EasternIowaFarmer_Fall2023

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Left to right: Kale Petersen, Tim Swamberger, Brayden Frazier, Rick McCulloh, Taylor Bensenberg, Kirk Dosland, Aaron Trenkamp, Lucas Hughes, Dylan Meyer From one season to the next, River Valley Cooperative is there for our member-owners and the communities we call home. Like you, we combine the latest technologies and insights with roll-up-your-sleeves hard work. www.rivervalleycoop.com | 1-866-962-7820 @RiverValleyCoop @RVCooperative @River_Valley_Cooperative
THE ENERGY ISSUE excess power for evenings or other times the sun isn’t shining as bright. When they installed the panels in 2016, the federal government gave a 30% tax credit and the state gave a 15% tax credit. “Now granted those are tax credits, and you have to have an income to use them. In farming sometimes you don’t,” Joyce said. “But, when you do the math longterm, it works.” After an initial usage study, accounting for depreciation, and forecasting using the tax credits right away, the Noonan’s were told to expect to break even around year five. “We thought that was very impressive,” Joyce said, and it’s turned out to be true. Others in their rural neighborhood agree. They list the names of six or seven neighbors within two miles of their home in any direction who have solar panels. The Noonans have two electric meters – one for their personal consumption, the house, and one for their commercial consumption, the shed. “The battery will help too,” Rich said. If for some reason they didn’t have enough solar power or the electricity was out, “at least we can run the pump for water for the cattle. It’s a good backup system for water and to reduce our electric bill down to very little.” Currently, the solar panels generate almost all of the electricity that the shed uses, Rich said. “Now, when we have the grain bins running, it can’t keep up with that, but it supplements it,” he said. “There’re very efficient because they don’t take any energy to run. They are guaranteed for 25 years and life of more than 40,” Rich said. He also likes that there are no moving parts, and they haven’t had to have much maintenance on them at all. The solar panels work year-round, Rich explained on a sunny July morning. “A day like today is perfect. At 7 in the morning, just when it’s getting light out, you’ll hear the meter start up,” he said. During the longer hours of daylight in the summer, they provide more energy, “The long-term benefits are convincing.” — JOYCE NOONAN Joyce noted. “In the winter, you still get energy, and you still get quite a bit. Snow will gather, but it doesn’t stay on the panels unless it’s a mega-snow. It melts off really fast.” While the panels are a considerable up-front investment, the Noonans said the they’d recommend them to other farmers. “It’s up front money but you have to think long-term. We made sacrifices to do it, but we are glad we did,” Joyce said. “The long-term benefits are convincing.” n Kent Hostetler / (815) 499-7014 24340 150th St. Maquoketa, IA 52060 MAXIMIZE Your Profitability 20 YEARS OF SERVICE • planter maintenance • plant nutrition • precision technology • soil sampling • fertility recommendations Specializing in planter wear parts that perform better and last longer. eifarmer.com FALL 2023 | EASTERN IOWA FARMER 59
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The Eastern Iowa Fall 2023 Farmer
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GEOFF APER Field Sales Representati
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The Eastern Iowa Farmer® DIRECTORY
Page 8 and 9: Farmer The Eastern Iowa Fall 2023 A
Page 10 and 11: Bruce and Sherry Ruchotzke are surr
Page 12 and 13: HOBBY FARMS They’re just big pets
Page 14 and 15: HOBBY FARMS gonna do this,” she s
Page 16 and 17: HOBBY FARMS DeWitt’s Night Out th
Page 18 and 19: Customer’s first choice by provid
Page 20 and 21: FOUNDED IN FAITH FORGED IN AMERICA
Page 22 and 23: LEARNING TO BE SELF SUSTAINING Cala
Page 24 and 25: SELF SUSTAINING “(Gardening) was
Page 26 and 27: SELF SUSTAINING Her advice to anyon
Page 28 and 29: SELF SUSTAINING 3. While minute ste
Page 30 and 31: Contact your local Wyffels Hybrids
Page 32 and 33: PLANT More PREDICTABILITY Pivot Bio
Page 34 and 35: HAYMAKERS “I like making hay. A g
Page 36 and 37: HAYMAKERS Heading relies heavily on
Page 38 and 39: BY JENNA STEVENS Ag in the Classroo
Page 40 and 41: AG IN THE CLASSROOM those majoring
Page 42 and 43: Sales and Service www.ApplianceSolu
Page 44 and 45: 44 EASTERN IOWA FARMER | FALL 2023
Page 46 and 47: THE ENERGY ISSUE EASTERN IOWA FARME
Page 48 and 49: Farming is Your Tradition. Providin
Page 50 and 51: THE ENERGY ISSUE million, while Nex
Page 52 and 53: GREG BOPES AFM gbopes@ohnward.com 5
Page 54 and 55: THE ENERGY ISSUE Bob Bowman Bob Bow
Page 56 and 57: FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATI
Page 60 and 61: THE ENERGY ISSUE Living by the Sun
Page 62 and 63: THE ENERGY ISSUE bills consist of o
Page 64 and 65: Trucking Rock Quarry & Ag Lime Appl
Page 66 and 67: THE ENERGY ISSUE Jackson County Ene
Page 68 and 69: THE ENERGY ISSUE ABOUT THE JACKSON
Page 70 and 71: THE ENERGY ISSUE Charting a course
Page 72 and 73: FALL 2023 SALES DATES FOR... ➢ We
Page 74 and 75: THE ENERGY ISSUE Solar + wind = GRE
Page 76 and 77: THE ENERGY ISSUE EASTERN IOWA FARME
Page 78 and 79: Turning a lens on our farmer commun
Page 80: We’re Farm Bureau.. a a century s
Page 83 and 84: HUNTING LEASES land for recreationa
Page 85 and 86: HUNTING LEASES an indemnification c
Page 87 and 88: WATERSHED A ‘watershed’ moment
Page 89 and 90: WATERSHED Farmers Creek Farmers Cre
Page 91 and 92: WATERSHED Arenz and his wife Cynthi
Page 93 and 94: Kyle, Rex, Brandi, and James WE SER
Page 95 and 96: GIFTS OF GRAIN Gifts of grain or li
Page 97 and 98: Visits to state fair offers experie
Page 99 and 100: Your Source for Ag Equipment At Alt
Page 101 and 102: AG DAY Volunteers get the pancakes
Page 103 and 104: Ag Bytes engines, research part num
Page 105 and 106: Ag Bytes Bellevue, 1883; and Dougla
Page 107 and 108: Pictured: Steve Brandenburg (left)
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WE WORK THE DIRT! • Agriculture T
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WORK WONDERS ON YOUR HARVEST WITH T
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Ag Bytes Wendong Zhang, Assistant P
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Meat Bundles *Steaks amount based o
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Ag Bytes registered credits are all
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VISIT ANY OF OUR 7 LOCATIONS! • W
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3 1. Teamwork makes the dream work!
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3 1. Luka Till gears up for a big d
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3 2 7 8 eifarmer.com FALL 2023 | EA
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TARVER FAMILY 2011-2023 peoplescomp
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