P E R I O D I C A L S : T I M E VA L U E D
APRIL 29, 2015 |
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Iowa ag officials seek source of deadly avian flu BY BETHANY BARATTA Highly pathogenic avian influenza hit two more barns in Iowa last week, leaving state and federal officials struggling to determine how the deadly disease made its way into the three barns in northwest Iowa. “The equipment, the feed, the personnel, you have to look at all of those factors,” said John Clifford, chief veterinary officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) deputy administrator for Veterinary Services. “And right now, we can’t just say that it was this or this.” Highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza was confirmed last week in a barn holding 3.8 million laying hens in Osceola County, forcing the farm to euthanize all of its birds. The barn, Sunrise Farms, owned by Sonstegards Foods Co. in South Dakota, reported the single largest loss to avian influenza in the United States, officials said. A few days later, a farm in Sac
County with 34,000 turkeys confirmed the disease on the site. This farm was within the 10 kilometers (6.21 miles) radius of the first case of the disease in Iowa, which was a turkey barn with 27,000 birds in Buena Vista County. All birds on the sites were euthanized.
Multiple pathways Clifford speculates that research on the affected sites throughout the United States will show multiple pathways of disease transmission from wild waterfowl into the barns.
There is no vaccine for the disease, and the use of vaccines is a difficult decision because of export markets, according to experts. “The decision to use vaccines as one of the tools in a control strategy is not easy for countries like the U.S. that have huge overseas markets for poultry products,” said Jarra Jagne, a poultry veterinarian at the Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center. She said avian influenza antibody tests used to monitor the disease in importing countries
Branstad says RFS delay hurts biofuel progress
can’t distinguish vaccinated from naturally-infected birds. “So the tendency is to impose a ban on countries that use vaccines extensively,” Jagne said. Clifford said the disease likes cool, wet conditions. Steady temperatures above 60 degrees should keep the disease at bay. He said he expects more cases again this fall. “We would anticipate that it is likely to see additional cases in the fall and spring next year when birds move south and then north AVIAN FLU PAGE 2
Rush to blame neonics could hurt honeybees Farmers and bees are better off if neonic seed treatments remain an option.
BY BETHANY BARATTA
STORY ON PAGE 3
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) delay in establishing volume obligation numbers for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) is slowing the progress of biofuels innovation, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said last week during a tour of the Quad County Corn Processors (QCCP) plant in Galva. The EPA earlier this month signed an agreement to follow a timeline for establishing the numbers. The agreement set June 1 as the due date for the proposed volume requirements. The EPA has until Nov. 30 to finalize volume requirements for 2014, 2015 and 2016. “We’re a little skeptical (of the timeline) because last year we were told we would have a decision by June,” Branstad said. “Now they’re saying it’s going to be a preliminary recommendation, and we won’t get the decision ’til fall.” The EPA’s delay in establishing the numbers for the RFS has slowed biofuels progress in Iowa, Branstad said. “I think we could have seen a lot more expansions of things like what’s done here in Galva in other ethanol plants,” he said.
More out of kernel QCCP is utilizing Cellerate technology, which allows corn kernel fiber to be converted into cellulosic ethanol. The combination of the Cellerate technology and Syngenta’s Enogen corn means more cellulosic ethanol production at the QCCP plant. “The Cellerate technology allows us to get more out of the same kernel of corn,” said Delayne Johnson, CEO of QCCP. “We’re able to get approximately 6 percent more ethanol out of every bushel.” RFS PAGE 2
Rain, cool weather stall planting over Iowa Most farmers waited for drier, and especially warmer, conditions before restarting the 2015 planting season. STORY ON PAGE 4
Mike Phelan holds packages of butterhead lettuce from Beaver Creek Produce, which he operates with his brother, Tim, and their families. The Dallas County farmers, who supply lettuce and other produce to local supermarkets, built the greenhouse to diversify their crops beyond corn and soybeans. PHOTO/GARY FANDEL
Central Iowa farm sees crisp sales for its lettuce
BY TERESA BJORK
W
hile most Iowa farmers are just getting a good start at planting their crops, the Phelans in Dallas County have already planted — and harvested — in 2015. In fact, they’ve already gone
through the growing cycle several times this year and will keep it up long past the traditional fall harvest. To augment growing corn and soybeans, brothers Mike and Tim Phelan, along with their families, built a hydroponic greenhouse a year ago to grow lettuce and other vegetables. Since then, they
have found a local market hungry for their Iowa-grown lettuce and other produce. Currently, about 26 Hy-Vee stores in central Iowa offer Beaver Creek Produce lettuce and herbs, with the distinctive “Grown in Iowa” sticker on the packaging LETTUCE PAGE 2
Corn king says lower stress is the key for producing top yields Georgia farmer, who won the corn yield contest in 2014, offers tips on adding bushels. STORY ON PAGE 5
IFBF awards $170,000 in scholarships The annual awards go to 170 Iowa students who plan to study in agriculture-related fields. STORY ON PAGE 5
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IOWA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION EXCEEDS ITS MEMBERSHIP GOAL FOR 14TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) has exceeded its 2015 membership goal with 14,850 new members for a total of 156,743. The organization has now reached its American Farm Bureau Federation membership goal for 14 consecutive years. “Reaching our membership goal for the 14th consecutive year shows that all of the hard work by our Farm Bureau volunteers and our agency force really pays off. Congratulations to all who recruited new members in the past year,” said Craig Hill, IFBF president. “There were some 700 member volunteers involved in our grassroots member-
ship effort this year who visited with their neighbors, friends and others to help them understand the value of belonging to our great organization.” The ability of IFBF to reach its membership goals year after year is a clear indication that the organization is strong, growing and vibrant, Hill said. “It also shows that Farm Bureau continues to address the needs of our members and that, as we near our 100-year anniversary, our organization remains an integral part of helping farm families prosper and making Iowa an even better place,” he said.
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APRIL 29, 2015 IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN
RFS
LETTUCE
FROM PAGE 1
FROM PAGE 1
The plant recently produced its 1 millionth gallon of cellulosic ethanol using the Cellerate process technology. The use of the Cellerate technology means the ethanol plant is able to get about three times more corn oil per bushel and more protein in its byproducts, which has shown to be beneficial to livestock farmers during feeding trials. The QCCP plant in northwest Iowa has two patents on the Cellerate technology, according to Travis Brotherson, plant engineer and inventor of the process. More patents are in the works, he said. QCCP is the only plant utilizing the Cellerate technology, Johnson said, but others are considering using it. Paul Backman, head of Enogen operations at Syngenta, said the combination of Enogen corn and the Cellerate technology could boost ethanol production. “The combination of the two could really bring a lot of production and efficiency to the industry,� Backman said. “If every plant developed this technology,
Travis Brotherson, right, of Quad County Corn Processors, explained the plant’s process that allows it to extract more oil and protein from the corn kernel to Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. PHOTO/BETHANY BARATTA
we could potentially have 2 billion additional gallons per year from the same bushels of corn that are going through there. If we can do that, that’s great for the industry.� But first, plants have to see
a plan from the EPA that would encourage more cellulosic production, Branstad said. “I think we could see more cellulosic plants built if they knew they could rely on the Renewable Fuels Standard as it was envisioned,� he said.
again,� Clifford said. “We hope that that’s not the case.� Various subtypes of the disease have killed 7.39 million turkeys and chickens in the United States since it was found in a backyard flock in Oregon in December. Health officials last week said the disease is likely being spread by wild waterfowl, not from site to site. Hens in the egg-laying facility in Osceola County appeared lethargic and then started showing significant death loss, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said. Health officials were called, and birds were tested for the disease. Dermot Hayes, an agribusiness economist at Iowa State University, said it was too soon last week to determine the exact economic impact of the disease in Iowa, but he said he would expect to see a “modest increase� in egg prices if the disease continues to show up in flocks across the state.
ed imports of live birds and eggs from Iowa due to the outbreaks. Mexico is the biggest buyer of U.S. chicken. Hayes said more infections in the state could result in bans from other export partners. “If we keep getting new infections, then some of these large export countries could put blanket bans on states or the entire U.S.,� Hayes said. “At that point, we would potentially lose those poultry markets.� Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Egg Center and the Iowa Poultry Association, said the Osceola County farm wasn’t the largest egg production site in the state, but it was in the top half. “While we certainly are going to be paying attention to the market consequences of the situation we’re working through right now, we certainly anticipate other producers will step up to the plate and meet the demand that exists,� Olson said. Prior to the outbreak at Sunrise Farms in Osceola County, Iowa had nearly 60 million laying hens in the state, Olson said.
munities, officials said. It creates a trickle-down economic impact on the farmer, the farm’s employees and the surrounding community and businesses like farm stores and feed processors. Each laying hen eats about one bushel of corn per year, Northey said. Clifford said indemnity payments will be paid to farmers who lose birds to the disease. He said payments are based on the age of the birds at the time of loss. The animals with the disease will be euthanized and destroyed, officials said. “It’s certainly a concern, it certainly makes headlines, it’s certainly devastating to the farmer, but as of today, eggs are still rolling out of most of our facilities,� Northey said. “These are good, healthy eggs. Consumers need to feel very comfortable eating Iowa eggs, eating Iowa turkey and certainly eating Iowa chicken meat as well.�
Export bans
Affecting rural economy
While there is still no agreement on the education state supplemental aid (allowable growth), each chamber of the Iowa Legislature has begun to craft its individual budgets, with the Senate Democrats at $7.341 billion and the House Republicans at $7.175 billion, creating a $166 million difference. Also, each chamber is expected to begin debating individual budget bills next week. Threats to property taxpayers continue to be a concern at the Capitol, as House Study Bill 240 was introduced this week. The bill would allow an additional $73 million of spending authority for school districts that would not be funded by the state. This
AVIAN FLU FROM PAGE 1
The Mexican government announced last week that it had halt-
The economic impact of the disease moves through the rural com-
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— a sticker that Mike Phelan designed himself. “We wanted to stand out from the competition,� Phelan says. “I’ve had numerous produce managers tell me that people seek out Iowa-grown items. They have a very loyal following.� The brothers, who farm near Berkley, were searching for an alternative crop to grow on their Century Farm to diversify their income. Mike said hydroponic greenhouse production appealed to them, in part, because his family could harvest a crop yearround. Indeed, the salad days of summer never end at Beaver Creek Produce. “It’s just amazing. Even on a cold winter day, if the sun is out at all, it just adds so much natural heat to the greenhouse,� says Mike Phelan, a Dallas County Farm Bureau member. Hydroponic greenhouses grow tomatoes, lettuce and other produce without soil. Instead, the plants are fed a steady trickle of nutrients through water that washes over their roots. The lettuce growing in the Beaver Creek Produce greenhouse looks like it’s planted in seamless gutters, with small flexible tubes pumping nutrient-rich water to the leafy greens.
Temperature vital To successfully grow lettuce in the middle of an Iowa winter, keeping the greenhouse at the right temperature is vital, Phelan says. The 12,600-foot-square greenhouse features in-floor heat that is set to 55 degrees, plus overhead propane heaters to provide supplemental heat when the outside temperatures drop below freezing. However, the greenhouse heats up fast on sunny days, even in January. A weather station at the top of the greenhouse monitors the temperature inside and outside. When the greenhouse starts to overheat, the climate-control system automatically turns on
the fans and rolls out a sunshade above the plants. The hydroponic system is also automated, delivering the proper amount of nutrients to the plants exactly when they need it to optimize growth. But there’s still a lot of handson work required to keep the greenhouse running smoothly. Phelan compares their greenhouse operation to a dairy farm, where you have to work seven days a week because the cows (or in this case, the plants) don’t take a vacation.
Harvest every day In order to grow lettuce on a continuous cycle, the Phelan family and their greenhouse staff, including two full-time and one part-time employee, plant seeds twice a week and harvest nearly every day. The lettuce, herbs and produce are packaged on site. Phelan delivers the produce personally to Hy-Vee stores in a climatecontrolled van, with license plates that read, “LETTUCE.� Phelan says he enjoys meeting the Hy-Vee produce managers and getting their feedback on what customers want. Last summer, Phelan decided to plant mint, just because he thought it looked neat in a seed catalog. When he told the produce managers about the mint, they all wanted it in their stores. Why? Because mint is a key ingredient in mojitos, a Cuban cocktail that’s all the rage among foodies. “We could hardly keep up (with demand) after that,� Phelan says. Beaver Creek Produce’s signature lettuce variety is butterhead, a dark-green lettuce that looks like a rosebud in greens. The butterhead lettuce is harvested and packaged with the roots still attached, so it lasts longer in the store and in customers’ fridges. The lettuce is sold in clamshell packaging instead of in bags and features a bright yellow-and-blue Beaver Creek Produce label. The farm is named after Beaver Creek, which runs through the property. The family also plans to offer onfarm sales of their lettuce, herbs and tomatoes this summer.
Threats to property taxpayers emerge additional spending authority would be replenished through the cash reserve levy and would be a potential property tax increase of $37 million dollars the first year and additional impacts in future years. As the Legislature continues to discuss school funding, it is important to remind legislators that creating new burdens for property taxpayers isn’t an acceptable solution. The House Appropriations Com mittee approved House File 650, the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF) budget, which includes a $5.35 million increase for the Water Quality Initiative (Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy) and $1.92
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ISSUE UPDATE million for the ag drainage wellclosure program. The proposed increase for the Water Quality Initiative is above the governor’s proposed $3.1 million increase, and the increase to the well closure program matches the governor’s proposed increase. Farm Bureau supports these proposed increases for water quality and soil conservation, which will now be considered by the entire House. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved Senate File 494, which includes $1.23 million for a three-year pilot project to quantify conservation structures and crop production practices to determine the impact on water quality. Farm Bureau supports this new proposed appropriation. The proposal to increase broadband availability across Iowa also passed the House and will be debated in the Senate. The bill includes a grant program as well as property tax incentives.
IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN APRIL 29, 2015
Editorial
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The buzz over seed treatments harming bees is off the mark turn to other methods of pest control, including sprays that may pose greater risks to honeybees. This is known as the law of unintended consequences — and we must always be sensitive to it, especially when we’re thinking about the environment.
BY DANIEL KELLEY
N
obody wants to hurt honeybees. Not only are they an important part of the environment, but as pollinators, they’re also essential to agriculture. I’ve heard that honeybees contribute to one out of every three bites of food that Americans take. As a farmer, I am constantly looking for the right tools to protect the crops I grow, the environment and bees. That’s why I was disappointed to read a recent warning from the Environmental Protection Agency that federal regulators probably won’t approve new varieties of a popular and important insecticide. The agency said it wants more time to gather data on how treatments of neonicotinoids — commonly known as “neonics” — affect honeybees. A few days later, Lowe’s, the chain of home improvement stores, said it would stop selling products that contain neonics. I use neonics on my farm in Illinois. They help me grow healthy soybean plants. Many other farmers rely on neonics for canola and corn. I strongly support responsible research into the effects of neonics and other products — but also urge caution. We should let science drive our regulatory decisions rather than politics, propaganda or fear. Despite the widespread use of neonics, honeybees are flourishing. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization counts nearly 81 million honeybee colonies around the world today. That’s up from less than 50 million in 1961 — an improvement of more than 60 percent.
Peddling “beepocalypse” Yet the media has peddled alarming stories of a “beepocalypse” — a crash in honeybee populations. The truth is that although the number of beehives in the Unites States has fallen since the 1970s, they’ve held steady over the last generation. There are about as many beehives today as there were in 1995. In other words, during the period in which neonics became
Spokesman Editor DIRCK STEIMEL News Coordinator TOM BLOCK Senior Features Writer TERESA BJORK Ag Commodities Writer BETHANY BARATTA Photographer/Writer GARY FANDEL
Better for bees
mainstream crop-protection products on U.S. farms, the overall bee population has remained stable. Over the last few years, in fact, it has ticked upward. Lots of factors affect honeybee populations, from the harshness of winters to the presence of diseases and parasites such as the varroa mite, which feast on bee larvae. Scientists also have investigated a mysterious phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder, which causes worker bees to vanish, leaving behind a queen and an empty hive. Its causes are poorly understood, though some research indicates that the mites may be to blame. Historical data suggest that honeybee populations suffered similar pressures in the 1880s, 1920s and the 1960s. They’ve always bounced back. Do neonics play a part in current trends? The best evidence
suggests that they do not. Honeybees face plenty of threats, but as the Competitive Enterprise Institute argues in a new report: “Pesticides are the least among these factors, and neonicotinoids the least among those, if they have any impact at all.” So what’s behind the fuss? Radical environmentalists stir up much of it, as a front in their unrelenting war on modern agriculture. Embedded in their concern is an irony: Honeybees aren’t even native to North America. They were imported from Europe centuries ago as agricultural commodities to assist with pollination. In another context, the activists might label them an “invasive species” and call for their eradication. What they fail to understand is that if farmers lose the neonic option, they’re going to have to
Neonics became popular in the 1990s in part because they’re less toxic to honeybees than insecticides. They also make economic and environmental sense: Applying neonics to seeds early in the growing season means farmers need fewer cropprotection sprays later on. Neonics are an excellent illustration of the old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Good farmers know that they can’t rely too heavily on any single method of crop protection. Neonics and other products must be parts of a larger strategy to fend off pests and weeds. The best approach is to let neonics remain an option for farmers who strive for economic and environmental sustainability, and not to react with haste or emotion as we work to grow as much food on as little land as possible. Kelley grows corn and soybeans on a family farm near Normal, Ill. This article appeared on the Truth About Trade & Technology website (www.truthabouttrade.org) and was used with permission.
State GMO labeling laws sowing confusion Vermont’s move to require mandatory labels on foods made with genetically modified crops, or GMOs, took another step forward last week when the state’s attorney general adopted regulations. The rules are supposed to provide more clarity, but they are just going to sow more confusion, notes the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food. That’s because the labels exempt so many foods and treat similar items very differently. “They are a honeycomb of carve-outs and exemptions that will do nothing but increase consumer uncertainty,” said Claire Parker, the coalition’s spokesperson.
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For example, she said, a can of vegetable soup will have to be labeled, but a can of vegetable soup with beef will be exempt from the labels. In addition, the rules exempt alcoholic beverages Iowa Farm Bureau Federation: Craig Hill, President; Joe Heinrich, Vice President; Denny Presnall, Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Director; Edward G. Parker, General Counsel. Board of Directors: District 1 - Carlton Kjos, Decorah. District 2 - Charlie Norris, Mason City. District 3 - Phil Sundblad, Albert City. District 4 - Doug Gronau, Vail. District 5 - Mark Buskohl, Grundy Center. District 6 - Nick Podhajsky, Traer. District 7 - Andrew Hora, Riverside. District 8 - Calvin Rozenboom, Oskaloosa. District 9 - Will Frazee, Emerson.
and all food sold in restaurants. Vermont’s labeling law, which is being challenged in court, “was designed to please anti-GMO special interest groups, not provide consumers with a workable, understandable labeling system,” Parker said. To prevent a patchwork of unworkable laws, it’s critical to pass the voluntary nationwide labeling measure introduced last month by Rep. Mike Pompeo of Kansas, Parker added. A patchwork of state labeling laws, which have no grounding in science, will only make grocery shoppers more uncertain, she said. “We need a national, uniform standard.”
Jiminy! Crickets can’t measure up against meat BY DIRCK STEIMEL Facts have a way of biting back up at activists, including the vegan anti-meat advocates we seem to hear a lot about these days. The anti-meat crowd has long promoted edible insects to supplement diets because veggies alone can’t deliver the nutrient-dense, protein-packed nutrition that meat does. They contend that eating insects (no matter how disgusting it seems to me and most other humans) can provide the required protein boost and would be better for the planet than consuming beef, pork, chicken or lamb. Insects, they say, are also more efficient converters of feed into body mass than livestock and can do that while cleaning up garbage. With that in mind, the antimeat crowd has often pinned its hopes on crickets, about the only insect that’s regularly eaten in some cultures. Some have even called crickets a “gateway bug” that get folks comfortable eating other insects, as well.
Crickets are crunched But those claims got crunched by a recent university study that shows crickets aren’t all they are cracked up to be when it comes to feed conversion and creating a reliable source of protein. In fact, the report by researchers at the University of California-Davis shows that the often-repeated claim that crickets are tremendous feed converters of feed into protein is actually pretty lame. The study showed that crickets fed a poultry diet converted feed no better than a chicken. And the eating garbage claim also turned out to be off the mark. The researchers found that insects given a diet of unprocessed food waste almost all died before they grew big enough for people to eat. That shoots a hole in the claim often raised by the “eat insects crowd” that crickets could serve the double role of providing protein and cleaning up food waste. On top of all of those findings, you’ve still got the biggest problem: persuading people to eat the creepy, crawly things. Good luck on that. The bottom line is that livestock production has always fit well with the environment. Animals efficiently convert forage and grains into food, and farmers are reducing their environmental footprint all the time. They are using feed and water more efficiently and capturing waste where it can be used to fertilize crops. And at the same time, they are producing high quality and delicious steaks, chops and other cuts. Just try doing that with a bug.
4 APRIL 29, 2015
IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN
Planting activity picked up late last week despite cool conditions, Kooiker said April 23. “We haven’t started, but as I sit here, I can see three planters going,” he said. “It would be nice to start planting, but it’s been kind of cold.” Temperatures dipped into the mid-20s last week, bringing soil temperatures below 50 degrees. Conditions have remained dry. He received two-tenths of an inch of rain the previous weekend.
“It feels like corn harvest weather as opposed to corn planting weather,” Pope said April 23. He was able to plant about 40 acres of corn before 2 inches of rain hit the area. Farmers have been able to apply their anhydrous and fertilizer, he said. Work continues in his drainage tile business, repairing existing tile as well as new installation. “I think as soon as it dries up and warms up everybody will be out.”
After getting a good start on corn planting the second week of April, rain and low temperatures knocked farmers out of the fields last week, Bader said. “It was 27 degrees when I got up this morning, so not a lot is going on now,” Bader noted on April 23. High winds helped to dry the surface of the fields, and unless it rains more, Bader figures most area farmers will be back in the fields planting this week.
Planting is off to a slow start after the area received 1.5 inches of rain April 18-19, Langbein said last week. “There are a couple guys that got some corn planted before the rain,” he said. Fields started to dry out by the end of the week, but most farmers were waiting to plant due to cool temperatures and more rain in the forecast. “We’ve had some pretty cold nights. The ground temperatures are going backwards.”
Peterson got a good start planting corn before 1.75 inches of rain fell in the area. Farmers were getting their fields sprayed before the next round of rain, he said April 23. “We’re waiting for the next system to move through and then I think it’ll be good for everyone (to plant),” he said. The rainy weather provided a chance for him and other farmers to do maintenance work on machinery, he said.
“We’ve not gotten started yet, but some guys have gone out to plant a few acres and test their equipment,” Prizler said April 23. Area farmers aren’t in too much of a hurry because the soil is still wet and cool, which could lead to disease and other problems. Many farmers are concentrating on finishing calving and getting pastures ready, Prizler said. “It’s really been one of our best calving seasons,” he said.
Field work was slowed after the area received anywhere from three-tenths to 3 inches of rain, Bentley said April 23. “Sunday was a miserable day. It was windy and drizzly all day. It wasn’t good for the cows and calves,” he said. “There were a few people starting to plant yesterday, and I think there will be quite a few more today.” Fertilizer applications and spraying also resumed where fields were dry enough, he said.
Recent rain provided good moisture for grass in pasture and oats seeded for hay, Brennecke said last week. Farmers had been planting corn before 1.5 inches of rain fell. “Pretty much all the field work has stopped,” she said. There was even patches of frost, she said April 23. “Planters are hooked on to tractors, and I see farmers with seed pods going down the road, but they’re waiting for the weather to cooperate.”
“We’ve kind of got every extreme from barely started to almost finished here on corn planting,” Rinner said. However, he said rains and cool soil temperatures kept farmers out of the fields most of last week. Most farmers spent the week doing other work, like fixing fences, waiting for better planting conditions, Rinner said. “When it finally warms up, people are going to put the hammer down,” he said.
Minimize risk by understanding the nitrogen cycle BY NATE PIERCE Spring planting is a time of optimism and hopefulness for a bountiful crop to come this fall. Every farmer knows there will be challenges and it will take a little luck to make this crop one of the “best crops” ever. In the case PIERCE of growing corn, nitrogen can be one of those challenges. It is essential in growing corn, and if it is limited, it can have dramatic effects on yield. Nitrogen is a challenging nutrient to manage due to its mobility and volatility in the soil. That is why understanding the nitrogen cycle is important. Basic understanding of the terms and how nitrogen behaves will help farmers manage the risk of limiting, or having excess, nitrogen throughout the growing season.
Complex system Nitrogen has a cycle. It can be in many different forms, from a gas to a solid and from immobile to mobile, much like the cycle water goes through. From atmospheric to soil interaction, the nitrogen cycle is a complex system that involves chemistry, physics and
CROPS TODAY
biology to complete and restart the cycle. The transitions in nitrogen forms, within the nitrogen cycle, are important to understand. It is at the transition points of the cycle where we can limit, or accelerate, nitrogen change within the nitrogen cycle. Two key transition points in the nitrogen cycle are mineralization and nitrification.
Mineralization Mineralization is the transition from nitrogen in organic matter and residues into mineral forms utilized by the plants for growth. Mineralization occurs in the soil and is controlled by temperature, moisture and soil microbial activity. Mineralization is naturally occurring in soil, which makes it very difficult to manage. Understanding the possible mineralization rate of a soil can be important in determining a nitrogen rate for a crop. The challenge is the unpredictability of the mineralization rate within each soil type. The only real way to measure mineralization of nitrogen is
to utilize a soil test, like N-Watch, which measures plant available ammonium and nitrate.
Nitrification Nitrification is the conversion of ammonium (NH4+) to nitrate (NO3-). This is an important step in the nitrogen cycle because this is where nitrogen goes from being immobile in the soil to mobile. The positive charge of ammonium (NH4+) binds the nitrogen molecule to the soil while still being available to the plant. The negative charge of NO3- repels the nitrogen from the soil, therefore becoming mobile in the soil and moving with water. It is the nitrification process
that is slowed when nitrogen stabilizers are used with anhydrous ammonia and other forms of nitrogen fertilizer. Mineralized nitrogen in the soil cannot be stabilized and therefore is subject to nitrification. Understanding the nitro gen cycle will help you manage nitrogen as a system, rather than an application, on your farm. Mineralization and nitrification are just two naturally occurring steps in the cycle. In future articles, I will talk about the additional steps in the nitrogen cycle. Pierce is Growmark’s crop protection territory manager. His email address is npierce@growmark.com.
House, Senate committees advance trade legislation The bill to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) cleared a pair of hurdles last week, passing two key committees in the House and the Senate. The bill will now move to the floors of both chambers, where a tough battle is predicted from labor unions and others. The TPA bill was approved by the Senate Finance Committee. Then later in the week, it cleared the House Ways and Means Committee. Agriculture groups applauded
the progress of the TPA measure, which is considered a necessity for passage of the expansive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. The trade deal would link the United States into a free trade agreement with 11 other countries, including Japan, Australia, Vietnam and Mexico. That agreement has been negotiated over several years and could be finalized in 2015. “This legislation is critical to making progress on pending negotiations and prom-
ises to expand opportunities for increased U.S. agricultural exports,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said. The bill to renew TPA, which is supported by congressional leaders and President Barack Obama, would provide Congress the opportunity to consider a trade deal as negotiated with an up or down vote, but not to amend it. Congress has granted TPA to presidents for decades, going back to the World War II era, as a way to smooth the path to trade
agreements that open markets, reduce tariffs and expand overall economic development. Obama last week came out swinging against labor unions and other opponents of TPA, who claim it would hurt working families. “When people say that this trade deal is bad for working families, they don’t know what they’re talking about,” Obama said. “I take that personally. My entire presidency has been about helping working families.
IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN APRIL 29, 2015 5
Corn yield champ offers tips for raising more bushels tor the risk of pests and diseases, Dowdy said.
SHOP & FIELD BY TOM BLOCK Not every field is going to be a national yield contest winner, but useful information can be gleaned from high-yield efforts, according to national corn yield champion Randy Dowdy. The Georgia farmer harvested a record 503 bushels per acre last year to take top honors in the National Corn Growers Association National Corn Yield Contest. “A lot of people think 500 bushels isn’t doable because they haven’t seen it done,� said Dowdy, who farms 1,700 acres of corn, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. “Now that I’ve seen it done, I want to replicate it.� The contest entry was admit-
tedly a high-input effort on an irrigated field with a seeding rate of 52,000 plants per acre in 36-inch twin rows, Dowdy said. He said he finds twin rows beneficial in highpopulation environments because they provide more space for plants to access sunlight and nutrients.
Minimize stress Dowdy said he put about $1,300 per acre into the contestwinning entry, but the bin-busting yield lowered the cost per bushel to a manageable $2.63. “It’s hard to save your way to prosperity,� he said. “I try to do everything it takes to understand what stress is and prevent it.� That means looking at soil types and weed pressure and keeping a keen eye on the weather not only for rainfall but also to moni-
Uniform emergence Attaining high yields starts with getting your planter set up to put seeds in the ground at a precise depth and spacing, Dowdy said. “You want every plant coming up evenly spaced, but more importantly, you want them to come up uniformly,� he said. “We had perfectly even emergence. Every seed came up with even emergence.� He uses starter fertilizer with a 2x2 placement system, but mounts the openers on the planter tool bar instead of the row units so the added weight doesn’t affect seed depth. Dowdy’s high-yield entry becomes more labor-intensive as plants are growing. He pulls weekly tissue samples from the time plants reach 300 growing degree units (GDUs) up to 2,400 GDUs and supplements fertilizer based on those samples. He spoon feeds the crop with nitrogen as necessary, applying 40 to 50 pounds at a time.
IFBF awards $170,000 in scholarships The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) has awarded $1,000 scholarships for tuition to 170 students who plan to study agriculture at their chosen colleges and universities. In addition, Micaela Bryant of Lee County was named the recipient of the Daniel Johnson Memorial Scholarship, a one-time $500 award for a student from one of 11 counties in southeast Iowa: Keokuk, Washington, Louisa, Muscatine, Wapello, Jefferson, Henry, Des Moines, Davis, Van Buren and Lee. The scholarship is awarded in honor of the late Daniel Johnson, a former Iowa Farm Bureau director, farmer, volunteer firefighter and school board president. Nathan Yeager of Wapello County was named the recipient of the Edward W. and Isabelle M. Klodt Memorial Scholarship, a one-time $500 award for a Wapello County student pursuing a degree in agriculture. The Klodts were community leaders, progressive farmers and conservationists focused on the future and improving their farm and community. The memorial scholarship embodies the values that Ed and Isabelle represented: leadership,
hard work, dedication to others and a belief in higher education. “These scholarships help students pursue their dreams, and so many of those career aspirations include agriculture or support jobs in rural communities. We’re honored to assist these future leaders get a start in their academic pursuits and help them with their educational goals,� said IFBF Community Resources Director Barb Lykins. First-time Farm Bureau scholarship recipients include 54 graduating high school seniors or students currently enrolled in their chosen college or university. Students are eligible to renew the scholarships for up to four years by maintaining a minimum grade point average of 2.5 and by being
a student in good standing with the college or university. Six recipients were selected from each of the nine IFBF districts. Scholarships were awarded to children of Farm Bureau members who plan to or currently attend an accredited college, university or community college to earn two- or four-year degrees. First-time applicants were asked to write an essay indicating the contributions they expect to make to agriculture and the rural community. They also were selected based on their academic achievement, financial need, community and extracurricular involvement and letters of recommendation. Names of first-time scholarship winners will be published in the Spokesman next month.
“We’re pulling tissue samples to find out how good of job we’ve done and what we need to fix,� he said. “That’s my last chance to correct anything that might be deficient.� Measuring the crop by GDUs rather than height or date allows him to make accurate year-toyear comparisons regarding plant development and fertilizer needs, Dowdy noted. The tissue samples are important because by the time plants show visible stress, yields have already been clipped, Dowdy said. “We try to be proactive, not reactive,� he said.
Building organic matter He works to build his soil organic matter with second-crop
peas and cover crops, keeping roots in the ground year-round. His per-bushel nitrogen rates have decreased over time from 1.2 pounds per bushel of yield to 0.9 pounds per bushel, and the intensive tissue sampling allows him to place nutrients where they will have the most benefits. “Not every field is treated the same. We make every decision based on plant stands,� Dowdy said, encouraging fellow corn growers to take a hard look at every decision they make. “If you’re getting 225 bushel corn, chances are there is something you could do to improve management,� he said. “Anything you do, make sure it’s paying dividends. Take it across the field to make sure it’s real.�
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Accurate planting lays the foundation for high yields, says national corn yield champion Randy Dowdy, a Georgia farmer who harvested a record-breaking 503 bushels per acre to win the 2014 National Corn Growers Association national yield contest. PHOTO/TOM BLOCK
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Inventory shows more cattle in U.S. feedlots
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here are more cattle in U.S. feedlots than one year ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its report last week. Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.8 million head on April 1, the report said. The inventory was up from 10.7 million in March and slightly above the April 1, 2014, inventory. There were 670,000 cattle and calves on feed in Iowa feedlots as of April 1, the USDA said. This was up 10,000 head from the March report. Placements in U.S. feedlots during March totaled 1.81 million head, slightly above 2014. There were 90,000 head placed in Iowa feedlots during March, the report said. This was up from 85,000 last month and 71,000 head a year ago. Marketings of U.S. fed cattle during March totaled 1.63 million, 2 percent below 2014. March marketings were the lowest since the series began in 1996. There were 79,000 head marketed from Iowa feedlots during March, the report said. This was up from 74,000 during February.
Pork market forecast The impact of the porcine
epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) continues to be the key driver of U.S. pork supplies and market dialogues, Rabobank said in its quarterly report last week. There have been fewer cases of PEDV this year, and Rabobank estimates U.S. hog slaughter increased 4 percent over last year’s levels through March. Increased slaughter, combined with a 1 percent increase in weights, meant a 5 percent increase in supply, the report said. The USDA’s March 1 market hog inventory was 7.2 percent above 2014 levels. Rabobank expects the inventory to drive a 5 percent increase in 2015 hog slaughter. Rabobank analysts expect weights to drop below 2014 levels this summer. U.S. pork exports declined 25 percent in January, driven by fewer shipments to Japan and Southeast Asia as a result of West Coast port
shutdowns. Pork exports have also been adversely affected by the strong U.S. dollar. Hog futures have declined by 40 percent.
Ukraine backs off corn Ukraine’s planted corn acres are likely to shrink by nearly 8 percent this year to nearly 9.8 million acres, the agriculture ministry said last week. Analysts and traders said a lack of funds are forcing farmers to switch from planting corn to oilseeds. The UkrAgroConsult firm said farmers are likely to increase sunflower seed planting. The firm said sunflower seed harvest is likely to harvest 10.7 million tons this year, up from 10.5 million tons last year, due to a larger growing area.
March totaled 16.9 billion pounds, up 1.1 percent from March 2014, the USDA said in a report last week. Cows in Iowa produced 408 million pounds of milk in March, up 3.6 percent from 394 million pounds during March 2014.
Avian flu spreading Minnesota and Wisconsin last week declared states of emergency after the avian flu forced farmers to euthanize poultry on their farms. More than 2 million birds have been euthanized in Minnesota after the disease was confirmed on more than 30 farms, according to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). More than 320,000
Tractor sales down The sale of all tractors in the United States for March 2015 was down 9 percent from last year, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturer’s monthly report. A total of 15,837 tractors were sold in March, down from 17,475 sold through March 2014, the report said. Combine sales were down 57 percent in March. Sales of combines for the first three months totaled 1,003, a decrease of 45 percent over the same period in 2014.
Milk production higher Milk production in the 23 major milk-producing states during
Cattle - National 5 Area Confirmed Sales 42,900 3,253 4,061 5 Area 65-80% Choice Steers: Wtd Avg. $160.02 NA $147.16 Average Weights (Estimate) Cattle 1346 1354 1315 Boxed Beef Choice 600-750 (5 day avg.) $256.99 $250.80 $232.83 Boxed Beef Select 600-750 (5 day avg.) $247.62 $246.71 $221.64 Five Day Average Hide and Offal Value $13.77 $14.63 $15.86 Cattle - Interior Iowa – Minnesota Supply: 6,894 2,881 3,415 Average Price Choice Steer: Live Basis $158.69 $163.97 $147.16 Average Price Choice Steer: Dressed Basis $250.47 NA NA Feeder Steers at River Markets (Neb. Feedlots) #1 Muscle Thickness 500-600# $275.65 $280.85 $229.76 #1 Muscle Thickness 700-800# $233.14 $225.06 $188.00 Hogs -- Interior Iowa – Minnesota ISM Friday Weighted Average Carcass Price $64.75 $55.91 $111.88 Average Weights (Estimate) Hogs 283.5 284.2 286.4 Sows 1-3 300# and up: Average Price $30.27 $35.92 $93.23 Pork Loins 1/4” trimmed 13 - 19 pound $102.09 $98.66 $145.80 51-52% 200 pound Pork Carcass (5 day avg.) $67.83 $66.49 $116.27 Feeder Pigs: National Direct Delivered Feeder Pigs 10 Pounds Basis - Wtd Avg. $37.14 $32.46 $80.10 Feeder Pigs 40 Pounds Basis -- Wtd Avg. $66.02 $65.61 $129.14 Sheep -- National Slaughter Lambs Negotiated Sales 5,900 5,100 5,700 Choice & Prime Wooled and Shorn 130 -150 lbs $147.00 NA No Test Iowa Large Eggs (cents per dozen) $0.84 $1.50 $0.92 Young Hen Turkeys: 8 -16# -- Eastern (cents/lb) 107.25 98.50 105.11 *Iowa Ethanol Prices $/gal $1.53 $1.40 $2.40 Futures: Corn $3.64 $3.91 $5.07 State Average Cash Corn Price $3.49 $3.72 $4.82 Basis -$0.15 -$0.19 -$0.25 Futures: Soybean $9.70 $9.67 $14.98 State Average Cash Soybean Price $9.33 $9.25 $14.59 Basis: -$0.37 -$0.42 -$0.39 Slaughter Under Federal Inspection Estimates Estimates Actuals Hogs: 2,135,000 2,155,000 1,928,000 Cattle: 540,000 514,000 571,000 Sheep: 39,000 46,000 39,000 Estimated Numbers through Saturday Cash Corn and Soybean prices are the Iowa Average Prices as reported by IDALS. NA-No report at time of publication. ***Confidentiality of data prohibits publication of this report under Livestock Mandatory Reporting. The report will be published when and if enough data is aggregated to meet the 3/70/20 guideline.*** Source: USDA Livestock and Grain Market News
birds have been euthanized on at least three farms in Wisconsin, according to the USDA’s APHIS database.
PEDV likely to persist While U.S. pig farmers have been successful in managing cases of PEDV, eradication of the virus in the United States is a ways off, Tom Burkgren, executive director of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians told The Pig Site. “I think we’ve got a lot of veterinarians, producers with enough experience to know how to get the virus out of the system, but when you start talking either regional or national eradication, that’s a much different effort and level of resources needed.”
CME Class III Milk Futures Closing prices April 24, 2015
April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 Block Cheese Barrel Cheese Butter NFDM Grade A
$15.80 $16.71 $16.95 $17.18
$15.80 $15.99 $16.00 $16.36
$1.6100 $1.6200 $1.8300 $0.9300
August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015
$17.41 $16.85 $17.45 $17.16 $17.40 $17.25 $17.35 $17.26
Apr. Class III Apr. Class IV
$15.80 $13.64
Iowa Hay Auctions , large squares, premium, $220-230; good, $125-177.50; fair, $65-110; utility, $50-70; large rounds, good, $130-180; fair, $80-1200; utility, $57.50-85. , large rounds, good, $67.50; fair, $42.50. , large squares, good, $177.50; large rounds, good, $100-145. , large rounds, good, $67.50-140. , large squares, good, $25-40. , large rounds, good, $29. : small squares, 1st crop, $50-140; 2nd crop, $165-240; 3rd crop, $165-220; large squares, 1st crop, $115-125; 2nd crop, $105-165; 3rd crop, $85-210; 4th crop, $120-135; large rounds, 1st crop, $45-145; 2nd crop, $45-150; 3rd crop, $135-155. : large rounds, $95-120. , small squares, premium, $6.50-7; good, $4.50; large squares, premium, $55; good, $50; large rounds, premium, $95; good, $70.
, small squares, premium, $4.50; good, $3.50; fair, $2; large rounds, premium, $50; good, $45; large squares, good, $50; fair, $40. , large squares, $35; small squares, $4.50.
, large squares, supreme, $160-170; premium, $150-155; fair, $110-115; large rounds, premium, $135-142.50; fair, $105110. , small squares, good, $125; large squares, premium, $135-140; good, $125; fair, $100; large rounds, good, $115-120; fair, $90-105; utility, $50-80. large rounds, $82.50-95. large rounds, $37.50-47.50.
, large rounds, $30-57.50; large squares, $47.50-62.50. : large rounds, $35-42.50.
IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN
Soybeans expected to meet export target
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arring any cancellations on the Thursday sales report, U.S. exporters will match the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) export target this week. Shipments have remained strong and are left still with 18 weeks in the current marketing year to catch up with the record sales achievement. Corn sales are pacing well despite the headwind of a stronger dollar. Last week’s 34 million bushels in new sales commitments were more than double the average needed to match the USDA’s current estimate for exports in the 2014/15 crop year. Wheat runs on a different marketing year calendar that ends in just five weeks. The United States has been outpriced by cheap supplies abroad, so sales have been sluggish.
APRIL 29, 2015
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Cash Strategist Hotline: 1-309-557-2274 Daily Nearby Continuous Corn with 50-day moving average
2014 CROP: Old-crop con-
Corn futures have held up against selling pressure that pits prices against important contract lows. Upside potential will depend on nearby futures keeping support from $3.67. If successful, that achievement would keep the 20- and 40-week cycle lows intact.
cerns are still having a disproportionate influence on grain prices. The new-crop contracts can soon begin to take the lead and allow better opportunities for catching up on the 2014 crop.
$3.98 1/2
$3.65 3/4 Cycle Lows 20-week 40-week
2015 CROP: The long-term outlook calls for higher prices due to lower yields on fewer acres. FUNDAMENTALS: Big 2014 crop inventories still weigh on the market. Consumption is having slight troubles making pace with the USDA’s current usage estimates, and analysts are looking for future additions to carry out. Row-crop planting season is here, so weather is stealing some of the
$4 is the initial upside target. Failure to hold above the bottom end of the 2015 range knocks futures back for a test of $3.50.
focus. Corn sowings are off to a fairly decent start, and the forecast for the rest of April calls for generally favorable conditions. Wet conditions in the south and cool soil temperatures across the Corn Belt are cause for some slight concern. The National Weather Service’s 90-day forecast does not currently call for any anomalies that would
Basis Chicago Futures
lead to temperature or precipitation extremes.
Daily Nearby Continuous Soybeans with 50-day moving average Soybeans are still chopping around in a tightly-bound trade. Prices have not been able to breakout from the intermediate downtrend and are threatening to test last fall's low. If futures can capitalize on last week's momentum, soybeans can work toward resistance at $10.
2014 CROP: Soybean prices are data - USDA/FAS & AgriVisor
holding up well against the bearish news of big South American crops. Strong demand is being sustained, and support from the cash market this spring looks likely.
2015 CROP: Even better demand is expected for the next crop and will help to offset expected supply gains. data - USDA/FAS & AgriVisor
FUNDAMENTALS: Despite producers in South America harvesting record soybean crops, there is a lack of pressure on U.S. prices. Renewed chatter about truckers striking in Brazil provides some support to the market, although the export pipeline there is stocked
Cycle Lows 16- 18-week 3-year
with enough inventories to weather any related disruptions for a while. U.S. exports are performing well with total sales very close to the USDA’s current target for the marketing year. U.S. processors are coming off a seasonal crush record in March and look to continue satisfying strong domestic demand. Ending stocks estimates for 2014/15 should continue to
Basis Chicago Futures
shrink, taking a bite out of the high early predictions for 2015/16 supply.
Iowa Corn & Soybean Basis : data - USDA/FAS & AgriVisor
Cash Strategist Positions CORN
2014
3-10-14 — 10% sold @ $4.82
2015 100% unsold
3-10-14 — 15% sold @ $4.78 3-31-14 — 10% sold @ $4.95 11-20-14 — 15% sold at $3.78 50% unsold
BEANS
2014
2015
12-23-13 — 10% sold @ $11.72 12-31-13 — 10% sold @ $11.35 2-18-14 — 10% sold @ $11.38 3-3-14
5-27-14 — 15% sold @ $12.07 85% unsold
— 10% sold @ $11.72
5-12-14 — 10% sold @ $12.23 6-2-14
— 10% sold @ $12.24 40% unsold
Iowa Farm Bureau members have free 24/7 access to AgriVisor daily updates through the Members portion of the IFBF website: www. iowafarmbureau.com. The AgriVisor link is on the homepage under the Daily Market chart.
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NC
NE
NW
NC
NE
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Neither AgriVisor LLC nor the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is liable for any damages that anyone may sustain by reason of inaccuracy or inadequacy of information provided herein, any error of judgment involving any projections, recommendation or advice or any other act of omission. This publication is owned by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation with advice provided by and copyrighted by AgriVisor Services LLC, 1701 Towanda Avenue, Bloomington, Ill., 61701. No reproduction of any material in whole or in part of this page may be made without written consent.
ADM to use drones to get crop insurance claims data Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) plans to use drones to gather data on crop insurance claims as soon as the summer of 2016, its risk services head told Reuters last week. ADM’s Crop Risk Services (CRS) Inc. received clearance to use drones earlier this month from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which currently bans their commercial use, and will begin testing the technology in the U.S. Midwest this year. The unmanned aircraft can gather data about crop damage from hail, wind, flooding and drought and automatically upload the information to the company’s claims software, Greg Mills, president of ADM CRS, said. The company is one of a num-
ber of businesses with agriculture connections, including Monsanto’s Climate Corp. and Trimble Navigation, that have received exemptions to the FAA’s ban on commercial use. The FAA proposed rules on commercial drones in February that limit their use, but final regulations may not be in place for two years. Mills said cost savings from using the drones were likely to be “significant” for ADM CRS, but declined to give a detailed estimate. “I think it will create some general efficiencies and some specific efficiencies for claims,” Mills told Reuters, adding the company already owns two drones and has contracted for another two. The FAA exemption allows ADM CRS to use only Phantom
2 Vision quadcopters. ADM CRS would need further FAA approval to fly different aircraft. Drones can be deployed to find and assess multiple areas of crop damage over a broad area. Currently, claims adjusters often have to physically walk out into a field to measure the extent of crop damage, Mills said. “The goal is to test the savings to the business in the Midwest and then potentially release nodes of equipment by next spring to be used for the summer of 2016 for use in a larger area,” he said. The FAA exemption allows ADM CRS to fly its drones only within 400 feet of the ground and within sight of the operator. Pilots must also have a farmer’s permission to fly over their land.
8
APRIL 29, 2015
IOWA FARM BUREAU SPOKESMAN
Learning, helping and having fun at FFA
FFA members from all over Iowa gathered last week to learn, do good works and have fun at the organization’s annual Leadership Conference in Ames. Top left, FFA members from Anamosa prepare food packages for Meals from the Heartland. Top right, Marissa Pham and Dalton Peterson of Sibley-Ocheyedan perform. Bottom left, Katie De Weerd of Orange City performs a song from the musical Wicked. Bottom right, Iowa State University’s Andy Zehr visits with Kossuth County students. PHOTOS/GARY FANDEL
Van Steenwyk joins IFBF to lead Take Root program Amanda Van Steenwyk has joined the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) staff as farm business development manager. One of Van Steenwyk’s primary roles will be leading IFBF’s Take Root program. IFBF established Take Root in 2013 to help farm families work through a step-by-step process of d eve l o p i n g a vision for their operations and VAN STEENWYK a managed approach to farm growth and succession planning. The program consists of a series of workshops that cover various aspects of farm family business planning, along with a one-on-one follow-up for families interested in developing plans to fit their specific needs. In its first year, Take Root helped over 1,000 Iowa Farm
Bureau member families with two dozen workshops in eight locations. There were more than 1,700 attendees at the various Take Root workshops. Van Steenwyk said she’s excited about leading the Take Root program. “I really enjoy working directly with producers. From my experience in agriculture banking, I know how important it is for families to develop a plan for farm growth and succession,” she said.
Audubon County native Van Steenwyk grew up on a farm in Audubon County and is a graduate of Iowa State University. Prior to joining Farm Bureau, she worked for Ames-based AgCareers.com, an employment website for agriculture-based businesses, and earlier was a loan officer for MidWestOne Bank in Sigourney. Van Steenwyk also serves as a paralegal specialist with the Iowa National Guard. Van Steenwyk and her husband, Seth, live in Slater.