http://www.IowaFarmer.com/001209/fbgreen.htm

Iowa ag groups form environmental alliance

By Gene Lucht
Iowa Farmer Today

DES MOINES - Some Iowa agricultural groups announced last week formation of
an alliance to coordinate conservation, the environment and water quality.

The alliance was announced during the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation annual
meeting on Nov. 29.

Joining the alliance were Farm Bureau, Agribusiness Association of Iowa,
Iowa Cattlemen's Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Dairy
Products Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Poultry
Association, Iowa Sheep Industry Association, Iowa Soybean Association, and
Iowa Turkey Federation.

The alliance is at least partly the result of work by the Iowa Nutrient
Management Task Force.

That task force, formed in 1999, released its final report last week. Among
its recommendations were formation of the alliance to help farmers and farm
organizations deal with environmental issues.

"Environmental quality and regulations will continue to have a significant
impact on agriculture for many years to come," explained Rippey farmer Roy
Bardole, former Iowa Soybean Association president who headed the Nutrient
Management Task Force.

He said task force members agreed agriculture needs to deal with
environmental issues and to find solutions that are environmentally sound
and economically feasible. That includes continuing to develop and encourage
the use of best-management practices.

The groups hope to develop voluntary, incentive-based programs, Bardole
added.

One area of success this year is with fall anhydrous ammonia applications.

"Some people say that we've had an 80 percent drop in ammonia applications
this fall," said John Hester of Nichols Agriservice, LLC in Nichols.

Hester, a member of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa, conceded the
weather was responsible for some of that drop because soil temperatures
stayed warm for so long.

But he said efforts by the Agribusiness Association and by professional
organizations of crop scouts in the state also helped discourage businesses
from selling anhydrous when soil temperatures were still warm

Most soil scientists do not recommend applying ammonia in the fall until
soil temperatures drop below 50 degrees.

He added high anhydrous ammonia prices probably played little part in the
drop because analysts expect prices to be even higher in the spring. Even
that news may not be all good, according to Bardole.

"Everybody is going to be screaming bloody murder in the spring (when they
try to find the time and the fertilizer for application)," he says.

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