Special Coverage
Dry soil conditions provide time for cover crop seeding
This year?s harvest looks a little different than last year's. Dry soil conditions will allow farmers to complete various tasks, such as seeding cover crops."Commercial and non-commercial field crops looked great, up until the August 10th derecho," says Randy Luze, of...
AUDIO: Profit Matters 9-22-20
2020 corn harvest: “It’s going to be one for the books”
Surely you remember "The Tortoise and the Hare." Moral of the story is "slow and steady wins the race," which may also be the moral of this year's harvest.Justin Miller, of Gladbrook, began harvesting seed corn for Pioneer in late August. His assignment, stretching...
AUDIO: Profit Matters 9-17-20
Harvester: “I don’t think we’ve seen how bad it is yet”
Agricultural companies deployed harvesting crews in late August/early September for Iowa's seed corn harvest. Shannon Moeller, project coordinator for the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative, and I met harvesting crews throughout central Iowa to gain a better...
AUDIO: Profit Matters 6-25-20
Cover crops: Not just all or none
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) officials each year report an increased adoption of conservation practices, such as cover crops. However, there is still room for growth.Today we focus on growth, which is dependent on one?s comfort level....
AUDIO: Profit Matters 6-18-20
Conservation abounds on northeast Iowa farm
Iowa?s rural landscape has seen an increased adoption of conservation practices. Tim Recker, of Arlington, Iowa, first incorporated cover crops and no-till seven years ago. Recker discovered, ?As you get comfortable, you need to try new things.? He took to his own...