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.