Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative Releases 2023 Results, Provides Update On Collaboration with Heartland Co-op’s Conservation Drainage Program
Contact: Erica Lydolph, Project Coordinator, 641-799-8638, covercrops
agribiz
org (covercropsagribizorg)
DES MOINES – In 2023, nearly $464,000 in financial assistance was provided to farmers through the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative for cost share associated with cover crop conservation practices through the Water Quality Initiative (WQI). The Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative is a project developed by the Iowa Seed Association with the Agribusiness Association of Iowa, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, and Iowa Corn. “Cover crop utilization in a seed corn production system offers a unique opportunity for earlier establishment to further increase soil conservation efforts and protect water quality,” said Iowa Seed Association’s Board of Directors President Jeff Steinback. In 2023, 137 growers received finance assistance, covering over 32,000 acres, saving almost 97,000 tons of soil, and spending an estimated $1.15 million of their own money to implement cover crops.
Partnerships with eight seed companies, representing the majority of seed corn production in Iowa, provide cost share, technical assistance, outreach, and education dedicated to seed corn growers. Funding incentives available to seed corn growers are $15 per acre for winter-hardy and $10 per acre for winterkill cover crops. An additional $5 per acre incentive is available for first-time cover crop users. Financial assistance provided by the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative is stackable with private funds, such as the Practical Farmers of Iowa.
In 2023, the Iowa Seed Association collaborated with Heartland Co-op for dedicated outreach and technical assistance for edge-of-field water quality practices that were not invasive to field operations. The Iowa Seed Association’s $10,000 contribution, along with additional contributions from Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance, BASF, Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council, and Syngenta, supported forty saturated buffers and sixteen bioreactors to be released for bidding this spring in the Big Creek and Lower Cedar River watersheds. According to William Hoffman, a Conservation Agronomist for Heartland Co-op, these structures will drain a total of 3,486 acres and remove an average of 41,831 pounds of nitrogen annually. Identification of potential sites was completed by Hoffman and other Conservation Agronomists from Heartland Co-op, who reached out to landowners and surveyed sites for engineering. By connecting growers with technical and cost share information on these practices, increased knowledge and awareness of these practices can further understanding of conservation practices and facilitate accelerated implementation.
The Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crops Initiative helps increase adoption of cover crops specifically within the seed corn production system in Iowa. The focus on seed corn is driven by the unique opportunity that seed corn provides due to the earlier harvest, thereby providing better timing opportunities for establishing cover crops in the late summer and early fall after harvest. Cost share applications for planting cover crops on seed corn acres this coming fall are currently being accepted. Visit www.sustainableseedcorn.org for more information.
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A printable version of this press release can be found here:
Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative Results and Collaboration
Pesticide applicators and licensed businesses have a new way to apply for their certification, pay fees, and check on their status. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has launched a self-service portal for pesticide applicators meant to streamline the certification process.
First-time users will need to register to use the online site. Once registered, users can check on their status, pay fees, and retrieve certification numbers. The site also works for licensed businesses and private applicators.
Additionally, for new applicators who will be working for a licensed business under the supervision of a certified applicator and need to take the private applicator test as the workaround during the COVID-19 pandemic, registration, and payment of fees can be done directly from the portal. A successfully completed test immediately provides a certified applicator number.
The self-service portal uses each pesticide applicator’s unique certification number to match their application and payment to their training and testing history.
To apply for a new or renew an existing pesticide applicator license, individuals will use their certification number to log-in to the self-service portal. The licensee can submit their application, test results, and payment online.
Once in-person testing resumes, proctored test locations will use each applicator’s unique certification number when uploading the test results to the self-service portal. The portal will link the user’s training and testing information to the application and payment records stored in the online system.
Once the application, payment, training, and testing information are received, the licenses and certifications will be processed and sent directly to the applicant.
By moving the process online, individual pesticide applicators can access their records anytime by logging into the self-service portal. The system also has a public search function that empowers customers and employers to verify that their pesticide applicators are licensed to work in the state of Iowa.
Questions about the self-service site can be directed to the Pesticide Bureau via email pesticidesiowaagriculturegov (pesticidesiowaagriculturegov) .
Pesticide applicators can now know in near real-time where seed field workers are active.
Those registered with the FieldWatch system through the state of Iowa as an applicator now have access to SeedFieldCheck reporting which shows where field workers are currently active and where seed companies plan to have active workers in the following 24 hours.
The new functionality is integrated into the existing FieldWatch crop and apiary registry and will help seed companies more effectively communicate the location and presence of seed field workers to pesticide applicators. The information will be available in near real-time allowing seed companies the ability to make edits and update plans quickly and replace the endless circulation of emails and paper or electronic maps to targeted applicators.
With the addition of seed field workers to the FieldWatch system, the state of Iowa has a “one-stop-shop” for applicators to find information about sensitive crops, apiaries, and seed field workers.
SeedFieldCheck is a pilot project launched in the state of Iowa by the Iowa Seed Association, Iowa Agricultural Aviation Association, and FieldWatch®
More information about the pilot program:
Companies and pesticide applicators who are currently registered with FieldWatch will need to specifically add the SeedFieldCheck capability. This will allow a full report of sensitive crops, apiaries, and active field workers to registered users.
Companies currently participating in reporting field workers include Bayer, Becks, Corteva, Remington, and Syngenta.
For questions, please contact Joan O’Brien at 515-262-8323 or via email joanoagribizorg (joanoagribizorg) . Thank You.
Governor Reynolds extended the end date of the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration to April 30, 2020. As part of that decision, additional declaration language was added regarding commercial pesticide applicators who are not currently certified.
The declaration provides an opportunity for companies to hire new applicators during the Emergency Declaration period using the private applicator exam. See the full press release from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for details.
The association has been working diligently with Governor Reynolds and Secretary Naig on the commercial pesticide applicator certification issue.
We would like to thank the Governor and Secretary for their leadership in providing a solution in these difficult circumstances and continuing to recognize it is in the vital interest of the state and the country that the food production system in the United States remains as uninterrupted as possible.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created delays in processing and mailing pesticide applicator cards and certifications. Applicators can view the status of their certifications on the Department’s public search portal.
For more information, contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Pesticide Bureau at pesticidesiowaagriculturegov (pesticidesiowaagriculturegov) or 515-281-8591.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Iowa State Fairgrounds
Varied Industries Building
9:00 – 9:20
Iowa Seed Annual Meeting and Honorary Member Award
9:20 – 9:35
John Latham, Latham Hi-Tech Seed
ASTA Update
9:35-10:05
Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig, IDALS
Iowa Update
10:05 – 10:35
Dave Tierney, Bayer CropScience
Addressing Iowa legislative/issues update and glyphosate update
10:35-11:05
Stephanie Regagnon, FieldWatch CEO
2020 Overview
11:05 – 11:45
Dr. Chad Hart, ISU
Economics
Lunch and scholarship recognition to follow forum, view conference information at www.iowaseed.org
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Veenker Memorial Golf Course
Ames, Iowa
Download Registration Form Here (PDF)
Instructions: Attendees visiting the Seed Science Center are asked to park at the Memorial Union on Lincoln Way and walk to the Seed Science Center.
It’s a 10 to 15-minute walk from the parking lot. Please arrive early to park and attend the session on time. Google maps walking directions from the parking lot: https://goo.gl/maps/qJYvZSMpxP11VVZs9
9:00 AM Check-in | ISU Seed Center, coffee and refreshments
9:15 AM
Dr. Chad Hart, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics
Topic: The latest on tariff and trade issues with QA session
10:15 AM
Dr. Kan Wang, Professor Plant Biotechnology, Co-Director Crop Bioengineering Center
Topic: The CRISPR Technology with QA session
11:00 AM* Check-in for golfers who did not attend morning sessions (*at Golf Course)
11:15 AM Tour of Seed Lab (optional) and depart for luncheon at Veenker Clubhouse
11:30 AM Luncheon at clubhouse
12:00 PM Golf Shotgun Start
From Memorial Union parking to Veenker Clubhouse https://goo.gl/maps/R72B8myuFUZgNsAK6
Memorial Union, ISU Campus, 2229 Lincoln
Way, Ames, IA 50012
Seed Science Center, 2115 Osborn
Drive, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011
Veenker Memorial Golf Course, 2916,
Veenker Dr, Ames, IA 50011
Joan O’Brien, Iowa Seed
Association Office
joanoagribizorg (joanoagribizorg) or 515-262-8323\
Download Registration Form Here (PDF)
Email: JoanOagribizorg
Mail: Iowa Seed Association 900 Des Moines St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Chuck Cornelius, Cornelius Seed
Des Moines, IA – The Iowa Seed Association (ISA) named Chuck Cornelius of Bellevue, Iowa, as 2019 Board President during the 2019 ISA annual meeting in Des Moines. The full 2019 board was confirmed and announced on February 13. The association also held the annual Iowa Seed Forum prior to the annual meeting.
Cornelius is currently the President and Production Manager of Cornelius Seed Company in Bellevue, Iowa. Chuck joined the family business after graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in Agronomy, extending the company’s family-owned heritage to the 5th generation.
Also rising in the ranks of the ISA board is Chris Latham of Latham Hi-Tech Seeds, named 1st Vice President and Randy Ramundt of Bayer CropScience, named 2nd Vice President. 2018 ISA President Jim Webster of Corteva Agriscience moved to Past President and will help on the board for one final year.
Each seat on the ISA serves a three-year term until the term either expires or the board member is nominated to the leadership track to become board president. Newly added to the board of directors include Brooke Achenbach of Syngenta and Terry Garner of BASF. Both Achenbach and Garner will serve on the ISA board until 2022.
Full board contact information can be accessed here https://iowaseed.org/board-of-directors/
Brooke Achenbach, Syngenta
Adam Anderson, Corteva Agriscience
Jim Anderson, Remington Seeds, LLC
Jeremiah Andorf, Bayer CropsScience
Chuck Cornelius, Cornelius Seed Company – 2019 President
Terry Garner, BASF
Chris Latham, Latham Hi-Tech Seeds – 1st Vice President
Randy Ramundt, Bayer CropScience – 2nd Vice President
Jim Rouse, Iowa Crop Improvement Association
Tom Severson, Agvantage FS
Jim Webster, Corteva Agriscience – Past President
Dr. Manjit Misra, Iowa Seed Science Center Director – Appointed
The Iowa Seed Association strives to promote the seed industry, research pertaining to the betterment of agriculture, and to cooperate with educational and regulatory authorities in the development of a sound and effective seed program for the advancement of agriculture.
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An Iowa State University professor is the recipient of the 2019 Iowa Seed Association (ISA) Honorary Membership Award. Dr. Susana Goggi, Professor of Agronomy, has dedicated her life to addressing major seed quality issues confronting the seed industry in Iowa and globally.
“Dr. Goggi has demonstrated great dedication to the improvement and support of the Iowa seed industry,” said Jim Webster, ISA board president. “Her entire career has been focused on delivery of quality seeds and the education of people that conduct the research, produce the seed or sell the seeds that benefit the nation’s farmers.”
Webster emphasizes Goggi’s impact on future seed professionals through her teaching. Dr. Goggi has trained more than 25 Master’s degree and Ph.D. students and has taught seed physiology and science to hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students in class.
“The influence she has on our young people through her Seed Science and Technology class will ensure the seed industry is prepared to meet the challenges of feeding a growing population,” said Webster. “She has been a good partner to seed companies providing research and advice on seed quality issues.”
(left) Dr. Manjit Mirsa, ISU, accepts the 2019 Honorary Member Award on behalf of Dr. Susana Goggi, ISU, from 2018 ISA Board President Jim Webster for her dedication to the seed industry.
Goggi was recognized with the award, during the annual Seed Forum hosted by the Iowa Seed Association (ISA). The association annually partners with the Agribusiness Showcase and Conference in Des Moines to provide attending members with a wider range of learning and networking opportunities. The recipient of this award has been chosen every year since 1949, by the outgoing ISA board president.
“Over the years I have been impressed at the caliber of the recipients of this award,” Goggi said. “I am humbled, and at the same time ecstatic, to be recognized among these giants of the seed industry.”
Annually, Goggi leads an ISA committee with the selection process of scholarships which are awarded to Iowa State University students at the conference. This year ten ISU students interested in pursuing seed science studies received scholarships.
“She recognizes the importance of quality seed as the foundational component in agriculture and has served with purpose, both directly and indirectly, to support the success of the seed industry and America’s farmers,” said Webster. “The Iowa Seed Association is honored to recognize her service.”
The Iowa Seed Association continues their partnership with the Agribusiness Showcase & Conference offering ISA members the opportunity to attend a wider variety of workshops and network with all facets of the ag industry. The ISA Annual Meeting & Seed Forum will be held on Wednesday, February 13, from 9 am to Noon. ISA Annual Meeting & Seed Forum will also host the ISA Scholarship Award Recognition Ceremony and an Amazon Echo Raffle (must be present to win).
9:00 – 9:15 a.m.
Morning Plenary Session – Room D
– Keynote Speaker: Iowa Dep. Sec. of Ag Julie Kenney
9:10 – 11:00 AM
Identifying Resources in Conservation Planning
– TBA, Conservation Information Technology Center
11:00 – 11:15 a.m.
ISA Annual Meeting – Room A
− Jim Webster, ISA President
− Recognition of ISA 2019 Honorary Member
Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative Project Update
− Shannon Moeller, ISA Project Coordinator
11:15 – 11:30 a.m.
ASTA Update
− John Latham, Latham Hi-Tech Seeds, President
11:30 a.m. – Noon
Quality Seeds to Feed the World: ISU’s role in serving the seed industry in Iowa and worldwide
− Dr. Manjit Misra, Seed Science Center – ISU, Director
Noon
– (1) Amazon Echo Raffle
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
All Industry Luncheon on Showcase Floor
-Keynote Speaker: Daniel Robinson, Dean, Iowa State University – College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (invited)
ISU Scholarship Recognition
-2018-2019 Iowa Seed Association ISU Scholarships &
– Bill Latham ISU Scholarship recipients recognized
