Guest Blog Post by Kilah Hemesath
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Intern
While consuming a gallon of milk with supper is not unusual for some families in Iowa, there are many children across our state who suffer from milk insecurity. Milk is one of the most requested items by food banks, according to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.
On average the Food Bank of Iowa can only provide those in need less than one gallon of milk per year. The recommended milk consumption per person is significantly higher at 68 gallons/year.
In accordance with June Dairy Month, Feeding America is hosting a Great American Milk Drive throughout the month of June. The Food Bank of Iowa was one in 10 food banks across the U.S. chosen to compete in the Great American Milk Drive!
You can offer support to this organization by incorporating #MilkDrive and tag the Food Bank of Iowa into tweets and Facebook posts. The Food Bank of Iowa will share your post to spread the message about milk insecurity throughout Iowa. Each post will generate points towards the Milk Drive competition.
The winner of the Great American Milk Drive will receive $10,000 towards milk purchases to help supply milk for children, families and seniors in Central Iowa. 95% of food banks say they don’t receive enough milk to meet their clients’ needs. Contribute to this cause by simply mentioning the Food Bank of Iowa in a post or tweet using #MilkDrive.
June 16th is an important day for this cause. The Great American Milk Drive will MATCH DONATIONS towards this cause, and provide DOUBLE POINTS towards the national contest for posts and tweets composed by people like you!
You can make a difference by donating directly, or sharing your message with the click of a button. Help those in need who miss out on the 9 essential nutrients provided by milk. Find The Food Bank of Iowa on Facebook and Twitter and start posting!
Let me get this straight… The world’s top book publisher is banning the word “pork.” Oxford University Press is also reviewing the classics and deleting any references to “pig” and “pork products.”
We certainly wouldn’t want to offend someone who doesn’t eat pork! Right?
I truly don’t understand why Muslim’s preference trumps a Christian’s. Without bringing religion into this conversation (because we know that’s wouldn’t be PC), why can’t we let people exercise their freedom to buy. If they’re offended by children’s books with pictures of pigs, for example, there are certainly several thousand other books from which to choose.
At what point does this PC absurdity stop? Being an old white male who lives in the middle of Iowa, I know that I don’t have the “right” to be offended. My status as “majority” only affords me the ability to offend. There can be no prejudice against me… after all, prejudice and discrimination can only happen to minorities. (Oh my! I have a feeling that wasn’t a PC statement.)
Today’s society seems to have a need to blame everyone for everything that is wrong. We nit-pick about certain laws and regulations. We’ve declared War on Lemonade Stands. Over the weekend, two Texas girls were told by police they had to shut down their lemonade stand because they lacked the proper permit. The girls, ages 7 and 8, were attempting to raise $105 for their Father’s Day gift. All they really wanted to do was earn enough money, so they could take their dad to Splash Kingdom.
Whatever happened to letting kids be kids? Whatever happened to igniting that entrepreneurial spirit and encouraging youngsters to pursue the American dream? Whatever happened to taking pride in hard work and being rewarded for it?
There are several “socially acceptable” situations that made headlines both across the state and our nation over the weekend. Quite frankly, I found each one of them offensive. But I’m supposed to be tolerant and accepting. Why? Why should their freedom of choice trump mine?
I think every American should celebrate the freedom to worship. I think we should celebrate the freedom of expression, even if my thoughts are not your thoughts! Since I can’t solve the world’s problems alone or overnight, I’m just going to have some bacon and celebrate that I still enjoy the freedom of food choice!
Guest post by Kilah Hemesath, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Intern
With nearly all of the soybeans for the 2015 planting season in the ground, crop scouting becomes a necessity. Early soybean pests and diseases can create issues for newly emerged soybean seedlings. Becoming knowledgeable on what to look for in a field can make identification of these pests and diseases simpler.
As soybeans emerge, the bean leaf beetle may make a presence in your fields. This pest is distinguished by a small black triangle located at the base of the forewings. Adult bean leaf beetles are approximately ¼-inch long. They feed on the cotyledons, stems, unifoliate leaves and emerging trifoliates. Discolored, moldy, shriveled or diseased beans may be the result of bean leaf beetles in your field.
Even if seedlings are emerged, stay on the lookout for Pythium. Pythium can cause post-emergence damping off under wet conditions. This disease commonly occurs during wet and cool conditions, particularly in poorly drained fields with compacted soil. Properly manage soil drainage in your fields to combat this issue.
Septoria leaf blight, more commonly known as brown spot, is a soybean disease that spreads from the soil to the soybean plant by splashing rain. The infection of the soybean plant will leave small, irregular brown spots on the lower leaves. Favorable weather for this disease is warm, wet weather. Brown spot can move up the plant, causing leaves to turn yellow and drop. It is necessary to be aware of this disease and what is going on in your fields.
Not necessarily a disease, iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) is described as poor condition between the soil and plant. If your fields have a history of high pH and without enough iron to grow a healthy plant, the best decision is to choose an IDC-resistant seed brand.
At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we make it easy to choose such brands by designating them as IRONCLADTM. Latham® IRONCLAD Soybeans include exceptional genetics and industry-leading protective traits, battling against yield-robbing threats from pests and diseases. To bear the IRONCLAD distinction, each soybean brand must be Soybean Cyst Nematode resistant and carry an Iron Deficiency Chlorosis rating of 2.2 or better.
Also remember to watch for aphids, too. Latham Product Manager Mark Grundmeier stresses the importance of crop scouting regularly from within the field, not just a drive-by. To inquire about soybean pests or diseases in your area, contact your local Latham® representative by calling 1.877.GO.LATHAM (1.877.465.2842)
Just as the expression “to sail the seven seas” signified nautical skill in ancient time, the 7 Cs Dairy in South Central Minnesota has charted its own course.
“A 4-H project gone wild!” is how Christina (Tina) Vinkemeier describes her family’s dairy operation in Norwood Young America. Her husband, Jeff, grew up on his family’s dairy farm that was homesteaded in 1860. Fast forward nearly 20 years and now the operation has nearly doubled as their six children have become involved with 4-H and the family dairy.
Here’s a breakdown of everyone’s involvement:
Oldest daughter, 24-year-old Courtney, has her own hobby farm where she raises horses and fainting goats. She and her fiancé have a 5-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son.
Daughter Carley 18, helps Jeff do the evening milkings. They milk 125 cows in a double 4 step up parlor. She’s also responsible for registering all the cattle. (Side bar: Carley just graduated high school. This fall she will attend Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar for Dairy Science and Ag Business, so 7 Cs is looking to hire a full-time milker.)
Sixteen-year-old twins, Collin and Caleb, are relief milkers when Carley or Jeff needs to be gone. They both work for neighboring dairies, plus they help Jeff with breeding cows and doing field work.
Canton, 12, is the first one to check on the newborn calves. He enjoys feeding the calves and also helps milk when his older brothers aren’t available.
Cadee, 11, likes to help Carley milk and feed calves.
Jeff was milking grade Holsteins when he and Tina moved onto the home place in 1997. Now their herd includes mostly crossbreds along with registered cows of several breeds including Brown Swiss, Jersey, Guernsey, Milking Shorthorn and Ayrshire. Because their children have developed preferences for certain dairy breeds, the family had farm shirts made that read, “Add some color to your barn.”
Carley and Cadee have Jersey cattle. Caleb has his own Ayrshire cows. Collin likes the Brown Swiss, Milking Shorthorn, Jersey and Guernsey. Canton enjoys showing all breeds, but he owns Ayrshire. Cadee also enjoys showing. She showed her first spring calf when she was just 3 and couldn’t wait to join the Benton Hilltoppers 4-H Club with her siblings.
When I asked them what they enjoyed most about 4-H, the Vinkemeier children told me showing cattle and dairy judging. Last year Carley, Collin & Caleb were on a 4-H dairy judging team with Jeni Haler, who is currently serving as Princess Kay of the Milky Way. With Jeff as their coach, they placed second in the state in 2014 and earned a national trip to Harrisburg where they placed third.
“We hope at least one of our kids will want to continue this legacy,” says Tina. “Regardless of what they decide to do in the future, they’ve learned life-long lessons working on our family dairy.”
Tina said that although she grew up in town, she really enjoys raising her family in the country. She says her children learn how to prioritize at a young age. They’ve developed a strong work ethic. They’ve learned how to work together, and they’ve learned how to answer questions about how food is produced.
So what do these dairy farmers wish consumers understood about milk production? Carley, one of 12 finalists for 2015 Minnesota Princess Kay of the Milky Way, was the first to respond by saying, “I really wish they understood how well we treat our animals.”
Jeff added, “My dad always said, ‘You take care of the cows and they’ll take care of you’.”
Tina said, “There are so many misconceptions about hormones in milk, the use of antibiotics and GMOs. BST is a naturally occurring hormone in milk. We only use antibiotics when our animals are sick, and the milk from animals under treatment does not get consumed. There are 17 milk tests, so there’s no chance of antibiotics being in milk that gets sold in a store.”
Got questions about milk? Talk directly to dairy farmers like the Vinkemeiers. You can reach out to other farmers across the U.S. by finding Common Ground. In addition, Best Food Facts provides answers from experts to the most frequently asked questions. There are many resources available to help you get the “Real” facts on dairy products, so you can feel comfortable making dairy a part of your family’s diet.
Today the Vinkemeiers are sharing a few of their family’s favorite recipes with us.
Everyone has heard how our elected officials are being stalked by lobbyists. Sometimes this is even a good thing! Our representatives in Congress need help understanding all the different issues. But lately, I’ve been disturbed to see how much “lobbying” goes the opposite way.
We’re being bombarded by information – maybe a better term is propaganda – to influence public opinion. Unelected bureaucrats, social media campaigns, commercials, TV talk shows, and all ways imaginable are being used to convince the public of problems that bureaucrats think they can solve.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chief Gina McCarthy, for example, says Americans must “just trust us on climate science.” She maintains the EPA’s so-called “Clean Power Plan” will signal to the world the U.S. is serious about global warming.
Trust the EPA’s 44 years of experience dealing with environmental issues, she says. “We can speak to the science because it’s complicated…”
This once again reminds me of the old saying, “I’m from the government. I’m here to help you!”
Now don’t get me wrong, I believe in climate change. I always have and always will. But why trust the EPA to spend billions of tax dollars, deciding which “green” businesses will thrive and stimulate the economy? This is our government!!!
The new WOTUS rules are even a bigger story. Ironically, the EPA’s water rule is likely to slow to adoption of conservation practices. These rules are almost certain to create new burdens by adding permitting requirements for normal farming practices like fixing or installing grassed waterways. As the Farm Bureau blog states, “Lipstick can’t dress up EPA’s troubling waters decree.”
Such actions overstep grassroots lobbying efforts. Let’s review the making of a law… after our elected officials pass a law, it goes to a rule-making committee. The committee is usually made up of unelected official appointees, or bureaucrats. This committee makes the rules by which the law is enforced. It’s their interpretation. Then there are the agencies, like the EPA, that enforce the law. Agency officials again interpret what they think the law means. Any thought as to why a rule needs to be hundreds of pages? Then, of course, we have the “we must pass it before we can read it” Obamacare rule!
Another big debate now is the use of antibiotics in the livestock industry, and it was certainly a top issue last week at World Pork Expo. Even though there is absolutely NO PROOF that antibiotic use on farms causes ANY resistance, our current administration is pushing forward with banishing it! There’s no proof, yet our “government” must fix it!!!
Last week I heard that 29% of an American’s income goes to cover regulations. That means 29% of your income goes to pay a hidden expense that raises the cost of everything you buy!
Think about all the regulations that impact our live:
There’s No Time like the Present: Scout Fields Now
Black cutworm moths have made their appearance across Latham Territory. Now is the time to scout your fields to determine if an insecticide application is the best economical decision for your particular circumstance.
Black cutworm moths gravitate towards green vegetation for egg laying, so they will first appear in weedy fields and ones that are next to natural vegetation. Poorly drained, low laying fields also have a higher risk of black cutworm damage. Black cutworm moths travel in from southern states, laying eggs in the field, then producing black cutworm larvae.
Damage from these insects usually begins above soil service. Newly hatched black cutworm larvae will leave small, irregular holes in the leaves. When walking fields, scout for feedings off the corn plant, which will become more substantial as the worms mature. Black cutworms can cut off young corn plants and reduce crop stands. It is advised to watch for signs of cutworm damage beginning when the corn emerges.
The map below shows the predicted black cutworm cutting dates, provided by the Iowa State University Extension, based upon research performed throughout the state.
This year, the pattern of the black cutworm moths has been irregular. This makes scouting even more essential.
“With the recent cooler temperatures, emergence of both cutworms and army worms has been delayed,” said Jerry Broders, Latham® Regional Sales Manager for Eastern Iowa.
The cutworm and armyworm are comparable in appearance with similar economic thresholds. The variance in eating patterns is where these insects differ. Black cutworms chew off more mature corn plants, whereas armyworms feed on the leaves.
“My advice is to spray fields as soon you see these insects,” Broders said. “ I have seen cutworms take out a field overnight. They can do severe damage when seedlings are emerging.”
Trait selection is no substitute for scouting, Broders said. He advises that farmers continually scout for insects, because it is going to be a dense year. Download the spreadsheet here to help with black cutworm management decision.
Broders advises all farmers to continue scouting their fields and apply insecticide if necessary. Contact your Latham® Dealer or Regional Sales Manager to discuss the management decisions for your fields.
Help Wanted Ad Leads to Multi-Generation REAL Dairy Tradition
It’s no secret that dairy farming is a rich tradition in Wisconsin, but it was a chance meeting that led Kevin and Julie Roske to their dairy. Originally from a dairy farm near Riceville, Iowa, the couple moved to Wisconsin in the mid-80s to answer a help-wanted ad in Hoard’s Dairyman for a herdsman near Chetek, Wisconsin.
A few years later while attending a Herd Improvement Meeting near Barron, Kevin connected with Joe Mullen, a dairy farmer who was in his 70s at the time. Joe took note of Kevin’s interest in learning and his passion for improvement. He made a job offer for Kevin to come work at his dairy in Hillsdale. While the Roske’s didn’t accept that initial offer, they did keep in touch with Mullen and learned more about his operation before deciding to move their young family at the end of that year.
The initial arrangement was for Kevin to work on the farm as herdsman. However, Mullen was nearing retirement so the two worked carefully on a transition plan. Kevin worked for a wage and also received a 25% share of each heifer calf. A couple years later, Joe’s farm went on choice auction. Half of the cows were sold to the highest bidders, and the other half returned to the herd where Kevin and Julie used their 25% share in the heifers as a down-payment for the farm.
Kevin was in charge of day-to-day farm operations while Joe managed the finances. They continued working in share agreements, allowing Kevin to build his herd and share machinery, while always maintaining two sets of farm books to be audited in their monthly meetings. Later on, a contract was established with Kevin as full manager of the farm. Kevin was to uphold an 18,000 pound rolling herd average with an escape clause for Joe to nullify the contract should this goal not be met. Kevin met and surpassed that first goal, which convinced Joe to sell the rest of the farm to the Roske family.
The part of this story that the Roske’s love to share the most is that even though Joe was technically retired at that point in their relationship, he still wanted to do what he could to help the young family build a strong foundation for their new farm business. He wrote up several other contracts for farms he purchased, which allowed the Roskes to add a second farm with heifer facilities and a third farm with a barn for dry cows.
Joe Mullen passed away in March 1994 at the age of 80. Both Kevin and Julie routinely express how grateful they are for the opportunities he provided to help them bring their dream of owning a dairy to reality. When the Roskes first moved to the farm, they were milking 34 cows. Today they care for a herd of 90 cows. They also raise 200 acres of corn and 200 acres of alfalfa each year to provide all the feed they need for the herd.
Kevin used to say that his main focus on the farm was to “keep the herd average high, pay the bills and raise the family he needed to keep the farm running for Joe.” I’m happy to share the Roskes are doing so in the most fitting way as they work to transition their oldest son, Nathaniel, in as the next generation of Grazin’ Acres dairy ownership.
The Roske farm transition story is just one example of how dairy farm families across the country work together to bring us fresh dairy products.
Did you know that June is Dairy Month? If you have questions about how your dairy products are produced, seek answers from your local farmers. Saturday I’m heading north to take part in the 41st Annual Barron County Dairy Breakfast on the Grazin’ Acres Farm. I look forward to joining the 2,999 other people expected at this year’s breakfast. You’re welcome to join us on Saturday, June 6, from 6 AM to 11 AM! All who attend will be treated to a fantastic breakfast and entertainment.
Unseasonably wet, cold spring weather has lingered longer than any Midwest farmer had hoped. These conditions create stress on seed germination and on seedlings. Plus, there were reports last week of frost damage to both corn and soybean seedlings in the areas I cover. Many farmers here in the north are assessing the damage and hoping to get replants done by June 10.
Whether farmers will replant corn or replant soybeans in earlier maturities will be determined after taking these three steps:
When evaluating the existing stand for population, only count plants that have a good chance of survival. Then, observe the uniformity across the field to decide whether replanting the entire field or portions of the field is justified. There are different stand count options to test for both corn and soybeans to perform an accurate count.
2. Compare yield potentials.
When judging the potential yield of the standing crop, again you should only count plants that have a good chance of survival. These tables for corn and soybeans help determine the percent of full-yield potential based on planting time.
3. Consider various management practices.
Before replant occurs, remove any existing stand. Also keep in mind that most soil insecticides cannot be applied twice during the same growing season in the same location in the field.
The decision as to whether or not a farmer should replant really comes down to individual circumstances and “local conditions.” For example, I heard about a farmer from the Fargo area who had purchased a competitors’ soybeans without seed treatment. The wet, cold spring weather caused those seeds to literally rot in the ground. Note: Seed treatments like Latham’s trademark SoyShield and SoyShield Plus give superior control of most seed and soil-borne diseases, including damping off, as well as controls early season Phytophthora.
The germination in the particular farmer’s field mentioned above was so poor that it warrants a replant, but he’s in a precarious situation. Field conditions as of June 1 weren’t fit for planting, however, another 3 inches of rain is in the forecast this week with more precipitation likely in the 10-day forecast. If that farmer doesn’t get his crop replanted before the rain falls this week, it will most likely be another week or 10 days before he can get back in that field. Then we’re looking at a potential planting date of June 10.
If you’re considering a replant, it’s best to be in contact with your insurance agent. I’ve heard Federal Crop and others may not pay unless the field is inspected first. Plus, farmers also need to know the final planting date that will be covered by their policies.
The later the planting date, the better the chance we’ll have a killing frost before the crop matures. June 20-25 is a target date for switching soybean maturities in Iowa. However, our growing season is so much shorter in the north that June 4 is considered a late planting.
On our family farm near Enderlin in Southeast North Dakota, we usually plant soybean maturities ranging from 08 to Group 1. We’ve already switched to earlier varieties and are hoping the weather will allow us to get these planted before rain brings planting to a halt again. To inquire about soybean maturities in your zone, contact me or your local Latham® representative by calling 1.877.GO.LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).
This is a great time of year to be a farmer! I love feeling the warmth of the sun on my face. I enjoy hearing the birds sing each morning as I go outside to do chores. I love how the earth smells after a rain, but fresh cut hay is the best perfume ever smelled by an old farmer!
Farmers in North Central Iowa are getting ready to make their first cutting of hay. Most of them have their crops in the ground and have moved their attention from planting to scouting crops for weeds and disease. The wet, cool spring conditions made prime conditions made the weeds grow like, well weeds!
In spite of all the work there is to be done on the farm at this time of year, it’s still a busy meeting season. I’ve written before that winter is the meeting the season, but meetings seem to have branched out to year around.
This week I’m part of a panel discussion at the National Pork Board office in Des Moines. Cristen Clark, who blogs at Food and Swine, and I have been invited to share some of our experiences with a group of new leaders, who also raise pigs. The theme of this week’s leadership training session is, “If not you, who?”
It’s important for real pig farmers to tell their farm stories because consumers want to know about how their food is produced. I can’t blame them because food is a very personal choice. Although most of us don’t eat what we should, we all want to think we are eating as healthy as possible! If the folks who raise the food don’t share what they are doing, then someone else will tell their story. Who will tell the farm story… a computer programmer? a TV doctor? a food blogger?
No one can tell the pork story better than a pig farmer! This group of farmers with whom Cristen and I spoke will also attend the World Pork Expo, June 3-5, on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. This three-day event brings together folks from all over the world to learn the newest and greatest ideas about everything piggy.
This year I’m not obligated to any duties at the World Pork Expo. I’m free to watch the pig judging and the pig races. I can attend seminars to learn the latest technology. It could spend days visiting all the booths displaying everything from new knee boots and the latest computer programs to wind turbines and natural fertilizer haulers.
As much as I enjoy all of these things, the best part of World Pork Expo is getting to see friends. I’ve made many dear friends during the 30 years I’ve been involved with pork organizations and activities like Operation Main Street.
I’ve made many more friends through my involvement in social media. I’ve been known to travel the state – and even out of state – to deliver a free speech. Some people wonder why…
Interested in promoting pollinator populations for bats, butterflies and bees? You can plant a pollinator-friendly garden by following the three P’s: Plan, Plant and Provide.
PLAN
The first step in planning a pollinator-friendly garden involves surveying the area where you intend to plant flowers. What is the sun and/or shade coverage? What is the soil type? Assessing these conditions helps you select flowers that will flourish. Next, decide what type of pollinators you want to attract based upon the type of flowers that will grow in your region.
The Bee Smart ™ Pollinator Gardener’s app can help narrow the search of which plants to use in your garden based upon regional needs, such as soil, amount of sunlight, preferred type of pollinators and flower color. These planting guides are another resource organized by regions, which will help you begin answering these questions.
When selecting your flowers, choose plants that will bloom from early spring to late fall to ensure a long season of bloom. This will result in a consistent food source for your visitors.
Lastly, plan to choose flowers that offer a diverse set of colors, fragrances and shapes. This will make your garden more attractive for the pollinators you want to visit.
Gardeners’ tip: You can always alter the type of plant you grow. Since you can’t change the soil type and sun coverage, choose the type of flowers the fits your geographic location.
PLANT
Below is a list of 15 plants that can grow in most areas of the U.S. and can help increase the number of pollinators in your area:
Attracting a diverse community of native bee species begins with raising an abundant and diverse garden. When planting, be sure to plant generously throughout your whole garden. Pollinators are more attracted to large groups of flowers versus single plants.
Gardeners’ tip: Bees love blue, purple, white and yellow. Butterflies navigate toward red and purple flowers.
PROVIDE
Once your garden is planted, it’s critical to provide water in addition to the food source. Grassy areas and shrubbery nearby provides a healthy habitat for pollinators’ nesting and egg-laying needs. Improve the forage in your habitat to make native bee pollinators feel welcome.
Monitor the pollinators’ actions and needs. Be knowledgeable and interactive in your garden to satisfy the needs of your pollinators and flowers.
Gardeners’ tip: Post signs to educate the public about your new habitat and encourage others to do the same.
Along with attracting pollinators, did you know you can attract birds and butterflies, too?! Find out how by following these two links: