Midwestern farmers are continually challenged by the need to feed a growing world while protecting and conserving our natural resources. However, the Midwest has an advantage compared to other regions of the United States due to our good soils, adequate rainfall, and intensive animal production systems. Livestock manure not only provides nutrients for crop production, but also helps to improve soil quality.

The most overlooked value of manure is its ability to improve soil bulk density, aggregation, organic matter, and biological activity. "The increase in soil microbial activity provides the foundation for the increase in organic matter in the soil," says Dr. Jerry Hatfield, Director of the Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment at ISU. "Organic matter increases are necessary for any improvement in soil quality and continual soil biological activity is needed as the sustaining factor in providing the mechanism for incorporating manure into a valuable soil resource."

Hatfield's team used on-farm evaluations of manure management to demonstrate that the combination of reducing tillage by utilizing strip tillage systems as a method of incorporating liquid manure greatly improved soil quality. The increased aggregate stability increases the infiltration rate of rainfall into the soil and also decreases the potential for soil erosion.

The value of manure cannot be overlooked and Midwestern agricultural systems have the potential to become more efficient in the utilization of the natural resources, e.g., water, nutrients, and light, with the incorporation of manure as part of the management system. Improvement of soil quality provides the foundation for enhanced crop production and resilience to climate variability.

Hatfield's project will be featured at the upcoming Driftless Region Beef conference Jan. 30 and 31, 2014, in Dubuque, Iowa. Several of the speakers will focus on the competitive advantage of integrating beef production and cropping systems in the upper Midwest.

The conference will begin at 1 p.m. on Jan. 30 and continue through 11:45 a.m. on Jan.31. Thursday's afternoon program will focus on the competitive advantage of grain and beef production systems, with an evening discussion focused on extending the grazing season with cover crops and annuals. Friday morning's program includes three breakout sessions for feedlot operations and three for cow-calf producers.

Registration for the conference is $80 before Jan. 15 or $100 after Jan. 15. Additional information about the conference is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/beef . Registration will open for the conference on Dec. 1.

The Driftless Region Beef Conference is sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the University of Minnesota Extension, and University of Wisconsin Extension. The planning team strives to deliver the latest in research-based information regarding the beef cattle industry. For more information or to receive a brochure, contact Denise Schwab at 319-721-9624.

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Iowa Fertilizer Company named Second-best "Deal of the Year"

(DES MOINES) - Site Selection Magazine and the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Association today named Gov. Terry Branstad as the "Foreign Direct Investment Politician of the Year" during the 10th Annual World Forum for Foreign Direct Investment in Shanghai, China.

Additionally, the Iowa Fertilizer Company was named the Second-best "Deal of the Year," joining several FDI wins for the state. Since January 2011, IEDA has assisted FDI projects in projects that are expected to create and retain nearly 1,000 jobs and result in capital investment in Iowa of almost $2 billion. The top five FDI projects include the Iowa Fertilizer Company, Valent Biosciences, CJ Bio America, Danisco US Inc., Bridgestone Americas Tires and Hipra USA.

According to the FDI Association, the governor's international award "present(s) accolades for achievement and excellence in the FDI arena in 2012/13." Gov. Branstad's success with foreign direct investment results from his administration's efforts in recruiting businesses to locate in a state or area to grow jobs and strengthen the economy.

"As the governor of Iowa, I have the tremendous opportunity to promote our state, our people and our strong resources to a world market," said Branstad. "This award gives Iowa a prominent place on the world stage, and is an honor in which all Iowans can take pride. The hardworking, sincere people of Iowa are proud of the safe and reliable products they produce for a growing world population. Lt. Governor Reynolds and I have worked tirelessly to grow jobs in our state and improve our economy - and these efforts are being noticed around the world."

Attending the World Forum on Foreign Direct Investment in Shanghai, China, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds was the featured speaker on the opening panel of the forum to promote the state of Iowa and the opportunities for direct economic investment to an audience of international leaders.

"This forum is a tremendous opportunity to meet face-to-face with key economic and industry leaders to have an open dialogue on economic prospects that would benefit the state and people of Iowa," said Reynolds. "As I talk to business leaders from Europe or from Asia, they have all heard of the great things we are doing in Iowa, and they want to learn more about the steps we are taking as a state to recruit companies, grow our state economy and create careers for Iowans."

In this award category, second place was given to Frank Jensen, Lord Mayor from Copenhagen, Denmark, third place was presented to the Honorable Zafer Ça?layan, Minister of Economy, Turkey, fourth place was presented to Henk Kool, Vice Mayor, The Hague, Holland and fifth place was presented to Noureddine Zekri, General Manager, FIPA Tunisia.

Award winners were determined based on data collected by the Conway Data New Plant Report and by an independent panel of consultants from around the world, including Andreas Dressler, Managing Director, TERRAIN Global, Jason Hickey, President, Hickey & Associates, Yin Hong, National Director & Head of Manufacturing Services, China, Jones Lang LaSalle, Roel Spee, Global Leader, Plant Location International (PLI) Global Location Strategies, IBM Global Business Services, Shirar O'Connor, Principal, The Pont Group, Robert Pittman, Senior Principal, Janus Economics and David East, Director, fDi Intelligence.

Governor Branstad's leadership in bringing foreign direct investment projects to the state is clear. In addition to the Governor's receipt of the FDI Politician of the Year, Iowa was recognized with a second place FDI Deal of the Year honor for Iowa Fertilizer Company's (IFCo) $1.4 billion project in Lee County.

"Governor Branstad has really elevated our position in the international marketplace," said Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. "And that has helped us to bring in some very significant business locations to Iowa."

In this category, the top four finishers are as follows:

1)      Sasol North America Inc., Lake Charles, Louisiana ($21B)

2)      Iowa Fertilizer Company LLC, Weaver, Iowa ($1.8B)

3)      Masisa-MDF, Durango, Mexico ($132M)

4)      Yanfeng USA, Riverside, Missouri ($45M)

For more information on these awards, visit: http://www.worldforumforfdi.com/awards.cfm

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding for 424 projects across the nation that will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce their energy consumption and costs, and use renewable energy technologies in their operations.

"Today's Rural Energy for America Program announcements will provide further assistance for agricultural producers and rural small business owners to save energy, promote renewable energy creation, and boost the bottom line for their operation," Vilsack said. "By investing in renewable energy created in rural America, USDA is able to provide new income opportunities in our small towns while supporting the Obama Administration's comprehensive effort to combat the impacts of a changing climate."

Vilsack noted that today's funding announcement is another reminder of the importance of Farm Bill programs for the economic vitality of rural America, and a compelling reason why Congress must get a comprehensive Food, Farm and Jobs Bill passed as soon as possible. A comprehensive new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill would further expand the rural economy, Vilsack added.

The Rural Energy for America Program offers financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements. These federal funds leverage other private funding sources for businesses.

Vilsack announced more than $14 million in grants and loan guarantees to business owners in 22 states, the Western Pacific, the Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. For example, Grinnell Markets Inc., of Grinnell, Iowa, has been selected to receive a $39,000 grant to install more energy efficient lighting and refrigeration and to install a more efficient heating, ventilation and cooling system. L&S Pumping, Inc., in Strawberry Point, Iowa, was selected for an $11,675 grant to help purchase and install a geothermal heating and cooling system for a business equipment maintenance shop. DeChant-Notley Farms in Oberlin, Ohio, has been selected for a $29,775 grant to replace an inefficient grain dryer. The new model is expected to save 635,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually. That amounts to a 45 percent energy savings annually. In Derwood, Minn., Derwood Technologies Inc. is receiving a $14,800 grant to install a 9.95 kilowatt solar project on a building.

Under REAP, up to 25 percent of an eligible renewable energy system or energy efficiency improvement project can be funded through a grant, and additional support can be provided in the form of a loan guarantee. Since the start of the Obama Administration, REAP has helped fund more than 8,250 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide.

Harvey Allen of Elfrida, Ariz., used a $49,975 REAP grant he received in 2011 to help install photovoltaic water pumps. The REAP grant covered about a quarter of the cost of the new photovoltaic system with Allen covering the remaining costs. Allen said high utility costs were making it hard for him to keep his business profitable. The new pumps cut his well service utility bills in half. The meter for the new water pumps tracks how much electricity is being generated and how much is being used. Thanks to Arizona's abundant sunshine, the second time Allen irrigated with the new system, he discovered that he actually had a credit on his energy bill.

View the list of recipients announced today under the Rural Energy for America Program. Each award is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant or loan agreement.

President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values.

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