Business

By Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike NaigOver the past few months, following the devasting storms and floods that have affected so many Iowans, I have traveled to communities, visiting farms, businesses and homes that have endured the worst of Mother Nature’s power. I had the opportunity to listen to farmers, business owners, community leaders and many others in the ag community who were directly impacted.

Vinton Monuments has been sold! In a statement to Vinton residents, Tom Boeckmann owner of Vinton Monuments, notified residents that his business has been sold to Breakenridge Memorials. Serving the Benton County area since 2016 Boeckmann had built the business with the greatest care and work ethic...and a bit of humor. He plans to continue to serve his remaining customers who have placed orders until their monuments have been placed.

Presentations will focus on conservation practices Iowa farmers have implementedCrop farmers and anyone involved with on-farm conservation practices will get an in-person demonstration of some of the latest conservation efforts happening in Iowa during a special field day Aug. 8 being held in Cedar Rapids.Agronomists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are partnering with Cargill to hold a half-day event with Kirkwood Community College.

Sessions help farmers and custom tile installers polish their field drainage skillsAMES, Iowa - Field tile drainage is a critical component of Iowa agriculture - making fields more accessible and reducing the amount of surface runoff and waterlogging that would otherwise occur.Nearly one-third of Iowa farmland is currently tiled. But an ongoing challenge is replacing old tile systems and installing new tile where none exists.

Farms across the Midwest are seeing the benefits of adopting even just the first four of the five soil health principles: armoring the soil, minimizing disturbance, increasing plant diversity, and keeping soil covered.  But what about going beyond no-till and cover crops? Come see the fifth soil health principle, “integrating livestock,” in practice at Match Made in Heaven field days in six states this summer.

By Brooklyn DraisryAs avian influenza is being detected in more and more dairy herds across the U.S., Iowa State University researchers have found a possible “why” connection to the virus being found in raw milk.A study published this month by a team in ISU’s College of Veterinary Medicine found that bovine mammary gland tissue held receptors for the avian influenza virus, offering a potential explanation for how cattle are being infected.

Webinar will feature veterinarians with the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa StateThe I-29 Moo University Dairy Webinar Series continues Thursday, July 25, from noon to 1 p.m. The focus will be on measures to prevent the introduction and spread of two diseases of current concern in the dairy industry – highly pathogenic avian influenza and foot and mouth disease.

Dairy goat industry can learn more about animal health, milk quality and antimicrobial stewardshipAMES, Iowa – A collaborative website between Iowa State University and the University of California-Davis has been created to educate dairy goat producers and veterinarians about the science behind producing high-quality goat milk.The Dairy Goat Extension and Education website provides modules and templates for health and reproductive records, with the goal of providing resources that will launch the American dairy goat industry forward in the areas of animal and udder health, milk quality and antimicrobial stewardship.

Free, searchable online listing connects Iowa sellers with in-state and out-of-state buyers Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is encouraging Iowans to take advantage of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s free, searchable online directory for hay and straw. This resource aims to facilitate connections between Iowa farmers looking to sell hay or straw and potential buyers interested in purchasing these products.