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Whole Farm Conservation Best Practices Manual

Improving water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat while remaining productive and profitable is the focus of many conservation efforts in Iowa. Confidence in practice selection and management is essential for implementing conservation practices. This publication provides best management recommendations for farmers and landowners getting started with conservation and water quality practices by helping select and incorporate in-field and edge-of-field conservation practices most appropriate to the decision maker's land and preferences.

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CLG 101

Talking With Your Tenant About: Land Use Changes

Land use changes like prairie strips, perennial vegetation and extended rotations are important practices that can help achieve the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. This publication discusses these changes and how to start a conversation with a tenant about implementing them in a farming operation.

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CPN 4002

Cover Crops Do's and Don't's

This publication addresses the facts and myths related to weed, insect, and disease management when using cover crops. This publication was created by the Crop Protection Network, which includes authors from land-grant universities across the North Central Region and Ontario. CSI

Available from the Crop Protection Network.

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HORT 3030

Conservation Techniques for Vegetable Production: Combining Strip-Tillage and Cover Crops

Strip-tillage is when a crop is planted into narrow, tilled strips and the non-tilled area between the strips might contain residue from the previous season's main crop or a living or dead cover crop.

Combining strip-tillage and cover crops offers various benefits including minimal soil erosion, maintains soil moisture and weed suppression. This publication provides basic information on using a strip-tillage system with rolled cover crops as a conservation best management practice in vegetable production systems such broccoli, peppers, pumpkins, squash and tomatoes.

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DNR 115

DNR Commercial Manure Applicator Certification Fact Sheet: MAC - Manure Applicator Certification

This form provides background information on manure applicator certification including legal issues, training courses, testing, late fees, certificates, requirements, and disciplinary actions.

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DNR 116

DNR Confinement Site Manure Applicator Certification Fact Sheet: MAC - Manure Applicator Certification

DNR's manure applicator certification: includes information on who is affected, becoming certified, maintaining certification, grace period, late fees, manure application, duplicate certificates, certification training courses, testing, training manual, test preparation, requirements for manure application, and disciplinary actions.

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PMR 1010

Attitudes Toward Cover Crops in Iowa: Benefits and Barriers

Learn how research on cover crops as a means toward maintaining and increasing soil productivity, also reduce agriculture's environmental impacts.

Based on data from the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll 2010 Summary Report.

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PM 3017

Rainwater Catchment from a High Tunnel for Irrigation Use

Make high tunnels more profitable for crop production by installing a system to catch, store, and reuse the rainwater from periodic rain events. The authors describe system components, give approximate costs, and detail year-round maintenance procedures. Also described is a drip irrigation system.

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PMR 1007

Incorporating Prairies into Multifunctional Landscapes

See how prairies can benefit farms and find the steps necessary to establish and manage prairies. Look at various uses for prairies: livestock grazing, hay production, biomass feedstocks, and carbon sequestering.

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CRP 10

Converting to Pasture or Hay - Evaluating Current Vegetation | Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options

Don't destroy current CRP vegetation until you evaluate all your options.

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CRP 22

Maximizing Profitability on Highly Erodible Land in Iowa | Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options

Options in grass may be the most profitable for CRP land when the long term cost of erosion is considered. Get the details on six income options: CRP, two rotational grazing options, two crop options (rotational corn/soybean), and alfalfa/orchard grass hay.

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PMR 1006

Rented Land in Iowa: Social and Environmental Dimensions

More than half of Iowa farmland is rented.

Decisions regarding who has access to that land and how it is farmed can influence the social and environmental outcomes of family farming.

See what the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll discovered about rented land in Iowa. Recommendations are suggested to ensure that non-operator landownership is either neutral or beneficial to farm operators, farmland owners, rural communities, and the land itself.

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CRP 11

Converting CRP Land to Pasture - Managing Weeds and Fertility | Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options

Suggestions for taking care of weed and brush problems on CRP land before beginning a grazing system. Good grazing management will help maintain fertility and reduce further weed problems.

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CRP 12

Converting to Pasture or Hay - Repairing, Replanting CRP Land | Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options

Consider your options for establishing and renovating pastures.

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CRP 13

Converting to Pasture or Hay - Forage Seeding Mixtures | Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options

Get detailed seed mixture recommendations to improve the productivity and nutritive value of forage legumes and/or grasses.

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CRP 1

Life After CRP - Decisions, Decisions | Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options

Consider five important factors when deciding what to do when CRP contracts expire.

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CRP 2

Lease Alternatives for CRP Land | Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options

Find out about the various lease options for CRP land: crop share, livestock share, cash lease, or flexible lease.

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CRP 6

Resource Inventory Guide | Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options

Use this worksheet to inventory the resources you have to work with concerning your CRP land.

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CRP 15

Insect Management for Corn and Soybean | Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options

Discusses potential insect problems and suggests management options for corn and soybean production on former CRP acres.

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PMR 1002

A Targeted Conservation Approach for Improving Environmental Quality

Find out how targeted conservation practices can have the most impact on environmental quality while causing only a small change in overall agricultural production. Environmental benefits are discussed related to clean air and water, productive soils, diverse wildlife and plant habitat, and biological controls for crop protection.

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CRP 17

Strip Intercropping: A CRP Conversion Option | Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options

Strip intercropping can result in higher yields and profitability than monocropping systems. Sound weed management is critical for this system. Learn about an example of a corn, soybean, and oats system.

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PM 2021

Data Collection Worksheet for RUSLE2 and Iowa Phosphorous Index

This worksheet provides guidelines for using the computer program RUSLE2 (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation 2) and for calculating the Iowa Phosphorous Index. These are needed in nutrient management and conservation planning.

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CRP 3

Tillage Options After CRP | Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options

In making tillage decisions for CRP land, consider conservation concerns, farming objectives, and plant and soil conditions. This publication provides research results to help you.

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CRP 5

Applying Fertilizer and Lime to CRP Land | Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options

Sample and test soil to determine how much fertilizer, manure, and lime to apply to meet crop needs when converting land in CRP to crop production.

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CRP 18

Planting Corn or Soybeans into CRP Sod Ground | Conservation Reserve Program: Issues and Options

Get the details on planting corn or soybeans into CRP sod ground. Soybeans may offer fewer problems than corn.

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PM 1880

Fundamentals of Organic Agriculture

Detailed information on organic agriculture including history, legalities and logistics, labeling, marketing, and pest and weed management. Includes two field examples on organic soybean and apple production.

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