Cover crops, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program wetlands, saturated buffers and bioreactors all successfully reduce nitrates, said Matt Helmers, Iowa State Extension ag engineer. The Nashua research farm has replicated subsurface drainage plots to evaluate the performance of various in-field management practices. It also has one of the first bioreactors built in Iowa. “It’s possible to meet our …Continue reading “Helmers: Soil erosion can wash out profits”
A common issue with any machinery stored for long periods of time can be especially damaging to electronic components, wiring and sensors, says Iowa State University Extension agricultural engineer Mark Hanna. “It’s probably been 10 or 11 months since you’ve run that machine, so it’s important to watch for rodent damage.”
The series is authored by Iowa State researchers Greg Brenneman, agricultural engineering specialist; Steve Johnson, farm management specialist; Erin Bowers, postdoctorate research associate in agriculture and biosystems engineering; Charles Hurburgh, professor and extension ag health and safety specialist in agriculture and biosystems engineering; Alison Robertson, associate professor and extension specialist in plant pathology and microbiology; …Continue reading “Modules provide education on grain handling, storage safety”
The Fertilizer Institute’s annual 4R Summit kicks off at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 15th at the Hilton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites, 120 West Market Street, in Indianapolis, Ind. It is open to farmers, agribusiness professionals and other stakeholders nationwide. Meeting registration and hotel reservations are available at the 4R website, nutrientstewardship.org, or by calling 800-315-1906. …Continue reading “Helmers to present at Fertilizer Institute’s 4R Summit”
Last week, Gov. Terry Branstad visited Iowa Nutrient Research Center (INRC) field sites at the Iowa State University Ag Engineering/Agronomy Research and Demonstration Farm to sign a proclamation celebrating Soil and Water Conservation Week. The governor and attendees were presented cover crop and bioreactor research at the farm. The Iowa Learning Farms’ Conservation Station served …Continue reading “Gov. Branstad tours INRC projects, emphasizes partnership for conservation success”
The Iowa Chapter of the Honor Society of Agriculture, known as Gamma Sigma Delta, presented awards April 21 to Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni, faculty and students. Two individuals’ accomplishments were recognized with the 2016 Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Award: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Thomas Loynachan, professor …Continue reading “Awards bestowed by Iowa State University Agricultural Honor Society”
Mark Hanna, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension agricultural engineer, and other ISU researchers conducted tractor efficiency trials at seven ISU research and demonstration farms. Here are some of the findings they discovered that you can use in both the short term and the long term.
Iowa State University has done several studies on this in southern and central Iowa, and data collected shows the Edge of Field practice works very well. “Dr. Matt Helmers, who heads this study, is encouraged by what he has seen,” he said. “The practice protects the tile intakes and helping to meet water quality goals, while …Continue reading “Helmers: Looking at responsible land management”
In northwest Iowa, Plymouth County officials responded to a grain bin explosion that injured two workers last week. It took nearly an hour for fire teams to put out the flames. As it happens, it takes the stars aligning to get a grain bin to blow up. A series of five events need to take …Continue reading “Mosher: Grain explosion numbers falling”
Every pass you make across the field with a tillage tool costs you in terms of labor, fuel, and wear-and-tear on equipment. If you can’t justify the cost with a yield increase, it’s time to reevaluate what you’re doing. Mark Hanna, Iowa State University agricultural engineer, recommends some simple on-farm field trials. “In one field …Continue reading “Hanna: Slash tillage”
As the temperature starts to rise, it is a critical time to keep stored corn and soybeans in good condition. Charles Hurburgh, Iowa State University grain quality specialist and professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, says grain was generally of good quality when it was put into the bin last fall. “There were some pockets …Continue reading “Hurburgh: Watch grain quality in bins as temps rise”
In the spring, two types of grain bin safety incidents tend to happen more often, according to Chuck Schwab, Iowa State University Extension safety specialist. Both incidents happen when stored grain wasn’t kept in the best condition or had moisture build up over the winter, he says. In the first scenario, clumps of spoiled grain …Continue reading “Schwab: Tips to safeguard stored grain”
Helmers: Iowa has the methods to do it; but it will take public funds Dr. Matt Helmers, an Iowa State University agriculture and biosystems engineering professor, spoke with members of the ag committee of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Feb. 4, outlining the challenges of farming’s impact of grain farming on water quality and …Continue reading “Helmers: Keeping nitrates on the farm”
An Iowa father and son and a Wisconsin father and son died in July when they were overcome by hydrogen sulfide gas in manure pits. In both cases, one went into the pit to work on or retrieve equipment and was overcome. The others went in to help. Hydrogen sulfide is a serious issue, said …Continue reading “Andersen: Producers alerted to hydrogen sulfide dangers”
Pit foaming creates a dangerous environment for producers, said Dan Andersen, an ag engineer with Iowa State University. He said producers need to check pits often because conditions can change quickly. Andersen said three things are need to create foam — biogas, something to surround the bubble and something to stabilize the bubble. Feeding distillers grains is the …Continue reading “Andersen: Pit foaming continues to endanger pork producers”
