(DES MOINES) - Governor Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds, Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Chuck Gipp today called upon congressional leaders to swiftly reconcile farm bill differences to seize the opportunity to provide long-term certainty to agricultural producers, enact program reforms and achieve cost savings.

"A long-term farm bill is overdue and congressional leaders have the opportunity to provide certainty in the farm economy. I am hopeful that congressional leaders can find a way forward in the very near future," said Branstad.

"The farm bill provides vital certainty to Iowa farmers," said Northey. "It is important that the House and Senate work together on a bipartisan basis to keep the bill moving."

A copy of the letter can be found here.

Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit Brings Hundreds of Farmers to Ames

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA -- July 24, 2013 -- Impacts of the wild weather, market and commodity swings led expert panel discussions during the Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit this week in Ames.  Nearly 300 Iowa farmers and agribusiness industry leaders came to Scheman Auditorium July 22-23 for perspectives from national experts in market, fiscal policy, commodity marketing, land use trends and climate change.

Many panelists at the IFBF-sponsored event agreed the agricultural sector can expect changes in the months to come and only good planning will protect their sustainability.

"The consistent message was make long-term plans, and make sure you're grounded in reality," said IFBF Director of Research and Commodity Services David Miller.  "The reality is there are no guarantees what our yields will be until we're in the fields for harvest."

The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy Plan was also on the docket, leading to lively discussion.  One of the presenters, Dean Lemke, a Natural Resources Engineer for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), said media reports critical of the Nutrient Strategy's voluntary implementation have been premature.  "Thirteen of 22 nonpoint source action items are underway now through the Water Resources Coordinating Council (WRCC) and various agencies to begin implementation efforts to support the Nutrient Strategy conservation practices.   Some of the early steps we're doing looks at nine high-priority watersheds; we're holding field days to educate and encourage adoptions of these new science-based practices, so everyone can see how implementation can impact water quality."  Lemke said Iowa farmers aren't going to solve all the problems in those watersheds overnight, but the progress being made is measureable over the last 30 years and must be encouraged to continue.

Other presentations that encouraged much discussion came from state climatologist Elwynn Taylor.  Despite last year's drought and this year's wet, flooded spring, Taylor told Iowa farmers they can expect continued wild swings in the weather, thanks to La Nina and El Nino effects.

Farmers also took interest in results of an intensive Multi-State Land Use study, which examined two USDA databases which report on land use.  According to the USDA Crop Reporting database which relies on on-farm visits, land-use grid surveys and farmer surveys, Iowa had a net conversion of 3,500 acres of grassy habitat to cropland from 2007 through 2012. Acres planted to corn in Iowa were the same in 2012 as in 2007; soybeans gained 800,000 acres, but alfalfa acres declined by 440,000 acres and oat acres declined by 80,000 acres, highlighting that much of the shift in land use is among crops, rather than a shift in land use.   The study, conducted by Decision Innovation Solutions, showed farmers in 40 of Iowa's counties developed new wildlife habitat with more land being converted to grassy habitat from cropland than grassy habitat conversions to corn and soybeans.

Select presentations from the 2013 Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit can soon be accessed online at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

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WASHINGTON, July 22, 2013? TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will address the Iowa Farm Bureau's 2013 Economic Summit where he will discuss the need for a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill.

The Obama Administration has prioritized that a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill should promote rural development, preserve a strong farm safety net, maintain nutrition programs, encourage the development of local and regional markets, honor our international trade commitments, and advance agricultural research.

Monday, July 22, 2013

12:45 p.m. CDT

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will address the Iowa Farm Bureau's 2013 Economic Summit.

Media availability to immediately follow.

WHERE: Iowa State University

Scheman Building

400 Beach Avenue

Ames, IA

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Creating a transition plan to make sure a farm continues as a productive business can be challenging. Farm women can learn how to plan a successful farm transition in a five-session course offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The "Managing for Today and Tomorrow: Farm Transition Planning" program, a new Annie's Project course, has been scheduled in Iowa City on Tuesday evenings, August, 20th through September, 17th.

Managing for Today and Tomorrow: Farm Transition Planning meets from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, August, 20th through September, 17^th, at the Johnson County Farm Bureau office in Iowa City, Iowa.

The cost is $75 per person, which includes a 300-page workbook with fact sheets, hands-on activities, and presentations. A light supper will be served before each class at 5:45 p.m. Course size is limited, so please register soon.

Farm women will learn about business, estate, retirement and succession planning from ISU Extension and Outreach specialists and area professionals. In addition to brief presentations, there will be discussions based on participant questions and follow-up activities for family members to complete at home.

"We're happy to be a partner in bringing this valuable program to Johnson County," said Gene Mohling, Regional Extension Education Director, "This farm transition course is an opportunity for farm women to meet with others who share similar issues and concerns. A small class size makes it comfortable for everyone to speak up and get questions answered."

Annie's Project, an agricultural risk management education program for women, has successfully reached more than 8,000 farmers and ranchers in 30 states. "This new Farm Transition program emphasizes the role women play in helping transfer farms from one generation to the next," said Ryan Drollette, ISU Extension Farm Management Specialist. "Managing for Today and Tomorrow: Farm Transition Planning will empower women to take ownership of the future of their farms," said Ryan. Farm Credit Services of America is a statewide sponsor of Annie's Project courses.

For more information contact Ryan Drollette, ISU Farm Management Specialist at 319-337-2145 or  drollett@iastate.edu; or Shannon Bielicke, at the Johnson County Extension office at 319-337-2145 or  Bielicke@iastate.edu.

Managing for Today and Tomorrow is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2011-49400-30584. More information can be found on the Annie's Project website at www.extension.iastate.edu/annie.

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