The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has scheduled six hearings in
January and early February around the state to gather comments on rules
governing manure applications on frozen and snow-covered ground, which are part
of a larger livestock rule package proposed by DNR.
The rules, which were
approved in November by the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission, were
drafted from legislation passed in the 2009 session by the Iowa Legislature and
signed by Gov. Chet Culver.
They limit the application of liquid manure on frozen ground from Feb. 1 to
April 1 and on snow-covered ground from Dec. 21 through April 1. The measure
provided exemptions for farmers facing unusual circumstances, such as weather or
storage capacity limits, to apply manure under a plan approved by the DNR. The
legislation exempts livestock operations that are 500 units or
smaller.
The proposed DNR rules would take effect in the winter of
2010-11.
The schedule for DNR hearings is:
Jan. 12, 4:30 p.m., at the
Orange City Gymnasium, 125 Central Ave. S.E. in Orange City.
Jan. 13,
1:30 p.m., Room 115 at Northeast Iowa Community College, Iowa Highway 150
south of Calmar.
Jan. 15, 11 a.m., at the Wallace State Office
Building Auditorium, 502 E. Ninth St., in Des Moines.
Jan. 15, 4:30
p.m., at the Cass County Community Center, 805 W. 10th St., in
Atlantic.
Jan. 20, 1:30 p.m., at the Marr Park Conservation
Center, 2943 Iowa Highway 92 in Ainsworth.
Feb. 1, 1:30 p.m. at
the North Iowa Area Community College Muse-Norris Conference Center, 500 College
Drive in Mason City.
Crop Advantage Series to discuss soybean aphids
Iowa State University Extension will hold its ninth annual Crop Advantage
Series meetings at 13 locations across Iowa in January.
Erin Hodgson, an
ISU Extension field crop entomologist, will discuss the latest management
strategies against soybean aphids with producers at each meeting. In addition,
each location features a full agenda of topics for attendees.
Advance registration for each location is $35 and includes workshop
materials, lunch and refreshments.
An additional fee is charged for
Certified Crop Advisers credits and private pesticide applicator
recertification.
Registration less than one week before the meeting or at
the door is $45.
Registration materials are available at www.cropadvantage.org or
from local ISU Extension offices.
2010 schedule: Jan. 5, Sheldon; Jan. 6,
Osceola; Jan. 7, Fort Dodge; Jan. 8, Burlington; Jan. 12, Ames; Jan. 13, Mason
City; Jan. 14, Spirit Lake; Jan. 19, Storm Lake; Jan. 20, Ottumwa; Jan. 21,
Cedar Rapids; Jan. 26, Carroll; Jan. 27, Waterloo; Jan. 28, Atlantic.
Crop fairs scheduled throughout state
The Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board will host
14 free crop fairs across Iowa this winter.
"Our crop fairs are an
established tradition for many growers," said Don Mason, who is the groups'
director of grower services.
Go to the Corn Growers Web site at www.iowacorn.org/aspx/Public/HotTopic/HotTopicItem.aspx?item_id=16
for more information.
Dates and locations for the fairs are:
Jan.
5 in Guthrie Center.
Jan. 6 in Cedar Rapids.
Jan. 8 in
Humeston.
Jan. 9 in Burlington.
Jan. 14 in
Fayette.
Jan. 19 in Marshalltown.
Jan. 21 in Missouri
Valley.
Jan. 22 in Bassett.
Feb. 5 in Elkader.
Feb.
5 in Paullina.
Feb. 13 in Wall Lake.
Feb. 18 in Fort
Dodge.
March 3 in Fairfield
March 12 in
Shenandoah.