Eastern Iowa Farmer Fall 2016

The Eastern Iowa
Farmer
Fall 2016
Penciling
Fair Families:
Tradition, togetherness
and fun build strong
bonds for 4-H’ers.
Bright Idea: Area
farmers are making the
most of natural energy,
including solar power.
New Guy: Young grower
marks the eighth generation
to farm family ground.
Where it goes: After
the harvest, eastern Iowa
grain travels in many ways
to many places.
PROFIT
in a lean year
Local farmers explain how they are
protecting their cash flow
country
Cookin’:
Farm cooks show
you how it’s done!
Four pages of photos featuring your
PLUS: agriculture friends and neighbors!
A Publication of Sycamore Media

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Farmer
The Eastern Iowa Fall 2016
Fair Families:
Tradition, togetherness
and fun build strong
bonds for 4-H’ers.
Bright idea: Area
farmers are making the
most of natural energy,
including solar power.
New Guy: Young grower
marks the eighth generation
to farm family ground.
Where it goes: After
the harvest, eastern Iowa
grain travels in many ways
to many places.
Penciling
PROFIT
in a lean year
Local farmers explain how they are
protecting their cash flow
couNtry
cookiN’:
The Eastern Iowa
Farmer
Sycamore Media President:
Trevis Mayfield
Advertising: Trevis Mayfield, Rosie
Morehead, Luke Renner
Creative Director: Brooke Taylor
Editorial Content: Beau Bowman,
Lowell Carlson, Kelly Gerlach,
Deven King, Tom Lane, Kaitlin Luett,
Nancy Mayfield, Trevis Mayfield,
Kendra Renner, Kristine Tidgren
Photography Content: Nick Joos,
Kelly Gerlach, Deven King,
Trevis Mayfield, Brooke Taylor
Editors: Kelly Gerlach, Larry Lough,
Nancy Mayfield, Trevis Mayfield
Farm cooks show
you how it’s done!
PLuS: agriculture friends and neighbors!
Four pages of photos featuring your
A Publication of Sycamore Media
Published by: Sycamore Media
108 W. Quarry St., Maquoketa, IA
563-652-2441
Cover: Trevis Mayfield, Brooke Taylor
The Eastern Iowa Farmer is a specialty
publication of Sycamore Media Corp., 108
W. Quarry Street, Maquoketa, Iowa 52060,
563-652-2441 or 800-747-7377. No portion of
this publication may be reproduced without the
written consent of the publisher. Ad content is
not the responsibility of Sycamore Media Corp.
The information in this magazine is believed to
be accurate; however, Sycamore Media Corp.
cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy.
Sycamore Media Corp. cannot and will not
be held liable for the quality or performance
of goods and services provided by advertisers
listed in any portion of this magazine.
Message from the Publisher
Here we go again —
thanks to your support
and encouragement
In the first issue of The Eastern Iowa
Farmer, which published in the spring,
I invited all of you to share your
thoughts and opinions about the magazine
as well as your ideas for future stories.
We wanted to know whether you enjoyed
the magazine; we wanted to know whether
you found it
useful; and we
wanted to know
how we could
make it better.
Many of you
took my request
seriously,
calling, emailing
or stopping us
on the street to
tell us what you
thought, and I
Trevis Mayfield,
President
Sycamore Media Corp.
must say it has
been an extremely
gratifying
experience. We
are feeling the love, so thank you very much.
It is rare in our business to create a product
that is so completely well received – especially
on the first try – but The Eastern Iowa
Farmer seems to be an exception.
The issue in your hands right now would
not have happened without your feedback.
Our little company (Sycamore Media,
which publishes newspapers in Bellevue,
DeWitt and Maquoketa) was content with
publishing a single issue this year in the
spring and then expanding to a permanent
two-issue-per-year cycle in 2017. But that
changed after so many of you told us that you
wanted a second issue this fall. We heard it
from a number of advertisers, sources and –
most important of all – the farm families that
received it.
So with your encouragement, we decided
to muscle up and produce another one, and I
sure am glad that we did.
While working on this issue, which is dedicated
to the challenges eastern Iowa farmers
are facing because of the shifting economics
of the industry and how they are overcoming
them, we talked to a lot of growers who have
found ways to gain an edge. Some of them
have been downright creative.
Take, for example Ron Lampe, a Clinton
County farmer who has paid only one electric
bill, totaling a whopping 20 bucks, since
installing solar panels in June of last year.
Lampe’s primary goal was to use solar to
power his grain dryers, but it keeps his household
humming as well.
Lampe also wins the award for the best
sense of humor in this issue; he is pictured on
page 68 wearing a T-shirt that makes it clear
that his wife, Tami, has a sense of humor, too.
Then there’s Dustin Eberhart, a man who
has put real meaning to the notion of making
chicken salad out of chicken (well, you
know). Except in Eberhart’s case, it’s not
chickens that generate the raw material that
fuels his Elwood-based business. It’s cattle
and swine that provide the first phase of his
high-tech process.
Working on this magazine also got us into
Mike Franzen’s basement, and what a place
that is. If you grew up pretending to drive toy
tractors before you were old enough to drive
real ones, it’s a place of dreams.
The basement walls of Franzen’s Monmouth
home are lined with hundreds of toy
tractors and implements of all colors. There
was even an old Oliver, a replica of the tractor
upon which I sat as I pulled a disc many years
ago.
Just as I did in our first issue, I must close
by thanking all of our advertisers, because
without their support, this edition of The
Eastern Iowa Farmer would not exist.
We hope you enjoy it, and let us know
what you think. You can contact us at
EIFarmer@sycamoremedia.net.
Sincerely,
Trevis Mayfield,
Sycamore Media president
8 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

fair families
12 Tradition, togetherness and fun build strong bonds for 4-H’ers
the new guy
30 Young grower takes the reins to the family land as the eighth generation
penciling
profit
42 Local farmers share their approach to making a profit in lean years
sunny
outlook
66 Solar power is helping area producers gain an economic edge
39 Knowing your boundaries
Understanding property line laws important to protecting land
78 Tapping into a natural resource
Manure management firms help farmers take advantage of livestock waste
88 From the back forty to the bluewater
Area corn and soybean growers’ harvest can travel far and wide
92 Country-style cookin’
Farmers’ wives share favorite recipes
105 Ups and downs
Mental health key for families
108 Family. Farms. A way of life.
111 FSA offering marketing loan program
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 9

The Eastern Iowa
Farmer
Directory of advertisers
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71 american mutual insurance
20 anamosa silos
80 Bellevue/preston vet clinic
99 Bellevue state bank
75 brandenburg drainage
53 breeden’s vermeer
36 Cascade lumber
6 Channel seed
74 citizens state bank
114 Clinton national bank
95 Clover Ridge Place
48 county line ag
54 cornelius seed
4 Dale junk
63 deep creek applicators
96 delmar grain service, Inc.
24 deppe bros cattle company
120 DEWITT BANK AND TRUST
59 east central consulting
69 east iowa realty
44 eastern iowa propane
52 eberhart farm center
104 Farm Bureau financial
16 Farm Credit services
60 Fidelity Bank & Trust
2 First Central state bank
86 First trust and savings bank
40 Franzen family tractors
and parts, LLC
98 Gasser true value
22 Heritage mutual insurance
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50 iowa concrete Products
97 J&S Auto specialists
27 k9 comfort
80 keeney welding
47 kruger seeds
91 kunau implement
55 low moor ag service, inc.
25 maquoketa/bellevue lumber
109 maquoketa feeds
103 maquoketa financial group
61 Maquoketa livestock sales
38 maquoketa state bank
11 Mayberry home appliance
58 melissa burken mommsen
23 merschman seeds
102 Mike Steines
24 mike’s body shop
16 miner, gilroy & MEade
57 ohnward farm management
107 Ohnward Tax & Accounting
Business services
82 Ohnward wealth & Retirement
69 Park Farms computer systems
118 Peoples company realty
64 Pioneer seed
29 PMC agri service
83 Preston Ag & Storage
87 RIver valley Cooperative
111 rob-see-co
115 Roeder brothers
106 Roeder implement
100 rotman motor co.
17 ruhl & ruhl - Mike mcmanus
19 Scherrman’s implement
81 Schmidt ag services
59 Schuster & CO PC
84 Schoenthaler, bartelt,
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70 solar planet
56 spain ag service
49 sterling federal bank
15 Stickley electric
62 Sycamore media
85 Tandem Tire
72 the crossroads inspired living
65 the engel agency
14 The insurance group
45 the feed and grain store
26 thiel motors
51 tom & Kevin Grain bin Service
90 US Bank
18 veach diesel & auto repair
28 warthan brothers ford
101 wausau homes
46 welter Seed & honey Co.
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105 White front seed
94 Winkel, Parker & Foster, CPA PC
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fair families
fair families:
a lifestyle designed by
trad
Chance, Montana and Joell Deppe, Britany Reeg, and
John and Nick Deppe take their boer goats for a walk in
the pasture on the family farm northwest of Andrew.
eastern iowa farmer photo / Trevis Mayfield

fair families
dition
Hard work,
friendship
traditions
abound
at fairtime
Chances are for
anyone who grew
up in Iowa, the
county fair was the
foundation of much more than
just summertime fun.
It was where they learned the
value of hard work preparing
for livestock shows or indoor
exhibits.
It was where they made lifelong
friends through 4-H clubs.
And it was part of the fabric
of their family life. Parents
shepherd their kids through the
process, serve as 4-H leaders,
and offer advice from their own
childhood experience. Grandparents
give moral support.
Brothers and sisters encourage
each other on their projects.
And, they all attend the big
event together.
Mary Stevenson understands
how the fair gets into the blood.
“I don’t really remember a
time when the fair wasn’t part
of my life,” she said.
She’s been the secretary/manager
of the Clinton County Fair
for five years. She was a 10-year
4-H member herself, was a 4-H
parent to her three daughters
and son, and a 4-H leader.
“It’s hard to put into words,
but one of the best things about
family involvement in the fair
is how everybody supports each
other,” she said.
It’s tradition.
Meet the Deppes
Each member of the Deppe
family plays a specific role
when the county fair rolls into
town. And if one fails, the rest
are more than willing to remind
them of it – for a long time.

fair families
“My job is to get ’em on the
ground,” said Joelle Deppe,
talking about her family’s cattle
while walking from their goat
barn to their show barn northwest
of Andrew. She cares for
new calves and their mothers.
“The boys, they get them
grown and get the semen,” Joell
said.
“I take care of them on the
feedlot,” said son Montana.
“[Brother] Chance is in charge
of the cows.”
Their brother Austin works
his magic in the show barn. He
also earned naming rights to all
the livestock because, well, “he
does it the best,” Montana said.
Nick, the youngest, “I mow
the grass,” he said, eliciting
a laugh from Montana. In
reality, people seek out Nick,
an eighth-grader at Bellevue
Middle School, for his cattle-grooming
skills.
Dad John – he’s the pickup
man, doing whatever needs to
be done and cleaning up after
eastern iowa farmer photo / Brooke Taylor
Nick Deppe washes his steer for the 4-H cattle show at the county fair.
the boys when they head into
the show ring.
The Deppes’ roles were
forged through at least four
generations of family.
John’s grandfather, Henry
Deppe, started what would become
a family tradition, raising,
exhibiting, breeding, and selling
a purebred Hereford herd.
“My dad, Allan, showed Herefords,”
John said. “He’s the
one that started all this decades
ago.”
Allan met Lucille Peters
through 4-H projects. They
married and began a family cattle
and crop operation in 1946
with purebred and commercial
cows.
John continued that heritage,
exhibiting Herefords and instilling
that passion in his sons.
John and Joell maintain a
500-head cow/calf herd, calving
in April, exercising them,
and working hard on breaking
and grooming before school’s
out.
“I asked John how we’re
going to get it all done when
the boys are gone. John just
said, ‘The boys will be back,’”
Joell said.
So, maybe he was right.
Montana led the way in the
ring. His love of farming and
exhibiting brought him back
home after college, as did the
lessons he learned at the fair.
“I love working with the
animals, especially with the
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14 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

fair families
cattle,” he said. “It’s a different
thing every day.”
Chance returned home to
work and sell seed.
“Preparing and showing at
the fair, you learn the basics
and how to work hard,” Chance
said. “You also meet a lot of
people and make friends.”
Exhibition day is game
day for the Deppes. Despite
Montana and Chance being
college graduates and Austin
being a senior at Kansas State
University, they all converge
on the family farm to help Nick
prepare for the ring.
“Preparing and
showing at the
fair, you learn
the basics and
how to work
hard. You also
meet a lot of
people and
make friends.”
— chance deppe
His brothers offer their years
of wisdom.
“Reset his legs.”
“His ears, Nick, get his ears.”
“Turn him around again.”
But Nick had already honed
his skills by watching them.
There have been temper tantrums
brought on by long days
in the barn mixed with humid,
90-degree temperatures, but
it’s quickly erased by a slap on
their steer or heifer’s back and
a champion handshake from the
judge.
“They’re outside working
with the cattle seven days a
week, washing and blow-drying
them two times a day,” John
said.
“They’ve learned a lot about
the industry,” Joell said of her
sons. “They’re not afraid to talk
to anyone. They have friends
all over the United States, and
they’re very well respected.”
The cattle even go on family
vacations – well, probably because
family vacations revolve
around major livestock shows
in Reno, Nevada; Denver, Colorado;
Fort Worth, Texas; and
Kansas City, Missouri.
Their fair tradition – exhibiting
and, quite often, winning
– led them into a lucrative
business they love.
“Our vision when the boys
started showing Herefords
was they’d make money for
college,” John said.
“When you invest in 4-H
projects, you’re investing in the
future,” John added.
It is. As Deppe Bros. Cattle
Co., they keep the eggs from
their 4-H projects, implant them
in their black stock cows, and
inseminate the cows with semen
from their prize-winning bulls.
They’re selling cattle coast
to coast now.
They hope to soon be selling
certified Hereford beef to
restaurants, including son Jason
Deppe’s Mondo’s Saloon in
Iowa City, making it a farm-totable
operation.
But more important than the
business and money, all the
hard work, the late nights transporting
cattle, and frigid mornings
ensuring calves survived
the cold, forged a close-knit
family bond that no amount of
ill temper, pranks, joking and
occasional grumbling can sever.
Meet the Swantons
In the barns on Clinton
County Fairgrounds a family of
five is full of love – not only
for each other but also for every
facet of the agriculture industry.
Don and Terri Swanton spend
their days running Swanton
Ag Services in Goose Lake,
and their nights working on
livestock with their three boys,
Justin, Collin and Judd.
The Swanton boys are
actively involved in sports, but
find the most joy in working on
and showing livestock. They
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 15

fair families
competitively show Hampshire Suffix
crossed sheep and cattle at local and state
level.
For Don and Terri there was never any
question whether their children would be
involved in 4-H and FFA.
“It’s really quite simple; it’s a family tradition,”
said Don, when asked why he and
Terri started their children in 4-H. They,
along with the boys’ grandparents, have
been involved in the organization for generations.
Terri and Don are involved not
only as show parents, but also as the Goose
Lake Junior Feeders 4-H club leaders.
“What we gained from 4-H is what we
are trying so hard to teach our kids,” Terri
said. She appreciates the morals, ethics and
values that come with the involvement.
Justin, a freshman at Iowa State University
studying animal science/pre-vet,
emphasized that his involvement in 4-H
has helped him become a better version of
himself.
“Through FFA I became a better leader,
speaker and overall communicator,” Justin
said. All three boys have found satisfaction
in various 4-H and FFA education contests,
such as livestock judging, radio broadcast
eastern iowa farmer photo / trevis mayfield
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fair families
“I see the boys outside
sunup to sundown.
They come in stinky,
sweaty and exhausted.
Any show we go to,
it is so rewarding to
see them do what they
love, and showing off
their time spent, no
matter what success
we have doing it.”
— terri swanton
and public speaking events.
Much like Justin, the younger boys find
their involvement setting them on a path
that will hopefully someday lead to a college
degree in some facet of agriculture.
The Swanton family isn’t competitive
at only the county fair, but at the state fair,
too.
“It’s our family vacation,” Justin said.
It’s a chance for the whole family to get
away together, but still do what they love.”
“The level of competition at state fair is
a driving force for our operation to progress,”
Don explained.
Collin, a junior at Northeast High
School, lit up with excitement talking
about the success they’ve had at the state
fair.
“My favorite memory was having
champion and reserve division with ewes
that we raised that allowed us the opportunity
to be in the parade of champions,
which was a really cool experience,” he
said.
The family works together, all embracing
their roles at home in order to better
their stock for the fairs.
Collin’s memory isn’t the only time
Siblings Madison, Grant, Will and
Brooke Lapke groom the cow
and calf pair for showing.
eastern iowa farmer photo / Brooke Taylor
18 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

fair families
the Swantons have felt the adrenalin rush of a
win. More than once the boys have all won sheep
showmanship within their respective age divisions.
Just this past July at the county fair, Justin’s heifer
was in the top five and Collin and Judd swept the
market lamb show with champion and reserve
overall.
Judd, an eighth-grader at Northeast, set the bar
high when talking about his hopes for his family’s
achievements. Right now he is a showman and
head show box organizer, but before his show
career is over he’d ultimately like to win Supreme
Champion in any area of sheep or cattle at the state
fair. Whatever the outcome, he appreciates the
friends he has made and the opportunity to spend
time with them at the fairs. Although everyone in
the family enjoys winning, Terri and Don explain
that’s not all it’s about.
“I see the boys outside sunup to sundown. They
come in stinky, sweaty and exhausted. Any show
we go to, it is so rewarding to see them do what
they love, and showing off their time spent, no
matter what success we have doing it,” Terri said.
Meet the Lapkes
When Grant, Madison, Brooke, and Will Lapke
each reached the fourth grade, they knew exactly
where they would spend their summers.
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 19

fair families
eastern iowa farmer photo / contributed
Will Lapke and his grandmother, Judy Cowell, smile for the
camera. Cowell was involved in 4-H as a child, showing
livestock at the county and state fairs.
At the Jackson County Fair.
It has been part of their family since
they can remember.
“Our mom was a leader, our grandma
was a leader, our great-grandpa was a
leader,” Madison said. “We’ve always
been 4-H leaders.”
Her mother, Bonnie, talked about
why she decided to join 4-H when she
was a fourth-grader.
“My mom and my grandpa were both
leaders for 25 years, each,” she said.
“Fayette County is where I grew up,
and I showed dairy cattle, sheep, and
horses.”
When Bonnie entered high school,
she joined FFA, where she served as
secretary and was a member of the
dairy judging team.
Their father, Tom, was also involved
in 4-H as a kid.
“I showed horses from fourth grade
until 12th grade, and went to the state
fair a couple of times,” the Dunlap,
Iowa, native said. “4-H was a big influence
on me growing up, taught me a lot
of things, and made a lot of friends. My
dad was a 4-H leader, and my mom was
a 4-H leader, too.”
Dunlap, population 1,008, did not
have an FFA chapter. However, if it
had, Tom said, he would’ve been one of
the first to join.
Bonnie also said she enjoys working
on the indoor projects, which has
rubbed off on her daughters, Madison
and Brooke.
Madison and Brooke said their
favorite was a goat meat project called
“Hooked on Chevon.”
“We walked in to be judged, and I
was dressed as a goat and Brooke had
me on a halter,” Madison said.
“We said, ‘Hi, we’re hooked on
chevon; my name is Brooke,’” the recent
Maquoketa High School graduate
chimed in.
“And I’m Ma-a-a-adison,” the Iowa
State sophomore added.
Grant, a 22-year-old MHS alumnus,
is the oldest child in the family. He said
he wasn’t into the indoor projects as the
girls were, but really enjoyed showing
livestock.
“I never really did any of the presentations
for the indoor stuff,” he said.
“But I always loved showing goats and
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fair families
showing cattle at the fair and getting everything
ready and being in the show ring.
That’s what I enjoy.”
He even did some showing outside the
state fair.
Grant showed at the AKSARBEN Stock
Show and Denver Stock Show, as well as
the state fair.
After Grant graduated in 2012, he went
south to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to study
at Oklahoma State University. He is now
working toward a master’s degree in international
agricultural business. He expects
to graduate in May 2017.
He said his involvement in 4-H and FFA
was what shaped his career choice.
“It connected me to the industry, and I
knew the opportunities were out there,”
he said. “4-H had an impact on my future
because of that.”
Madison, 19, graduated from MCHS in
2015. She is a sophomore at Iowa State
University this fall and is double majoring
in global resource systems and agricultural
communications.
“Doing 4-H presentations and FFA
Career Development Events is what led
me to want [agricultural communications]
“It connected me to the industry, and I knew
the opportunities were out there. 4-H had
an impact on my future because of that.”
— grant lapke
as my double major,” she explained. “I
have an internship at the [Jackson County]
Extension Office that I probably wouldn’t
have gotten if I wasn’t in 4-H.”
Brooke, who graduated from MCHS
this year, is attending University of Kansas,
where she plans to major in human
biology and minor in Spanish.
Will, the youngest of the bunch, is in
ninth grade this fall. He shows cattle and
pigs and plans to join FFA at the high
school as soon as he can.
As the Jackson County Fair wound
down, the family of six recalled all of the
good times they’d had together over the
years and shared some of their favorite
memories.
“The good memory is when you get to
the fair, because before the fair is kind of
chaotic and really insane at home,” Grant
said as the rest of the family chuckled.
“Things are going a hundred different
ways, and it’s just chaos. But then you get
down here and you get settled in for the
week, and it’s nice.”
Will has grown into livestock showing.
“When I was younger, I loved coming
here and hanging out, walking around
with my friends, eating funnel cake,” he
joked as he prepared his heifer for the
show that day. “Now, it’s more about the
livestock, which I love. It’s just a lot of
work.”
Madison likes the camaraderie.
“Some of my best friends are from 4-H
that I’ve met at the fair,” Madison said.
“Hanging out in the barns and playing
cards. …”
“And it is always nice when they get a
winner!” Bonnie interjected.
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fair families
eastern iowa farmer photo / deven king
Lexi Delaney spent her time at the Iowa State Fair this year not in the ring, but behind the desk as an intern.
Meet the Delaneys
In an office in the middle of
the hog barn, a unique young
woman spent her state fair as an
Iowa Foundation for Agricultural
Advancement intern in
Des Moines.
But she was no stranger to
the hog barn at the Iowa State
Fair – this is the first time in
about 13 years that neither she
nor her brother exhibited.
Lexi Delaney is a junior at
Iowa State University, where
she has a double major in
animal science and agricultural
communications. She is the
daughter of David and Tami
Delaney of DeWitt.
Her brother, Garrett, started
the family tradition of showing
at the state fair, and last year
Lexi wrapped it up.
With numerous banners and
awards hung up over the years,
they have achieved a success
that is easily recognized at a
state level.
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fair families
In the past five years, one of the Delaney
children has had a hog in the final drive,
and every year was selected in the top 5
overall. This is an impressive achievement,
considering about 1,000 hogs are exhibited
in each of the FFA and 4-H shows.
Delaney’s dad used to raise and sell
show club lambs, but when his kids were
old enough to show, they started exhibiting
hogs. Their journey started at a local level
and would later finish at not only the state
level, but the national level, too.
“We finally made it,” were the words of
the Delaney family after having the Reserve
Overall Hog at the 2014 state fair.
“There is no way I would be where I am
today without the help of my family,” Lexi
said. “We each played such an essential
role in the barn. They do not get enough
credit for all their hard work.”
Lexi might not have hooked up her
trailer full of pigs this year for any fair, but
there is a significant reason for that.
“Three years ago I became allergic to
pigs and pine shavings,” she explained.
“There is no way I would be where I am
today without the help of my family. They do
not get enough credit for all their hard work.”
— lexi delaney
“The issue started out small and progressively
worsened.”
She tried numerous ways to treat the
allergy, but still suffered. Although the
Delaney family knew Lexi’s last showing
years were quickly approaching, they
decided her health as well as internship
opportunities were more important.
Delaney talked in-depth about the
opportunities her show career has had to
offer. Not only has it allowed her to sit as
an at-large director for the National Junior
Swine Association (the largest youth livestock
association in the world with more
than 12,000 members), but it has already
provided contacts for employment opportunities.
This summer she has been the intern for
both Swine Genetics International and the
Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement.
With both of those jobs she has had
the chance to work with some of today’s
industry leaders.
“I was approached by someone I had
previously known through the industry
and showing pigs,” Lexi said. “This is just
proof of how important it is to network and
build relationships with people, because
you never know if they one day could be a
potential employer.”
Although Delaney is done with her show
career and embraces internship opportunities
to advance her résumé, she still misses
the show ring and the nerves that come
with driving a hog in the grand drive.
“Now I get to enjoy shows from the other
side of the ring,” she said, “and watch younger
members’ passion bloom like mine did.”
She expressed her hopes of being
someone to whom today’s exhibitors
can look up.
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 23

fair families
Meet the Furnes
Nicole and Allison Furne have roots
deep in the 4-H community.
Their mother, Julie, who is originally
from Wisconsin, was in 4-H as a kid and
showed just about every animal except
horses.
“It was my favorite thing growing up,”
she said. “So I signed them up, and they
learned to love it.”
Unlike the typical route most young
4-H’ers take, Nicole and Allison were never
Clover Kids, and they did not join 4-H
until Nicole was in sixth grade.
“I think it was sixth grade when we started,”
Nicole said. “We started with just the
horse. I got the horse for my 12th birthday
and joined 4-H so I could show it. After
that we expanded into hogs and rabbits and
the indoor projects.”
Allison then watched her older sister at
the fair for a couple of years before wanting
to do it herself.
“It looked like fun when Nicole was doing
it,” she said. “Being her younger sister,
I always wanted to be like her, so I joined.”
eastern iowa farmer photo / Brooke Taylor
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24 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

fair families
Allison Furne
prepares her
rabbit cages
at the Jackson
County Fair.
Nicole, who graduated from Maquoketa High
School in 2015, is in her second year at Iowa State
University, where she is majoring in animal science.
“When I went to college, everyone was asking
me, ‘What do you see yourself doing when you
grow up?’” the Cyclone said.
“And I always answered that I want to work with
animals, and that’s because of what I’ve done at the
fair all these years,” she said.
Because of her involvement at the fair, Nicole
got an internship at the Jackson County Extension
Office.
“The first part of the summer, we were doing
youth programs, but the next month was all fair,”
she said.
“It’s really cool to see the other side of the fair.
As a 4-H’er, you don’t realize what all goes into
making the fair, the fair.”
The Furnes’ biggest challenge in their 4-H experience
is that they do not live on a farm, but they
live in Maquoketa.
Because of that, Julie said, they received a lot of
support from other 4-H families to help her daughters
excel.
“We’re city people, but my kids show farm
animals,” she said. “So we’ve had the support of so
many 4-H people and community members.
“To do what we’ve done, we’ve had to have so
many people to help, and we’ve been really lucky
to find them.”
Julie said it also was a seasonal activity.
“It was something to keep us busy in the summer,”
she said. “And the fair was the highlight of
the summer. Now we have friends that we see at
the fair, and it’s kind of our family tradition.”
Allison, a junior at Maquoketa Community High
School, has only two more fairs where she will be
eligible to show, but the Furnes don’t think they
will be going anywhere anytime soon.
“I’m on the food stand committee, and it seems
like nobody ever gets off of that,” Julie said. “It’s a
lifetime commitment, so I think we’ll be back.”
Her daughters giggled.
“We’ll be coming every year,” Julie said, “just to
see everybody for that family reunion feeling you
get when you come to the fair.”
The Furnes also attended the Iowa State Fair this
year so Allison could follow in her sister’s footsteps.
“The [state fair] is a lot of fun,” Nicole said.
“It’s a whole different experience. You are more on
your own, and you have to be more independent.”
The experience has passed quickly, Julie said.
“The time goes fast,” she said, looking at her
girls who were once eager little kids begging their
parents for a horse as a birthday present. “Too fast.”
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 25

fair families
Meet the Gents
When Cale and Kaylyn Gent were in
kindergarten, there was no question that
they would join the Clover Kids, a 4-H
club for younger children.
Their father, Skott, had joined the Monmouth
Co-Ed 4-H Club (the first co-ed club
in the county, hence the name) his senior
year of high school.
Mom Christine was in the Preston Jolly
Workers 4-H Club.
“The boys’ club was the Preston Calf
Club, and we were the Preston Jolly Workers,”
the former dairy showman said. “In
the mid-1980s clubs became co-ed. The
Preston clubs consolidated in the 2000s.”
The Gents, who live on the eastern edge
of Jones County, are strong believers that
4-H makes kids try things outside their
comfort zone, while building relationships
with other 4-H’ers.
“The thing about 4-H is that it gets you
out of your bubble,” Christine said. “Like
Kaylyn, it gives her an opportunity to
meet new friends who aren’t in her school
district.”
Kaylyn shows dogs and – her favorite –
goats. She got her first goat, named Kate,
in fifth grade.
“We learned that goats are a little bit
“It’s not always about the quality of
the project, but how you present it.”
— christine gent
harder than [they] look,” her mother said.
“Once they get over about a year old, they
get a little strong.”
Christine and Kaylyn, a senior at Midland
High School in Wyoming, recalled some of
their favorite memories showing goats.
During one show Kaylyn received help
from Wendy Casel, a family friend, who
struggled to control the bigger goat.
“I don’t know what happened, but
Wendy ended up doing a somersault in the
middle of the ring because of the goat!”
Christine said.
Kaylyn won two plaques at the Jackson
County Fair for puppy obedience and most
improved exhibitor with her dog, Zoey, a
black Lab terrier.
Showing canines is a much bigger time
commitment than other animals.
4-H clubs have meetings where dog
show participants must go to work with
other 4-H’ers on training their four-legged
friends. The meetings were held every
Monday for three months, and Kaylyn
missed only once.
Along with her dogs, Kaylyn enjoys indoor
projects, and she has had at least one
project considered for state fair every year
in high school.
Cale, now a sophomore at Iowa State
University, is majoring in agronomy. He
said FFA, more than anything, had shaped
his career choice.
Christine explained that 4-H really helps
to build communication skills.
“It’s not always about the quality of the
project, but how you present it,” she said.
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Young grower marks
the eighth generation
to farm family ground
Will Tubbs can tell you the exact day that he
knew he wanted to farm for the rest of his
life.
It was Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010. He was
a freshman in high school, and he had just attended the
funeral of his great-grandfather, Edward L. “Ed” Tubbs.
Will, who is now 21, couldn’t handle the thought of going
back to classes that afternoon.
It was harvest time, and his dad, Joel Tubbs, and grandpa,
Steve Tubbs, had work to do.
“There was no way I could go back to school. I rode with
my dad on the combine, and my grandpa was out on the
tractor. It was just us three out working in the fields, and I
couldn’t help but think, ‘This is more than just a job.’ The
money is not always certain, but it’s better than just about
any other job I can think of,” he said.
As Will and his dad went back and forth across the field
in a 2002 Case IH 2366 combine, everything clicked, and
Will decided to become the eighth generation of the Tubbs
family to grow grain and raise livestock on the farm that
began in 1854 with 120 acres.
Theirs is one of 940 Heritage Farms in Iowa, a
recognition given to farms that have been owned by the
30 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

Will Tubbs stands in front of the field
he planted this spring on his parents’
family farm just south of Maquoketa.
eastern iowa farmer / brooke taylor

eastern iowa farmer photo / contributed photo
From a young age, Will showed interest in the outdoors and farming. He is the eighth generation of the Tubbs family to continue farming on the family’s property.
same family for 150 years. Iowa also has
more than 19,000 Century Farms, which
have been in the same family for more than
100 years.
It takes hard work and commitment by
families to keep a farm in the same family
for 100 or 150 years, said Iowa Secretary
of Agriculture Bill Northey.
“If you consider all the challenges and
unexpected obstacles each of them would
have had to overcome during their life on
the farm, it gives you a greater appreciation
of the dedication and perseverance of each
of the families being recognized,” he said.
Today three generations of Tubbses farm
more than 1,100 acres and manage 5,000
hogs on Highway 136, just west of Delmar.
Joel is the primary operator; Steve, who
retired last year from farm management
at Maquoketa State Bank, is semi-retired
from farming; and Will helps out during
breaks from school and also rents some 40
acres that he manages on his own.
“Farming is more than just a job to
“This is more than just a job. The money
is not always certain, but it’s better than
just about any other job I can think of.”
— will tubbs
me. It’s better than anything I could ever
think of to do with my life,” said Will,
who began his junior year at Iowa State
University this fall.
Will’s parents (who also have son Jack, a
senior in high school, and daughter Allison,
an eighth-grader) aren’t surprised at his
career choice. His mom, Sara Tubbs, recalls
that he was a kid who loved the outdoors.
When he was 2 or 3 years old, his
parents put a latch on the door high enough
to be out of their oldest son’s reach;
otherwise, he’d be out of the house and
running through the fields.
Continuing a legacy
When you grow up on a working farm,
memories revolve around plantings and
harvests, animals being born and other
milestones.
Joel remembers his grandfather talking
about how he did things when he was a
boy, including having to hitch up horses to
pull equipment.
When Ed was young man, he shared a
tractor with a cousin who lived north of
Maquoketa. It reached top speeds of 4 to 5
miles per hour on the highway, and it took
them almost an entire day to move it back
and forth between their farms.
“They packed a lunch and took turns
driving,” Joel said. When he was young,
he recalls how getting a new piece of
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Joel Tubbs (left) and his father, Steve, share memories of the house they both grew up in along Highway 136 just outside Maquoketa and Delmar.
equipment was quite an event.
“When a new tractor came, that was a
big day. My aunts and uncles came over
to see it. That’s my memory as a kid,” said
Joel, who went into farming full time in
2008.
He was able to do that in large part
because Steve was willing to step aside
and take on a lesser role. It’s something
for which Joel has great appreciation.
“I realize how rare a thing that is,” he
said, adding he knows of cases where
some kids never get the chance to carry on
the family legacy and learn the business
because their parents wouldn’t cede any
control or make room for them.
Steve is still involved with the
operation, hauling corn, driving trucks and
filling in where needed. His institutional
knowledge has allowed continuity in
turning the operation over to Joel. Steve
hopes that someday another Century or
Heritage sign will grace the family fields,
“meaning another 50 to 100 years of
farming on that farmland.”
Will’s involovement can make that a
reality.
As his first foray into managing his own
34 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

ground, he rents land from his grandfather,
a slightly less than 40-acre plot that’s
isolated from the other family ground. He
planted it this spring with corn.
“Will has always been out and running
equipment with us, but this time he gets
to make the decisions,” Joel said. “I let
him run the equipment. I let him make the
mistakes.”
Under a crop share arrangement with
eastern iowa farmer photo / brooke taylor
his grandfather, he has some real skin
in the game this year. Joel couldn’t be
prouder.
“Farming for me is such an emotional
thing,” he said. “I remember when I
planted my first crop. I remember doing it
on my own and making my first mistakes
on my own. I remember thinking about the
legacy and the fact that this is all on my
shoulders now.”
A passion for the job
Some of Will’s earliest memories
are sitting on the tractor with his dad,
following his grandpa and dad around
everywhere they went and helping with
daily chores. He said he saw just how much
they enjoyed farming and how much work
and effort they put into it every day.
“I just saw a real passion in them. It was
something new every day. No two days
were the same, and I love that aspect of
farming,” he said.
At Iowa State, Will is majoring in
agricultural studies, which is a general
overview of farm operations. He enjoys
being able to take what he learns at school
and use it when he’s working on the farm
and then taking his experiences on the farm
and applying them in the classroom.
And everything that Will is doing and
learning is being done with his goals in
mind, as well as his family’s farm and
its longevity. While he has the drive and
passion for farming, he understands the
pressures and risks.
“I let him run the
equipment. I let him
make the mistakes.”
— joel tubbs
“I don’t want to project the idea that
I was forced into this. My parents have
supported me every day. If I wanted to
pick up and leave the country, they would
support me. What I want to do for the rest
of my life is go home and work on the farm
and be with my family every day,” Will
said.
Joel echoes his son, saying, “Farming is
100 percent Will’s choice. He would do it
no matter what.”
Not only does Will want to keep the
physical farm running and operational, he
wants to continue the tradition of being a
good role model and farmer for the next
generation of Tubbs farmers.
“I take pride in my work, I get
satisfaction out of doing what I love to do
and I am just happy with my farm life,” he
said.
A tradition that the family has practiced
for years is “going out for pizza” after the
completion of a task, such as planting or
harvesting. It was a way for the family
to get together and celebrate the fruits of
their labors. Joel remembers doing it as a
kid, and he and Sara have continued the
practice. However, today “going out for
pizza” is code for going out to eat as a
family to celebrate together. n
— kaitlin Luett, eastern iowa farmer
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 35

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www.calt.iastate.edu
SAVE THE
DATE:
A CALT tax seminar
is planned in
Maquoketa
Nov. 2-3, 2016
By Kristine A. Tidgren
Staff Attorney
Center for Agricultural Law & Taxation
Iowa State University
eastern Iowa farmer
Iowa farmland is a valuable asset that
must be protected. While owners may
think about conserving the soil or protecting
their natural resources, they may
not consider protecting their boundary lines.
Although most landowners are generally aware
that Iowa law contains adverse possession or
boundary by acquiescence provisions, they may
not understand the contours of these doctrines
or realize how often they are employed. Boundary
by acquiescence cases, in particular, arise
very frequently in the courts, and unsuspecting
landowners can be caught unaware, sometimes
losing a valuable asset in the process.
Iowa’s boundary by acquiescence doctrine
has been codified in Iowa Code § 650.14. It
states:
If it is found that the boundaries and corners
alleged to have been recognized and acquiesced
in for ten years have been so recognized
and acquiesced in, such recognized boundaries
and corners shall be permanently established.
This means that if adjoining landowners
have treated a fence or other boundary marker
as the boundary line of the properties for a
period of at least 10 years, that fence or other
boundary marker becomes the actual boundary
line. For example, if 12 years ago your
neighbor built a fence that encroaches 10 feet
onto your property and you have done nothing
about it, your neighbor may ask a court to
declare a new boundary by acquiescence. You
can show the judge a survey demonstrating the
encroachment, but at that point, it will not help
your case. If you and your neighbor have both
treated the fence as the property line for at least
10 years, the neighbor will likely prevail. The
judge will declare that fence line to be the new
property line.
Knowing your
boundaries
Understanding property line
laws important to protecting land
The doctrine of boundary by acquiescence
rests on a policy position that boundary disputes
and litigation are lessened where the law
regards long-time apparent boundary lines as
actual boundary lines. Judging by the number
of related cases that arise each year, it is not
clear whether that proposition is entirely true;
however, the law generally favors certainty,
where possible. And, the doctrine, at its core,
seeks to maintain the status quo.
It is important to note that a fence is not required
to establish a boundary by acquiescence.
Although the existence of a fence is the most
straightforward way to prove a new boundary
under the doctrine, courts will consider anything
that definitively marks the boundary line
in some manner.
This can include a hedge, trees, landscaping
material, or even “marked posts” through
which an invisible boundary line runs. The
important thing is that the line is “known,
definite, or certain.” Likewise, it doesn’t matter
whether both landowners actually believe that
the boundary marker is the property line. What
must be shown is that both landowners “acquiesced”
in the boundary line for a period of at
least 10 years. Acquiescence exists when both
parties acknowledge and treat the line as the
boundary.
Proof of a landowner’s inaction is sufficient
to constitute acquiescence. A court can infer
approval from the silence of a party who knows
that the boundary marker is incorrect, yet fails
to dispute it. This is truly a case where a landowner
must speak up.
Once the 10-year period has passed, a
landowner cannot “undo” his or her tacit approval.
The limitations period has run, and the
neighbor can ask a court to establish the new
boundary line. Nonetheless, the new boundary
is not effective absent court action. The
landowner seeking to prove the new boundary
line must ask a court to declare its existence.
page 108
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 39

40 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 41

penciling profit in a lean year
Penciling
profit
in a lean year
Managing input costs and minimizing risk are
crucial to maximizing profit when prices
have been stagnant for a few years in a row.
In these slim times farmers are being more
cautious about not only what they plant and spread on their
fields; they’re also making more conservative choices in
terms of machinery, building plans and land management.
Protecting the cash flow needed to run an operation that
has specific fixed costs is forcing farmers to make other choices, too. For example,
should they lock in early on grain and livestock prices? Should they adjust their
marketing philosophy? Should they sell their grain, or hold on to it for their own
livestock?
Farm management professionals say there is a fine line between trying to
manage costs while still maximizing yield. The down market is especially hard
on people who were just getting by when prices were solid.
Lean times call for even more attention to detail. Here are some ways farmers
in eastern Iowa are working at penciling a profit.

penciling profit in a lean year
Peter
Whitman
Grand Mound
Peter Whitman and his
family don’t only share their
equipment, they work on it
together as well.
eastern iowa farmer photo / Brooke Taylor
Equipment:
Yours, mine
and ours
Sharing machinery key
to family’s cost control
When Whitman
Farms needed to
move a grain bin
some 16 years ago,
its operators knew they needed a
crane.
So they bought one.
But moving the bin wasn’t the
only reason they made the investment.
The crane passed a test they
always use when deciding to expand
their machinery inventory.
“We need to have at least three
reasons why we should buy that
equipment,” said Peter Whitman,
who with his wife, Lydia, farms
along with four other branches of
the Whitman clan just south of
Grand Mound.
They all agree that if they can
do a task that needs to be done on
the farm themselves, they will. But
they’ll buy a piece of equipment
only if they can use it in more ways
than one. So before they bought that
crane, they mapped out other ways
they could use it, including renting
it out.
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 43

penciling profit in a lean year
Peter and Lydia, who met in college
and have been married for 10 years, farm
380 acres, have 30 head of cattle and
also raise ducks and chickens. For young
farmers such as themselves, building an
operation takes years of hard work and the
ability to weather the ups and downs of
the market, particularly times such as now
when grain and livestock prices are down,
input costs are up and margins are tight.
Part of the strategy to succeed, Peter said,
is to diversify their operations. One way
they’ve done that is strategically buying
equipment.
It’s a cornerstone of their business plan.
The different branches of the extended
family team up to buy a particular piece,
which works well on large, expensive
items.
“With equipment prices being high,
we split the cost four ways and pay it off
quicker,” he said, adding that each of them
buying the same equipment on their own
would not be practical or cost efficient.
They also don’t want the long-term debt.
They do custom work with the equipment
when they are not using it on their own
farms, putting their investment to work
by offering a service to other farmers and
earning some income.
Equipment sharing is an innovative way
to strengthen a farm’s business plan, said
Ann Johanns, a program specialist with
Iowa State University Extension. Many
Iowa farmers hire custom machine work
for their farm or perform custom work for
others, she said. Some farmers rent machinery
or perform other services.
“Partnerships on equipment can really
increase efficiency for both sides,” she
said.
Peter considers it part of his job to find
ways to maximize the operation’s expertise
(which includes more than 40 years
of farming knowledge from his father and
uncle) and look for opportunities for new
work. Among the jobs they do are digging
graves, installing sewer systems and tiling,
driving semis, harvesting and baling. They
are always thinking about what other niche
markets they can fill with the equipment
and their know-how.
“Any piece of equipment, we think
‘How can it be used?’ We always look
beyond what we will need a piece of
equipment for and think about how we can
eastern iowa farmer photo /
Brooke Taylor
Lydia Whitman helps maintain equipment
in the off-season, which she says is one
of the keys to controlling costs.
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44 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

penciling profit in a lean year
offer a service to someone
else. The custom work pays
for the equipment,” he said.
They used the same process
when they had a business
meeting to discuss adding two
sprayers to their inventory instead
of one. Just one wasn’t
allowing them to meet the
demand for custom work and
take care of their own needs.
Today, their business also
includes renting hydraulic
lifts and other construction
equipment as well.
Peter’s great-grandfather
Ralph started Whitman
Farms. It grew to encompass
his grandfather Ray (now
deceased), his dad David,
his uncle Wayne, his cousin
Mike, and his brother Bryan,
and now several members of
the next generation.
The operation has more
than a dozen tractors, as
well as several semi-trucks,
numerous implements and
“With equipment prices being
high, we split the cost four
ways and pay it off quicker.”
— Peter whitman
construction equipment. For
the Whitmans, maintenance is
a part of daily life. Something
always needs to be cleaned or
repaired or tuned up or readied
for the next season to keep
the business running.
“Maintenance is the key to
keeping equipment year after
year,” Lydia said.
Peter has a degree from
Iowa State University in agricultural
systems technology,
which gives him a good base
of knowledge from which to
work on equipment that ranges
from simple to high-tech.
The shop, which has
expanded over the years to
include four bays, can handle
anything from a car to a
bulldozer.
Shelves are lined with rows
of boxes containing washers,
bolts, filters, hose connectors,
cords, vise grips and the like.
Shop vacs and tools chests
stand ready and waiting on
the sidelines.
“Something in the shop is
being worked on at all times,”
Peter said.
And that’s OK with them
because their equipment is
their bread and butter.
“We understand the value
of this,” he said. n
— Nancy mayfield,
eastern iowa farmer
Equipment
Sharing Tips
Potential savings exist
in several areas for
sharing equipment:
• Greater annual use of
large-ticket machines
• More efficient use of labor
during peak fieldwork times
• Fewer weather delays
because fields are more
spread out
• Opportunities to do custom
work for other operators or
landowners
• Greater use of individual operator
skills and specialized labor
• More efficient use of
repair and maintenance
tools and facilities
• Volume discounts on
purchases of inputs and
supplies
Source: Iowa State University
Extension and Outreach
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 45

penciling profit in a lean year
Knowing your ‘burn rate’
key to managing cash rents
With more than half of Iowa’s
farmland being rented, farmers on
both sides of the equation are
sensitive to price swings on ground
depending on their leasing arrangement.
After 15 consecutive years of
rental price increases beginning in
1998, prices have dropped for three
straight years, down 6.5 percent in
2016 after a 5 percent decrease the
year before, according the Cash
Rental Rates for Iowa 2016 Survey
done by Iowa State University Extension
and Outreach.
“Cash rents are declining but not
as fast as crop prices,” said Alejandro
Plastina, assistant professor in
economics and extension economist
at ISU. “Prices have dropped for
cash crops by between 50 and 60
percent in the last three years, and
rent has gone down 15 percent.
Profitability in cash-rented acres will
still remain tight despite lower cash
rents in 2016.”
That means landowners and tenants
both need to know the financial
underpinnings of their situations,
including a firm understanding of
costs, leverage, cash reserves, etc.
“It all depends on your burn rate,”
said Ryan Drollette, farm and ag
business management field specialist
with the ISU Extension.
If a tenant is cash renting at the
average rate per acre in the area, is
he or she losing money based on
grain prices and other input costs? If
so, that’s burning up cash reserves or
equity. The question then becomes:
How quickly are you burning those
reserves, and how long can you
sustain that?
Drollette used the analogy of
building a fire with a wet, green log
versus pouring gasoline on top of dry
wood. The results are very different.
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46 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

penciling profit in a lean year
eastern iowa farmer
photo / brooke taylor
Ryan
Drollette
Iowa State University Extension
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 47

penciling profit in a lean year
Overall Average of Typical Cash Rents
Iowa Cash Rental Districts
Corn & soybean acres ($/acre)
2012-1016
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
District 1 $267 $283 $270 $259 $248
District 2 277 294 270 254 243
District 3 266 281 277 273 250
District 4 279 294 288 265 245
District 5 275 297 284 261 239
District 6 252 284 273 255 242
District 7 246 257 249 242 220
District 8 193 210 202 187 183
District 9 217 229 229 217 203
State $252 $270 $260 $246 $230
eastern iowa farmer graphic / Brooke Taylor
SOURCE: Iowa State University Extension & Outreach
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penciling profit in a lean year
Farmers who have no debt on other land
they farm in addition to cash-rented, no
medical bills or other big debts (a slow burn
rate) can withstand the lower grain prices
for a longer time and with less risk than
a farmer who is leveraged or may have a
catastrophic bill to pay (a fast burn rate).
“You have to have the information to
understand your situation,” he said.
In the district that includes Clinton, Jackson,
Jones and Cedar counties, cash rent per
acre reached $284 in 2013 and is down to
$242 this year. It is still slightly higher than
the state averages for comparable years
at $270 and $230, according to extension
data. The prices in the district are impacted
by high rental rates in Scott County, which
are fueled by the demand for limited farm
ground in an urban area as well as its proximity
to grain terminals.
“Cash rent rates get set by demand and
supply in the local area. Is land available?
Is anyone looking for more? It follows the
old economic development principles. If
demand for land is up, price is up. If supply
is down, the price is up,” said Drollette,
who travels the eastern Iowa region
presenting workshops that assist landowners,
farm tenants and other agri-business
professionals with current issues related
to farmland ownership, management and
leasing arrangements.
What a landowner can ultimately charge
per acre in any region may vary from
the average depending upon the size and
shape of the field, whether or not the land
“Prices have dropped for
cash crops by between 50
and 60 percent in the last
three years, and rent has
gone down 15 percent.”
— alejandro plastina
is terraced, waterways on the property and
any extras farmers might be doing for the
landowner, such as mowing, maintaining
fence rows, clearing snow, etc.
Aside from the traditional fixed cash
lease arrangement, three basic types of leases
exist. It pays off to explore the options to
see which one works best for each farmer’s
situation, Drollette said.
Fixed cash lease – tenant pays set
amount of cash rent per acre per year. The
owner has very little financial risk.
Flex lease – typical flex lease agreement
contains a base rent with an option of a
bonus that depends on the actual yields and
the selling prices available during the lease
period. While the total amount of rent may
increase or decrease automatically from
year-to-year based on commodity prices
and yields, there is some certainty about
how much the tenant will pay and the owner
will receive each year.
Crop share – owner pays a portion of
the input costs and receives a share of the
crop and USDA payments for the land used,
but no cash payment. Risks associated with
price and yield variations are shared.
Custom farming – operator supplies all
the labor and equipment needed to produce
crops. Landowner pays other expenses and
receives all crop and USDA payments.
Custom operator receives a fixed payment
per acre from the owner or fixed payment
for each operation performed. Little
financial risk for the operator as the owner
assumes all the risk of yields, prices, and
input costs. n
— Nancy Mayfield, eastern iowa farmer
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 49

penciling profit in a lean year
Attention to cash flow
and liquidity requires
strategic approach
Farming is not an easy business
right now, according to Alejandro
Plastina, assistant professor of
economics at Iowa State University.
“It’s very challenging in these times to pencil out a profit from crop
production,” the extension economist said.
He and other experts agree that Iowa farmers aren’t in another farm
crisis like the 1980s.
“It’s not the wide scale. There are several indications that the situation
is not really bad right now, but it’s getting more and more difficult
to repay debts to other lenders,” said Plastina, who is part of a task
force that tracks the financial stress of the agriculture sector in Iowa.
A major challenge for farmers is cash flow and liquidity, he said.
The information he and other extension representatives have been gathering
anecdotally in their fieldwork suggests that while solvency has
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penciling profit in a lean year
Alejandro
Plastina
Iowa State University
Alejandro Plastina
says in times of tight
pricing it’s important
for farmers to maintain
cash liquidity.
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penciling profit in a lean year
economics of farming are nothing like they
were in the 1980s, when bankruptcies and
foreclosures were common.
Plastina and his colleague Chad Hart,
ISU associate professor of economics and
crop markets specialist extension economist,
came up with a list of important topics for
farmers to consider as ways to protect their
cash flow.
“The idea was to help farmers ask the
right questions and think through the process,”
said Plastina, who outlined the points:
1. Protect working capital.
Take a look at your assets. Is there a piece
of machinery that you acquired recently that
you don’t use or is too big? Do you need to
revise your scale of operations? How can
you take advantage of low tax rates and tax
laws?
2. Avoid cash shortages.
Maintain cash reserves and credit lines
and carefully consider the impact on any
capital expenditures. Think about how you
will deal with an operating loss and/or secure
an operating or emergency loan.
3. Diversify income.
You can hope for better crop prices,
but it’s critical to add, or at least not lose,
nonfarm income. This might mean having a
family member work off the farm or using
farm assets to generate income by doing custom
work, snow removal or truck driving.
4. Revise production costs.
Will you gain or lose from another tillage
pass or herbicide pass? Consult an agronomist
and ask: “Do I really need to do this?
Will it pay off?” Any dime that can be saved
eventually will play a role in loss or profit.
5. Manage risks.
The message here is to know your
break-even prices. Understand your cost
of production. Those who don’t know their
costs are always waiting for prices to go up.
Know how much money goes into producing
each crop so you can estimate cost per acre
and cost per bushel. Then you can compare
cost per bushel with the market and make
marketing decisions very fast.
6. Control lifestyle costs.
Families need to talk about their living
expenses in terms of the need for cash to
maintain the business operation. That may
mean shorter or no vacations, postponing
house remodeling plans or not buying the
latest truck model available. Plastina noted
that 193 fully-owned acres are needed to
maintain $40,000 in living expenses. It can
be challenging when the farm is the main
source of income for the family. It’s important
to maintain living expenses without debt
or dipping into retirement savings.
7. Secure repayment capacity.
The old idea was that with lower crop
prices, short-term loans were easy to repay
in five or seven years. Those calculations
were made with $4.56 dollar corn. With corn
prices hovering around $3.40, it’s getting
tougher and tougher to maintain cash outflow.
Farmers should talk to lenders and see
whether there is a way to restructure loans.
8. Revise the growth strategy.
The best strategy is not the same for
beginning farmers as for someone near
retirement. Look at unproductive assets –
such as land that is not productive or too far
away – and unload them. Use the money to
improve a smaller operation, or, if nothing
else, keep it as a cash reserve.
9. Know your Farm Bill payments.
The payments are not related to individual
yields, but to a county’s yield in the past
five seasons. Local FSA offices can offer
specific information.
— Nancy Mayfield, eastern iowa farmer
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52 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

penciling profit in a lean year
Managing herd health vital to cost control
Dr. Phil
Reemtsma
DeWitt
eastern iowa farmer photo / trevis mayfield
Dr. Phil Reemtsma stresses the importance of having cattle vaccinated as soon as possible, whether the animals are born
on the farm or brought in from outside, as part of good herd management.
Using solid
vaccination
protocols,
proper nutrition and
environmental strategies
when managing
herd health may save
producers money
in the long run by
minimizing future
treatment costs.
Other annual care
tactics also influence
performance.
While maximizing potential
profit is important for
all livestock feeders, issues
within each species may vary
in terms of herd health plans.
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 53

penciling profit in a lean year
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Dr. Phil Reemtsma, veterinarian
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farmers manage cattle herd
health.
Taking precautionary measures
and practicing good herd
management, both for cow/calf
operations and feedlots, can reduce
expenses, said Reemtsma,
who is the current president of
the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.
Some of these strategies
apply to both situations, while
others are more pertinent in a
cow/calf operation.
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The important thing to
remember for both sectors is
that health is a factor as soon as
cattle hit the ground on a farm,
whether they are born at the
operation or arrive there later.
A vital part of managing herd
health is to develop with your
veterinarian a good vaccination
program for cattle as soon as
they get to your farm, especially
if they are coming from
multiple locations.
With cattle prices at a low,
some producers are finding success
in being “price sensitive
about products and attempting
to do more of the vaccinations
on their own,” Reemtsma said.
However, he does not recommend
trying to use cheaper
products. It’s important to analyze
the situation and use the
best product in terms of value
in relation to the problem occurring
within your operation.
Your veterinarian should
know the most cost effective
and best products available for
your operation.
Although drug prices have
not come down with market
prices, some pharmaceutical
companies offer a rebate
program. The programs may
vary from company to company;
however, a vet should have
information on what rebates
farmers are eligible to take
advantage of.
For most cow/calf operations
it is valuable to have a vet
check the semen quality of the
herd bull. In fact, Reemtsma insists
this is a “cheap insurance
policy,” as today’s cattlemen
cannot afford to have a bull
who is not fertile or has low
quality semen. A bull’s age and
body condition score can have
a huge impact on his semen
quality.
“After running the bull with
females for the recommended
time of 65 days, to ensure a
two-month calving window,
it’s important to preg check
or ultrasound your females,”
Reemtsma said. By doing this,
farmers can better predict the
calving period and reduce the
amount of disease cows and
newborns may be exposed to
by grouping cows according to
their estimated calving date.
This is especially important
to remember the last third of
calving season. Calving areas
should be cleaned periodically
in order to reduce buildup of
bacteria and pathogens.
Preg checking or ultrasounding
also brings value
from a feeding standpoint.
With today’s market, producers
“shouldn’t feed females
throughout the winter if they
are not going to return a calf,”
Reemtsma said.
Once non-pregnant cows are
shipped, farmers may consider
investing back into their herd.
“Invest into genetics; this
may include using artificial insemination
or embryo transfer
in your cow herd, or even buying
a better bull,” Reemtsma
said. A high production herd is
54 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

penciling profit in a lean year
more valuable not only for its
genetics but also for the efficiency
it may offer.
Feedlot operators may want to
keep that in mind when buying
calves. Cattle that come from an
efficiency-driven pedigree may be
quicker to turn profit.
Managing nutrition is an
important part of herd health,
too. Farmers must know what
they are feeding and for what
purpose. As new regulations are
scheduled to take effect late this
winter regarding antibiotic intake,
the discussion of antibiotic use in
cattle maybe more popular than
ever among cattleman.
“Antibiotic use in feed will
change in several ways, including
how to get the drug, what it
can be used for and the amount
that can be given. Not only will
producers need a veterinary feed
directive (VFD), but they also
will have to follow the label use
for both dosage and use of product,”
Reemtsma said.
The biggest takeaway for
producers in this discussion, “is
to have a veterinarian that knows
your operation, if you don’t have
one already,” Reemtsma said.
The process will be relatively
straight-forward for a producer.
A farmer will get a VFD from the
veterinarian. It will be valid for a
certain amount of time, and upon
expiration he or she will simply
have to get another one.
Farmers will still be able to use
bottled antibiotics and dewormers
as their operations always have.
Implementing these health
management practices is the first
step to improving the overall efficiency
and profitability of a beef
cattle operation. Every situation is
different, and what works for one
herd may not work for others. Begin
by identifying the goals of the
farm, and then explore the options
available to obtain these goals and
select the options that generate
the healthiest and most logical
outcome for your operation. n
— deven king,
eastern iowa farmer
Following
good practices
tempers the
unpredictable
In an industry where market forces
can impact prices and practices,
cattle feeders must strategize to
work with the unpredictable.
“Economists spend a lot of time looking at supply
and demand in the cattle industry. It’s almost impossible
to make predictions, due to so many factors outside of
agriculture,” said Daniel Shike, assistant animal science
professor at the University of Illinois.
It’s no surprise that when beef cattle prices got so high
in 2014, they were going to have to come back down.
Ted and Sharon Witt,
Owners
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 55

penciling profit in a lean year
eastern iowa farmer photo / Brooke Taylor
It’s important for cattle producrs to follow good, basic practices to manage health and environmental factors, said Tracy
Coffland, local animal nutrition beef cattle specialist for Purina®.
Prices dropped 30 percent in
the fall of 2015 and have gotten
even lower this fall.
“The drought that occurred
in 2012 and before caused
cow numbers to go down. This
resulted in fewer cattle on feed.
The low cattle on feed numbers
caused higher prices – low
supply and high demand. In
response to high prices cattle
feeders fed cattle to heavier
weights to meet the demand.
As the supply grew, the prices
began to fall,” explained Shike.
Although cattle markets can
be unpredictable, it’s important
to follow good, basic practices
to manage health and environmental
factors.
“Manage your cattle to maximize
performance. Feed a balanced
diet to meet their needs
for maintenance and growth.
Cutting back on energy, protein,
vitamins and minerals will
result in a loss of performance,”
Shike said.
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56 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

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ohnward Farm
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Greg Bopes and
Dean engel
Constant communication
Executed with detailed reports,
personal phone calls, and regular visits
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professional accounting
Including monthly and annual financial
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Collaboration
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Customer satisfaction
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penciling profit in a lean year
Herd health affects efficiency as well, he
said. “Any health setbacks can ruin good
genetics in a hurry,” Shike said. Problems that
occur in cattle early on may cause problems
later in the feeding period.
That’s why it’s important to look at value-added
cattle as an option. Consider a
valued genetic makeup when buying feeders,
and also consider cattle that come from good
prior management in terms of starter diets and
vaccinations.
“A good starter program from weaning is
a appealing from a marketing standpoint,”
agreed Tracy Coffland, local animal nutrition
beef cattle specialist for Purina®.
From starting cattle to finishing them, it’s
also important to use good bunk management.
“It’s harder for smaller guys to continuously
feed cattle because more times than not they
hold another job, too,” Coffland said. This
makes feeding strategies especially important.
“Bunk management is important to insure
cattle have a fresh consistent feed supply,”
Shike said, adding that it’s important to not
increase feed availability too rapidly.
“Very consistent feed intake, will gradually
increase performance and growth will be better.
Not starving or gorging the cattle will reduce
risk of cattle going on and off feed,” he said.
“Keep feed and water fresh in order to insure
cattle are making the trip back to the bunk,”
Coffland suggested. “Having feed periodically
brought out from the mill may help ensure
freshness,” he added.
However, each operation may find a different
system of feeding that works based on their
dietary plans.
For the past few years (2013-2015) the
weight of killed cattle spiked dramatically.
That number may have plateaued now, Shike
said.
As of August 2016, Beef production, at
2.02 billion pounds, was 1 percent below the
previous year. According to the USDA, Cattle
slaughter totaled 2.48 million head, down
1 percent from July 2015. The average live
weight was down 1pound from the previous
year, at 1,345 pounds.
“Beef may not be high enough to have cattle
on feed for extra days. Every operation is a
little different, some may be capable of going
to heavier weights,” he said.
Regardless of feeding plans or cattle cost
it is essential to keep good documentation in
order to best understand when to market your
cattle to reach maximum revenue. n
— deven king,
eastern iowa farmer
Daniel Shike from the University of Illinois
said the cattle industry is influenced by
many factors outside of agriculture.
It’s never too early to plan
for your family’s future.
Melissa Burken Mommsen, attorney
and farm owner, knows what it means
to keep your farm in the family.
Let her help your family prepare for the future.
• Estate Planning
• Sales Transactions
• General Agriculture Law
Melissa Burken Mommsen
Attorney At Law P.C. • Preston, IA • 563-689-3456
58 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

penciling profit in a lean year
Slow and steady
approach wins
the grain race
Timing the grain market to hit the top price for corn or
soybeans is every producer’s dream, but a “slow and
steady” approach makes more sense and will yield
better results over the long haul, said Chad Hart, a grain
marketing economist.
“The one big sale, yes, if you time it right, it can do wonders for
you, but if not, you’ve got nothing,” said Hart, who also is an assistant
professor of economics in Iowa State University’s College
of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Marketing 5 to 10 percent of your crop at a time is one approach
he advises to help spread the risk and also allow the flexibility to
take advantage of market opportunities.
“Over the next year, given the projected size of this year’s crop,
the low prices are going to be with us for a while. Get though this
year and next year, and it will get much better,” said Hart, who
analyzes grain, forage and energy crop markets and their interaction
with the rest of the economy, then coordinates with extension
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 59

penciling profit in a lean year
Chad Hart, a grain marketing
economist, said farmers need
to know production costs to
make good marketing choices.
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farmers across the state.
To make the best grain marketing decisions,
farmers must know their production costs, he
stressed.
That number won’t be the same for everyone.
“How do you know a good price if you don’t
know your basis. If you know your production
cost, you can meet that and at least break even or
possibly be profitable,” he said.
“This year that has been a challenge. For the
most part prices have been lower than costs. It’s
tight if not negative in terms of margins for crops
out there. Knowing production cost helps,” he
said. “As price moves that can help trigger sales
and you can see opportunities. And even in years
like this opportunities arise.”
Prices in Iowa tend to be the highest in April,
May and June, Hart said, at a time when farmers
aren’t necessarily looking to sell their crop because
they are busy. But pre-harvest selling can play out
well, as farmers can make sales in that window and
know they don’t have to deliver until harvest time.
“It also gives us an avenue as we sit here in September
and look toward next year,” he said.
There’s also the option of storing grain, which
takes away the risk of selling pre-harvest.
“What you have to look at is whether it is worth
the time and cost risk to hold the crops until next
year. You must look at production costs and storage
costs,” he said.
He’s done a lot of research
on the psychology
of a person who
goes to market, and he
notes the greed-fearego
cycle that comes
into play:
Greed – you want to
get the highest price.
Ego – you want to get
the highest price. and
tell neighbors that you
got it.
Fear – once the price
is dropping, you have to
sell at a price lower than your neighbor received.
“It locks us into thinking that we need to get the
highest price. Nobody can get that. You are lucky
if you can do that once in several years,” Hart said.
“You need to keep going back to your production
costs. Rather than trying to time the highest price,
look at production and know where your line is.”
That strategy will keep a farmer in the game
long-term.
“Rather than trying to hit a home run, the more
prudent thing to do is to start eking out a few singles,”
he said. n
— Nancy Mayfield, eastern iowa farmer
Stay in the
know with
agriculture
website
One resource for
determining production
costs is Ag Decision
Maker, a decision-oriented
agricultural business
website that showcases
new and emerging issues
within farm management.
It provides up-to-date
information from
agricultural economists
at Iowa State University
and other Midwest
universities and
institutions. Among its
many features are tools
for online computation.
Figures can be entered
into a spreadsheet
to analyze individual
situations. Visit it at
extension.iastate.edu/
agdm
Y
M
L
S
B
1
B
C
S
S
— Serving you in 18 communitieS including —
AnAmosA • Bellevue • CAsCAde • duBuque • dyersville • epworth • lAmotte
luxemBurg • mAquoketA • montiCello • peostA • worthington
60 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

36
Years
of being
your trusted
livestock
auctioneer
Maquoketa
Livestock
Sales, Corp.
BoB Larkey, owner
18140 33rd Street | Maquoketa, IA 52060
Barn: 563-652-5674
Cell: 563-357-0113
Sale Hours: Wednesday 11 a.m.
Special Winter Saturday Sales 11 a.m.
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 61

News editor
w ek’s i sue.
News editor
future.”
game.
9-1-16 8/29/16 2:57 PM Page 1
Hometown
Join Jamie Hostetler of Be levue for a
Pasture Field Day on the farm on Friday,
September 9, starting at n on. The event wi l
be located at 18 13 362nd Avenue,
Be levue.
Nationa ly recognized experts, Gabe
Brown, Gerald Fry and Steve Campbe l wi l
be teaching br eding strategies, linear measurement,
bu l selection, the optimum cow
and soil and gra s managemen that regenerates
your farm. Learn more about a gra s fed
b ef operation; rotational grazing and tour
Hostetler’s farm.
Lunch wi l be served at n on with field
day activities to fo low. Cost is $50 for the
lunch and field day. A ribeye su per and networking
from 5-7 p.m. is an option for an
a ditional $25. For more information please
contact Sarah a the Red Devon A sociation,
29-516-0394.
The Rotary Club of Be levue is hosting a
community-wide bl od drive on Tuesday,
September 6 from 1 to 6 p.m. a the First
Presbyterian Church at 305 Market Str et in
Be levue. Those wishing to donate should
eat a healthy meal and drink an extra 16-
ounce gla s of water or other fluids before
donating. For an a pointment, ca l 1-8 0-
7 3-2767 or go to redcro s.org. Walk-ins are
also welcome.
The Be levue Women’s Bowling League
is s eking bowlers for the Tuesday morning
league at Horizon Ha l. The league starts on
Tuesday, Sept. 6. Those interested in joining
up for a fun and active time are encouraged
to ca l Janice Jackson of Be levue at 563-
872-3276.
to October. The Legion, however i sti l taking
a plications for those who would like to
purchase a paver in honor of a veteran.
Those interested should ca l Maurice
Anderson at (563) 451-69 7 or Leonard
Ernst at (563) 495-0875.
By DAVID NAMANNY
Be levue Herald-Leader
su ce sful with an Iowa Revolving Loan Fund
in Be levue’s tap water su ply.
grant request.
By DAVID NAMANNY
Be levue Herald-Leader
cha lenge that claim.
and folks are once again expected to flock
here from far and wide.
overnight in giant c okers.
and has become quite popular.
event.
A cording to Head Pork Roaster John
Continued on page 3
90 percent of radium would be removed.
water standards, a set forth by the State of
Continued on page 2
St. Joseph’s 2016 Pork Roast wi l be held
Sunday, Sept. 4 in Be levue. The day begins
with a Polka Ma s at 10:15 a.m. featuring the
ever-popular Sieverding Band from Be levue.
Lunch wi l be served from 1 a.m. to 2:30
p.m., with seating in the air conditioned MEC.
As we l as pork roast, patrons can enjoy
German potato salad, baked potatoes, baked
beans, cole slaw, a ple sauce, de sert and
beverages. Pork sandwiches wi l be continued
to be available until 6 p.m.
Live music and entertainment wi l be available
for a l ages, as we l as children’s activities,
live and silent auctions and ra fle drawings.
Bingo games wi l be played while folks can also
shop a the ma sive Country Store. A beverage
garden and b er tent wi l also be part of the
event. Pork meals ca ryouts are available and
meals can be delivered in Be levue for those
who ca not a tend. Please ca l 872-3234 by 2
p.m. on Friday to ensure Sunday delivery.
News Editor
Maquoketa.
night.
organizers.
cla sic rock.
Page 9
This pile of
ba ricades
lies on the
Qua ry and
intersection
Sta f Writer
Center.
funds.
Sta f Writer
eric PaPe
Ag Bytes
Fed advisor to share
economic outlook
Ohnward Financial Advisor Services and
the Ohnward family of banks will host the
2017 Economic Summit on Monday, March
27, 2017, at TYCOGA
Winery, Highway 61 at
195th Street in DeWitt.
William Strauss, a
senior economist and
economic advisor at
the Federal Reserve
Bank in Chicago, will
william strauss
be the featured speaker.
Strauss, who joined
the Federal Reserve in 1982, analyzes the
performance of both the Midwest economy
and the manufacturing sector. He has been
interviewed on many television and radio
shows and quoted in major business magazines
and newspapers. He also provides
testimony about manufacturing issues to
the U.S. Senate.
For information, call 866-320-6327
Nutrient reduction teams
with development groups
A broad cross-section of leaders within
and outside the agriculture industry are
working with Iowa government to help identify
potential economic development opportunities
associated with achieving the goals
of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.
“Many of the ag businesses located in
Iowa and doing business here are already
leading the way in integrating water quality
efforts into their business and bringing new
tools to farmers to help them keep nutrients
on their farm. This new effort is focused
on seeing if there are opportunities to support
additional business development as
we continue to scale-up efforts to improve
water quality and maintain the tremendous
productivity of Iowa agriculture,” said Bill
Northey, Iowa secretary of agriculture, in
announcing the effort with Iowa Agriculture
Water Alliance (IAWA) this fall.
It will identify current gaps in conservation/business
infrastructure and develop an
action plan focused on accelerated implementation
of conservation practices focused
on water quality. The plan will focus on identifying
economic drivers and market-based
solutions to improving water quality and
quantifying both the public and private benefits
associated with successful implementation
of water quality practices.
Seminars help prepare
for succession plan
Returning to the Farm Seminar (formerly
known as Ag Link) is a four-day seminar
for farm families to develop a succession
plan. The next two-session program will be
held in January and February. These sessions
are for farm families bringing the next
generation back to the farm to live and work.
All family members are encouraged to attend.
• Session 1: Jan. 13 and 14 at Gateway
Hotel and Conference Center, Ames.
• Session 2: Feb. 10 and 11 at Gateway
Hotel and Conference Center, Ames.
Sycamore Media
Mail: 108 W. Quarry St., Maquoketa, Iowa, 52060-2244 Phone: (563)652-2441
specialty publicatioNs:
• The eastern iowa Farmer
• country Life
• Home improvement
• Bliss Wedding guide
• Summer Fun
Farmer
The Eastern Iowa Spring 2016
Out front: Jackson
County grower on the
hyper edge of new
technologies
Eat up: Favorite
places where growers
talk shop over eggs
and bacon in your
neck of the woods
Ag youth: Clinton
County FFA leader
has created a culture
of greatness
Who we are: All new,
completely local agriculture
magazine launches to help
connect eastern Iowa’s
farming communities
PLUS:
How do
you
maximize
your yield?
Local farmers share
their approach
Four pages of photos featuring your
agriculture friends and neighbors!
A Publication of Sycamore Media
Fair Families:
Tradition, togetherness
and fun build strong
bonds for 4-H’ers.
Bright idea: Area
farmers are making the
most of natural energy,
including solar power.
New Guy: Young grower
takes the reins to the family
land as the eighth generation.
Where it goes: After
the harvest, eastern Iowa
grain travels in many ways
to many places.
62 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016
The Eastern Iowa Fall 2016
Farmer
PLuS: agriculture friends and neighbors!
Penciling
PROFIT
in a lean year
Local farmers explain how they are
protecting their cash flow
couNtry
cookiN’:
Farm cooks show
you how it’s done!
Four pages of photos featuring your
A Publication of Sycamore Media
Newspaper publicatioNs:
• The DeWitt Observer
• Bellevue Herald-Leader
• Maquoketa Sentinel-Press
Residents celebrate
Goose Lake Fun Day,
Page 10
Plan offers city direction
for making improvements
By Tom Pantera
tpantera@dewi tobserver.com
The comprehensive plan recently
approved by the DeWi t City Commi sion
isn’t exactly etched in stone, and it isn’t
Paintless Dent Removal
Frame Straightening
432 Industrial St.• 563-659-1957
C om e s e u s f o r a l y ou r c o lis ion re pa ir n ed s
Sabers ra ly twice,
Page 11
exactly a wish list.
“Most communities have a comprehensive
plan,” City Administrator Steve
Lindner said. “It is your high-level planning
document for the city, particularly
when it comes to land use and future
development. It shows your progre s to
that point, bu the purpose is to look forward
to what you’d wan to happen in the
•A l work guaranteed
• Insurance work
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Owner — Jason Fuglsang
newspaper of
Audrey Hatheway
of Charlo te
Wednesday, June 29, 2016 • DeWi t, IA • Volume 152, Number 102 • USPS 150-400 • 20 pages plu supplements • Single copy $1.25
Half a century later, memories still vivid of St. Joe’s unofficial city title
BIG
GAME
FOR A
SMALL
TOWN
By Tom Pantera
tpantera@dewi tobserver.com
The city has had a similar plan since
1964; it was updated in 1976, 1991 and
1996. The latest update began more than
two years ago.
The plan as updated 10 years ago
“worked we l,” Lindner said. “The growth
that we had for the most part made sense,
reflected community values, a combination
of residential growth and industrialcommercial
growth that was manageable,
SOCCER STARS
SEE STORY ON PAGES 12 & 13
BRIEFLY
Pasture Field
Day in Bellevue
Rotary to host
Blood Drive
For DeWi t, the Feb. 24, 1965, basketba
l game betw en St. Joe’s and
Central Community High School was
the biggest of big deals.
How big? In its Feb. 25 i sue, The
Observe ran a front-page apology to
explain that its production schedule –
the paper was being printed as the
game was going on – wouldn’t a low
publication of the results until the next
Of course, the game itself was a rare
thing. It was the firs time the teams
coming within a point of tying the when St. Joe’s won its firs tournament mind is that you’re ou there to play a
had played each other in at least 30
score.
game (he doesn’t remember the opponent).
Going into the tournament, “A l I te ling them. “You’ve got a job to do
basketba l game,” he remembered
years, if not ever.
When the final whistle blew, St. Joe’s
And while it was part of the district
came out on top, 50-44. The War wanted to do was win that first game,” out on that court.”
tournament played in Clinton, folks
Eagles were rewarded a w ek later with he said. A soon as that was a complished,
he realized the stage wa set and star player Ron Blunck, he says.
Job one was to stop Central captain
here considered it a sort of uno ficial
a team picture on The Observer’s front
city championship game.
page.
for a hometown matchup.
“Our main feature was to make sure
The teams were never more than six
More than a half-century later, if When tipo f time came around, it that Ronnie Blunck was always guarded,”
he coach said. “We had to work on
points apart during th entire game.
you’re a St. Joe’s fan, the memory sti l was evident this wasn’t just another
A th end of the first quarter, Central
warms; it even warms if you’re a
him th entire game.”
trailed 12-6, but by halftime the score
Central person, although perhaps a bit “The crowd there was just unbelievable,”
Trompete reca led. “The whole body knew were the high stakes – it
Other than that – and what every-
was kno ted at 18. It was a cautiously
le s.
played half, with few shots taken.
Now 80, St. Joe’s coach Bi l town was there. It was a great f eling was a normal, if hard-fought contest.
By the end of the third quarter, St.
Trompeter was in what would be his a l night long for that game.”
And when it was over?
Joe’s was back on top 32-29. In the
second-to-last year a the high school, He said he gave the boys the standard
pre-game pep talk: a l busine s.
“Inside, I felt great for th entire
final period, Central fought back, twice
which closed after the next school year.
The stage wa set for the big game “One thing you have to k ep in
Seeking bowlers
for ladies league
Observer photo by Trevis Mayfield
Bi l Trompeter, coach of St. Joseph War Eagles in 1965, in his home gymnasium
“The crowd there was just unbelievable. The whole town was there. It was a great feeling a l night long for that game.”
Memorial Pavers
still available
> Turn to BIG GAME on Page 15
A cording to Be levue Legion Post #273
members, a proximately 6 0 pavers honoring
veterans with local ties have b en sold
for the new Veterans Memorial Plaza which
wi l be constructed just north of Subway.
Pavers should be put in place sometime prior
yet provided additional tax base.”
Sti l, after 10 years, it was time for
another update.
A big part of the proce s for the latest
update was garnering community input to
obtain a list of priorities for the city’s
growth. A series of public m etings was
held to ge that; while a tendance was not
> Turn to PLAN on Page 3
Public helps to map growth of DeWitt
MarkeTing ServiceS:
• creative Services
• Brochures
• custom Design/Photography
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Bellevue
Herald-Leader
Volume 147 No. 35 ■ Be levue, Iowa ■ 24 pages - plus supplements ■ September 1, 2016 ■ $1.00 per copy
Phone 563-872-4159 • Fax 563-872-4298 • E-mail: bhleader@be levueheraldleader.com • www.be levueheraldleader.com
$1.7 million plan proposed
City applies for forgiveable loan to solve water woes
to prepare the paperwork for a $1.7 mi lion
funding request from the revolving loan fund
The City of Be levue may have a l its drinking
water woe solved in the near future if
to construct a new water treatment and filtration
facility to eliminate high levels of radium
The Board of Be levue Municipal Utilities
last w ek gave the go-ahead to IW Engin ers
While radium levels in Be levue have gone
back down to an “a ceptable level,” a cording
to City Adminstrator Loras He rig, earlier this
year, the city was in violation of drinking
If su ce sful, 75 percent of the loan would
be forgiven, and with the new facility, 80 to
St. Joe’s Pork Roast
BIGGEST PORK ROAST IN IOWA: The ma sive crowds that a tend St. Joe’s Pork Roast are never disa pointed in the meal or the company
over the Labor Day w ekend in Be levue, as about 2,4 0 pounds of pork is feasted upon each year.
Annual Labor Day feast set Sunday in Bellevue
It is said to be the bi gest pork roast in
Iowa, and so far, n one has come forth to
St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish wi l host its
a nual Pork Roast this Sunday in Be levue.
The ma sive crowds wi l f ed upon the
2,400-pounds of pork that is cooked
The big f ed and church celebration has
b en conducted for upwards of 40 years
Besides a l the fun and entertainment,
there’s a lot of work that goes into the
563-652-1100 Maquoketa
Polka Mass set
BlOCKED
nO MOrE
Fire department hopes
to spark community
spirit with Fire Ba l 2016
By KeLLY GerLach
kgerlach@mspre s.net
They laid the sod, now they’re inviting
the public down to dance on it.
The Maquoketa Fire Department hosts its
second annual community party and fundraiser
Fire Ba l 2016 on July 16 from 6 p.m.
to midnight in the downtown gr en space in
For a $5 admi sion f e, a tend es can
live it up with six hours of music. They
can purchase tickets for various food and
beverages being sold on the grounds.
Organizers said safety is paramount, so
Phase One finished!
Easton Va ley unveils
new high school addition
Sentinel
Press
Bash on the Ash
7G Disbributing’s Bud Bus wi l drive
people to their Maquoketa homes that
The Fire Ba l has b en dubbed “Bash
on the Ash” – an homage to the 2008 fire
that eventua ly leveled half a block of
buildings on the south east side of south
Main Str et. The fire department hopes
local folks wi l replace those negative
memories with happy ones, a cording
to Greg Bopes, one of th eight event
“Yes, it is a fund-raiser for the
department,” he said. “But our intention is
to create a family-friendly even to bring
people in year in and year out.”
Des Moines-based Standing Hampton
returns to the gr en space, opening the
event with their brand of 1970s and ‘80s
Chicago-based cover band Wedding
grass after the
Second Street
opened Friday.
n $1.50 per copy
n Volume 163, No. 12
n 16 pages Plus Supplements
n Saturday, July 9, 2016
City gets
$400,000
grant
MsP photos by nick J os
Kevin Kilburg removes construction ba ricades from the corner of Second and Qua ry streets Friday morning. Two
Maquoketa intersections opened to traffic Friday morning, making the daily commute a bit easier on the north side
of Maquoketa. The re-opening of West Qua ry also eases congestion at the drive-up mailbox behind the post office.
Motorists can turn left onto Qua ry rather than making U-turn back onto James Street.
Hurstvi le trail project,
downtown make list
By dOUGLas MeLVOLd
dmelvold@mspre s.net
The City of Maquoketa has b en awarded
a $400,000 grant from the state to help
finance downtown improvements and the
proposed trail to the Hurstvi le Interpretive
The grant,
which is due to be
announced o ficia ly
on Monday,
was disclosed
Tuesday night at
a Maquoketa City
Council m eting.
The council voted
5-0 to a cept the
The money was
awarded by the
Banned closes the six-hour party. The
band’ set list features a range of song
favorites from Tom Pe ty, Bon Jovi, W ezer,
Journey, Kool and the Gang, the Beastie
n Bash, turn to page 2
Iowa Department of Cultural A fairs under
its Iowa Great Places grant program.
“It’s a nice award, a sizable amount,” City
Manager Brian Wagner told the council.
“A lot of di ferent hands were involved in
pu ting it a l together. It’s something to be
very proud of.”
The grant provides funds for a variety of
components to the downtown reconstruction
n Grant, turn to page 3
Council
to appoint
successor
By dOUGLas MeLVOLd
dmelvold@mspre s.net
The Maquoketa City Council wi l s ek to
fi l the vacancy created by Councilman Eric
Pape’s resignation
by appointment.
The council
on Tuesday night
decided to appoint
a replacement rather
than scheduling a
special election.
daVe heiar
The council
didn’t indicate when
it may make the
appointment, but
City Manager Brian
Wagner said the council could do so at either
of its nex two m etings, on July 18 or Aug. 1.
n cOUnciL, turn to page 11

Ag Bytes
To register or for more information, contact
the Beginning Farmer Center at 877-
232-1999, email: bfc@iastate.edu or visit
extension.iastate.edu/bfc/linkseminar.
Farmers asked to update
hay and straw directory
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey
encourages Iowa hay and straw producers
to register or update their listing on the Iowa
Hay and Straw Directory,
which lists Iowa
producers with hay and
straw for sale, as well
as organizations and
bill northey
businesses associated
with promoting and
marketing quality hay
and straw.
The listing is available
to interested buyers
throughout the nation;
however, only sellers from within Iowa
can be included on the list.
Farmers interested in listing should visit
the Department’s website at IowaAgriculture.gov.
An application form can be found
by going to the “Bureaus” link and then
selecting “Agricultural Diversification and
Market Development.” Then click on “Hay &
Straw Directory” on the right side of the page
under “Directories.”
For those without internet access, call the
Hay/Straw Hotline at 800-383-5079. The department
will fax or send a printed copy of
the application to be filled out.
Water quality efforts
under way statewide
Farmers in Eastern Iowa are among more
than 1,900 in 97 counties across the state
who will benefit from $3.8 million in state
cost share funds to help install nutrient reduction
practices, such as cover crops, notill
or strip till, or using a nitrification inhibitor
when applying fall fertilizer.
Some 900 of participating farmers are
using a practice for the first time, and more
than 1,000 past users are trying cover crops
again and are receiving a reduced-rate of
cost share. The state funds will be matched
by nearly $6 million from Iowa farmers investing
to try these water quality practices.
First-time users in eastern Iowa counties
include 61 in Cedar, 12 in Clinton, 26
in Dubuque, three in Jackson and and 13 in
Jones. Past users include 50 in Cedar, 16 in
Clinton, 37 in Dubuque County, six in Jackson
and 14 in Jones.
Farmers not already using the practice
were eligible for cost share rates for cover
crops of $25 per acre, $10 per acre for trying
no-till or strip till and $3 per acre for using
a nitrapyrin nitrification inhibitor when applying
fall fertilizer. Farmers that had used
cover crops in the past were eligible for $15
per acre in cost share. Cost share was only
available on up to 160 acres.
Farmers are encouraged to still reach out
to their local Soil and Water Conservation
District office as there may be other
programs available to help them implement
water quality practices on their farm.
More information about the initiative can
be found at CleanWaterIowa.org.
Don’t waste
a gooD thing
Dustin Eberhart,
Owner
Your farm’s manure is a
great source of nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium.
Let us pump it out of your pit
and inject it into your ground
It’s a great way to reduce
your crop input costs!
Maquoketa, Iowa
Office: (563) 678-2837
Cell: (515) 460-2553
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 63

I
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m
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THANK YOU
for choosing Pioneer® brand products for your operation!
I
We appreciate your business and look forward to bringing
you even more service and agronomic support next season.
Wishing you a safe harvest.
Jason Spain
Welton, IA
Don Swanton
Goose Lake, IA
Larry McCaulley
Maquoketa, IA
Mike Delaney
LaMotte, IA
Jason Spain 563-212-3345 • DonSwanton 563-249-5645 • Larry McCaully 563-599-0901 • Mike Delaney 563-599-3710
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64 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 65

Sunny Ou
66 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

utlook
Thanks to incentives, solar power
is helping some area producers
gain an economic edge
Ron Lampe has seen
one electric bill since
he installed solar
panels on his rural
Clinton County farm more than
a year ago.
It was for a whooping $20.
“So far it’s worked out very
well,” he said of the decision
he and his wife, Tami, made.
For Lampe, who raises corn and
soybeans on 750 acres, the renewable
energy source he started
using in June 2015 provides
power to his grain dryer, as well
as other farm operations and his
home.
On a farm in Preston, Joel and
Beth Petersen run a grain farm
and feeder cattle operation powered
by the sun. They “threw
the switch” on their solar panels
July 4, 2015, Joel said. The
system provides power to their
home and their large shop. With
almost 500 head of cattle, they
need to keep a lot of motors and
pumps running many hours to
feed and water the animals.
“I’m just happy to get the bill
each month, rip it open and say,
‘Yes!’” Beth said, noting that
they haven’t had a balance due
yet.
The Lampes and Petersens are
among a growing number of
Iowa farmers who are taking
Generations of Petersens stand by their year-old solar panels. Front: Chelsea Petersen and Jed Petersen. Back: Ray Petersen,
Alco deJong, Caleb Peterson, Ray Peterson, Joel Petersen and Beth Petersen. Jed, Chelsea and Caleb are the children of Jay
and Erin Petersen; Jay is the son of Joel and Beth Petersen; and Joel is the son of Ray Petersen. Alco de Jong was an exchange
student with Beth at Northeast High School in 1981 and was visiting the family this summer.
eastern iowa farmer photo / Nick Joos
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 67

eastern iowa farmer photo / Brooke Taylor
Clinton County farmer Ron Lampe stands in front of his solar-powered grain dryer. The Lampes took advantage of tax credits when they installed their solar units in 2015.
advantage of federal and state incentives
and tax credits to install solar
power.
Bill Haman, renewable energy
program manager of the Iowa Energy
Center at Iowa State University, said
demand for solar energy in Iowa accelerated
in 2014 at the highest rate he has
ever seen.
“The first on the bandwagon were
livestock farmers,” Haman said. “Next
to feed, power is the highest cost for
them.”
Solar energy turns sunlight into
electricity, producing kilowatt hours
(kWh’s) that the owner no longer needs
to buy, said Tim Mueller, president of
Solar Planet, a Dubuque-based company
that installs the panels. His firm
did the work on both the Lampe and
Petersen farms.
As the cost of electricity rises, the
value of that power will increase over
“Farmers basically
make a living out
of photosynthesis.
Who better to use
solar power?”
— Jim Law
time at the retail level, thereby fixing
a person’s energy cost with a one-time
purchase, he said. Amortizing the cost
of power produced by a solar project
over its 25-year warranty period results
in a cost of less than $.04/kWh compared
to $.14/kWh commonly paid in
Eastern Iowa today, he added.
“It really makes the most sense for
agriculture. We’re seeing a tremendous
uptick,” Mueller said.
James Law is a project manager at
Dedicated Community Solar Energy
LLC, which is based in Clinton and
develops projects in Iowa and Illinois.
“Photosynthesis and crops make it
a natural fit. Farmers basically make
a living out of photosynthesis. Who
better to use solar power?” Law said.
Today, some 2,000 residential, agricultural
and industrial entities in Iowa,
68 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

easons to go solar
Before designing a system or purchasing any materials, you should first identify why you are pursuing the installation of a solar array. Your goals
for the project may impact several aspects of its design and construction. Some of the most common goals for constructing an array are:
1.
Offsetting your personal
electrical consumption
By displacing a portion of the electrical power delivered by your local utility,
you become less impacted by future rate changes and may be able to
repay the initial capital investment with the avoided utility bill payments
accumulated over the life of the project. Under this scenario, it’s important to
size the system to match your electrical needs without oversizing the system.
2.
Managing future
electrical costs
If electricity costs are a substantial element of your monthly costs (e.g.,
livestock farming or in the commercial and manufacturing sectors), you may
consider installing a solar energy system as a hedge against unknown
future costs. By purchasing a solar energy system to supply a portion of your
own electrical power needs you will incur an upfront cost; but you become
somewhat immune to the unknown potential electrical rate escalations over
the life of the system. You also may be in a better position to manage your
costs knowing that a portion of your energy expense is fixed into the future.
3.
Creating a new
revenue stream
You may want to install a solar energy system as a potential revenue
source to supplement your income and offset your energy costs.
Let me
make your
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Whether you’re buying farm ground
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and maximize your value.
4.
Going off
the grid
You may have a goal to sever your association with the utility serving your
home or business. Designing your solar array will require prudent sizing with
energy storage to provide electricity when the solar array is not generating
power. Adding an energy storage device will significantly increase the cost of
the solar system.
5.
Being an
environmental steward
You may want to enhance your commitment to the environment by
generating your electricity with a renewable energy source rather than
relying on utility power that may be partially generated with fossil fuels.
6.
Providing a backup
power source
You may have a need or desire to counter a blackout condition caused from
a storm or other incident with your own source of power. A solar array alone
cannot serve as a reliable backup power source as it sits idle when the sun is
not shining and generates at reduced levels during cloudy and non-peak (early
morning and night) periods. The addition of energy storage to your solar array
may provide a limited backup source of power.
Source: Iowa Energy Center
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Park Farms
computer systems
DEALER INFORMATION
soilmax.com
800-872-3040
2498 340th Ave. • DeWitt, IA 52742
300 S. Oak St. • Richland, IA 52585
563-659-3040
www.parkfarmscomputer.com
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 69

including more than two dozen in Clinton, Jackson, Cedar,
Dubuque and Scott counties, have received some type of
assistance to implement solar energy. Those incentives will
be phased out over the next
four years, Haman said, and
it remains to be seen whether
they will be extended.
While the time is ripe for
solar power right now, it
wasn’t always an attractive
option in the Corn Belt.
Global events the past four years have
resulted in affordable solar energy
options for Iowans, according to Bill
Haman, director of Iowa Energy
Center at Iowa State University.
‘The Perfect Storm’
“Solar in Iowa historically
has been a non-topic,”
Haman said. Up until four
years ago solar energy was
simply too expensive.
“But then the perfect
storm for solar hit the
world,” he said. European
countries, such as Spain,
Germany and Greece,
which had previously given
residents generous subsidies to install solar infrastructure,
were thrown into a global recession. The incentives were
Alternate Energy
Revolving Loan Program
(AERLP)
n The program, managed by the Iowa Energy Center,
is available to anyone who wants to build a renewable
energy facility for their home or business in Iowa. Eligible
technologies include biomass, wind, solar and hydro.
Loans are not available for refinancing existing loans.
n More than a dozen lenders in the counties of Clinton,
Dubuque, Jackson, Jones and Scott have participated in
the low-interest, revolving loan program that was created
by the Iowa General Assembly in 1996 to encourage the
development of alternate energy production facilities.
Loans may be issued for projects ranging from small residential/farm
systems to large industrial-scale systems.
n The Energy Center accepts applications for AERLP
continuously for small projects where the IEC portion of
the financed cost is $50,000 or less. All other applications
are on a quarterly business cycle and must be postmarked
by Jan. 31, April 31, July 31 and Oct. 31.
For more information, contact the
Iowa Energy Center at
(515) 294-3832 or iowaenergycenter.org
Call us to learn how to
make the Sun your
energy source!
563-557-5888
367 Cedar Cross Rd info@solarplanet-us.com
Dubuque, IA 52003
www.solarplanet-us.com
70 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016
G
5

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Find a local independent agent
www.amutualinsurance.com
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 71

Tim Mueller, president of
Solar Planet, talks to Joel
Petersen on a bright, sunny
day. Mueller’s firm installed
the solar pannels on
Petersen’s farm
in Preston.
eastern iowa
farmer photo /
nick joos
6th Avenue & 10th Street • Downtown DeWitt
563.659.8897
www.crossroadsofdewitt.com
Memories of
Life
on the
Farm
These vintage machinery metal sculptures are
the design inspiration of former Kansas native,
Travis Burford, who learned the art of welding at a
young age from his grandfather. Travis’ gift of 3-D
vision enabled him to craft these pieces from nuts,
bolts, nails and scrap iron. His work also includes
aircraft, motorcycles, hot air balloons, crosses,
nativities, angels and more. These artisan
keepsake sculptures are made to order and
capture experiences of days gone by.
If you are considering a unique gift for
the holidays or a special occasion,
now is the time to place your order!
Not shown at actual size. Tractor and Spring Tooth Drag sold separately.
72 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

escinded or modified by
the governments, and the
demand for solar power in
those countries diminished.
At the same time, China
had built one of the largest
polycrystalline silicone (the
main component of solar
cells and computer chips)
in the world. The abrupt
change in the European
market resulted in a lot of
product with nowhere to go,
and prices for the technology
plummeted.
As the prices dropped
and dropped and dropped,
the United States started to
offer incentives in the form
of federal tax credits that
would apply to 30 percent of
the project’s cost. The state
of Iowa also initiated a tax
credit that worked in tandem
with the federal tax break.
“It is a very good credit on
top of a credit,” Haman said.
What’s happening in Iowa
mirrors the growth in solar
power in the rest of the
country, said Mueller, noting
demand for solar is expected
to increase 129 percent in
2016 in the United States
and experience a four-fold
increase in the next five
years.
“Iowa, currently, has some
of the best solar incentives
in the nation. We will soon
be known for being a good
place for harvesting solar energy
and corn,” he said.
He’s seen particular
interest from legacy farm
owners who plan to pass the
operation to the next generation.
The panels are generally
warranted for 25 years
but have a longer lifespan,
usually more than 40 years,
he said.
The solar systems
Beth Petersen saw a
presentation on solar energy
at a home show a couple of
years ago.
“I thought about it, but not
seriously,” she said, until she
learned about the incentives.
“For farmers, it is a good
option with the tax credits
available.”
She and Joel decided to
get cost estimates and talk
with experts about what
scope a project on their farm
should take. Part of the decisions
farmers have to make
is where to locate the solar
panels. While south-facing
roofs are a good option, if
that’s not available, other
alternatives need to be
weighed.
In the Lampes’ and Petersens’
case, they didn’t
have a rooftop suitable for
the panels. The Petersens
were limited by the natural
landscape, such as creeks
and hills. They chose a suitable
spot on their land that
would allow them the space
needed to install 87 solar
modules, which provides
about 87 percent of their
needed energy in a given
year.
Solar Power
& corn crops
in iowa
The state of Iowa has great solar resources, and its robust corn crops prove it.
In 2015 Iowa produced 2.5 billion bushels of corn, leading the United States
in production, as it has for the past 20 years. An abundance of sunlight during
the growing season makes the eastern part of the state a prime location for
solar power as its solar radiance – the number of cloudless, full-sun hours in
the year – is comparable to the southeastern United States.
bushels
of corn
produced
in a year
IOWA
2.5B
national
rank: 1
illinois
2.0B
National
rank: 2
wisconsin
4.9M
National
rank: 9
nebraska
1.6B
National
rank: 3
Missouri
4.3M
National
rank: 10
minnesota
1.4B
National
rank: 4
B = Billion
M = Million
Numbers reflect
the year 2015
SOURCE:
beef2live.com
In Iowa, most of the solar power projects are east of I-35,
and most of the wind power projects are west of I-35.
I-35
eastern iowa farmer graphic / Brooke Taylor
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 73

eastern iowa farmer photo / Brooke Taylor
Jim Law participated in the first Earth Day in the 1970s. He’s been interested in renewable energy ever since,
particularly solar power. Law is project manager with Dedicated Community Solar Energy Center, LLC.
For people who have solar panels,
their electric meter turns both
clockwise and counterclockwise.
When the solar panels are generating
electricity, the needle turns counterclockwise,
effectively “banking”
the electricity being generated. The
meter moves clockwise when they
are not generating any solar power:
in the evenings, cloudy days and
some winter days when there are
fewer hours of sunlight.
Right now, depending on the local
utility, people can receive credit for
excess solar power produced or even
sell capacity to utility companies.
That may change in the future. Such
states as Arizona, California, Nevada
and Pennsylvania are considering
laws that would limit net metering.
Whether solar power is a good
option for a property owner is fairly
easy to determine. It’s important to
understand what your end goal is
(see chart on page 69).
“Everyone has to run the numbers,”
Law said. n
— Nancy mayfield,
eastern iowa farmer
c
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74 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 75

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Tapping into a
Natural r
Shawn Tubbs of Deep Creek Applicators steers a boat through
a manure holding lagoon on the Blanchard Dairy Farm in
Charlotte. The boat agitates the manure, which is 95 percent
liquid, to incorporate the nutrient-rich solids from the bottom.
eastern iowa farmer photo / trevis mayfield
78 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

esource
Manure management
firms help farmers
take advantage of
livestock waste
When Jeff
Lynch makes
plans for his
livestock and
grain operations, he knows
one of them will provide
a treasure trove of benefits
for the other.
“Manure,” said the Bernard farmer, “is
the hidden gem.”
Rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and
potassium, manure can be used in place
of commercial fertilizers to fuel crop
growth. At the same time, it allows
livestock producers to recycle waste in an
environmentally friendly manner.
“At the end of the day, we are all trying
to be the best stewards of the ground;
and, we want to grow the best crops we
can,” said Lynch, who custom feeds some
5,000 hogs, raises 90 cow-calves and
grows corn and soybeans on 500 acres.
Lynch’s way of thinking, along with
changes in the livestock industry, has
translated into booming business for firms
like Deep Creek Applicators, an Elwood
company owned by Dustin Eberhart.
He and his crew are in the midst of
their peak season pumping pig and cow
manure out of holding lagoons and injecting
it into acres and acres of land that
have been recently harvested in Clinton,
Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Jones and
Scott counties. They’ll work 16-to-20-
hour days, seven days a week, until the
ground freezes and becomes too hard for
the process.
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 79

eastern iowa farmer photo / brooke taylor
Dustin Eberhart started Deep Creek Applicators 10 years ago with two tanks and one semi-truck. Today his business relies on high-tech
equipment that employs computers, GPS and more to help farmers take advantage of the manure produced by livestock operations.
Another firm that does the same type
of work is Potter Manure Pumping Inc.,
which is based in Cascade. Rodney Potter,
who owns the business with other family
members, said a combination of advancing
technology, increase in the size of livestock
farms and the acknowledgement of the
value and usefulness of manure are putting
such services in high demand.
“Manure just used to be a waste product
that needed to be gotten rid off,” Potter
said. “But it’s got a high nutrient value, and
there’s a great cost/benefit ratio to using it
as fertilizer.”
Eberhart started his business about 10
years ago when his dad was building two
hog barns. Knowing they would need
to find a way to dispose of the manure
generated by the operation, they decided
to do it themselves with two tanks and one
semi-truck.
During the next decade, confinement
farming boomed. That’s when managing
manure became serious business.
A visit to Eberhart’s workshop and barns
reflects this shift. It is a high-tech operation
that relies on sophisticated computer
technology, precise data and GPS systems
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80 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

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to Harvest...
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 81

to inject the optimal amount of manure into the ground
for maximized yields. Manure samples from job sites
are carefully tested to determine the exact amount of
each nutrient contained in the waste, and that up-to-themoment
information is used to adjust settings on the
input equipment.
Technology has come a long way since the 1970s
when farmers stored manure in deep pits.
Eberhart and his crew were setting up for their first
job of the fall season in late August at the Blanchard
Dairy Farm in Charlotte. It was a muggy day, which had
begun with rainstorms that delayed the manure pumping
and spreading.
As he oversaw the preparations just before noon,
Eberhart explained that he expected the action to start
in a couple of hours. More than 3 miles of thick orange
hoses would snake across the surrounding fields and
transport no less than 28 million gallons of manure
from a lagoon.
Meanwhile, a specially designed boat trolled through
the lagoon to agitate the liquid and solids using a combination
of pumps and jets. Manure is 95 percent water,
and the solids settle at the bottom. Before it can be
applied, it needs to be stirred up so the nutrient content
is dispersed evenly.
Deep Creek employee Shawn Tubbs manned the
craft, steering it through the liquid as a fisherman might
steer his boat through a small lake. Although it would
operate on autopilot, Eberhart prefers the human touch.
They’d been agitating the lagoon for several hours a day
eastern iowa farmer photo / Brooke Taylor
Stand with those
you trust.
Call, email your questions
or call for an appointment.
Phone: 563-652-2491
Text: 319-350-3792
Email:
kschepers@ibasecurities.com
sthorson@ibasecurities.com
Kerry Schepers, ChFC®, Steve Thorson, Shirley Driscoll
Securities offered through IBA Securities, a division of Broker Dealer Financial Services Corp., Member FINRA & SIPC. Advisory services offered through Investment Advisors Corp.,
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82 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

Bernard farmer Jeff Lynch
said manure is a “hidden
gem” when it comes to
crop fertilization. Rich in
nitrogen, potassium and
phosphate, it also contains
other micronutrients.
More about Manure
n Contains nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and
other nutrients, which promote plant growth. Some
micronutrients include calcium, magnesium sulfur,
zinc, iron, manganese and copper.
n Improves soil quality, neutralizes acidity,
increases organic matter, decreases compaction
and increases water-holding capacity.
n Manure is transported from animal confinement
and manure storage facilities to be spread on or
injected into the ground.
n In 2009, more than 5 percent, or 15.8 million acres,
of cropland in the United States was fertilized with
livestock manure, mostly from dairy and hog farms.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture
Preston Ag & storAge Inc.
Preston Ag & Storage looks forward
to serving you during this fall’s
grain harvest.
give us a call if there is anything we can do for you!
563-689-5881 Preston, Ia
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 83

Schoenthaler,
Bartelt,
Kahler
& Reicks
Attorneys Experienced
in Agricultural Law
563.652.4963
123 N. Main | Maquoketa
srbk.com
84 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

Deep Creek Applicators employee
Brad Kilburg prepares the hydraulic
system that will pump millions of
gallons of manure out of a holding
lagoon so it can be injected into
surrounding fields as fertilizer.
eastern iowa farmer photo / Brooke Taylor
for the past week.
Brad Kilburg, another employee,
worked on readying the hydraulic system
on the huge pump that would suck the
lagoon almost dry. Once that pump was
operating, Eberhart said, it would send the
manure through the pipeline.
Government regulations require that
manure be incorporated into the top four
to six inches of soil. Both Deep Creek and
Potter use an injection method, in which
they inject the manure into a trench made
with a chisel tool. This method reduces the
runoff and odor, and helps the soil retain
the moisture.
Iowa law, enforced by the state’s Department
of Natural Resources, requires
most manure applicators in Iowa to be
certified.
Producers who remove and apply manure
to land from a confinement feeding
operation with an animal unit capacity
of more than 500 animal units must be
certified or use a commercial manure
applicator.
Producers with small animal feeding
operations (500 or fewer animal unit
capacity) or open feedlots may land apply
manure without being certified. All manure
applicators in Iowa, regardless of certification
requirements, must follow state laws
when land applying manure.
Most of those laws are designed to keep
manure out of waters of the state and away
from environmentally sensitive areas such
as sinkholes or high-quality water resources.
Some of the separation distances
that must be maintained are designed to
prevent odors from reaching neighboring
homes, businesses, schools, churches and
public use areas.
Properly applied manure reduces the
need for commercial fertilizer, Lynch said.
“It’s very cost-effective” for a livestock
producer, he said.
In Lynch’s case, he has enough crop
ground to use all the manure his operation
generates each year. That’s true of many
of the producers with whom Eberhart and
Potter work. Some farmers are now adding
additional livestock to their operations specifically
to generate more manure. Others
sell their manure to neighboring farmers.
For Lynch, who bought his family farm
and started raising hogs about the same
time Eberhart started his business, using
manure for fertilizer makes sense. He
grows the feed for his animals and then
uses the waste byproduct to grow more
crops.
“It makes the cycle come full circle,” he
said. n
— Nancy mayfield,
eastern iowa farmer
dedicated experienced service
year after year
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 85

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Wet and overcast
is weather as usual
once a bushel
of eastern Iowa
corn or soybeans
reach bluewater
terminals like the
newly expanded
TEMCO facility at
Kalama, Washington.
A 220-car BNSF unit
train can be unloaded
in 8.5 hours flat.
Photo courtesy BNSF
From the
back forty to
the bluewater
Area corn and soybean growers’
harvest can travel far and wide
Once the 2016 harvest
leaves the field this
fall in eastern Iowa,
its destination is
not of pressing interest. Rarely
do producers get the chance to
follow a bushel of corn or soybeans
on even a part of its journey,
especially if it’s headed for
export. Not many have ever seen
a huge ocean-going bulk carrier,
a 35,000-metric-ton vessel loaded
with their grain bound for foreign
markets.
88 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

eastern iowa farmer photo / Lowell Carlson
Corn grown on eastern Iowa farms like the Larry Johnson farm east of Maquoketa moves quickly from field to
storage to market. The journey for export corn and soybeans can end thousands of miles away and across the Pacific.
Once the crop disappears into an area
terminal elevator’s gigantic storage
facilities, that’s it for most producers.
Besides, it may go into storage for
months before beginning the journey.
With plenty of 2015 crop still stored,
that is a real possibility.
Here in the upper Mississippi Valley
corridor, we have the distinct advantage
of water, highway and rail for crop
movement.
Barge transport is the lynch pin
for bulk grain shipments here in the
Mississippi River corridor, but the
diversion to other transport, and uses,
like ethanol, has changed that equation.
Barge transport, hands down, is the
cheapest per ton mile but is limited by
weather when locks shut down from
December into March. Trucks dominate
for local and regional hauls, of
course.
Class I railroads, like Warren Buffett’s
BNSF (Burlington Northern
Santa Fe), Union Pacific and Canadian
Pacific have invested heavily in
commodity transportation facilities and
focused on unit trains, a train made
entirely of specific cars, destined for
the same location.
That development has had a dramatic
and far-reaching impact. These new
trains bypassed small country elevators
that didn’t become high speed loadout
facilities. They cut shipping on
the Great Lakes and made the Pacific
Northwest ports like Vancouver,
Tacoma and others busy rail and ocean
shipping hubs.
Right now about 25 percent of all
grain bound for export markets moves
through terminals in the Pacific Northwest,
and nearly half of all wheat
exports move through Columbia River
and Puget Sound grain terminals.
Nearly all of the soybeans shipped out
of the Northwest head to China. Yellow
dent corn goes primarily to Korea,
Japan, Philippines and China. Middle
East markets are also served by Pacific
Northwest terminals.
Iowa State University ag economists
say, under most circumstances, the
most fuel-efficient route for shipping
grain from Iowa is through West Coast
ports, even though it has not been the
most efficient route. That is changing.
At places like Kalama, Washington,
corn, soybeans and wheat from Iowa
and the Midwest move in volumes that
stagger the imagination. The TEMCO
Kalama Terminal is one of a number of
facilities in the Northwest undergoing
upgrade.
A joint venture by Cargill and CHS,
a mega farmer-owned cooperative,
Kalama is state-of-the-art technology.
The rail yard is capable of accommodating
four shuttle trains, about 450
railcars. The grain terminal can unload
two shuttles simultaneously and move
and discharge 120,000 bushels per
hour into moored bulk carriers. Rail
receiving unloading rates are 115,000
bushels per hour, and it takes 8.5 hours
to unload a unit train.
Cargill pioneered the idea of grain
unit trains back in the mid-1960s with
the Illinois Central when an elevator
arranged for 115 jumbo cars to
haul 400,000 bushels of corn to New
Orleans, 1,300 miles away. The unit
train actually originated with the coal
industry. In some cases, unit train rates
were half the cost of single car rates.
With 94 storage silos and steel bins
the expanded export terminal expects
to move 250 million bushels a year.
During peak operations it moves up to
two million bushels every 24 hours.
All this with a staff of 50 people
working in the rail department, storage,
and loading. n
— lowell carlson, eastern iowa farmer
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 89

To know our field,
we have to know yours.
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Whether you’re starting or expanding your operation, U.S. Bank may help
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Call your local U.S. Bank Regional Ag Specialist. Every agricultural operation
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Regional Ag Specialist
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brock.renbarger@usbank.com
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90 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

Cole, Alyssa, Callie and Lanna Niemann
prepare the snacks in their kitchen for
the farmers working out in the fields.
Country-style
cookin’
Farmers’ wives share favorite recipes
BY Kendra renner, eastern iowa farmer
92 eastern Eastern iowa farmer Iowa photos Farmer / Brooke | fall Taylor 2016

Country life can be
demanding – long
hours, backbreaking
work and the uncertainty
that it will all pay off in the end.
But what buoys spirits morning, noon
and night is a hearty meal, a homecooked
treat, a family recipe handed down
through generations.
Three local women – Lanna
Niemann, Renee Davison and Twyla
Adrian – might be strangers, but they
know what it takes to keep the farmers
in their lives happy – comfort food.
There’s nothing like a hearty,
home-cooked meal ready and waiting on
the dining room table after a long day –
or morning, for that matter – of work.
That’s true for Luke Niemann, a hog
and crop farmer operating two hog confinements
totaling 800 head. He’s in the
family business that spanned generations.
Farming means early mornings and
late nights, sometimes with little time to
stop and eat. Luke starts his workday at
6 a.m., so he’s typically more than a little
hungry when the clock strikes noon.
Like the three generations of
farmwives who came before her on the
Niemann family homestead,
Lanna, Luke’s wife, is prepared.
Each morning she packs Luke’s
lunch complete with a sandwich,
chips, watermelon or apples, celery
or carrots, and cookies, and prepares
snacks for their 10 farm hands.
Lanna says she tends to lean toward
finger foods like snack mix and flourless
monster bars. “I want to make it the
simplest possible and still have goodtasting
food. Not some 15-step thing.
“They will not pick up a fork!” she
said, laughing.
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 93

country cooking
Callie runs a quick quality control test on the snacks
before they are packed up for the farmers.
Although snack mix makes a tasty treat,
the workers’ voracious appetites are ready
for sustenance by supper time. During
harvest and planting seasons, Lanna makes
home-cooked, hearty country dinner meals
for her husband and the other workers on
the farm.
“We are a meat-and-potatoes type of
family,” Lanna says with a laugh.
Some of their favorites include country
crockpot barbecue pork ribs produced from
the Niemanns’ hogs and cheesy corn and
noodles. Mini-muffin shepherd pies are
also a favorite among the farmers because
the ingredients cover all of the food groups
– and, of course, don’t require utensils.
The fact that the workers eagerly anticipate
her country meals is rewarding for
Lanna.
“We appreciate what they’re doing.
Sometimes they say, ‘Oh I’ve been waiting
for this all day!’” she says.
Sometimes Luke takes a break to come
inside and eat during his 18- to 20-hour
workday, but Lanna and the kids enjoy taking
his snacks and lunch to him. All those
tiny hands make a quick task of packing
snacks for the farm team.
After marrying into the Niemann family,
Lanna says, she gained a lot cooking inspiration
from her mother-in-law. “I helped
her make those suppers and saw what the
guys liked. That helped.”
But times have changed, and although
Lanna maintains the traditional style of
comfort-food country cooking, she uses
resources such as Pinterest and the cooking
show “Pioneer Woman” to get ideas for
some delicious dishes.
All dishes must have a recipe, but this
mom is no measurer!
“Once I started to know ingredients;
I just started to dump stuff in,” she said,
laughing.
Feeding a lot of people can be a daunting
task, but Lanna is an expert. As one of six
children, she grew up around her mother’s
baking and cooking for a big family on the
farm.
“I loved it. It was a good lifestyle.”
Her childhood memories revolve around
preparing food with her mom and, specifically,
baking. Lanna still enjoys baking
sweet treats and has quite the fan base.
“I like cake!” says older daughter
Alyssa, as big brother Cole munched on a
monster bar.
Lanna also emphasized the importance
of sitting around the table with her family
while they eat instead of becoming distracted
by technology or play time.
“I like how food brings people together.
It’s a special time for us together. It’s fun to
hear what the kids have to say.”
With Lanna’s expertise in making hearty,
delicious meals, the Niemanns don’t go out
to eat much; all of the freshest ingredients
can be found on their farm. n
Plan for the road ahead
We do more than income tax return preparation — We plan:
• Year-end tax planning
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Clinton, Ia 52732
563-242-3440
www.wpf-cpa.com
510 Clinton St.
Iowa City, Ia 52240
319-351-0231
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94 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

country cooking
Garden Dip
¾ c. mayonnaise
2 (8 oz.) softened cream cheese
1 red pepper
¾ c. salsa
1 clove of garlic
1 can of corn (drained)
1 can black beans
Combine all ingredients.
Serve with tortilla chips.
Flourless
Monster
Cookie Bars
1 stick softened butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
1½ c. peanut butter
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
4½ c. oatmeal
2 tsp. baking soda
1 c. chocolate chips
½ c. M&Ms
In a large bowl, cream together
butter and sugars. Add peanut
butter, eggs, and vanilla.
Stir in oatmeal, baking soda,
chocolate chips, and M&Ms. Put into
ungreased 10x15 pan. Bake at
350 degrees for 20-25 minutes
until edges are golden brown.
Cheeto Snack Mix
1 c. softened butter
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire
2 Tbsp. seasoning salt
½ tsp. garlic salt
3 c. Corn Chex
3 c. Quaker Oat squares
3 c. crunchy Cheetos
2 c. Bugles
2 c. honey roasted peanuts
2 c. pretzels
2 c. M&Ms
1 (6 oz.) bag Goldfish crackers
Melt butter, Worcestershire, seasoning
salt, and garlic salt in microwave
for 45-60 seconds. In a large bowl,
combine Corn Chex, Oat Squares,
Goldfish, and pretzels. Pour butter
mixture over top and thoroughly mix.
Pour onto jelly roll pan and spread
mixture out.
Bake 10-15 min. Remove and stir to
mix. Repeat 3 times.
After third time, add nuts and repeat
twice. Add Cheetos when baking is
complete. Cool and add M&Ms.
Country Crockpot
Pork Ribs (pictured)
3 lbs. country style pork ribs
1 lg. onion, sliced
1½ c. BBQ sauce
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. liquid smoke
Add ribs, onion, pepper, and liquid smoke to
crockpot. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for
4 hours. Drain liquid. Add barbecue sauce
and cook 2 more hours on low, or 1 on high.
Cheesy Corn
and Noodles
2 cans creamed corn
2 cans whole kernel corn with liquid
1 stick butter
2 c. Velveeta
2 c. uncooked elbow macaroni
Combine all ingredients. Cook on
high for 3-4 hours in crockpot.
Welcome Home
Where beautiful lives blossom
205 Ehlers Lane
Maquoketa, Iowa
563-652-2125
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 95

livestock producer • show exhibitor
equine enthusiast • companion animal owner
Delmar Grain Service
Dealer for
ADM Animal Nutrition!
Big and small
we feed them all
livestock producer • show exhibitor
equine enthusiast • companion animal owner
You’ll
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Delmar at Grain
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502 1/2 Main Street, Delmar, Iowa
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Font: Palantino
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eastern iowa farmer photo / Brooke Taylor
Renee Davison pulls a family favorite dish — scalloped pineapple — from the oven.
Growing up on a farm an
hour south of the Illinois
Quad Cities, Renee Davison
recalls those precious
moments of childhood with her
mother’s hard work in the kitchen and her
father’s in the field.
“I used to love getting off the bus to find Dad and ride the combine
with him,” she recalls.
Gathering vegetables, raising chickens, and helping her mom
make home-cooked meals for her father are some of Renee’s most
96 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

country cooking
fond childhood memories.
After growing up a farmer’s daughter,
farm life was nothing new to Renee. So
she was well-acquainted with the lifestyle
and farm-style cookin’ when she married
Jackson County farmer Joel. Renee’s mother-in-law
showed her some of Joel’s favorite
“My mother was a
huge gardener. It was
a necessity for her,
though, because she
had to feed four kids.”
— renee davison
dishes so she could prepare them herself.
Farm life has always been an important
part of Renee, and she continues to keep the
traditional farm-to-table vibe, but makes
sure to keep her own signature touch when
preparing dishes.
“I’m a little stubborn,” Renee said,
The Davisons use eggs from their home-raised chickens on their farm just outside Maquoketa.
• oil Change, lube & Filter
• tire Sales, Repair
• Wheel alignment
• lubrication of heavy-duty
drive shaft components
• tune up for Cars and trucks
• auto Sales
J&S Auto
Specialists
Jeff & Sherry BaKer, OWnerS
563-652-6100
401 E. Platt • MaquokEta, Ia
J&S Auto owners’ grandsons,
William Kirk and Jackson Baker
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 97

country cooking
laughing when she explained how she modifies
traditional family recipes.
Perhaps the freshest produce she uses
comes from her own backyard.
“I make peach salsa, spaghetti sauce,
freeze sweet corn, applesauce. Not huge
amounts though. Just enough to get a taste
of the garden throughout the year,” she said.
Cucumbers, butternut squash, beans,
beets, and tomatoes can be found in the
Davisons’ backyard. Pumpkins are also
tossed about in November, making way for
voluntarily grown pumpkins for next year.
“My mother was a huge gardener. It was
a necessity for her, though, because she had
to feed four kids. Now it’s more for fun, but
for her it was a necessity,” Renee remembered,
for instance, there were 70 tomato
plants that needed to be watered in her
mother’s garden.
Unlike her mother, Renee does not take
food to Joel; he prefers coming inside to eat
at his leisure. “I just have it ready, and he
stops when it’s convenient,” she said.
Davison says her inspiration for the dishes
chosen for The Farmer – including corn
casserole, country-fried steak, and caramel
apple salad – come from being, just simply,
simple.
“It’s back-to-school-easy recipes. All of
these things kids can eat.”
Renee talked about her own children and
their favorite dishes growing up and as
adults. Kyle, a high school senior, is
a big fan of his mom’s cornbread
casserole.
“Country-fried steak is
honestly one of my
favorite things
she makes,” said
Joel.
The mother
of three enjoys
getting culinary
inspiration from the
Food Network show,
“Pioneer Woman” and
her Gooseberry Patch
cookbooks, all coordinated
on a shelf in her
newly renovated kitchen.
“When we remodeled I
made sure these shelves were
made for these cookbooks!”
Renee said, laughing.
Although her cookbooks are important
to her, Renee prefers putting in ingredients
to taste rather than to measurement.
“I’m a dumper,” she said, chuckling. “I
just put some ingredients in and doctor it up
until it tastes how I want it.”
With her mother-in-law’s recipes, her own
mother’s, and those from “Pioneer
Woman” Ann Marie Drummond,
there is surely never a drab dish
in the Davison kitchen.
Although two out of three
Davison children have
moved out of the
house, they look
forward to their
mom’s homecooked
country
meals when they
come back to the
farm.
“I’m a big fan
of the scalloped
pineapple!” That
comes from daughter
Molly, 23.
It looks like Renee will be
cooking and baking delicious meals
and desserts until further notice, and who
would want it any differently?
“I do it because I love my family,” Renee
said.
“I’m a farmer’s daughter, farmer’s wife
– that’s all my family has ever known,” she
proudly proclaimed. n
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98 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

country cooking
Scalloped Pineapple
½ C. sugar
1 C. margarine
2 eggs, beaten ¼ C. milk
1 can crushed pineapple
8 slices of bread cut into pieces
Mix in order, using juice of pineapple.
Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Cherries in the Snow
3 oz. cream cheese ½ C. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla ½ pint whipping cream
9 inch graham cracker pie shell
20 oz. can cherry pie filling
Cream together cream cheese, sugar and
vanilla and blend whipping cream to equal
one cup. Fold mixture into cream cheese,
then pour into graham cracker shell. Top
with cherry pie filling, chill for 8 hours.
Cornbread Casserole
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
15 oz. sweet corn 15 oz. cream style corn
2 eggs ¾ C. milk
½ C. oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ C. shredded cheddar cheese
Mix ingredients together. Bake at
375 degrees for 45 minutes.
Country Fried Steak
1 family size cream of mushroom soup
1 lb. round steak 1 can mushrooms
Milk
flour
Cut round steak into palm-size pieces. Dip in milk
then flour to cover both sides. Over medium heat,
brown round steak in oil. Place steak in baking dish
and cover with cream of mushroom soup and 1 can
mushrooms. Bake at 450 degrees at 45 minutes.
Caramel Apple Salad
1 small package butterscotch
1 C. dry roasted peanuts
8 oz. can crushed pineapple
1 C. mini marshmallows
3 C. chopped unpeeled apples
8 oz. whipped topping
Combine all ingredients.
Mix well. Chill.
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 99

country cooking
Twyla Adrian might have married into farming, but her recipies meet the requirements-hearty, tasty
and stick-to-your-ribs good.
Although Twyla
Adrian looks
out her
front door
to neighbors beside her
home and listens to the
hustle and bustle that
is in-town living, she
will always find home
in the country.
Although not a farm girl originally,
Twyla has welcomed the farm life.
The daughter of a steel mill worker,
Twyla was not familiar with the farm
lifestyle until she met her now husband,
Wayne Adrian.
Twyla was visiting her hometown of
Maquoketa when she caught the attention
of Wayne, a Clinton County hog
and cattle farmer.
Wayne has since “retired” from
farming, but he is still involved with the
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100 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

country cooking
family farm, especially during
harvest season. “Retired” is a
sort of made-up word in the
farming world, she noted.
“He gets up in the combine
and won’t let anyone else in,”
Twyla laughed.
“You can take the man away
from the farm, but you can’t
take the farm away from the
man,” she added.
When Wayne actively farmed
on a near-century family farm
outside Maquoketa, Twyla
cooked and baked for him, their
three children, and 16 neighbors
who helped work on the
farm.
One of Wayne’s favorite
dishes prepared by his wife is
a simple fried onion dish made
with noodles, tomatoes, and
green pepper.
“Wayne’s dad took care of
the garden for many years,”
explained Twyla.
The Adrians also gathered
eggs from their hens and had a
designated chicken-butchering
day where family would come
over to celebrate.
Like the other farm cooks,
Twyla believes it best to dump
in ingredients to fit to taste rather
than exact measurements.
“It’s hard to give a recipe;
you experiment,” she said.
Twyla says she likes to prepare
her Calico Bean dish when
she is expecting a lot of family
and friends. Her family most
recently enjoyed it in celebration
of her grandson Tyler’s
wedding.
When Twyla married into
farming, she was happy to provide
“dinner” (which is actually
lunch in farm terms) and supper
in the evening.
For lunch, Wayne and his
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 101

country cooking
neighbors could expect things like
homemade buns, pie, and Wayne’s
favorite, liver and onions (although not a
group favorite!). In the evening, Wayne
enjoyed leftovers from the day’s dinner
meal.
“You can take the
man away from the
farm, but you can’t
take the farm away
from the man.”
— twyla adrian
Twyla’s days as a farmer’s wife were
without technology such as cell phones
and walkie talkies, so she found Wayne
and the workers intuitively to give them
their lunches.
“I just knew what field they were in,”
she said.
Twyla delivered the meals at approximately
the same time each day, giving
the working crew a well-earned break.
Although the Adrians have lived in
town for 18 years, Twyla made sure to
bring the country with her.
She has a garden and a gooseberry
bush. The bush alone has produced
more than two large Tupperware
containers full of gooseberries, which
make for some delectable gooseberry
pie. She also has continued her hobby of
canning.
Twyla said she owes a lot of what she
has learned to her mother and motherin-law,
through their cookbooks and
family recipes. Twyla prefers cooking
over baking, but can make some delicious
cookies and pies.
“I have to be in the mood for baking,”
she said.
One thing Twyla has not been able to
master is her mom’s fried chicken.
Her son, Dean, now lives on the farm
where he grew up, and where Wayne
spent his childhood. Although Twyla
and Dean are living in town and away
from the hogs and cattle, the farm will
always be home.
Twyla mentioned how you can’t
take the farm out of her husband, and it
looks like you can’t take the farm out of
her, either. n
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102 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

country cooking
Calico Beef
and Bean
Bake
1 can pork and beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can butter beans
½ lb. cut up bacon
1 lb. ground beef
Onion (to taste)
½ C. brown sugar
½ C. ketchup
2 Tbsp. vinegar
½ tsp. salt
Drain kidney and butter
beans. Brown bacon
followed by ground beef and
onion. Drain off fat. Combine
beans and meats. Combine
brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar,
and salt. Add mixture
to meat and bacon mixture.
Put in the crock pot and let
cook on high until hot, then
turn to low to keep warm.
Add some reserved liquid if
mixture seems dry.
Banana
Topping
½ C. butter
½ C. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 tsp. flour
Mix butter, sugar and vanilla together
and heat on stove until blended.
Cool. Add egg and flour and stir until
thick. Cut bananas length wise in
half. Pour mixture over bananas.
Hot Water
Pie Crust
1 C. lard
½ C. boiling water
3 C. sifted flour
1 tsp. baking powder
Salt
Stir lard and baking soda until
creamed. Add flour and baking
powder to cream mixture.
Add touch of salt. Let chill. Roll out.
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 103

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104 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016
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Ups and downs of farming make
mental health key for families
In the best of times, the
mental and physical challenges
of farming are demanding.
But when low prices and high
costs repeat year after year,
the pressure can be even more
pronounced.
“There are those who know
the cyclical nature of agriculture
and have been able to
save for these times,” said Ann
Johanns, Iowa State University
Extension’s program specialist
and member of the economics
department. “But when you
haven’t been in the business
long enough to build up those
reserves, it can be hard.”
Shouldering financial burdens
can be stressful, as can be
dealing with the uncertainties
that are inherent to farming –
weather, pests, grain prices,
animal disease. But experts
say it’s important for farmers
to pay attention to their mental
health so they can be happy and
productive.
For people who are struggling,
professional assistance
– possibly from a medical
professional, clergy person or
counselor – can be helpful.
Assistance is also available
at any time through the Iowa
Concern Hotline, 800-447-1985.
The site has many resources, including
a live chat feature as an
additional way to talk with stress
counselors. Agencies and professionals
serving individuals and
families can contact local ISU
Extension and Outreach offices
to obtain Iowa Concern hotline
business cards for distribution.
“If producers are feeling
stressed out or if their spouse
has concerns, this is a great resource,”
Johanns said about the
hotline. “This service is great for
questions or if you just need to
bounce ideas off someone.”
The hotline has professionals
who have an agricultural background,
she noted. It also has
attorneys and people with other
specialties who can help callers
work through a question or connect
them with experts who can
assist them.
ISU Extension and Outreach
also offers a free and confidential
program called Farm Financial
Planning that provides oneon-one
counseling with trained
farm business consultants who
can help develop accurate financial
statements, budget alternative
actions, and contact other
extension programs or outside
services that may be useful.
ann johanns,
Iowa State University Extension
Program Specialist
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 105

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More information is available
at extension.iastate.edu/farmanalysis/.
Malisa Rader is an ISU
Extension family life program
specialist based in Webster City.
“I’m not originally from Iowa
so it took me a while to realize
this when it comes to stress and
farming: It’s more than a job,”
she said, noting that some farms
have been in the same family for
generations.
“That puts added stress. Many
of us who work in different
fields are passionate about
what we do, but our jobs don’t
hold the same responsibility of
worrying about losing what my
family built up. There’s an extra
burden that many of us don’t
have,” Rader said.
“I think one of the things we
really struggle with is the farmer
personality. They are very prideful,
so it could be hard to ask for
help or even say you need mental
health assistance. For many
of us who love and live with
farmers and work with those in
the farming community, we need
to recognize this and make sure
we are connecting,” she said.
Everyday tasks of money
management, decision-making
and equipment maintenance,
plus worry over large debt
loads, government regulations,
pest outbreaks, animal disease,
negative publicity, rapid change
within the industry, and lack of
control over the weather weigh
on their minds.
“Add to that the knowledge
that most farmers work long
hours in isolation near their
home environment, leaving them
no place to escape the stressors,
and it is easy to see why farming
ranks as one of the most stressful
occupations in the United
States,” Rader said.
“The physical and mental
stress of farming can take a
toll on a person’s health,” she
said. “Ignoring those signs of
stress can lead to fatigue and
depression, increasing the risk
for accidental injuries, poor decision-making,
physical illness
and more.”
Be attentive to
signs of stress
Although adults involved in
the agriculture industry may not
come out and verbally share they
are under financial or emotional
stress, there are signs they may
be in need of help, Rader said.
These signs can be observed by
friends, neighbors, veterinarians,
physicians, clergy, teachers and
other community members.
Suzanne Pish, a social-emotional
health extension educator
with Michigan State University
Extension, encourages those
living in rural communities to
look for the following signs of
chronic, prolonged stress in farm
families:
Change in routines
The farmer or family no longer
participates in activities they
once enjoyed such as church,
4-H or visiting at the local diner.
Care of livestock
declines.
Animals might show signs of
neglect or abuse.
Increase in illness
Stress puts people at higher
risk for upper respiratory
illnesses (colds, flu) or other
chronic conditions (aches, pains,
persistent cough).
Increase in farm
accidents
Fatigue and the inability to
concentrate can lead to greater
risk of accidents.
Decline in farmstead
appearance
The farm family no longer
may take pride in the way farm
buildings and grounds appear,
or no longer have time to do the
maintenance work.
Children show
signs of stress
Children from families
under stress may act out, show
a decline in academic performance,
or be increasingly absent
from school. They also may
show signs of physical abuse or
neglect.
“Many farmers who are
used to working things out for
themselves might be resistant
to sharing their problems with
others. Although asking for help
might go against the nature of
a strong, self-reliant farmer,
obtaining support for stress-related
problems usually provides
the most effective and durable
solutions,” Rader said. n
— Nancy Mayfield,
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fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 107

On a warm, breezy day in mid-August,
the shop at Whitman Farms just
south of Grand Mound was buzzing
with activity.
Peter cleaned the tanks on a sprayer, while
Lydia swept out a baler they’d recently used to
bale grass and alfalfa. Their daughters – Ruth,
6, and Elizabeth, 3 – rode their bikes around on
the concrete floor, while their son Cameron, 1,
occupied himself in a toddler seat.
I was there to talk with Peter and Lydia for a
story on equipment sharing. When Lydia and I
had spoken by phone earlier in the week to set
up the appointment, she asked if I would like to
come to the shop for the interview, as they’d be
working on equipment there.
I expected to see the farm machinery that was
being repaired or prepped for service, the tools
and mechanical supplies lining the shelves of the
shop, the cans of oil etc.
What I didn’t expect to see was the joyful and
comfortable way the kids blended in with the
maintenance activities of their parents. Rather
than being “in the way,” the kids were a welcome
addition to the operation.
It was a typical day for the Whitmans, for
whom farming is a family affair. As such, Peter
and Lydia said the kids often accompany them to
the shop, which has been expanded over the years
as the operation grew from the original farm started
by Peter’s great-grandfather. It now includes
four more generations.
I did not grow up in a farming community.
I grew up surrounded by an oil refinery, a soap
factory, a corn milling plant, a chemical producer
and three steel mills. They were all within five
miles of my home. While my county had a fair,
eastern iowa farmer / trevis mayfield
Columnist Nancy Mayfield makes a new friend while out and about on assignment for The Eastern Iowa Farmer.
Family. Farms. A way of life.
I did not attend it until I covered one at my first
job as a reporter when I was 22. I lived at the
north end of the northern-most county in Indiana,
exactly two-thirds of a mile from Chicago, while
the fair took place some 40 miles south.
Until I married into a farming family, the
weather meant little to me other than what kind of
shoes or jacket I would wear. But once I moved
to the Mayfield farm in Sullivan, Ind., I started to
get it. I have a Ball jar full of the corn seed from
the first crop Trevis and I grew on our 40 acres. I
am still in awe of it, and I treasure it. I have barely
scratched the surface of what it means to be a
farmer, but in working on this magazine, I feel
like I get a front row seat to the heart of America.
Farming is in the blood of the families I’ve met
in eastern Iowa. And there is something so good
and pure about it. Cultivating the earth. Giving
back to the community. Building tradition.
It struck me once again, as my co-worker
Brooke Taylor set up some photo shots, and I
chatted with Lydia about life on the farm. We
compared notes on our gardening and canning
activities. She told me a bit about the work she
and Pete did with the American Farm Bureau Federation’s
Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee.
The Whitmans were appointed to a two-year
term in December.
Lydia, who is from southeastern Minnesota
and grew up on a small farm raising sheep, has
become quite comfortable around equipment
that was unlike anything her family used. “She
married into big tractors,” Pete joked.
And she clearly embraces her life on the farm,
as does the rest of her family.
And to me, it seems like a pretty good way of
life.
tidgren
Continued from page 39
And, boundary by acquiescence
must be proved by clear
evidence. If a party is unable
to prove a consistent, recognized
property line, a court
will deny relief.
Most landowners realize
that township trustees serve
as fence viewers authorized to
settle fence disputes between
neighboring landowners.
It is important to note that
these fence viewers have no
jurisdiction over boundary
disputes. Consequently, they
cannot consider boundary by
acquiescence cases. Such matters
much be heard by a court.
Boundary by acquiescence
should be distinguished from
adverse possession, a related
doctrine. Under adverse
possession, parties can also
acquire title to property that’s
not legally theirs. In Iowa,
they must prove (1) hostile,
(2) actual, (3) open, (4)
exclusive, and (5) continuous
possession under (6) a claim
of right for at least 10 years.
Iowa courts typically require
that the party shows a goodfaith
belief of ownership
before they can prevail in
an adverse possession case.
Adverse possession cases are
more difficult to prove than
boundary by acquiescence
cases. As such, they are less
common.
Both doctrines should alert
landowners and potential
purchasers of the need to
formally discover and protect
boundary lines. The 10-year
period that must run before a
boundary by acquiescence can
be established is not owner
specific. A purchaser takes
the land as he or she finds it,
boundary dispute and all. The
time for a survey is before a
fence is erected or before a
parcel is purchased. Due diligence
costs money, but those
costs are generally worth it in
the long run.
For more information on
this and other agricultural law
topics, readers are invited to
visit www.calt.iastate.edu. n
108 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

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TECHNOLOGY • RELATIONSHIPS • SIMPLICITY

.
If you have
any questions,
please contact
your local
FSA Office.
Cedar County
205 W. South St.,
Ste 3, Tipton, IA
52772
(563) 886-6061
Clinton County
1212 17th Ave.,
DeWitt, IA 52742.
(563) 659-3456
FSA offering
marketing
loan program
ased
s.
Dubuque County
210 Bierman Road,
Epworth, IA 52045.
(563) 876-3328
Jackson County
601 E Platt Street,
Maquoketa, IA
52060.
(563) 652-3237
Jones County
300 Chamber Dr.,
Anamosa, IA
52205.
(563) 462-3517
By TOM LANE
District Director for SE Iowa
eastern Iowa farmer
As harvest draws near, I wish to raise producer
awareness of the Marketing Assistance
Loan (MAL) and Loan Deficiency Payment
(LDP) programs. Both the programs have been
around for many years; however, they have not
had much use for the last several. I will cover
only some of the highlights of the two programs.
If you have additional questions, do not hesitate
to contact your local FSA Office.
To be eligible for a MAL or LDP, producers
must comply with conservation compliance provisions,
file a full acreage report on all cropland
on all farms, have beneficial interest (title and
control) in the commodity, and meet adjusted
gross income limitations. Additionally, the commodity
must have been produced by an eligible
producer in the crop year it is placed under loan
or redeemed through the LDP program. Further,
the commodity must be merchantable as food,
feed, or other CCC determined eligible use.
Additionally, it must meet minimum grade and
quality standards.
To obtain a MAL, producers file a loan
application with their county office by providing
the location of the stored commodity (for warehouse
stored grain, bring in negotiable receipts)
along with measurement of the grain so that a
quantity can be determined. A lien search will be
completed and any required lien waivers must
be obtained. Once all the required paperwork
has been completed, the loan may be disbursed.
Further, a loan service fee will be charged, however,
it will be deducted from the loan proceeds.
The loan term is nine months from the end of the
disbursement month. Each county has a loan rate
established by FSA for each commodity.
Once disbursed, the loan may be repaid at
any time prior to maturity without penalty. The
repayment will be calculated at the smaller of the
posted county price (PCP) or principal and interest.
The PCP is a FSA calculated price by means
of a formula that uses prices from many grain
merchandizers across the nation and is posted
in the local office daily. When the PCP is below
the principal and interest figure, the producer
benefits by the loan interest being waived. When
the PCP is below the loan rate, the producer not
only benefits from waived interest, the producer
also earns a marketing loan gain (MLG). As an
example, if the county has a loan rate of $2.00/
bushel on corn and the PCP is $1.95, the producer
would earn a $0.05 MLG. Producers have
an option to repay their loan with cash, or when
the PCP is below the loan rate, use a commodity
certificate.
LDP’s work like the MLG portion of the
Marketing Assistance Loan program. When the
PCP is below the county loan rate, producers can
opt to forgo a loan and request a LDP on the difference.
There is an application process that must
be completed by producers to claim the LDP.
LDP’s and MLG’s, along with any money
paid under the ARC-CO, ARC-IC, or PLC programs
(the annual farm programs), are subject to
a $125,000 limitation. MLG’s realized using the
commodity certificate process are not subject to
any limitation.
It is important for producers to keep in mind
that the 2016 corn and soybean MAL/LDP program
runs from this fall’s harvest through May
2017. Any payments that would be earned under
the 2016 ARC-CO, ARC-IC, or PLC programs
will not be made until October 2017. So, theoretically,
a producer could use up their payment
limitation on LDP’s and MAL’s. Exploring the
use of commodity certificates may be in a producer’s
best interest.
Although the policy described above
provides a basic overview of the Marketing
Assistance Loan and Loan Deficiency Payment
program rules, I hope the information has raised
your awareness of the programs enough for you
to contact your local office and seek further
information.
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 111

Above: The Whitman family, left to right, Ruth, Peter, Cam,
Lydia and Elizabeth look out over the crop that
surrounds their family farm south of Grand Mound.
Right: Kenny Stanton takes a tour on the Gator
over the family’s 100-acre farm west of Maquoketa.
eastern iowa farmer photos / Trevis Mayfield, Brooke Taylor

Above top: Greg Harman of Cascade helps his furry friend, Ken Jr.,
sneak a view of the cattle yard.
Above middle: Harry Wiese of Charlotte spends a Sunday
evening raking rocks out of his field off Highway 136.
Right: Kevin Johnson and Skitter take a drive on the family farm.

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114 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

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Brothers Alec, front, and
Lane Cook of Cascade
are all smiles as they
swiftly wipe the excess
feed off the top of the
bunk on their family farm.
Jace Bronson waits
patiently for the manure
spreader to be filled on
the Brian Tabor farm
northwest of Baldwin.
eastern iowa
farmer photos /
lowell carlson,
Brooke Taylor
116 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2016

Send us
your photos!
The Eastern Iowa Farmer
would like to run photos of
you, your friends and family
out on the farm.
To submit a photo
for the next publication
email your photo to
EIFarmer@sycamoremedia.net
Swine Show judge Jarrod Bakker
creates a teaching moment with
4-H’er Curtis Hurting.
Mary Holtz cleans, detangles and
combs the tail of her dairy cow.
Alyse Elmegreen watches
as her goat munches
on a slip of paper.
Baling gets under way on the John Manson farm northeast of Maquoketa. A streak of fair weather with scant rain in the forecast has helped forage producers bale some
excellent first-crop hay. The farm’s red barn has one of the best best-preserved examples of a gambrel roof structure in the county.
fall 2016 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 117

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From Left to Right: Greg Gannon, Bill Vetter, Kathy Rollings, Marty Murrell, Roger Hill, and Joel Dieckmann
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