th anniversary year of the program. To recognize the consignors and buyers through the year, the ICA Bull and Heifer Evaluation Program Committee will host a meal right before the sale. In addition, buyers at the sale will be entered into a drawing for a $500 or one of two $200 credit certificates that can be used on a purchase that night, or a purchase at a future sale date through the 2016 sales. For more information about the ICA Bull Evaluation Program or to receive a sale catalog, contact the ICA office at 515-296-2266. You may also view the sales catalog and other bull and heifer test information on the ICA website at www.iacattlemen.org.

IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN

APRIL 8, 2015

NORTH CENTRAL IOWA

Data Worth Collecting Is Data Worth Using Planting Tip: Clean monitors are happy monitors. Be sure to upload your data into FARMserver every night after planting to keep it safe all season long.

KOSSUTH . WINNEBAGO . WORTH . HANCOCK . CERRO GORDO . HUMBOLDT WRIGHT . FRANKLIN . WEBSTER . HAMILTON . HARDIN

For more planting tips, visit

www.FARMserver.com

Farm Bureau members discuss vital crop insurance programs, international trade with their elected officials during trip to Washington, D.C. Forty-seven Iowa Farm Bureau leaders visited Capitol Hill and met with their elected officials during the annual spring national policy trip March 23-26 to discuss key farm issues, including protecting crop insurance programs and approving ongoing trade negotiations, including the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). “TPA is really the key to getting any trade deals, and we need them to continue to build our exports,” said Don Niebuhr, a member from Monroe County. “These trade deals are important to the entire U.S. economy, and especially to agriculture.” Iowa Farm Bureau members met with each member of Iowa’s congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., to discuss pressing farm Those participating in the trip included, from left, Ben Krause of Radcliffe, Kody Trampel of Klemme, Nick and Stephissues including protecting crop in- anie Bowden of Humboldt, Louise and Charlie Norris of Mason City, Dave Rock of Swea City, Alyssa and Anton Stanek surance programs from budget cuts of Fort Dodge and Hayley and Andy Muff of Ventura. Photo courtesy of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. that would weaken the vital safety net for farmers, the development of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) “Iowa farmers brought very real commitment to support important international trade opportunities and rule proposed by the Environmental concerns to their lawmakers in matters back home on the farm,” reiterated their strong opposition to Protection Agency (EPA). Washington, and they asked for said Kevin Kuhle, Iowa Farm Bu-

reau Federation (IFBF) national policy advisor. “Our local Farm Bureau members proved their knowledge of diverse policy issues and engaged Iowa’s congressmen and senators in conversations regarding the importance of crop insurance protections and pressed for the support of international trade opportunities that would benefit Iowa agriculture.” The Iowa delegation met with Congressmen Rod Blum, Steve King, David Young and Dave Loebsack and also with Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst. The Iowa Farm Bureau national policy trip takes place twice annually for select county leaders. Each year, one-half of Iowa’s 100 county Farm Bureaus have the opportunity to send a representative to speak on behalf of agriculture and rural Iowa. To learn more about the spring or summer national policy trip and other opportunities for Iowa Farm Bureau members, go to www.iowafarmbureau.com

FARM FAMILY FAVORITES Easy Stroganoff Creig Caruth, Nevada (Story County) 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. round or pork steak 4 (10-3/4-oz.) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 (1-oz.) envelope onion soup mix

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 1/4 tsp. paprika 1 c. fat-free sour cream

Cherry Coke Salad Barbara Strohbehn, Gladbrook (Tama County) 1 (20-oz.) crushed pineapple 1/2 c. water 2 (3-oz.) packages cherry gelatin

1 (21-oz.) can cherry pie filling 3/4 c. cola

Drain pineapple, reserving juice, and set pineapple aside. In a sauce pan or microwave, bring pineapple juice and water to a boil. Add a serving bowl. Refrigerate until slightly thickened. Fold in reserved

Sauce: 3 c. ketchup 1-1/2 c. brown sugar 1 Tbsp. minced onion 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all meatball ingredients. Form into balls, and place in baking pan in a single layer. Combine all sauce ingredients, and pour over meatballs. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.

Winnebago County board members Randi Benson and David Heimendinger, center, presented a check for $1,000 to the Operation LZ-Welcome Home project. Among the LZ committee members present to receive the donation were, from left, Bill Zieser, Larry Weaver, Riley Lewis, Benson, Heimendinger, Leon Christenson and Mark Frakes. The LZ committee consists of 25 members from nine North Iowa counties.

Winnebago County Farm Bureau donates to Operation LZ-Welcome Home SUBMITTED BY WINNEBAGO Forty years ago on April 30, the last of America’s troops were pulled off the front lines and firebases of Vietnam. The withdrawal signaled the end of a 13 year war where 58,286 Americans were killed and many others injured. Because of the unpopularity of the war, returning soldiers to the states as well as other veterans were advised to shed their uniforms, put on civilian clothes and to keep a low profile or risk being derided or spit on. Winnebago County during those years saw 543 of our youth sent to Vietnam as well as many more who

served in other services. Eighteen were wounded and six were killed. Four were from Forest City and one each from Rake and Lake Mills. Winnebago County today is the home of 257 Vietnam era veterans. Winnebago County Farm Bureau is grateful to support and be a partner in the upcoming Operation LZ (Landing Zone)-Welcome Home set for Aug. 26-30 in Forest City. LZ is an event to give the thanks and honor to all who served in all military branches from 1962-1975. Families, friends, neighbors and communities are asked to attend in this acknowledgement of their sacrifice and service.

The Operation LZ committee consists of 25 members from nine North Iowa counties and is supported by over 90 individuals, businesses, foundations and county governments. Winnebago County committee members are Riley Lewis, Mark Frakes, Leon Christianson and Larry Weaver. America has learned from the Vietnam War: “You can hate the war, but don’t hate the warrior you sent to fight it.” Please go to www.operationlz. com for more event information. Please register if you are attending so the committee can prepare for the thousands who will be attending.

IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN

APRIL 8, 2015

Data Worth Collecting Is Data Worth Using Planting Tip: Clean monitors are happy monitors. Be sure to upload your data into FARMserver every night after planting to keep it safe all season long.

NORTH EAST IOWA

For more planting tips, visit

WINNESHIEK . ALLAMAKEE . FAYETTE . CLAYTON . BUCHANAN . DELAWARE . DUBUQUE

www.FARMserver.com

FB members discuss vital crop insurance programs, international trade with elected officials during trip to Washington, D.C. reiterated their strong opposition to the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Iowa farmers brought very real concerns to their lawmakers in Washington, and they asked for commitment to support important matters back home on the farm,” said Kevin Kuhle, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) national policy advisor. “Our local Farm Bureau members proved their knowledge of diverse policy issues and engaged Iowa’s congressmen and senators in conversations regarding the importance of crop insurance protections and pressed for the support of international trade opportunities that would benefit Iowa agriculture.” The Iowa delegation met with Congressmen Rod Blum, Steve King, David Young and Dave Loebsack and also with Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst. The Iowa Farm Bureau national policy trip takes place twice annually for select county leaders. Each year,

FARM FAMILY FAVORITES

Easy Stroganoff Creig Caruth, Nevada (Story County) 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. round or pork steak 4 (10-3/4-oz.) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 (1-oz.) envelope onion soup mix

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 1/4 tsp. paprika 1 c. fat-free sour cream

Cherry Coke Salad Barbara Strohbehn, Gladbrook (Tama County) 1 (20-oz.) crushed pineapple 1/2 c. water 2 (3-oz.) packages cherry gelatin

1 (21-oz.) can cherry pie filling 3/4 c. cola

Sauce: 3 c. ketchup 1-1/2 c. brown sugar 1 Tbsp. minced onion 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all meatball ingredients. Form into balls, and place in baking pan in a single layer. Combine all sauce ingredients, and pour over meatballs. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.

Those participating in the trip included, from left, Carlton and Cyndi Kjos of Decorah, Nikki Schulte of Dorchester and Dean and Ginger Darling of Decorah. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE IOWA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION.

one-half of Iowa’s 100 county Farm Bureaus have the opportunity to send a representative to speak on behalf of

agriculture and rural Iowa. To learn more about the spring or summer national policy trip and other

opportunities for Iowa Farm Bureau members, go to www.iowafarmbureau.com.

Local food is growing up SUBMITTED BY ALLAMAKEE, CLAYTON BY TERESA WIEMERSLAGE, ISU EXTENSION Recently, there has been a series of media reports suggesting the gangbusters growth in farmers markets is slowing, signaling a plateau in the local food movement. Krysta Harden, deputy secretary of the U.S. Agriculture Department, suggests what we’re seeing is the evolution of the local and regional food movement WIEMERSLAGE beyond weekend shopping into something more substantial and sustainable. Harden believes it is a basic lesson in supply and demand. According to a recent report from USDA’s Economic Research Service, farmers across the country sold an estimated $6.1 billion in locally marketed foods in 2012. That is serious money. More and more of it is coming from sales to retailers, institutions and restaurants rather than through farmers markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs). In other words, the demand side is maturing as businesses pay more attention to what their customers want, says Harden. On the supply side, from 2006 to 2014, the number of American farmers markets jumped 180 percent to 8,260, giving farmers across the

country opportunities for robust direct-to-consumer sales. Today, these markets give farmers opportunities to grow their businesses and meet the evolving demands of customers and consumers. More change came through farmto-school programs. In 2012, more than 4,300 school districts reported spending more than $385 million on local food through farm-to-school programs. In Iowa, there are over 88 school districts spending more than $1.2 million on local food. Three-quarters of the school districts in the six northeast counties are buying food from local farms. These numbers show that not only is the local food movement alive and well, it is growing up and becoming a healthy, established part of the broader marketplace. Therein lies the flaw in the latest reports about farmers markets. As demand for local food grows, so do the supporting businesses. In many cases, restaurants, schools, supermarkets and other institutions are using regional food hubs to move local food from farmers to meet wholesale, retail and institutional needs. A new study from the Leopold Center shows that food hubs play a significant role in the state’s local and regional food economy. Thirteen food hubs purchased $4.5 million in food from more than 450 Iowa farmers and supported 58 jobs. In northeast Iowa, the Iowa Food Hub, based out of West Union, works with over 50 farms and re-

turned over $236,000 to area farmers in 2014. Where is all this local food coming from and who is producing it? According to the 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture, more than 163,600 farms were engaged in the local food sector across the country and relying on both direct-to-consumer retail opportunities as well as institutional buyers. Since 2009, the NE Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative has tracked at least 63 new farmers or local food businesses in the six counties. The USDA Census of Agriculture also notes that nearly one of every five American farmers has operated a farm for less than 10 years. These new farmers are innovative, entrepreneurial and creative. They are as diverse as American agriculture itself. They are growing traditional crops and new varieties, organic produce, and heirloom products. They are developing added-value products from pickles to yogurt. More than ever, they are developing their businesses to meet the demand for locally sourced food. ISU Extension and the NE Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative are investing in these new and beginning farmers by offering the tools and resources they need to succeed, like business development training and education, and technical assistance on marketing and food safety. As market demands continue to grow and evolve, I agree with Harden’s prediction, “The best is yet to come.”

IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN

APRIL 8, 2015

Data Worth Collecting Is Data Worth Using Planting Tip: Clean monitors are happy monitors. Be sure to upload your data into FARMserver every night after planting to keep it safe all season long.

NORTH IOWA

For more planting tips, visit

www.FARMserver.com MITCHELL . HOWARD . FLOYD . CHICKASAW . BUTLER . BREMER . GRUNDY . BLACK HAWK

Farm Bureau members discuss vital crop insurance programs, international trade with elected officials during trip to Washington, D.C. position to the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Iowa farmers brought very real concerns to their lawmakers in Washington, and they asked for commitment to support important matters back home on the farm,” said Kevin Kuhle, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) national policy advisor. “Our local Farm Bureau members proved their knowledge of diverse policy issues and engaged Iowa’s congressmen and senators in conversations regarding the importance of crop insurance protections and pressed for the support of international trade opportunities that would benefit Iowa agriculture.” The Iowa delegation met with Congressmen Rod Blum, Steve King, David Young and Dave Loebsack and also with Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst. The Iowa Farm Bureau national policy trip takes place twice annually for select county leaders.

FARM FAMILY FAVORITES

Easy Stroganoff Creig Caruth, Nevada (Story County) 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. round or pork steak 4 (10-3/4-oz.) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 (1-oz.) envelope onion soup mix

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 1/4 tsp. paprika 1 c. fat-free sour cream

Cherry Coke Salad Barbara Strohbehn, Gladbrook (Tama County) 1 (20-oz.) crushed pineapple 1/2 c. water 2 (3-oz.) packages cherry gelatin

1 (21-oz.) can cherry pie filling 3/4 c. cola

Sauce: 3 c. ketchup 1-1/2 c. brown sugar 1 Tbsp. minced onion 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all meatball ingredients. Form into balls, and place in baking pan in a single layer. Combine all sauce ingredients, and pour over meatballs. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.

Those participating in the trip included, from left, Kevin Sprung of Osage and Jacob Hackman of New Hampton. Photo courtesy of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

Each year, one-half of Iowa’s 100 county Farm Bureaus have the opportunity to send a representative to

speak on behalf of agriculture and rural Iowa. To learn more about the spring or summer national pol-

icy trip and other opportunities for Iowa Farm Bureau members, go to www.iowafarmbureau.com

Local food is growing up SUBMITTED BY CHICKASAW, HOWARD BY TERESA WIEMERSLAGE Recently, there has been a series of media reports suggesting the gangbusters growth in farmers markets is slowing, signaling a plateau in the local food movement. Krysta Harden, deputy secretary of the U.S. Agriculture Department, suggests what we’re seeing is the evolution of the local and regional food movement beyond weekend shopping into something more substantial and sustainable. Harden believes it is a basic lesson in supply and demand. According to a recent report from USDA’s Economic Research Service, farmers across the country sold an estimated $6.1 billion in locally marketed foods in 2012. That is serious money. More and more of it is coming from sales to retailers, institutions and restaurants rather than through farmers markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs). In other words, the demand side is maturing as businesses pay more attention to what their customers want, says Harden. On the supply side, from 2006 to 2014, the number of American farmers markets jumped 180 percent to 8,260, giving farmers across the country opportunities for robust direct-to-consumer sales. Today, these markets give farmers opportunities to grow their businesses and meet the evolving demands of

customers and consumers. More change came through farm-to-school programs. In 2012, more than 4,300 school districts reported spending more than $385 million on local food through farmto-school programs. In Iowa, there are over 88 school districts spending more than $1.2 million on local food. Three-quarters of the school districts in the six northeast counties are buying food from local farms. These numbers show that not only is the local food movement alive and well, it is growing up and becoming a healthy, established part of the broader marketplace. Therein lies the flaw in the latest reports about farmers markets. As demand for local food grows, so do the supporting businesses. In many cases, restaurants, schools, supermarkets and other institutions are using regional food hubs to move local food from farmers to meet wholesale, retail and institutional needs. A new study from the Leopold Center shows that food hubs play a significant role in the state’s local and regional food economy. Thirteen food hubs purchased $4.5 million in food from more than 450 Iowa farmers and supported 58 jobs. In northeast Iowa, the Iowa Food Hub, based out of West Union, works with over 50 farms and returned over $236,000 to area farmers in 2014.

Where is all this local food coming from and who is producing it? According to the 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture, more than 163,600 farms were engaged in the local food sector across the country and relying on both direct-to-consumer retail opportunities as well as institutional buyers. Since 2009, the NE Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative has tracked at least 63 new farmers or local food businesses in the six counties. The USDA Census of Agriculture also notes that nearly one of every five American farmers has operated a farm for less than 10 years. These new farmers are innovative, entrepreneurial and creative. They are as diverse as American agriculture itself. They are growing traditional crops and new varieties, organic produce, and heirloom products. They are developing added-value products from pickles to yogurt. More than ever, they are developing their businesses to meet the demand for locally sourced food. ISU Extension and the NE Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative are investing in these new and beginning farmers by offering the tools and resources they need to succeed, like business development training and education, and technical assistance on marketing and food safety. As market demands continue to grow and evolve, I agree with Harden’s prediction, “The best is yet to come.”

IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN

APRIL 8, 2015

EAST IOWA

CHASING THE CHALLENGE Ready to take the Beck 300 Challenge? Participants can receive 30 acres of FREE Crop Health Imaging from FARMserver™. Deadline to sign up is April 24.

TAMA . BENTON . LINN . JONES . JACKSON . POWESHIEK IOWA . JOHNSON . CEDAR . CLINTON . SCOTT

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position to the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Iowa farmers brought very real concerns to their lawmakers in Washington, and they asked for commitment to support important matters back home on the farm,” said Kevin Kuhle, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) national policy advisor. “Our local Farm Bureau members proved their knowledge of diverse policy issues and engaged Iowa’s congressmen and senators in conversations regarding the importance of crop insurance protections and pressed for the support of international trade opportunities that would benefit Iowa agriculture.” The Iowa delegation met with Congressmen Rod Blum, Steve King, David Young and Dave Loebsack and also with Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst. The Iowa Farm Bureau national policy trip takes place twice annually for select county leaders.

FARM FAMILY FAVORITES

Easy Stroganoff Creig Caruth, Nevada (Story County) 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. round or pork steak 4 (10-3/4-oz.) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 (1-oz.) envelope onion soup mix

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 1/4 tsp. paprika 1 c. fat-free sour cream

Cherry Coke Salad Barbara Strohbehn, Gladbrook (Tama County) 1 (20-oz.) crushed pineapple 1/2 c. water 2 (3-oz.) packages cherry gelatin

1 (21-oz.) can cherry pie filling 3/4 c. cola

Sauce: 3 c. ketchup 1-1/2 c. brown sugar 1 Tbsp. minced onion 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all meatball ingredients. Form into balls, and place in baking pan in a single layer. Combine all sauce ingredients, and pour over meatballs. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.

Those participating in the trip included, from left, Darrick Hall of Anamosa, Joe Heinrich of Maquoketa and Shana and Dustin Johnson of Clinton. Photo courtesy of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

Each year, one-half of Iowa’s 100 county Farm Bureaus have the opportunity to send a representative to

speak on behalf of agriculture and rural Iowa. To learn more about the spring or summer national pol-

icy trip and other opportunities for Iowa Farm Bureau members, go to www.iowafarmbureau.com

ICA bull sales demonstrate continued strength in markets seeking superior genetics SUBMITTED BY LINN The first two sales in the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) Bull Evaluation Program have resulted in a strong indication that Iowa cowcalf producers are seeking superior genetics for their commercial herds. At the first sale held in Bloomfield on March 16, the 36 bulls brought an average price of $4,175, which broke the historical ICA sale records by more than $700. That record was set in May 2012 at the Tama Livestock Auction, when the average bull price was $3,420. The Dunlap sale on March 27 also broke the old record; the 31 head of bulls sold there averaged $3,698. “There are several reasons why the ICA evaluation program creates successful sales,” says Kellie Carolan, ICA’s seedstock manager. “First, our consignors are putting good cattle in a program with 30 years of history. Second, the buyers are looking for the types of bulls that will help them grow the cowcalf segment, and the stock sold at our first two sales will definitely improve the commercial herd.” The Bloomfield sale included 14 head of senior yearling bulls, which averaged $4,021. The top-selling senior bull was Lot 62 consigned by Butch and Patsy Neumeyer of Golden Chute Ranch in Walker. The bull sold for $7,700 to Curtis Claeys of

Delmar. The 22 yearling Angus bulls sold in Bloomfield averaged $4,272. The top-selling yearling Angus was Lot 84 consigned by Mike Kaefring of Tipton. He sold for $6,500 to Merlin Burden of New London. Information about the top ten bulls, consignors and buyers is on the ICA website at www.iacattlemen. org/bloomfieldtestsaleinformation. aspx. The pattern of solid sales continued at Dunlap. The top-selling bull there was a yearling Simmental consigned by Nate and Carrie Horman of CNN Cattle Company of Roland. The Lot 143 bull sold for $7,500 to Will Jones of Sioux Rapids. In all, the 10 yearling Simmental bulls at the sale averaged $3,135. The eight yearling Charolais bulls at the sale averaged $4,994. The second-highest selling bull, Lot 131, came from this group. The bull was consigned by Larry Wakefield of Wakefield Farms of New Richland, Minn., and he was purchased for $6,800 by James Reiser of Arion. The yearling Angus bulls (10 head) averaged $3,405 at the Dunlap sale. The top selling lot in this group was Lot 104 consigned by Larry Bridgewater of Spencer Grove Farms near Walker. Bryce Riessen of Danbury purchased the bull for $5,500. There were three head of yearling

Simmental Composite bulls at the sale, averaging $3,000. Lot 156 was the top seller of this group, bringing $3,500. Jeremy and Gary Walter of Farragut were the consignors, and Curt and Chad Havick of Mapleton were the buyers. You can see the full list of the top ten bulls, consignors and buyers for the Dunlap sale at http://www.iacattlemen.org/dunlaptestsaleinformation.aspx. There will be a final sale of seedstock that has gone through the ICA evaluation program. On May 1, a sale will be held at the Tama Livestock Auction in Tama that features both heifers and bulls. That sale will conclude ICA’s 30th anniversary year of the program. To recognize the consignors and buyers through the year, the ICA Bull and Heifer Evaluation Program Committee will host a meal right before the sale. In addition, buyers at the sale will be entered into a drawing for a $500 or one of two $200 credit certificates that can be used on a purchase that night, or a purchase at a future sale date through the 2016 sales. For more information about the ICA Bull Evaluation Program or to receive a sale catalog, contact the ICA office at 515-296-2266. You may also view the sales catalog and other bull and heifer test information on the ICA website at www.iacattlemen.org.

IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN

APRIL 8, 2015

CHASING THE CHALLENGE Ready to take the Beck 300 Challenge? Participants can receive 30 acres of FREE Crop Health Imaging from FARMserver™. Deadline to sign up is April 24.

CENTRAL IOWA

BOONE . STORY . MARSHALL . DALLAS . POLK . JASPER . MADISON . WARREN . MARION

BecksHybrids.com/300-Challenge FARMserver is a trademark of Beck’s Superior Hybrids, Inc.

Farm Bureau members discuss vital crop insurance programs, international trade with elected officials during trip to Washington, D.C. Forty-seven Iowa Farm Bureau leaders visited Capitol Hill and met with their elected officials during the annual spring national policy trip March 23-26 to discuss key farm issues, including protecting crop insurance programs and approving ongoing trade negotiations, including the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). “TPA is really the key to getting any trade deals, and we need them to continue to build our exports,” said Don Niebuhr, a member from Monroe County. “These trade deals are important to the entire U.S. economy, and especially to agriculture.” Iowa Farm Bureau members met with each member of Iowa’s congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., to discuss pressing farm issues including protecting crop insurance programs from budget cuts that would weaken the vital safety net for farmers, the development of international trade opportunities and reiterated their strong opposition to

Those participating in the trip included, from left, Thad Nearmyer and Jodi Warrick of Monroe, Jeff Ridgway of Van Meter, Jaimie and Jeff Westrum of Boone and IFBF President Craig Hill of Milo. Photo courtesy of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

FARM FAMILY FAVORITES

Easy Stroganoff 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 1/4 tsp. paprika 1 c. fat-free sour cream

Cherry Coke Salad Barbara Strohbehn, Gladbrook (Tama County) 1 (20-oz.) crushed pineapple 1/2 c. water 2 (3-oz.) packages cherry gelatin

1 (21-oz.) can cherry pie filling 3/4 c. cola

Sauce: 3 c. ketchup 1-1/2 c. brown sugar 1 Tbsp. minced onion 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all meatball ingredients. Form into balls, and place in baking pan in a single layer. Combine all sauce ingredients, and pour over meatballs. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.

commitment to support important matters back home on the farm,” said Kevin Kuhle, Iowa Farm Bu-

Iowa grant workshop to support local foods is April 22 SUBMITTED BY BOONE

Creig Caruth, Nevada (Story County) 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. round or pork steak 4 (10-3/4-oz.) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 (1-oz.) envelope onion soup mix

“Iowa farmers brought very real concerns to their lawmakers in Washington, and they asked for

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is partnering with USDA to offer Iowa workshop

Grant-writing workshops designed to help potential applicants understand, develop and submit their federal grant applications for the Farmers’ Market and Local Food Promotion Program are being offered in every U.S. state this spring through a unique collaboration among federal, state and regional partners. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service and National Institute for Food and Agriculture to conduct workshops in Iowa. This effort is known as the Agricultural Marketing Service Technical Assistance Project. Register for the Iowa event to be held in Ames April 22 at the Hansen Agriculture Learning Center, 2615 Mortenson Road, from 8 to 11:30 a.m. The grant workshop is one of two professional development options offered during the Regional Food Systems Working Group spring meeting. “The Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program is a key to USDA’s efforts to revitalize rural economies by supporting local and regional food systems,” said AMS Administrator Anne Alonzo. “The grant workshops will ensure that more communities and businesses

across the country can participate in the competitive grant process with proposals that create real economic opportunities and help meet the growing demand for locally and regionally produced food.” The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is coordinating the workshops through the Regional Rural Development Centers, and Cooperative Extension System educators will provide training in all regions of the country. NIFA and all partners will conduct outreach to raise awareness of AMS grant opportunities and increase participation in the programs. The AMS and NIFA collaborative effort for this innovative national training project will be directed by Stephan J. Goetz of the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development based at Penn State. “In the history of the Regional Rural Development Centers this is an unprecedented collaboration in terms of the scope and reach of a single project,” said Goetz. “We are pleased to be a part of this partnership effort and expect that it may become a model for efficient delivery of federal educational programs in the future.” A list of upcoming grant workshop dates and locations can be found at http://www.amsta.net. More workshops will be added soon, and the state representatives listed on the website can be contacted for additional information about upcoming workshops. Some of the workshop sessions will be recorded and avail-

able for online viewing for those not able to attend in person. With $30 million authorized annually by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill) through fiscal year 2018, AMS’ Farmers’ Market and Local Food Promotion Program awards competitive grants to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local and regional markets. The Farmers’ Market Promotion Program supports farmers’’ markets and other direct producer-to-consumer activities, while the Local Food Promotion Program supports enterprises that aggregate, store, distribute and process local and regional food. These investments are part of USDA’s commitment to strengthening local and regional food systems through projects that recruit and train farmers, expand economic opportunities, and increase access to healthy foods. USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative coordinates USDA’s support for local and regional food systems. Projects aligned with these efforts can be found on the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass. For more information on AMS visit www.ams. usda.gov, and for more on NIFA visit www.nifa.usda.gov. About the authors: Lynn Heuss, Local Food and Farm Program, 515201-9405, leheuss@iastate.edu; Linda Naeve, Value Added Agriculture Program, 515-294-8946, lnaeve@ iastate.edu.

IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN

APRIL 8, 2015

CHASING THE CHALLENGE Ready to take the Beck 300 Challenge? Participants can receive 30 acres of FREE Crop Health Imaging from FARMserver™. Deadline to sign up is April 24.

SOUTH WEST IOWA

HARRISON . SHELBY . AUDUBON . GUTHRIE . ADAIR . CASS . WEST POTTAWATTAMIE . EAST POTTAWATTAMIE . MILLS MONTGOMERY . ADAMS . UNION . CLARKE . LUCAS . FREMONT . PAGE . TAYLOR . RINGGOLD . DECATUR . WAYNE

BecksHybrids.com/300-Challenge FARMserver is a trademark of Beck’s Superior Hybrids, Inc.

FB members discuss vital crop insurance programs, international trade with elected officials during trip to Washington, D.C. ties and reiterated their strong opposition to the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Iowa farmers brought very real concerns to their lawmakers in Washington, and they asked for commitment to support important matters back home on the farm,” said Kevin Kuhle, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) national policy advisor. “Our local Farm Bureau members proved their knowledge of diverse policy issues and engaged Iowa’s congressmen and senators in conversations regarding the importance of crop insurance protections and pressed for the support of international trade opportunities that would benefit Iowa agriculture.” The Iowa delegation met with Congressmen Rod Blum, Steve King, David Young and Dave Loebsack and also with Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst. The Iowa Farm Bureau national

FARM FAMILY FAVORITES

Easy Stroganoff Creig Caruth, Nevada (Story County) 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. round or pork steak 4 (10-3/4-oz.) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 (1-oz.) envelope onion soup mix

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper 1/4 tsp. paprika 1 c. fat-free sour cream

Cherry Coke Salad Barbara Strohbehn, Gladbrook (Tama County) 1 (20-oz.) crushed pineapple 1/2 c. water 2 (3-oz.) packages cherry gelatin

1 (21-oz.) can cherry pie filling 3/4 c. cola

Sauce: 3 c. ketchup 1-1/2 c. brown sugar 1 Tbsp. minced onion 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all meatball ingredients. Form into balls, and place in baking pan in a single layer. Combine all sauce ingredients, and pour over meatballs. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.

Those participating in the trip included, from left, Clark Dolch of Bridgewater and Tom and Joe Turner of Neola. Photo courtesy of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

policy trip takes place twice annually for select county leaders. Each year, one-half of Iowa’s 100 county Farm Bureaus have the opportuni-

ty to send a representative to speak on behalf of agriculture and rural Iowa. To learn more about the spring

or summer national policy trip and other opportunities for Iowa Farm Bureau members, go to www.iowafarmbureau.com.

ICA bull sales demonstrate continued strength in markets seeking superior genetics SUBMITTED BY HARRISON, RINGGOLD The first two sales in the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) Bull Evaluation Program have resulted in a strong indication that Iowa cow-calf producers are seeking superior genetics for their commercial herds. At the first sale held in Bloomfield on March 16, the 36 bulls brought an average price of $4,175, which broke the historical ICA sale records by more than $700. That record was set in May 2012 at the Tama Livestock Auction, when the average bull price was $3,420. The Dunlap sale on March 27 also broke the old record; the 31 head of bulls sold there averaged $3,698. “There are several reasons why the ICA evaluation program creates successful sales,” says Kellie Carolan, ICA’s seedstock manager. “First, our consignors are putting good cattle in a program with 30 years of history. Second, the buyers are looking for the types of bulls that will help them grow the cow-calf segment, and the stock sold at our first two sales will definitely improve the commercial herd.” The Bloomfield sale included 14 head of senior yearling bulls, which averaged $4,021. The top-selling senior bull was Lot 62 consigned by Butch and Patsy Neumeyer of Golden Chute Ranch in Walker. The bull

sold for $7,700 to Curtis Claeys of Delmar. The 22 yearling Angus bulls sold in Bloomfield averaged $4,272. The top-selling yearling Angus was Lot 84 consigned by Mike Kaefring of Tipton. He sold for $6,500 to Merlin Burden of New London. Information about the top ten bulls, consignors and buyers is on the ICA website at www.iacattlemen.org/bloomfieldtestsaleinformation.aspx. The pattern of solid sales continued at Dunlap. The top-selling bull there was a yearling Simmental consigned by Nate and Carrie Horman of CNN Cattle Company of Roland. The Lot 143 bull sold for $7,500 to Will Jones of Sioux Rapids. In all, the 10 yearling Simmental bulls at the sale averaged $3,135. The eight yearling Charolais bulls at the sale averaged $4,994. The second-highest selling bull, Lot 131, came from this group. The bull was consigned by Larry Wakefield of Wakefield Farms of New Richland, MN, and he was purchased for $6,800 by James Reiser of Arion. The yearling Angus bulls (10 head) averaged $3,405 at the Dunlap sale. The top selling lot in this group was Lot 104 consigned by Larry Bridgewater of Spencer Grove Farms near Walker. Bryce Riessen of Danbury purchased the bull for $5,500. There were three head of yearling

Simmental Composite bulls at the sale, averaging $3,000. Lot 156 was the top seller of this group, bringing $3,500. Jeremy and Gary Walter of Farragut were the consignors, and Curt and Chad Havick of Mapleton were the buyers. You can see the full list of the top ten bulls, consignors and buyers for the Dunlap sale at http://www.iacattlemen.org/dunlaptestsaleinformation.aspx. There will be a final sale of seedstock that has gone through the ICA evaluation program. On May 1, a sale will be held at the Tama Livestock Auction in Tama that features both heifers and bulls. That sale will conclude ICA’s 30th anniversary year of the program. To recognize the consignors and buyers through the year, the ICA Bull and Heifer Evaluation Program Committee will host a meal right before the sale. In addition, buyers at the sale will be entered into a drawing for a $500 or one of two $200 credit certificates that can be used on a purchase that night, or a purchase at a future sale date through the 2016 sales. For more information about the ICA Bull Evaluation Program or to receive a sale catalog, contact the ICA office at 515-296-2266. You may also view the sales catalog and other bull and heifer test information on the ICA website at www.iacattlemen.org.