1
Regional Meeting February 27, 2013
REGION 5 SPRING REGIONAL MEETING
Cass County Community Center
Atlantic, Iowa
February 27, 2013
The 2013 Spring Regional Meeting for Region 5 was held Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at the Cass County Community Centerin Cass County. CDI President, Jim Frederick, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. with 55 people registered. There was a break for lunch at noon until 12:30 p.m., at which time the meeting resumed.
Welcome
The welcome was given by Jim Frederick, CDI President and the new Executive Director, Clare Lindahl. Those present introduced themselves.
Moving Conservation Forward in the Face of Change: The Role of Conservation Districts of Iowa and Commissioners
Executive Director, Clare Lindahl introduced herself, and gave a brief report of her background to the group. She continue on to explain that the CDI office will be moving into Ankeny in the same building of the Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Society building located at 945 SW Ankeny Road, Suite A, Ankeny Iowa 50021.
She continued on to inform the group that CDI will be going to quarterly reports from the old annual report tradition. She noted that there was an increase of commissioners to the State Capitol this year from last year for Legislative Day at the Capitol. She also said the committee was available for them to meet with, even with the holiday and weather event around that day.
She encourages everyone to get to the Annual Conference in Des Moines. This is another opportunity for our voice to be heard by the legislature. Soil Stewardship Week is April 28-May 5th. She also had a powerpoint presentation that she presented.
The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy: What does it mean for Famers & Districts
Vince Sitzmann, IDALS-DSC, Field Services Bureau Chief presented information on the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy is a science and technology-based framework to assess and reduce nutrients to delivered to Iowa waters and the Gulf of Mexico. It is designed to direct efforts to reduce nutrients in surface water from both point and nonpoint sources in the scientifically supported, reasonable and cost effective manner. The Iowa strategy has been developed in response to the 2008 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan that calls for the 12 states along the Mississippi River to develop strategies to reduce nutrient loading to the Gulf of Mexico.
He continued that the 2.4 million had been set aside by Iowa’s Governor to help start this process. Currently, there is no budget at the IDALS-DSC. State wide strategies will need to be developed with help of districts, along with timelines. A 45% reduction is what is being proposed, and questions have come up of, “Where will they try to start?” and “How are they going to reduce the nutrients?”
Some ideas of how to start is; Water monitoring, CREP sites, edge of field monitoring, No-Till verses regular till systems. There are many comments that came in during the comment period and IDALS-DSC is going through them, to create a draft.
Cover Crops: A Year in Review and the Year Ahead & An Iowa Farmers Perspective on Cover Crops
Conservation Districts of Iowa, Clare Lindahl introduced Dave Schmidt from Audubon to talk about Cover Crops. He spoke on behalf of the Practical Farmers of Iowa and presented a power point on type of cover crops that he used on his own farm and the use of cover crops to help with grazing of his grass fed cattle. He showed pictures of some of the cover crop that you could still see from the winter. He has expressed the importance in his operation of using the cover crops to help with the grazing and not having to find or rent more land to sustain his herds. A brochure from Practical Farmers of Iowa, Cover Crop Business Directory was distributed to the group that listed seed houses, custom sprayers, and aerial applicators. Question about the Insurance of crops, with cover crops on the crop ground was asked. Risk Management states that the cover crop has to be terminated prior to the headed or budded stage, cover crops cannot be hayed or grazed past May 10th, cover crop must be terminated prior to planting by means of herbicide or tillage before spring crop is planted. Grazing is not a means of termination. But each producer should contact their insurance agent to determine insurability.
Clare Lindahl also stated that there were 46 districts that participated in the state cover crops incentive this past year. $277,020.19 was spent on 13,068.48 acres installed. Federal EQIP program also cost shares on cover crops. Contracts can be for 3 years on the same acres. 1 million acres of cover crops were planted in Indiana. Great information can be found out on the Midwest Cover Crop council website.
Farm Bill Update- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Jamie Carpenter, ASTC with the NRCS in Atlantic provided a power point on the continuance of the Farm Bill. He also stated that sequestration is in effect for the government. More information to follow as our congress continues it work on the federal budget. He also stated that he did not see a potential sign up for CSP program in this area. EQIP funding seems to be staying about the same.
Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship-Division of Soil Conservation
Vince Stizmann, IDALS-DSC, Field Services Bureau Chief provided the group with the Soil Conservation and Water Quality Budget Request FY14. He also explained that there are some proposed rule changes for Chapter 10 and Chapter 12 which affects Iowa Financial Incentive Program and Resource Enhancement and Protection program.
State Soil Conservation Committee (SSCC)
Kelly Tobin provided information about the State Soil Conservation Committee and their functions.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Mike McGhee spoke about the value and income generated by Iowa’s Lakes and he described the important work conducted through the DNR’s Lake Restoration Program.
Steve Hopkins reported on the watershed and water quality projects and successes accomplished by the DNR, districts and other partners.
Host Highlight – Cass County
Soil Quality presented by Rick Bednarek
Rick Bednarek, State Soil Scientist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service talked about the soil structure and soil quality. He also did a demonstration on soil quality.
.
Meeting Adjourned
The meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m.
Jana Coughlin, Secretary – Cass County SWCD