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2024 Iowa Seed Association Annual Meeting & S...

February 13, 2024 | The Meadows Event and Conference Center, Altoona, Iowa

The Iowa Seed Annual Meeting and Seed Forum are held in conjunction with the 2024 Agribusiness Showcase & Conference hosted by the Agribusiness Association of Iowa. As a registered attendee at the Showcase, you receive access to everything during the two days of the event, including the Seed Forum.

Registration and information site for the Showcase & Conference – Click Here

2023 Iowa Seed Association Annual Golf Tournament ...

Wednesday, June 22, 2023

$90 per golfer | $15 for education & lunch only

Click the link below to register online:


10:00 AM | Education Session

    • Chad Hart – Professor of Economics, Iowa State University
    • Erica Lydolph – Project Coordinator, Seed Corn Cover Crops Initiative

11:00 AM | Lunch & Check In for Golf

Noon | Golf Shotgun Start


LOCATION

Veenker Memorial Golf Course | Ames, Iowa

All registrations must be confirmed and paid by Wednesday, June 15, 2023 .
NO cancellations will be accepted and NO refunds will be given after Wednesday, June 15, 2023.

To pay with credit card please use the following link:

https://agribiz.swoogo.com/2023seedgolf

Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative 2022 Results ...

Contact:  Erica Lydolph, Project Coordinator, 641-799-8638, covercropsatagribizdotorg  (covercropsatagribizdotorg)  

DES MOINES – In 2022, over $589,000 in financial assistance was provided to farmers and landowners 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 in partnership with the Agribusiness Association of Iowa, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, and Iowa Corn.  Seed corn growers continue to show increased interest in the adoption of cover crops on acres used for seed corn production.  Nearly 200 seed corn growers signed up for funding in 2022, covering over 41,000 acres, saving almost 125,000 tons of soil, and spending an estimated $1.6 million of their own money to implement cover crops. 

Partnerships with eight seed companies, representing the vast 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 winter-kill cover crops.  An additional $5 per acre incentive is available for first-time cover crop users.  In 2022, sixteen new users established cover crops through the Initiative. Applications are being accepted at www.sustainableseedcorn.org for planting cover crops this fall.

For 2023, the Iowa Seed Association approved a new collaboration with Heartland Cooperative for dedicated outreach and technical assistance for edge-of-field water quality practices that are permanent and not invasive to field operations.  By connecting seed corn growers with technical and cost share information on these practices, increased knowledge of these practices can facilitate accelerated implementation.    

The Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crops Initiative focuses on ways to help 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 fall after harvest. Cost share applications for planting cover crops on seed corn acres this coming fall are being accepted. Visit www.sustainableseedcorn.org for more information.

2023 Iowa Seed Association Annual Meeting & S...

February 15, 2023 | Varied Industries Building, Iowa State Fairgrounds

2023 Forum Agenda

9:00
Iowa Seed Association Annual Meeting

  • Adam Anderson, Outgoing ISA President
  • Recognition of ISA 2023 Honorary Member Award
  • Brooke Achenbach, Incoming ISA President

9:20
Drought Conditions and the Iowa Drought Plan

  • Tim Hall, Hydrology Resources Coordinator, Iowa DNR

10:00
American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Update

  • Kendall Palmer, ASTA Board of Director

10:20     Break

10:30
ISA Partnership – Conservation Opportunities for Ag Retailers

  • Ruth McCabe, Senior Conservation Agronomist, Heartland Co-op

10:50
Supply Chain Challenges

  • Scott Grawe, Iowa State University

11:30
Lunch | Iowa Seed Association Scholarship Presentation

The Iowa Seed Annual Meeting and Seed Forum are held in conjunction with the 2023 Agribusiness Showcase & Conference hosted by the Agribusiness Association of Iowa. To view the main event’s webpage and to register for the Seed Forum – Click Here

2022 Iowa Seed Association Annual Golf Tournament ...

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

$90 per golfer | $15 for education & lunch only

Click the link below to register online:


Thank you to our Beverage Cart Sponsor!


10:00 AM | Seed Science Update

 

11:00 AM | Lunch & Check In for Golf

 

Noon | Golf Shotgun Start


LOCATION

Veenker Memorial Golf Course | Ames, Iowa

All registrations must be confirmed and paid by Wednesday, June 15, 2022 .
NO cancellations will be accepted and NO refunds will be given after Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

To pay with credit card please use the following link:

https://agribiz.swoogo.com/2022seedgolf

2021 Iowa Seed Association Annual Golf Tournament ...

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

$90 per golfer | $15 for education & lunch only

Click the link below to register online:


Thank you to our Beverage Cart Sponsor!


10:00 AM | Seed Science Update

 

11:00 AM | Lunch & Check In for Golf

 

Noon | Golf Shotgun Start


LOCATION

Veenker Memorial Golf Course | Ames, Iowa

All registrations must be confirmed and paid by Tuesday, July 27 , 2021 .
NO cancellations will be accepted and NO refunds will be given after Tuesday, July 27 , 2021 .

To pay with credit card please use the following link:

https://agribiz.swoogo.com/2021seedgolf

Looking for a paper form?

Click here for a PDF

Iowa Workforce Development and Iowa Department of ...

The state of Iowa has provided guidance for keeping field workers safe during the 2020 growing season in response to challenges posed by COVID-19.

Iowa Workforce Development and the Iowa Department of Public Health have released theirCOVID-19 Guidance for Agriculture Employers, Farm Labor Contractors, Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers, and Migrant Labor Camp Operators to help keep workers, and all Iowans, safe. Included in the document is guidance for transportation of workers, housing and sleeping units, eating areas, restrooms/bathrooms, and tools used in the field. Information also is provided for handling situations where workers are showing COVID-19 symptoms and when a worker is diagnosed with the virus.

Many of the guidelines involve additional physical separation through spacing or barriers as well as additional cleaning protocols. The full document can be found here. The Iowa Seed Association encourages members to use the information provided to help maintain a healthy and productive growing season.

If you have additional questions or concerns, contact Joan O’Brien who can assist with connecting you to the proper resource to answer your question – joanoatagribizdotorg or 515-975-7461 (cell).


COVID-19 Guidance for Agriculture Employers, Farm Labor Contractors, Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers, and Migrant Labor Camp Operators

Farming is an essential business operation and activity, often supported by the use of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. COVID-19 can spread rapidly in settings with many people living in close proximity, including living facilities for migrant farmworkers. Agriculture employers and farm labor contractors who provide housing for migrant workers should implement plans to prevent exposure to the virus that causes COVID- 19, care for individuals with COVID-19 and prevent community transmission of the disease. Commitment to strong sanitary protocols will decrease operational impacts.

Individuals above the age of 65 and people with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, and chronic heart disease, or a compromised immune system (e.g., cancer, cancer treatment, or other immunosuppressant treatments) have a greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19. This could include agricultural workers with lung problems associated with exposure to common hazards and irritants such as smoke, pesticides, and fungi found in crops. The following recommendations from Iowa Workforce Development and the Iowa Department of Public Health are intended to prevent exposure to COVID-19, where possible, and protect the public health of the state.

The key components of a prevention plan for migrant farmworkers include:

  1. Minimizing the risk for exposure to the virus,
  2. Early detection of individuals with symptoms of COVID-19, and
  3. Caring for individuals with COVID-19 while ensuring that they do not give the infection to anyone else.

PLAN AND BE PREPARED

Download the full document to read more.


FARMWORKER COVID-19 SAFE WORK PRACTICES AND INFECTION PREVENTION

Additionally, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) has provided some additional resources to communicate with field workers.

Below is an informational document that can be shared with field workers written in both English and Spanish.

https://www.betterseed.org/wp-content/uploads/AgSafe-Agricultural-Worker-Safe-Work-Practices_English-and-Spanish.pdf

As you prepare your own field operations, ASTA has a checklist for keeping workers safe which can be used in conjunction with the state of Iowa guidance:

https://www.betterseed.org/wp-content/uploads/AgSafe-COVID-19-Checklist-for-Agricultural-Operations_ENG.pdf

Pesticide Applicator Self-Service Site Now Availab...

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.

  • First-time users can register here – click here
  • Instructions on First Time User registration instructions – click here
  • Pesticide Applicator Self-Service site (login page for those already registered) – click here

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 pesticidesatiowaagriculturedotgov  (pesticidesatiowaagriculturedotgov)  .

Moeller Recognized with IAWA Iowa Watershed Impact...

Shannon Moeller, Project Coordinator, Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative, Iowa Seed Association

Shannon Moeller, the project coordinator for the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative, is honored with the new Impact award from the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) as part of the third annual Iowa Watershed Awards program.

Moeller was honored with five other watershed coordinators for their multitude of contributions and steadfast dedication to improving water quality across the state.

Moeller is currently helping Iowa seed corn producers adopt cover crops while also simultaneously advancing the objectives of the statewide Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS) through the
Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crops Initiative.

Improving Water Quality with Cover Crops on Seed Corn Acres

Before handling this cover crops project with seed corn growers, Moeller was the project coordinator for the Benton/Tama nutrient reduction watershed project.

“Working with farmers and landowners to adopt conservation practices that improve water quality across Benton and Tama counties was a great experience for my current project with the Iowa Seed Association (ISA),” she says. “Helping seed corn growers use cover crops across the entire state is very rewarding.”

Since this project began in 2016, Moeller has worked with seed companies to educate and encourage farmers to seed cover crops following seed field harvest. “Before this project began, only 5 to 10% of seed corn acres in the state had cover crops. In 2019, I worked with over 200 growers in the program covering 30% of Iowa’s seed acres, with some areas close to 75%,” she says.

In addition, more than 50 growers have expanded cover crop use on their commercial corn (non-seed corn) acres, which also helps to meet the goals of the Iowa NRS, she adds.

In 2019, ISA and the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative partnered with the Iowa Ag Radio Network to co-host a series of field days for the Row Crop Run in the summer and fall. Moeller, through her efforts at field days and seed meetings, has made a big difference in helping farmers understand the soil health and water quality benefits provided by cover crops. She shares that growers get excited when they see visible improvements in soil structure, as well as less erosion and runoff.

“After four years, it’s exciting for me to share the successes and challenges, from farmer to farmer,” she says. “So many farmers are now calling me for advice, which is an honor and a privilege.”

Success doesn’t stop there, as Moeller says she retains almost 100% of growers to continue growing cover crops year after year. “They are switching from basic covers like oats that winter-kill to more winter-hardy species like cereal rye and other seed blends designed to improve soil organic matter and water infiltration faster,” she says.

Partnership invaluable

Moeller is quick to point out the value of partnerships and mentors that help drive program success. “I pride myself in developing field days with value, and that includes talks by experienced cover crop farmers, along with involvement from local watersheds, NRCS, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Iowa Learning Farms, the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, Soil Health Partnership, and many others,” she says.

The Iowa Seed Association developed the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative project in conjunction with the Agribusiness Association of Iowa, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, and Iowa Corn. A grant from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) under their Clean Water Iowa Initiative provides funding for the project. Some seed companies also provide cover crops cost-share assistance.

To help maintain momentum for her work, Moeller will receive funding through the Iowa Watershed Award to apply to the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative, as well as funding for her own professional development. She recently added to her ISU Agronomy degree by becoming a Certified Crop Adviser in 2019, with the goal to never stop learning.


Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative Primary Objectives

  • Directly engage seed corn companies to work with their growers on adopting cover crops
  • Increase the number of seed corn growers utilizing cover crops
  • Develop and deploy new strategic partnerships with agricultural retailers to provide turn-key services for growers to assist them with cover crop implementation
  • Develop and distribute educational and informational materials primarily targeted to entry-level audiences to provide more focus on beginning cover crop user needs
  • Hold demonstration field days and grower meetings to provide information and advice designed to equip farmers with the resource support needed for successful establishment and management of cover crops

The Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crops Initiative focuses on ways to help increase the 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 fall after harvest. This focus is also heavily driven by the seed corn industry in Iowa, and their efforts to help promote and support the use of cover crops as part of Iowa’s Nutrient Strategy.

Find out how you can become a part of the Initiative or start cover crops on your seed corn acres at www.sustainableseedcorn.org

FieldWatch® Launches New Program Helping Applicato...

Pesticide applicators in Iowa 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 the apiary registry. It 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:

ISA encourages all commercial applicators to register with FieldWatch®. 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 Seeds, and Syngenta.

For questions, please contact Joan O’Brien at 515-262-8323 or via email at href="joanoatagribizdotorg" target="_blank">joanoatagribizdotorg.