ISU Extension and Outreach information and resources for north central Iowa

Cerro Gordo County

ISU Extension and Outreach

2023 S. Federal Ave. Mason City, IA 50401 641-423-0844 bartus@iastate.edu www.extension.iastate.edu/cerrogordo

AG NEWS TODAY

Women, Land and Legacy Meeting May 12

Cerro Gordo County Extension and Outreach along with Cerro Gordo County

NRCS, FSA, Soil & Water Conservation District, and Farm Bureau, will hold

a Women, Land & Legacy Meeting on Thursday, May 12, 2016, at the Lime

Creek Nature Center north of Mason City.

A free light supper will be served from 5:30-6 pm followed by a program,

"Monarch Mania," by Todd Von Ehwegen and a program on bee keeping by

Randy Elsbernd. All women involved with farming or interested in farming are

invited to attend. Please RSVP by May 11 by calling Becky or JoAnn at the

Cerro Gordo County Extension and Outreach office, 641-423-0844.

Field Scouting Basics Workshop for Corn and

Soybean Crop Scouts

Learn basic approaches to field scouting at the ISU Field Extension

Education Laboratory Article | 04/20/2016 | By Warren Pierson, Field Extension Education Laboratory, 515-509-8308, wpierson@iastate.edu

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University Exten-

sion and Outreach is offering a Field Scout-

ing Basics Workshop on Tuesday, May 17 at

the Field Extension Education Laboratory

near Boone, Iowa. Designed for beginning-

level crop scouts, the course provides hands-

on, in-field experience to crop scouts for the

2016 growing season.

ISU Extension and Outreach specialists and

field agronomists provide instruction on the

principles of integrated pest management with an emphasis on weed, insect

and crop disease identification in Iowa corn and soybean production. An over-

view of basic field scouting skills including sample collection, observation and

documentation is also offered.

The half-day Field Scouting Basics Workshop presentation topics and instruc-

tors include:

Crop scouting tips and tools – Angie Rieck-Hinz, extension field agronomist

Corn and soybean growth and development – Mark Licht, extension

cropping systems agronomist

Weed identification – Bob Hartzler, extension weed specialist

Disease identification – Alison Robertson, extension plant pathologist

Insect identification – Erin Hodgson, extension entomologist

Registration check-in opens at 12:30 p.m. The program starts at 1 p.m. and

adjourns at 5 p.m. Pre-registration is required and must be completed before

midnight, May 11. Registration is $65. Attendees of the Feb. 27 Field Crop

Scouting School receive a $20 discount. Additional workshop information and

online registration is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/feel/scout

For assistance with registration, receipts, cancellation or questions on the status

of your registration contact ANR Program Services at 515-294-6429 or

anr@iastate.edu

Extension Links

Ag Decision Maker

www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm

Beef Center

www.iowabeefcenter.org

ISU Ag Newsletters

www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/newsletters

Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy

www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu

Iowa State Research Farms

www.ag.iastate.edu/farms

Iowa Water Quality Initiative

www.cleanwateriowa.org

Manure Management

www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag

Pesticide Management

www.extension.iastate.edu/pme

Pork Center

www.ipic.iastate.edu

May 4, 2016

… and justice for all Iowa State University Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, 3280 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating.

Woodchip Bioreactors for Nitrate in Agricultural Drainage

Subsurface agricultural drainage

can allow large gains in agricultur-

al productivity in the midwestern

United States. There is, however,

concern about pollutants moving

through these systems. One specif-

ic water quality concern is nitrate,

a form of nitrogen that moves read-

ily through the soil and often can

be present in high amounts in clear

drainage waters. The water quality

of our local streams, rivers, and

lakes can be negatively impacted

by nitrate in tile drainage.

Moreover, because many streams

and rivers in this region lead to the

Mississippi River, nitrate in midwestern agricultural drainage also contrib-

utes to the hypoxic zone (or Dead Zone) in the Gulf of Mexico. Fortunately,

there are a number of practices that can reduce the amount of nitrate in

drainage water. Woodchip bioreactors are a new option to reduce the

amount of nitrate in drainage before it gets to local surface waters. This fact-

sheet describes key questions relevant to this innovative approach to water

quality. This publication can be found at https://store.extension.iastate.edu/

Product/Woodchip-Bioreactors-for-Nitrate-in-Agricultural-Drainage

What Is a Woodchip Bioreactor?

Drainage water is diverted through a buried trench filled with woodchips.

Microorganisms convert the nitrate in the drainage water to harmless nitro-

gen gas (denitrification).

BENEFITS OF A WOODCHIP REACTOR

Nitrate removed through denitrification

Bioreactors placed at edge-of-field

Does not impact current land management practices

The publication, “Applying Woodchip Bioreactors for Improved Water

Quality” by Michelle Soupir, Tom Isenhart, Matt Helmers, Natasha Hoover,

can be found online at the ISU Extension store at http://store.extension.

iastate.edu/Product/Applying-Woodchip-Bioreactors-for-Improved-Water-

Quality or pick one up at Cerro Gordo County Extension.

When Tenants in Common Own the Farm From the CALT Brief, Iowa State University - Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, tlkayser@iastate.edu It’s a common situation that often leads to conflict. A father dies without a will and his three children inherit his farm

through the rules of intestate succession. Or maybe an aunt dies with a will leaving a one-third share of her 80-acre pas-

ture to her nephew and the remaining two-third’s share to her niece. In both cases, the parties inheriting the property are

tenants in common.

Most Iowa landowners understand the basic rights of

tenants in common. They each have an undivided

interest in the whole property. Regardless of their

respective ownership interests, they each have the

right to possess the entire parcel. A tenant in com-

mon with exclusive possession of the entire parcel

must pay rent to the other tenants in an amount re-

flecting the non-possessing tenants’ ownership

shares. When tenants in common die, their respective

shares are passed to their heirs in the same manner as their other property. Read more online at https://www.calt.iastate.

edu/newsletter/2016-april

Working with Pollinators Focus of Iowa State Publication, Videos

Suggestions for working with butterflies, bees and other pollinators provided Article | 04/26/2016 | By Laura Jesse, Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic Director, 515-294-0581, ljesse@iastate.edu and Jesse Randall, ISU Extension Forestry, 515-294-1168, randallj@iastate.edu

AMES, Iowa – As winter has given way to spring, insects

have begun to reappear in lawns and gardens across the

state. Attracting insects such as butterflies or bees is a sim-

ple process that can add beauty to any outdoor space.

Providing a place for butterflies and other pollinators to

comfortably live not only helps beautify a garden, but also

works to promote the growth of species that are threatened

and in decline.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication

“Gardening for Butterflies and Pollinators” (RG 0601) dis-

cusses how to create butterfly gardens by planting a few of

the insect’s favorite plants in a sunny corner of the yard. It

is available online at the Extension Store.

The publication was written by Laura Jesse, director and insect diagnostician in the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at

Iowa State University; Nathan Brockman, curator for the Butterfly Wing at Reiman Gardens in Ames; and Donald Lewis,

professor and extension entomologist at Iowa State University.

“Flowers that provide pollen and nectar are great additions to any garden and are a huge benefit to butterflies and bees,”

Jesse said. “Monarch butterfly adults will feed on many types of flowers but they need milkweed to lay eggs on and for

their caterpillars to eat. If we want the pretty adults we have to feed the kids!”

ISU Extension and Outreach is also working to help grow the monarch butterfly population through its work with the Io-

wa Monarch Conservation Consortium. The Consortium, which was founded in 2015 and includes representatives from

Iowa State and other agencies and organizations from across the state, has planted over 10,000 milkweed seedlings at all

12 ISU Research and Demonstration Farms.

“Because Iowa is part of the breeding range for monarchs, planting milkweed for the caterpillars and nectar-producing

flowers for the adults is a priority of Iowa State entomologists,” said Jesse. “By creating habitat for butterflies and polli-

nators, everyone can make their backyards or roadsides an oasis for these important insects.”

Jesse Randall, assistant professor and extension forester at Iowa State, has also released a series of short videos on bee-

keeping. The series of nine videos covers a wide variety of topics, helping producers learn how to begin the process of

beekeeping, how to handle the bees and ultimately harvest their honey. Working with bees can be intimidating, and the

videos are designed to provide tips and suggestions for many different aspects of working in an apiary.

“Honey bees are quite gentle if you work around them, they force you to be calm and quiet,” Randall said. “They are also

a great source of local food; there isn’t enough honey available to keep up with demand. It’s good to know where your

food is coming from and how it is being handled; you can’t always get that at the grocery store.”

View the video at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/working-pollinators-focus-iowa-state-publication-videos

ISU Extension and Outreach Part of Iowa Source Water Ag Collaborative

Iowa's First Source Water Protection Week to be held May 1-8 Article | 05/02/2016 | By Jamie Benning, Water Quality Program, 515-294-6038, benning@iastate.edu

AMES, Iowa – Improving water quality is an emphasis of Iowa State University

Extension and Outreach. To further the efforts being made in the area, ISU Exten-

sion and Outreach is one of the founding members of the Iowa Source Water Ag

Collaborative.

“Many practices that reduce the loss of nitrates to surface water also protect

groundwater,” said Jamie Benning, ISU Extension and Outreach water quality pro-

gram manager. “Implementing practices such as cover crops in a capture zone pro-

tects local drinking water sources and contributes to meeting the goals of the Iowa

Nutrient Reduction Strategy.” http://www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu/

The collaborative's recently unveiled website at http://www.iasourcewater.org/ has source water information and re-

sources for private well users, communities, farmers, landowners and professionals that can be accessed.

Look for Seed Corn Maggot in Corn and Soybean

By Erin W Hodgson, Extension Entomologist Specialist, 515 294 2847, ewh@iastate.edu

Seed corn maggot is a seed and seedling pest

of corn and soybean. Plant injury is especial-

ly prevalent during cool and wet springs. The

larvae, or maggots, feed on germinating corn

and soybean seeds or seedlings. They can

feed on the embryo, delay development or

kill the plant. Infestations tend to be field-

wide instead of grouped together like for

many other pests. To confirm seed corn mag-

got injury, check field areas with stand loss

and look for maggots, pupae and damaged

seeds (e.g., hollowed out seeds or poorly developing seedlings). Photo: Typical seed corn maggot injury in soybean and

corn Soybean photo (left) by Marlin Rice; corn photo (right) by Purdue Extension.

Biology-Seed corn maggots overwinter in Iowa as a pupa in the soil. Adult flies emerge and mate in April and May, and

females lay eggs in soil. Maggot densities will be higher in soils with high organic matter (e.g., manure and green plant

residue). Recent soil tillage, regardless of residue type, is attractive to egg-laying females. This fly species has a lower

developmental threshold of 39°F and upper threshold of 84°F. There are 4-5 generations per year in our area.

Identification-Seed corn maggots are white, legless and 1/4 inches long with a tapered body. The maggots have a black

mouth with hook-like mouthparts to feed. The pupa is brown and looks like a “wheat seed.” The adult fly is grey to

brown in color with red eyes. Adult seed corn maggots are 1/20th inches long and look like a small house fly. Read more

online at http://crops.extension.iastate.edu/cropnews/2016/04/look-seedcorn-maggot-corn-and-soybean

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Community Gardens Meeting Cerro Gordo Extension

and Outreach, Mason City Thursday, May 12, 2016 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM Women, Land and Legacy Meeting 4-H Learning Cen-

ter, North Iowa Events Center, Mason City Wednesday, May 25, 2016 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Cerro Gordo County Extension Council Meeting Cerro

Gordo Extension and Outreach, Mason City Saturday, May 28, 2016 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Band Festival Parade downtown Mason City Monday, May 30, 2016 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Memorial Day - Extension Office Closed Mason City To view this newsletter online or find more information about these events, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/cerrogordo or call 641-423-0844.

Cerro Gordo County Extension and Outreach

Calendar of Events

Cerro Gordo Co. Extension Staff

Regional Director Donovan Olson 641-423-0844

donovano@iastate.edu

Executive Director John Sjolinder 641-423-0844 sjolinde@iastate.edu

County Youth Coordinator 641-423-0844 xcerrogordo@iastate.edu

ISU Youth Specialist Gail Castillo 641-423-0844

gail@iastate.edu

Office Manager/Bookkeeper

JoAnn Bartusek 641-423-0844 bartus@iastate.edu

Office Assistant/Clover Kids

Becky Oelkers 641-423-0844 oelkers@iastate.edu

Agriculture Specialists

Livestock Russ Euken 641-923-2856 reuken@iastate.edu

Agronomy Angie Rieck-Hinz

515-532-3453 amrieck@iastate.edu

Farm Management Kelvin Leibold

641-648-4850 kleibold@iastate.edu