Ag Update

Ag Update collects the most recent news and events related to agriculture from the heart of America.

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Vilsack: USDA should help farmers diversify operations, revenue

1 day ago | agupdate.com | Erin Murphy

By Erin Murphy, Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau INDIANOLA, Iowa — With large farm operations dominating agriculture and small, family farms growing ever smaller in number, Tom Vilsack, the former national ag secretary and Iowa governor, is proposing more sustainable farming practices and partnerships between agriculture and the public and private sectors.
Iowa farmer sues over wind-turbine fires

2 days ago | agupdate.com | Clark Kauffman

By Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch A Cedar County farmer is suing a manufacturer of wind turbines, alleging three turbine fires scattered debris over hundreds of acres of land, damaging his crops. Alan Weets of Mechanicsville is suing Nordex USA, which does business as Acciona Windpower North America and Anchor Wind, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
Conservationist upgrades Iowa family farm

5 days ago | agupdate.com | Tim Kenyon

CASCADE, Iowa — Third-generation farmer Lillie Beringer-Crock is focused on the future. Soon after she graduated in 2018 from Iowa State University, she returned to her family’s Cascade farm in southern Dubuque County, Iowa, near the Jones County border. She lives there with her husband, Brian, and their toddler, Tripp. She rents about 250 acres annually from her parents, John and Sheila Beringer. Brian Crock runs his family’s cattle operation near Tipton.
Gardening back to the basics: the birds and the bees

5 days ago | agupdate.com | Kristen Sindelar

When talking about the birds and the bees of plant reproduction, the stork is not making the delivery. From a scientific standpoint, the process of pollination is complex, involving different types of pollination and pollinators, varying plant structures and perfect timing. Dr. Emily Stine, Nebraska Extension educator based in Scottsbluff, has a more basic definition.
Use safety when driving off-road vehicles

5 days ago | agupdate.com | Pat Melgares |K-State Research

By Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension As weather warms, the use of off-road vehicles becomes more common on farms and ranches. Tawnie Larson, the program manager for the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health program at Kansas State University, said All-Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs, and Utility Task Vehicles, UTVs, are “essential tools on farms and ranches.”“But they also pose significant risks if not used properly,” Larson said.
Fishing from home

5 days ago | agupdate.com | Brent Olson

I admit, this is a lot of bother for a fresh fish. We have a half-acre pond on our farm, dating back to when I was a hog farmer. You don’t want to know what it was used for, just that now, 30 years later, it’s full of fresh clean water. I’ve been toying with the idea of dumping some bluegills in it so I have something to entertain me in my declining years. I understand that Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes, many of which are full of fish.
Beef specialist reflects on evolving industry

6 days ago | agupdate.com | Jeff DeYoung

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of features on Extension livestock specialists. Denise Schwab is proof that it’s more than just a job if you love what you’re doing. Schwab has spent the past 42 years working for Iowa State University Extension, most of that as a beef specialist based in eastern Iowa. “I have always enjoyed working with producers,” she says.
Cut flower farm blooms at FarmHer’s Flora near Fullerton

6 days ago | agupdate.com | Kristen Sindelar

If you enjoy the beauty and aroma of freshly cut flowers but do not have a green thumb, you can still experience picking your own flowers in nature and taking them home to adorn your kitchen table. FarmHer’s Flora is blooming as one of the newest cut flower farms in northeastern Nebraska. Located about 4 miles south of Fullerton, FarmHer’s Flora offers U-Pick flowers amidst the serenity of a farm setting. This is the second season for owner Jess Milby.
Crop scouting important to ID disease early

6 days ago | agupdate.com | Benjamin Herrold

This year’s crop disease concerns are a mix of familiar challenges and emerging threats. Some years, the weather patterns hint at what will be the primary crop diseases in fields, but shifts can make things more complicated. Iowa State University Extension Plant Pathologist Daren Mueller says the last few years have had a lot of weather variation.
Assessing herd performance

6 days ago | agupdate.com | Lisa Moser |K-State Research

By Lisa Moser, K-State Research and Extension When an athlete is aiming to improve their performance, they begin with a starting measurement, and as they train, they continue to assess their abilities to measure progress. For cattle producers, that scorecard may include pregnancy percentages, the number of calves weaned and, in some cases, death loss. This was a topic of discussion on a recent Cattle Chat podcast hosted by faculty at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute.