The Raptor Resource Project installed a web cam in an eagle's nest last fall near Decorah, Iowa. My boys have been telling me about the web cam for a couple of weeks and I finally took time to take a look. It is definately worth you time to hop on and take a look. Son #3 said that two eggs have hatched and hopefully the third egg will hatch this week. When I went on the site one of the adults was setting on the nest and I could not see the babies.
Here's the site: http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles
The resettlement of eagles in northeast Iowa is a real testament to the environment improvements made by farmers and industry over the years. I saw my first bald eagle fly over our home in 1985. Now, it is so common place that we hardly even notice unless the eagles actually land in our front yard which has happened more than once. Twentyfive - 30 years ago pesticides were applied at the rate of pounds per acre or quarts per acre. In the last 20 years crop protection product rates have greatly decreased. Today, a lot of crop protection products are applied at ounces per acre and even tenths of ounces per acre. Plus, the products also breakdown quickly so there isn't residue carrying over year to year.
We have been busy delivering seed to customers the past few weeks. I'm sure we will be seeing anhydrous amonia applicators rolling today or tomorrow. Last week we calibrated our applicator. We calibrate our equipment so we do not over apply our nitrogen. We also recheck the tractor GPS auto-steer to make sure we avoid overlaps. By avoiding overlaps we save fuel, nitrogen, time, money, AND it's good for the environment.
Showing posts with label pesticides. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pesticides. Show all posts
Monday, April 4, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Iowa Farmer Today Article
Here is an article about CommonGround that appeared in Iowa Farmer Today this week. Thanks Tim!
Farm Wives Share Experiences
Farm Wives Share Experiences
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| Jill Vander Veen, a farmer from Hartley, talks to customers at a Hy-Vee store in West Des Moines as part of a promotion. IFT photo by Gene Lucht |
Three Iowa farm wives officially kicked off their effort to talk to consumers.
The kickoff event was held at a HyVee grocery store in Des Moines on Feb. 5.
The kickoff event was held at a HyVee grocery store in Des Moines on Feb. 5.
Sara Ross of Minden, Jill Vander Veen of Hartley and Suzanne Shirbroun of Farmersburg say the Common Ground program is way they can share their experiences about farm life and modern production agriculture directly with consumers.
Common Ground is an effort by the Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Corn, the National Corn Growers Association, and the United Soybean Board to spearhead a grassroots campaign to showcase the common values and expectations between farmers and consumers.
Iowa is one of five states to participate in the program. The other states include South Dakota, Nebraska, Indiana and Kentucky.
Even though she grew up in a small community, Ross concedes she did not know the details of production agriculture.
Common Ground is an effort by the Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Corn, the National Corn Growers Association, and the United Soybean Board to spearhead a grassroots campaign to showcase the common values and expectations between farmers and consumers.
Iowa is one of five states to participate in the program. The other states include South Dakota, Nebraska, Indiana and Kentucky.
Even though she grew up in a small community, Ross concedes she did not know the details of production agriculture.
However, after marrying farmer Kevin Ross (see story page 3), she has learned a lot about agriculture in the past five years.
Sara Ross says they are trying to put a face on modern production agriculture and connect with consumers.
“We eat the same food consumers eat,” she says.
With the recent blizzard across the Midwest, Shirbroun notes the media coverage showing people stocking up and having snow days off of work.
However, she adds most livestock farmers were getting prepared for the blizzard by taking care of their livestock.
“There is never a snow day for a farmer,” Ross says.
With a recent Oprah television show talking about beef production, Vander Veen says she would invite the talk show host to visit their farm to watch how they raise beef.
Vander Veen has a 9-year old son. She farms with her husband, Roger. They raise beef cattle, grow mostly corn and a seed dealer.
The couple is the second generation on the same farm, and the fourth generation of farmers in the family. She also is a grain buyer at the Valero Renewable Fuels ethanol plant.
Ross and her husband have a son who was born in this past March. They have a cow-calf operation, grow corn, soybeans and some hay.
Ross works as the marketing manager for The Home Agency, an independent insurance agency owned by her father that specializes in crop insurance.
Shirbroun and her husband, Joe, have three sons: 12, 10 and 6. She is the sixth generation of her family to live and work her home farm.
They grow corn and soybeans and have a seed dealership. She worked an agronomist before farming.
Shirbroun said the group met to brainstorm ideas of what they could do in their areas. Some of the ideas include talking with various groups about agriculture.
Not all the efforts will be in person. Each has a blog to share their experiences.
Before getting involved, Ross said she rarely read a blog. Now, she is reading other blogs as well writing on her own.
She says reading the other blogs is interesting to get a prospective on issues.
The blogs can be found at:
=Ross:
http://www.sarashousehd.blogspot.com/
=Vander Veen: http://www.cornfieldsandtractorwheels.blogspot.com/ and
=Shirbroun: http://suzannecommonground.blogspot.com/.
In addition, the group will be posting videos on You Tube.
The main web site for the group is at: http://www.findourcommonground.com/
Shirbroun notes the overall effort is to reconnect with consumers about where their food comes from.
By 1950, she says 75 percent of the world’s population lived in rural areas. By 2050, 75 percent of the world’s population will live in urban areas.
Sara Ross says they are trying to put a face on modern production agriculture and connect with consumers.
“We eat the same food consumers eat,” she says.
With the recent blizzard across the Midwest, Shirbroun notes the media coverage showing people stocking up and having snow days off of work.
However, she adds most livestock farmers were getting prepared for the blizzard by taking care of their livestock.
“There is never a snow day for a farmer,” Ross says.
With a recent Oprah television show talking about beef production, Vander Veen says she would invite the talk show host to visit their farm to watch how they raise beef.
Vander Veen has a 9-year old son. She farms with her husband, Roger. They raise beef cattle, grow mostly corn and a seed dealer.
The couple is the second generation on the same farm, and the fourth generation of farmers in the family. She also is a grain buyer at the Valero Renewable Fuels ethanol plant.
Ross and her husband have a son who was born in this past March. They have a cow-calf operation, grow corn, soybeans and some hay.
Ross works as the marketing manager for The Home Agency, an independent insurance agency owned by her father that specializes in crop insurance.
Shirbroun and her husband, Joe, have three sons: 12, 10 and 6. She is the sixth generation of her family to live and work her home farm.
They grow corn and soybeans and have a seed dealership. She worked an agronomist before farming.
Shirbroun said the group met to brainstorm ideas of what they could do in their areas. Some of the ideas include talking with various groups about agriculture.
Not all the efforts will be in person. Each has a blog to share their experiences.
Before getting involved, Ross said she rarely read a blog. Now, she is reading other blogs as well writing on her own.
She says reading the other blogs is interesting to get a prospective on issues.
The blogs can be found at:
=Ross:
http://www.sarashousehd.blogspot.com/
=Vander Veen: http://www.cornfieldsandtractorwheels.blogspot.com/ and
=Shirbroun: http://suzannecommonground.blogspot.com/.
In addition, the group will be posting videos on You Tube.
The main web site for the group is at: http://www.findourcommonground.com/
Shirbroun notes the overall effort is to reconnect with consumers about where their food comes from.
By 1950, she says 75 percent of the world’s population lived in rural areas. By 2050, 75 percent of the world’s population will live in urban areas.
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