Eastern Iowa Farmer Spring 2021

Ag Bytes
the other getaways are:
Friday and Saturday, April 9-10, at Lake
Shore Center at Okoboji in Milford.
Friday and Saturday, April 16-17, at Hotel
Winneshiek in Decorah.
The getaways run from 12:30 p.m. on the
first day to 3:15 p.m. on the second day.
There is no cost to attend, as food, lodging
and other expenses are being paid for by
sponsorships. However, there is a $50 per
couple deposit to hold each reservation, refundable
on the second day of the event.
“Past Farm Couple Getaways have proven
to be beneficial to farm couples. They are
a productive and delightful time to discuss
items of importance to help farms and families
be successful,” said Larry Tranel, dairy
specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.
Each getaway will consist of 10 farm couples
and the extension facilitators. Registration
will be on a first-come, first-served basis,
due two weeks prior to each session. Registration
brochures for the various sites can
be obtained from select ISU Extension and
Outreach county offices, or from dairy specialists.
Jenn Bentley can be reached at jbentley@
iastate.edu or at the Winneshiek County office
at 563-382-2949; Fred Hall, at fredhall@
iastate.edu or the Sioux County office at
712-737-4230; and Larry Tranel, at tranel@
iastate.edu or the Dubuque County office at
563-583-6496.
The Farm Couple Getaways statewide gold
sponsor is the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation,
with other local sponsors recognized at each
local event. More information is available in
the event brochure for Eastern or Western
Iowa at extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/
farm-couple-getaways.
USDA extends general
signup for Conservation
Reserve Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending
the Conservation Reserve Program
(CRP) General Signup period, which had previously
been announced as ending on Feb. 12.
USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes
this opportunity for the incoming Administration
to evaluate ways to increase enrollment.
Under the previous
Administration, incentives
and rental payment
rates were reduced resulting
in an enrollment
shortfall of over four million
acres. The program, administered by US-
DA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides
annual rental payments for 10 to 15 years for
land devoted to conservation purposes, as
well as other types of payments.
Before the General CRP signup period
ends, producers will have the opportunity to
adjust or resubmit their offers to take advantage
of planned improvements to the program.
As one of the largest private-lands conservation
programs in the United States, CRP provides
both economic and conservation benefits
by taking land out of agricultural production.
This signup for CRP gives producers an
opportunity to enroll land for the first time or
re-enroll land under existing contracts that
will be expiring Sept. 30. All interested producers,
including those on Indian reservations
and with trust lands, are encouraged to
contact their local USDA Service Center for
more information.
STRUTTING OUR STUFF FOR 54 YEARS
WE RAISE OUR OWN FLOCKS OF BIRDS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE BEST OF ALL BIRDS
Pictured: Owner Etta
Culver and Marie Forret
in the Schlecht Hatchery’s
incubating and hatching
room.
Chickens
Ducks
Eggs
Turkeys
Geese
Schlecht Farm & Hatchery
PH. 563-682-7865
9749 500TH AVENUE
MILES, IOWA 52064
Hatchery Hours :
Monday - Friday 7:30-4:30
Saturday - By appointment only
Closed Sundays
schlechthatchery.com
2017
Award Recipient
Farmer of
the Year
IN
JACKSON COUNTY
eifarmer.com spring 2021 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 109