Crops Committee Report
Dean Stormer, Chairman; Jeff Butler, Recorder

Our session began with an overview, provided by Jeff Butler, of corn and soybean research studies and demonstrations, which were conducted in 2007 at the research farms. Also noted were the studies that ended in 2007. One of the studies ending in 2007, due to departmental changes, was the oat breeders' variety trial. It was noted that members of the committee would like to see the oat variety trial continued in 2008 at either location.
Dr. Kathleen Delate then provided an overview of the studies she had conducted and studies that she would like to continue in 2008. Dr. Delate mentioned an organic cover crop study, a project with AATRA, which could be implemented in August of 2008. Also noted was the possibility of a new Organic No-Till System study. Funding was still an issue at this time and for now this study was tentatively going to take place in NE Iowa.

John Kennicker also noted that he would like to continue his work with dry beans/soybean rust while discontinuing his Blue Corn Breeding Program and Azuki Bean Population Study. At this time, a demonstration was proposed to possibly look at conventional fungicides for rust. This demonstration could possibly be headed by Daren Mueller, ISU extension/plant pathology.

Also brought to the attention of the committee was the continuation of the RoundUp Ready plots. These plots date back at least ten years and may have some merit for looking at weed resistance to glyphosate. John Kennicker noted he would not be available to take on this study, but that he may check with Mike Owen and Bob Hartzler, ISU Dept. of Agronomy, to see if they had interest in these plots.

At this point Jeff Butler provided the committee with a list of possible new studies for the research farms. It was noted that at least one of the studies would require sites on both farms and that some of these studies would fit in very well at the Neely-Kinyon Farm. The emphasis of most of these studies is continuous corn management. The committee agreed that research in corn management was timely and that the research farms should continue to provide and conduct research in these areas. At this time it was also agreed that Dr. Delate should meet at a later time with the Armstrong Farm staff to determine exactly where her proposed studies and the new studies proposed by Jeff Butler would fit at the Neely Kinyon Farm.

The question was posed to Bernie Havlovic if any additional ground was scheduled to be transitioned into organic production. His response was that no additional ground was going to be transitioned to organic production. The question was also posed as to who was going to spearhead the field operations at the Neely-Kinyon farm. Jeff Butler stated that the Armstrong Farm staff (Bernie, Jeff, and Randy Breach) would be traveling to Neely-Kinyon to complete all field operations.

Also of concern was field 650, the old "kura clover" field. Some members had been made aware of concerns of erodibility issues and current land management. This is a highly visible field and ISU/Wallace Foundation should make erosion control a priority. The possibility of placing some switchgrass trials within the field was suggested and will be explored. During our discussion about biomass, the possibility of using alfalfa as an ethanol source was also discussed. This sums up the Crops Committee discussion.

The theme of the committee's discussion was "green", both in terms of money and environment.

Decision-making mechanisms for horticultural crops:
*Is it economically feasible to grow?

• Need detailed budgets from each research project that includes labor time studies.
• What to grow? Financials, climatic conditions in which it is possible
• What are the advantages/disadvantages to growing organically? Do comparisons including economics
• How much to grow? Produce demand including timing issues
• How to grow it better?

Risk/benefits to different marketing approaches:

• Crop insurance for horticultural crops
• Different marketing avenues: community supported agriculture, retail outlets
• Farmer's market, institutional markets and the risk/benefit to each and use of multiple strategies
• Merchandizing research of all types
• Use of cooperatives for small growers

Carbon footprint (this can apply to research beyond horticulture):

• Study the inputs for several crops from planting to consumption to measure carbon footprint including transporting the food to consumer. Look at both energy and water inputs
• Research fertilization practices, especially compost as fertilizer vs. commercial fertilizer

High tunnel:

• Explore multiple uses of high tunnel

New produce:

• Search and find new fruits and vegetables to try
• Find out if you can grow them locally by adapting the environment (i.e. high tunnels)
• Introduce new products to local consumers and measure acceptance

Reducing barriers to growers:

• Need budgets with time studies (see first item)
• Assistance with business plans
• Knowledge of insurance and use of insurance to reduce risk

Energy as an alternative crop:

• Wind generator- could a wind generator be put on N-K Farm and the proceeds be put into a special fund to attract new researchers and projects to the farm.
• Bio-reactor
• Bio-mass tree planning at N-K- Who is in charge and how will that research continue

* Top priority

Ideas and input needs expressed by Dallas Maxwell:

Need ideas for how to modify/extend the beef feeding comparison. Perhaps look at different stocking rates in the buildings, different bunk space, evaluation of water location scale benefits, or other suggestions?

Ideas carried over from 2007:

• Supplementing grazing beef with distillers' grains: continuation of last year's project for another year. (Dr. Morrical has a grad student lined up for this)
• Liquid swine manure application odor assessment and crop utilization economics.

New/expanded ideas:

• Feeding DGS (distillers' grains & solubles) to cows - long term productivity and health effects on cow herd.
• Delivery method for feeding DGS to cows - pellets, feeder types, etc.
• Replacing high quality hay in cow rations as people tend to sell their better quality hay.
• Adjusting cow management to respond to less available pasture and lower quality hay.
• Storing WDGS and MWDGS for small herds - bags, upright silos, trench silos, etc.
• Dry lot options and economics for cow herds.
• Quantifying the value of pasture (helping the cow manager decide how much they can bid)
• Quantifying risks and economics of free choice CDS (distillers' syrup) in lick tanks.
• Feeding CDS: free choice, sprayed on corn stalks, mixed in ground hay, can it be made self-limiting?
• Mixing & processing equipment for using DGS and CDS in cow rations: equipment field day? Using hoop buildings for cow/calf operations: options? Opportunities?
• Early weaning calves into bedded confinement buildings (hoops).
• Hoop confinement for carrying cows/calves between cool season forage in spring and stockpiled forage in fall, in conjunction with improved pasture management.
• Grass finishing beef: economics? Meat quality?
• E.coli and feeding beef DGS: need for more research?
• Meat goat production opportunities - seems to be a growing demand but limited expansion of production - why? More information needed?

Shawn Shouse, ISU FS/Ag Engineering

Winterset 5th & 6th grade students toured the Neely-Kinyon Research Farm to learn about weed management, composting and harmful and beneficial insects and how they relate to organic food production.

Adair-Casey 5th & 6th grade students and Nodaway Valley 5th graders also toured the Neely-Kinyon Research Farm

These field trips were part of Organic Food Production & the Environment Curriculum developed by Henry A Wallace County Life Center and Adair County Extension through an Iowa Department of Natural Resources - REAP Education grant

Andrea Mckern, from ISU's Organic Lab, helps a Nodaway Valley 5th grader
sweep for insects.

Students had the opportunity to view both good & bad insects under the microscope.

Adair-Casey 5th & 6th grade students toured the Neely-Kinyon Research Farm to learn more about weed management, composting, soils and insects. Richard Lensch, soil scientist with Natural Resource Conservation
Service shows students about how soil components, sand silt and clay separate in water.

Shawn Shouse, ISU Ag Engineer taught students about composting and then led students on a compost hunt.

Included at the stops on the wagon tours during the field day were:

• Using Flame Weeders in Vineyards and Specialty Crops – Mike White, ISU Viticulture Specialist & Joe Wallace, Summit Ridge Vineyards;
• Supplement Strategies for Grazing Cattle – Joe Sellers, ISU Livestock Specialist; and Organic Research Plots – Kathleen Delate, ISU Organic Specialist.
• There will be displays in the machine shed, plus walking tours of the nut trees demonstration plot.

Workshops included:

• Cooking with Herbs given by Diane Weiland;
• The Future of Flax given by Mary Wiedenhoeft, Margaret Smith and Kathleen Delate. All three women are involved in various aspects of flax research at Iowa State.
• There are tentative plans for a work-shop on low linolenic soybean production.

The field day was sponsored Adair County Extension, ISU Extension, Practical Farmers of Iowa, and Adair County Farm Bureau.

Neely-Kenyon Farm Manager, Bob Burcham, together with Farmer Laura Krouse and Dr. Kathleen Delate from ISU led a forum at the INCA (Iowa Network for Community Agriculture) Conference discussing the latest organic research, transition issues when coverting from conventional production to organics as well as the different pesticide, herbicide and fungicide programs allowed in organic production. The session mostly concentrated on grain production in long rotations with forage legumes.

Russ BreDahl & Steve Barnhart discuss the forage varieties and growing Kura clover at the forage variety plots.

The Wallace Foundation was formed in 1990 to enhance agricultural research and education for southwest Iowa. A donation of a 160-acre farm in Adair County by Wayne and Margaret Neely in 1994 established the Neely-Kinyon Research Farm. The farm is managed as a satellite of the Armstrong Research Farm.

Since its inception in 1994, Bob Burcham has managed ISU's Neely-Kenyon Organic Research Farm. During this time, the farm has changed from a small catellite research facility for the Armstrong Research Farm to an Organic research farm of national and international importance.

Research and Demonstration

• Organic crops. A 17-acre block of 40 quarter-acre plots is dedicated to organic research. Plant, soil, pest, grain quality and economic performance of organic and conventional systems are studied.
• Soils. The topography of the area makes soil erosion, cropping rotation and tillage research important. There is ongoing monitoring of soil quality for the organic research study.
• Livestock. Researchers study sustainable livestock production. Studies include winter grazing of stockpiled forages and cornstalks, rotational grazing of dairy heifers and pasture improvements.

Facilities

An erosion control structure was completed in 1997 and new fencing was recently constructed.

The Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development serves residents of the following counties:

Adair - Adams - Audubon - Cass - Carroll - Clark
Crawford - Decatur - Fremont - Guthrie - Madison
Mills - Montgomery - Page - Pottawattomie
Ringgold - Shelby - Taylor - Union